Possible To Increase Breast Size With Diet? Options That Work

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Why Eating Certain Foods Won't Increase Your Breast Size

Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Berger, MD, MS — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on June 9, 2025

Strategies that work
Strategies that don’t work
What determines breast size?
Takeaway

No foods or eating plans have been clinically shown to enlarge breasts. However, other options, such as chest development exercises and posture improvement, may help.

Gaining weight may increase the size of your breasts and the rest of your body. However, if this is not the result you’re looking for, several strategies other than diet may help your breasts appear larger.

Keep reading to learn more about effective strategies for enlarging or accentuating the appearance of your breasts. We’ll also examine some strategies that don’t work for breast enlargement.

Strategies that work	Strategies that don’t work
chest development exercises	eating certain foods
posture improvement	breast enlargement creams or lotions
a professionally fitted bra	massage
breast augmentation surgery	supplements
enlargement pumps

Breast enlargement strategies that work

Try chest development exercises

Exercise won’t make breasts fuller. However, the right exercises can be very effective for developing the pectoral muscles underneath your breasts, as well as your back and shoulder muscles. This can help your breasts appear larger, higher, and firmer.

Some exercises to try include:

wall presses
pushups
chest press extensions
Cobra Pose

Work on your posture

There’s no downside to having excellent posture. While good posture won’t physically make your breasts larger, it can enhance their appearance by making them look perkier.

Good posture also supports balance, strength, and flexibility. It also helps strengthen the stomach and back muscles.

Exercises that help improve posture include:

Child’s Pose
plank exercise
Cat-Cow Pose

Look for a new bra

Many women are wearing the wrong bra size. In fact, research indicates that 70% of women wear bras that are too small, and 10% wear bras that are too large.

A too-tight bra may flatten breasts, making them appear smaller. A bra that’s too large won’t support breasts, making them sag.

It’s also detrimental to wear a bra that’s too old. Bras stretch in the wash, and after many washes, they may no longer fit according to the size on the label.

Your go-to bra may need to be replaced with one that fits correctly. While a well-fitting bra can’t increase your breast size, it can promote and accentuate your breasts, making them look their best, no matter their size.

Consider getting professionally fitted the next time you go bra shopping.

Consider breast augmentation surgery

While it’s not a “natural” option, breast augmentation surgery is another strategy to consider.

Breast augmentation surgery is an elective cosmetic procedure that can enlarge or reshape your breasts. Doctors either transfer fat from other areas of your body or insert breast implants made of saline or silicone behind your breast tissue or chest muscle.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and carries some risk, including scarring, infection, implant rupture, breast pain, and wrinkling of the skin around the implant.

Initial recovery from the procedure takes about 1 week. Long-term recovery can last from 4 to 6 weeks, although recovery times vary depending on the individual.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the cost of a breast augmentation surgery can range from $6,000 to $12,000.

Learn more about breast augmentation surgery here.

Strategies that won’t increase your breast size

Eating certain foods

A quick internet search is bound to yield a ton of articles touting the ability of certain foods to increase breast size. However, none of these claims are backed by clinical evidence or legitimate science.

That includes dairy

Whether it comes from cows, goats, or other mammals, all dairy milk contains estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. Since hormones affect breast size in humans, some people are under the impression that drinking lots of dairy milk is a good way to enlarge breasts.

This is a misconception. Drinking milk and eating dairy products won’t increase breast size.

According to a 2019 study, dairy milk may affect breast cancer risk. Most dairy cows are pregnant, so their milk contains higher amounts of hormones. These hormones may raise levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a growth hormone.

Some studies show a modest association between higher levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and breast, prostate, colorectal, and ovarian cancer. While these findings aren’t conclusive, you may wish to limit your intake of dairy milk if you’re concerned or have other risk factors for cancer.

However, other studies suggest there’s no increased risk for breast cancer if you consume dairy. If you do have a family history of breast cancer, it’s best to speak with your doctor to address any concerns.

Soy-based products won’t increase breast size either

If you’re swapping out dairy for soy in the hopes that it’ll increase breast size, don’t bother.

Soy milk and other soy-based products contain phytoestrogens. These are plant-based compounds that mimic estrogen’s effects on the body. For that reason, some people think that soy will help their breasts get bigger.

As is the case with dairy milk, this is a falsehood. There are no clinical studies and no evidence linking phytoestrogens to increased breast size.

Natural breast enhancement products

Many products on the internet promise to increase breast size. These include:

lotions
creams
massages
supplements
enlargement pumps

There’s no clinical evidence indicating that any of these products or devices have any benefit for breast size.

Breast enlargement supplements

In addition to being useless for breast enlargement, supplements may also be unsafe. Be wary of so-called breast-enhancing supplements, as they contain herbs and ingredients that might cause serious interactions with medications you’re currently taking.

They also have no proven health benefits.

Breast enlargement creams

Some breast enhancement or enlargement creams may be beneficial for the skin, but they do nothing to increase breast size. No studies indicate that any cream, lotion, or topical treatment can enlarge breasts.

Some creams indicate on their label that they have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This may be false advertising, so be sure to research the cream before you buy it.

Breast enlargement massages

Breast massage is great for stimulating blood flow, supporting lactation comfort, and detecting potentially malignant lumps. However, it’s completely useless for getting bigger breasts.

There’s no scientific data that breast enlargement is possible through self- or professional massage.

Breast enhancement pumps

Devices such as breast enhancement pumps use pressure and suction to pull on the breasts. This causes them to stretch and swell, which may make them appear larger, temporarily.

Breast enhancement pumps range from just a few dollars to several thousand. Some are even classified by the FDA as 510(k) class II medical devices. Despite this, there are no clinical trials indicating that any device, whether inexpensive or very expensive, will enlarge breasts.

What determines breast size?

Genetics largely determines breast size. When women think about the size of their breasts, they often focus on breast volume or fullness. Other factors, such as chest circumference, also play a role in how large breasts appear.

Both breast volume and bone structure are physical characteristics that can run in families.

Breast size changes with weight and age

In addition to heredity, other factors go into determining breast size. These include weight and age:

The way your breasts look when you’re a teenager is bound to be different than the way they’ll look later in life. Their size may increase or decrease, and some sagging is likely to occur.
Cup size and torso circumference can change significantly with weight gain or loss. If you lose 20 pounds or more, your bra size is likely to go up or down.

Hormones and reproductive cycles affect breast size

Hormones and the reproductive cycle also affect breast size:

Breast tissue starts to plump up with fat during puberty, when your ovaries start to produce estrogen.
Your breasts may temporarily get bigger right before your period, when estrogen and progesterone enlarge the breast ducts and milk glands.
Enlarged breasts are one of the first signs of pregnancy. Estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin work together to stimulate breast enlargement and milk production. Your breasts will continue to increase in size throughout pregnancy as they prepare for lactation.
During menopause, a reduction in estrogen may cause your breasts to lose elasticity and shrink in size.

Key takeaways

No food or diet plan has been clinically proven to increase breast size.

There are also no supplements, pumps, or creams that can make breasts larger.

The best natural way to enhance the look of your breasts is to do exercises that strengthen the chest, back, and shoulder area. Good posture also helps.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Determinants of breast size in Asian women. (2018). Determinants of breast size in Asian women.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-19437-4
Dairy products and breast cancer risk. (2020).https://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Table16Dairymilkconsumptionandbreastcancerrisk.html
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Pruthi S. (2018). Do breast enhancement supplements work?https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/expert-answers/natural-breast-enhancement/faq-20057834
Schanke W, et al. (2012). ACE-sponsored research: Top 3 most effective chest exercises.https://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/2884/ace-sponsored-research-top-3-most-effective-chest-exercises/
Salemy S. (2019). How much does breast augmentation cost?https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-much-does-breast-augmentation-cost
Van Thomme G, et al. (2024). Is soy safe for patients with breast cancer?https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/is-soy-safe-for-patients-with-breast-cancer.h00-159538167.html
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Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Berger, MD, MS — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on June 9, 2025

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