Through many years, the people on South Pacific Islands wore only a wrap-around covering on their lower bodies.
Europeans learned of this mode of dressing primarily through the paintings of the French painter Paul Gauguin.
The paintings came to the attention of various Christian clergy, who were horrified at the shameful immodesty of the bare-breasted women; so missionaries were sent forth to convert the people they considered obviously heathen' to the Christian way of religious thinking.
These Victorian virgins persuaded the converted Christians to cover their breasts with clothing.
In addition, converts were not to engage in any of the many nifty, enjoyable ways to have sexual intercourse. The only allowed way was with the woman on her back and the man on top of her, which is why this position has been termed by many people through the years as the missionary position.
The British started towns along the coast and soon trained, then employed, the "native" women to work for them, thus requiring them to wear European heavy, tight clothes.
It was an astute British doctor (name unknown) on one of the islands, who made a major medical discovery after observing women with breast cancer, British women and the "native" women both the workers in town and those who did not work. There had never been any breast cancer among the "native" women, but the rate for the other workers was the same as the British women.
The wise doctor concluded that the difference was that the women who wore the breast-restrictors were the ones getting breast cancer. The tightness restricted the necessary circulation in the breasts; but fashion and custom prevailed and the bras became even tighter and breast cancer rates have risen.
In these modern times, it is Dr. Oz who repeatedly speaks about the dangers of tight bras. He stresses the need to at least, remove a bra as soon as one gets home from work or as often as possible.
Dr. Oz also warns of the dire consequences to a woman of sleeping on her stomach, of wearing a sleep bra and the health hazards of under wired bras.
The author of a recent book on the many hidden dangers in people's lives currently said that the underwire in bras is nickel, which is toxic, especially near heat.
Known for many decades is that the healthiest fabric to use for underpants is cotton because it allows air flow, unlike man-made fabrics. This "breathable" fabric does not hold in body heat, a condition that fosters a variety of unwanted, very uncomfortable infections.
Many couples wanting to have a baby have been unsuccessful, not because of any problem with the woman, but rather a low sperm count. Men are advised to avoid hot tubs and hold-in-heat outer pants, especially jeans.
As the numbers of cases of prostate cancer continue to rise, there is the should-be-obvious connection between that cancer and the advent of slim, tight jeans and tight briefs worn under them.
Like breasts or any part of the body, the prostate requires good circulation to remain healthy.
Loose types of underpants, like boxer shorts, are preferable to many types of constricting briefs.
In the 1990's, at a European Medical conference, the results of a major study proved that many prostate cancers were caused by constrictive clothing.
Like the harmful wearing of the sleep-bra is the unwise habit of many women, many men sleep in the tight briefs they have worn all day, thus never allowing any freedom of natural movement within any part of that area. It is better to wear loose pajama pants, but best yet authorities say, is for both men and women are loose night shirts to fully allow for good air and "inner juices" circulation.
Before deciding whether to pursue fashion or the good health route, talk with or read detailed accounts of people who have those types of cancer.
~ Is Your Underwear Harming Your Body? ~
