We’re all familiar with that satisfying feeling of coming home after a long day, and finally removing our ‘boob jail’ a.k.a. our bra. There’s nothing quite like moving much more freely with our chests not being constrained. Many even argue that wearing a bra is merely a societal norm, designed to enhance the shape of the breasts. But medically, could there be benefits in going braless? Dr. Vicki Belo gives us 3 medical reasons on why skipping the bra may just be good for you:

1. Improved blood circulation 

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A post shared by Julia (@juliabarretto)

According to Dr. Vicki Belo, “I think it’s better to not wear a bra if you’re just lounging around the house” because “not wearing a bra allows for better blood circulation especially in the lung and breast area”. Since the quarantine has turned many of our homes into our offices, this may be a good time to #LetTheBreastsBreathe.

2. May relieve neck pain

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A post shared by Vicki Belo, M.D. (@victoria_belo)

If you are experiencing neck pain, wearing a bra may be one culprit you should consider. She continued, “Bra straps can be pressing on the area between the shoulder and the neck leading to neck pain”. A 5-year study by Dr. Edward L. Ryan, published in The Clinical Journal of Pain (2000), reported that 79% of patients who removed weight of their breasts from their shoulders by not wearing a bra decided to do this permanently because they felt symptom free of their neck pain. 

(Although, let’s not try to pin everything down on the bra. It’s still best to consult your doctor to make sure there aren’t other underlying issues behind this.)

3. May prevent your breasts from sagging

Dr. Vicki Belo also shared on her Instagram Stories and Twitter a study that showed how women who wore bras resulted in having saggier boobs compared to those who opted to go braless. This is quite contrary to popular belief that bras provide support for the breasts. The 15-year study by Jean-Denis Rouillon, a sports science expert from the University of Franche-Comté, claims that this is because wearing bras weaken the muscles that hold up the breasts. This is why the group who went braless maintained the shape of their breasts in the long term.

So there you have it, ladies! Should you still wear a bra? That’s entirely up to you! We, the Belo HQ gals, can definitely agree that it is much more comfortable to go on with our day without it, especially if you’re home the whole day. Another great alternative is to wear the trendy bralettes (bras without the underwires, linings, and paddings) all over Instagram. 

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A post shared by Lovi Poe (@lovipoe)

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A post shared by Leila (@leilalcasid)

We spotted many of our Belo Babies like Julia Barretto, Lovi Poe, and Leila Alcasid rocking these stylish “bralettes”. Check them out!