Humans are a unique species, being the only ones that have permanently enlarged breast after puberty until menopause. With western society being what it is, we have seen breast get larger and unhealthier over the years. But what exactly is causing this change in breast and their overall health?

We call breast many things: boobs, twin peaks, tatas, knockers, fun bags and many more names of admiration. But are large breast a signal of the general health of our population. In western culture women are in a midst of an obesity epidemic, and with this gained fat breast are slowly getting larger and larger.
The female breast is made of 60% fat, so could there be a link between obesity, breast size and women’s health? Is there is a link that connects these things with the early appearance of puberty in young girls? Decades ago, young females would experience puberty in their teens (12-14). Now some very young girls can expect to begin puberty (breast buds) as young as 7-8 years old. In 2010, a study was conducted with American Africans girls, the study concluded that a 5th of the girls experienced early puberty at around ages 7 and 8, this was almost 10 times higher then white counterparts.

And are these influences having a negative effect? Many have seen the commercial  about several drugs that have the curious side effect of *gynecomastia or man-boobs. Typically gynecomastia is a response of breast growth from either a depletion of testosterone or increase in estrogen.  Another case surfaced in 2007, with three boys in Utah whom had an sudden breast growth. After investigation, it was found that the three boys had been exposed to phytoestrogens which can be inhaled, ingested, or consumed. Phytoestrogens are compounds both natural and synthetic that lock into receptors that promote breast growth(the same as the drugs in the commercial). And what was it that these boys where exposed to that contained phytoestrogens?…… A organic balm containing Lavender and Tea Tree oils (melaluca)! In the US , there are currently 80,000 industrial chemicals registered, and only about 1,000 of them have been tested as possible phytoestrogens. Yet besides drugs, what else could be a possible influence?

Unknown by most, breasts respond to changes in the environment, these signals could be self induced or due to exposures. To note, the female breast go through a constant development of preparing for potential life every month throughout a woman’s lifetime until menopause; thousand of times.  1973, a investigation after cows were accidentally fed grain mixed with flame retardants, showed that the daughters of the mothers who consumed the flame retardant laced milk experienced early puberty and also were 20 times more likely to develop cancer later in life.

Now perfumes and products containing heavy scents are laced with phthalates. Phthalates and lipophilic compounds mimic estrogen, and again these compounds promote breast growth. so how are these things effecting breast milk?

Breast milk itself is still a wonderful creation of the human body, full of beneficial properties. One I’d like to mention is Oligosaccharides – the third largest compound in breast milk, stimulating growth of bacteria in the gut which is crucial for infants. Along with immunity cells, stem cells an anti-inflammatory cells needed for babies, especially premature infants.

The year 2000 marked a crucial time in the research of breast milk with over 4,000 papers written about industrial chemicals present in the milk and whether any level was safe for mother and baby. With compounds like PCB’s (industrial coolants), PCDE’s (flame retardants) and other more dangerous compounds such as BPA (plastics) and DDT (pesticides). Yet, with all the papers that have been written and also at your finger tips, the jury has remained silent about if there should be a ban or safe level established for these chemicals. All these chemicals are present in breast milk! And if your a breast feeder like myself, then you’ve exposed your little one to these compounds, and all are carcinogenic….

This itself presents a mixed message to mothers, whether it is beneficial to breast feed babies or not. While we wait to hear anything from Scientific America definitively, I would encourage you to continue to breast feed, at least for six months – a year if you can! Companies are spending millions of dollars to monetize breast milk. On average a baby in NICU being fed donor milk costs on $100 a day in the US. Much of the reason why American African women have been encouraged to donate milk in poverty struck areas across the nation. It has also been claimed that breast milk also contains enzymes that are cancer reducers. So from cancers to toxins, remain vigil about what you intake and also your environment (controllable). You, your breast milk and baby depend on it.