Wish your boobs were smaller? Here’s how to drop a bra size without going under the knife
THE average British woman is now a bra-busting 36DD, but not everyone's happy about it.
According to a survey by lingerie brand Triumph almost half of women want to shrink their cup size, with breast reduction operations soaring by 13 per cent in 2015.
It's a particular issue with those over 50, with up to a fifth of women finding their breasts enlarged after menopause.
This is down to a combination of hormones and weight gain, with fluctuating oestrogen levels one of the main issues.
Having excess oestrogen leads to full breasts, with fat encouraged to stick to key areas - such as the boobs.
The body is then tricked into thinking it needs these fatty deposits to be healthy, which is why they are so tricky to target.
Making some small changes to your lifestyle could help deflate your bust, so here's how.
Go Mediterranean
A helathy diet will stop your hormones spiking, meaning you shouldn't have too much oestrogen.
Target Your Fat Spots: How To Banish Your Bulges author Max Tomlinson recommends the Mediterranean diet as a way to keep things on the level.
That means a lot of fruit, vegetables and healthy oils. Lentils, beans and red fruits will also help.
On top of this, junk food which is high in fat can impact the balance of hormones so is best avoided.
Choose citrus
Fruits like lemons and limes are crammed with d-limonene, a compound which once again helps to crush oestrogen. You can get it in oranges too, so try having one with your lunch.
Cut cow's milk
Many have made the switch from cow's milk to almond or coconut varieties, and if you want to shrink your chest this is the way forward.
That's because cow's milk is crammed with oestrogen, so effectively works like a boob job in a glass.
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Wholegrains
Insoluble fibre is found in things like couscous, brown rice and wholemeal bread. It sticks to oestrogen and so helps it be flushed out of the body, with carrots, tomatoes and celery rich in it too.
Think raw
Another basic healthy tip, but cramming as much raw veg into your diet helps to metabolise oestrogen, according to Max.
Go green here as much as possible, so broccoli, spinach and sprouts with every meal.
Step away from the wine
Sugar on the whole is the small-breasted woman's enemy. Too much sugar causes insulin levels to spike, which in turn makes the body cling to its fat stores and messes up the hormone balance.
Alcohol is crammed with sugar, plus it effects the liver's ability to break down oestrogen.
Exercise
Sorry, but no amount of chest pulls will shrink your breasts. Regular exercise could help with general health and weight loss though, so it's best to find something you like and stick to it.
The idea is to get your heart rate up, so aerobics, jogging or gym classes are all good ideas.