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Be Kind to Your Body: Make These Healthy Wardrobe Changes

Surprisingly, it’s very possible that the choices you make in your wardrobe are working against your good health.

Bear in mind that designers aren’t in the business of making clothing safe. They’re in the business of making them attractive to the consumer.

Making these wardrobe changes can eliminate health issues that your clothes may already be causing:

  1. Wear lower heeled shoes. As researchers delve further into the impact of high heeled shoes on physical health, more and more are concluding that they are indeed damaging to the lower back and feet over the long run. To avoid running into any issues with pains or other conditions, follow these tips:
  • If you must wear high heeled shoes, alternate with lower heels throughout the week.
  • If you do a lot of walking and standing each day, take a pair of flats with you just in case you start to feel weary.
  • Try to incorporate exercises that strengthen the back so you’re less prone to damage from high heeled shoes.
  1. Balance skirts and pants. For women especially, wearing pants all the time can result in a buildup of moisture, which in turn can encourage the growth of bacteria. In order to avoid putting yourself at risk of bacteria, alternate between pants and skirts or dresses during the week.
  • Wear pants only a few days for the week, or on days when you don’t expect to have an unusually long or arduous day at the office.
  • In the summer months, try to wear more skirts and dresses, and reserve pants for the cooler seasons.
  1. Wear breathable fabrics. In line with balancing pants and skirts is wearing breathable fabrics. Again, not allowing your body to access as much air as it needs can result in excess moisture. In some cases, that can lead to infection, and in other cases it can lead to body odor.
  • Your best bet is 100 percent cotton fabrics. A cotton blend often works well for air circulation also.
  • Try on the garment you’re considering and notice if it feels airy and cool or seems to keep any air from getting to your skin.
  1. Wear pantyhose less. Women are guiltier than men of making wardrobe choices for the sake of fashion. Such is the case for women who wear pantyhose. When worn frequently, pantyhose can cause poor blood circulation, which has its own set of side-effects, including:
  • Development of varicose veins due to continued pressure on the veins.
  • Pains in the legs when pantyhose are removed.
  • Swollen, sensitive legs.
  • Numbness and cramping in the legs, also known as "pins and needles.”

It’s a very nice feeling to be able to look stunning. You feel good about yourself and others notice how well put-together you are. But there also comes a time to consider your physical health and well-being.

Your wardrobe can make a big impact on your health. Keep these tips in mind when you’re getting dressed in the morning. When you shop for new clothes, make wise choices that support your good health. Your body will be glad you did!