Thursday, February 1, 2018

Now You Know: 10 Fun Facts About Your Breasts

You already know that your breasts are a pretty wonderful part of your body. They can make a dress fall better on your body, draw attention from across a room, nourish a newborn baby and make you feel good between the sheets. They’re also pretty weird, too.

Ever noticed they seem to change size throughout the month? Or felt them move in different directions when you run? And what’s with the vast variety of different shapes?

Now You Know: 10 Fun Facts About Your Breasts: WikihealthBlog
Now You Know: 10 Fun Facts About Your Breasts: WikihealthBlog
Indeed, there are many bizarre truths about your bust that you may not know. Ready to enlighten yourself? Read on for some fun facts that are bound to make you appreciate your breasts even more.

1. Your set can vary in size

Seem like your breasts aren’t perfectly symmetrical? Don’t stress — the fact is that not all breasts are created equal. An Emory University study of nearly 100 women show that most women's breasts (62 percent) are actually two different sizes.

Read More: How to Increase Breast Size

What’s more, the left one is usually bigger. According to the book “Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History” by Florence Williams, one breast is typically an average of about a fifth of a cup size larger than the other one.

2. They’re made of much more than fat

While your breasts are mainly made up of adipose tissue (fat cells), they also contain a rather complex combination of ligaments, fibrous connective tissue, nerves, lymph nodes, ducts and glands, with muscle underneath. The adipose tissue begins at your collarbone and extends all the way down to the middle of the ribcage. And the lymph system, which includes a network of lymph nodes and lymph vessels, actually transports disease-fighting fluids, while moving abnormal cells away from healthy tissue, playing a crucial role in your immune system.

3. They make serious moves when you exercise


Now You Know: 10 Fun Facts About Your Breasts
If you’ve ever gone on a jog or participated in a grueling HIIT class and felt like your breasts were bouncing in all different directions, you’re not imagining things. In fact, one study found that when you run, your breasts can move up, down and to the sides in a figure eight motion.

And that movement isn’t slight, either — they can shift by as much as eight inches. That’s why it’s imperative to wear a supportive sports bra that can keep your breasts in place, minimizing any strain or damage and ensuring your comfort during and after physical activity.

4. The largest recorded breasts in the world are...

The current Guinness World Record for largest natural breasts was awarded to a woman in 1999. Around the fullest part of the bust, her chest measured 70 inches — which translates to a whopping 5.83 feet.

5. Size varies across the world

The average size ranges significantly from country to country. The U.S. boasts the largest average cup size (D), while Africa and Asian countries have the smallest, with a majority of women wearing a size A or B cup. Falling in the middle are Australia, South America, France, Italy and the U.K., with size C-cup breasts.

6: A third nipple is more common than you think

Think it’s rare to have more than two nipples? Think again. Polythelia, which refers to having three (or more) nipples, occurs in 2 to 6 percent of females and 1 to 3 percent of males. Pretty wild, huh?

7: It’s normal to have a lot of bras

Now You Know: 10 Fun Facts About Your Breasts

Is your lingerie drawer pretty packed? No surprise there.

The average woman owns about 16 bras at any given time and spends a whopping $4,000 on bras in her lifetime. Let’s be real: Quality bras are worth the investment, and it’s important to have a variety of styles in your arsenal for all your different ensembles.

8: Your size constantly changes.

Your breast size is actually changing all the time due to hormone fluctuations and other factors, such as pregnancy or weight loss/gain. Sometimes these changes are barely noticeable — after all, your bras still fit flawlessly throughout the month.

However, at certain points in your period cycle, your breasts may increase by up to one cup size. For this reason, it’s ideal to have some bras on hand with plenty of stretch, so they can accommodate for these fluctuations.

9: Bras are designed to hold some hefty weight.

As we all know, breast size can range vastly from woman to woman. As a result, bras are typically capable of supporting anywhere from just over half a pound to 20 pounds. This makes sense, given that a pair of D-cup breasts (the average size in the U.S.) weighs somewhere between 15 and 23 pounds.

Of course, it’s best for large-busted women to seek out support bras that are specifically designed to offer uplift and distribute the weight of the breasts so that they can avoid discomfort. In particular, posture bras can help with breast as well as back support.

10: We’re the only ones with permanent breasts.

All primates have breasts, but they exist for the sole purpose of feeding newborns. Humans are, in fact, the only ones who have permanently sizeable breasts throughout their lifetimes — even after menopause.

This phenomenon has had scientists scratching their heads for quite some time, as human women also only need them for a short period of time (breastfeeding). Some scientists believe that sizeable breasts are essentially an evolutionary trick, hinting at a woman's ability to feed children and thus attracting men.