Having Body Odor Is A Good Reason NOT To Use Deodorants

Most people are not aware of why they perspire. Antiperspirants and perfumes have become so much a part of our lives that we rarely think about why we need them or whether we really need them. It may even be more important to find out if they can be harmful to us.

Deodorants and antiperspirants were invented because more and more people began to perspire excessively and develop body odor. It now appears to be the normal thing to do to give the underarms a spray in the morning and forget about this ‘smelly nuisance’ for the rest of the day. But sweating is not a nuisance; it is the body’s natural way of ridding itself of certain waste products and keeping itself cool. Like the bowels, liver, urinary system and lungs, our sweat glands are also meant to help keep the body clean. Why else would we have them?

To make your body sweat once a day even for a few minutes is a good way to stay healthy. Conversely, clogging up the skin’s pores with chemicals (makeup, beauty creams, sun-blocks, antiperspirants, etc.) harms the skin. Trying to prevent the sweat glands from releasing bodily waste is rather like trying to run a car while blocking its exhaust pipe.

Many people today feel that they need chemical products to control their body odor. This is because other eliminative organs, such as the colon, liver, lungs and kidneys, are badly congested, which coerces the body to dump some of the excess toxic waste into the skin. The chemical products block its excretion of toxins through the skin, which may please the nose, but causes a steady buildup of toxins in the skin and underlying connective tissues; it also increases bacterial development and the risk for skin diseases, even skin cancer.

Body odor is not caused by sweat. Sweat is an odorless fluid consisting of 99 percent water. Normal sweat evaporates from the skin very quickly and leaves no unpleasant odor behind. A slightly unpleasant smell under the armpits or on the skin occurs only when your body needs to employ bacteria to eliminate excessive sweat that could not be removed by fresh air, usually because of wearing synthetic clothes that do not permit proper aeration. There can be as many as half a million bacteria occupying a square inch of skin. In addition, when there are excessive amounts of toxins that need to be digested by bacteria, a strong, putrid smell occurs. Destructive microbes naturally produce bad-smelling gases while digesting waste. The odor on the skin may be a sign of constipation accompanied by poor breath. It also indicates poor performance of liver and kidneys. The body is crying out for help as toxins are ‘bursting at the seams’. But instead of reading the body’s symptoms as a sign of imbalance and taking care of it, most people merely search for ways to shut down the symptoms. If body odor occurs only occasionally, it may be due to indigestion or chemicals in foods.

To combat the bacteria most people use deodorants, and to tackle the excessive underarm wetness, they apply antiperspirants. Deodorants contain germicides that kill the microbes and, as is the case with most of the brands, a synthetic perfume to mask the smell of the germicide. The two most common active ingredients in commercial deodorants/antiperspirants are chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium chlorohydrate. These chemicals react with the protein contained in the sweat and form a gel that partially blocks the sweat glands’ ability to excrete liquid. These chemicals are easily absorbed by the skin. There is increasing evidence that people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease have large amounts of aluminum in their bodies, which may result from the use of deodorants.

Fruits and vegetables naturally synthesize aluminum. This organic, ionic mineral is not only harmless, but also essential for the human body. By contrast, synthetically derived aluminum is highly toxic. The argument by the industry that aluminum can be found almost everywhere in nature is highly misleading because these two types of aluminum have completely opposite effects on the body. The same applies, of course, to almost all minerals and trace elements, including gold, silver, lead, and even arsenic. In their ionic, angstrom-size state (processed by plants), these substances are essential for our bodies, but when taken in their inorganic, metallic forms they can lead to serious poisoning and numerous disorders. Antiperspirants and deodorants are packed with heavy metals and poisonous chemicals. By applying them to your skin they enter the blood and end up accumulating in the liver, kidneys, breast and brain tissue.

These products may not be as damaging to the brain and other parts of the body if all other causes of metal accumulation were excluded. Typically, a person absorbs between 10 and 100 mg of aluminum each day through use of aluminum cookware, antacids, baking soda, and several other sources. And although the reasons for Alzheimer’s disease are ambiguous, research points to aluminum toxicity that may be one of the primary perpetrators.

A natural deodorant stone costs only about $10 and lasts at least two to five years. It works wonderfully and has no nasty side effects. When you check the ingredient list of a deodorant stone, don’t get alarmed when you see the word ‘alum’ written there. Alum isn’t the same thing as aluminum chlorhydrate. Alum is a natural mineral salt, and is unrelated to aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium chlorohydrate. The mineral salts in the deodorant stone don’t block perspiration, they mainly just cover odor.

How to effectively deal with body odor:

· Pitta and Pitta-Vata types are the most prone to develop body odor. Follow the Ayurvedic regimen and cleansing procedures. Remove all gallstones from your liver and cleanse your kidneys. Avoid too many acid-forming foods such animal proteins, fats and starches. The more refined and processed the foods are, the more likely the skin will have to eliminate toxic waste. The digestion of toxins by skin bacteria causes an unpleasant smell of skin. Meat eaters especially have a tendency to develop bad body odor. Stick to fruits, vegetables, and salads as your main source of alkaline-forming foods. They also work as natural cleansers.

· Stop using deodorants and antiperspirants; they only reinforce the problem by blocking off part of your lymphatic system and dispersing the toxins together with the chemicals contained in these products into other parts of your body, including the breasts. This can cause lumps and cancer of the breast!

· Wash the afflicted areas in the morning with a natural soap that contains no harmful chemicals and finish off with a splash of cold water on your underarms.

· Make sure to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes. Synthetics will prevent your skin from breathing and eliminating toxins.

· You may want to make a solution of your most favorite essential oil (one to two drops in an ounce of water; shake well to disperse the oil!) and dab it on your underarms.

· I recommend deodorant stones that are made from non-toxic and natural materials such as potassium sulphate and other colloidal minerals. They are pure and harmless and stop bacteria from spreading if applied right after washing. They are available from most health food stores.

A note on colognes or perfumes:

They can lead to serious allergies, birth defects, and even cancer. A major loophole in U.S. Federal law allows fragrance makers to include potentially hazardous chemicals in their products, including the highly toxic phthalates and artificial musk. Most fragrances contain phthalates. They are added to plastic to soften it. When absorbed by the skin, they act as the most powerful estrogens ever known. And abnormal estrogen levels cause cancer. Synthetically produced musk is linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer as well. Natural fragrances emitted from aroma oils are beneficial for the body. Synthetic aromas, on the other hand, disrupt hormonal communication, and they accumulate in your body, building up toxicity.

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This is an excerpt from my book TIMELESS SECRETS OF HEALTH & REJUVENATION