We live in a culture that many people are very self conscious of the way they smell. That’s why millions of Americans spend billions of dollars every year on deodorants and antiperspirants that have tons of toxic chemicals and carcinogens.
Many people even try to mask sweating by wearing antiperspirants when perspiration is an essential way for the body to get rid of heavy metals and toxins. Our sweat glands are perfectly designed to get rid of harmful toxins and chemicals that cannot be fully digested throughout our bodies. The apocrine and ecrine glands are both responsible for perspiration. Apocrine glands under armpit and in feet and hands are responsible for producing fatty acids from protein.
Animals in the wild use their body odor to smell and identify each other. The body odor is a powerful natural bond between mothers and newborns. The unpleasant body odor is a reflection on your lifestyle and diet. Instead of hiding your body odor with toxic deodorants, try to change your lifestyle and eating habits.
1. Change your diet
As we all have heard ‘you are what you eat and what you eat in private will show in public’. The smell that you are trying to get rid of is a reflection of what you eat. A plant-based diet high in chlorophyll, fiber, and phytonutrients is a great way of cleansing your body and getting rid of toxins and chemicals though your colon. Avoid eating red meat, processed foods, refined sugar, or deep fried foods made with toxic hydrogenated vegetable oils. Keep in mind that the heavy sweat (yellow in color) under armpit is because of consumption of red meat or fried foods.
2. Use essential oils as an alternative for toxic deodorants or antiperspirants or use deodorants that are free of aluminum or zinc and made with herbs or organic aromatic oils
You can either make your own home-made deodorants or use natural deodorants made with essential oils and herbal extracts. Here are the lists of some of amazing essential oils that you could use. These essential oils have great medicinal properties and can help to get rid of the body order:
>> Combination of tea tree and peppermint oil (don’t mix them together and rub them separately under armpit)
>> Combination of mint, orange, grapefruit, and rosemary essential oils
>> Combination of virgin coconut oil and essential oils like lavender oil
>> Apple cider has antibacterial properties and can lower skin’s pH level (bacteria cannot live in acidic environment and it will get rid of the smell)
>> Spaying baking soda or rose water under armpit can absorb sweat
3. Cleanse your body on a regular basis
Incorporating 50% to 75% raw organic foods is a great way of cleansing your body on a regular basis. Having green smoothies made with dark leafy vegetable like kale, spirulina and chlorella is a great way to detox. Lemon fast diet or master cleanse is also an effective way to get rid of accumulation of heavy metals and toxins.
4. Shave the armpit and shower more regularly if you have access to clean water
Taking a shower and shaving on a regular basis is a good way to get rid of body odor. Bacteria get trapped in hair and will smell a lot worse when you haven’t shaved for a while. Hair is porous and slows down the cooling and evaporation of sweat. Keep in mind that showering everyday might not be beneficial for your hair and skin’s health, but you may not have a lot of choices if you live in hot/humid places. While you are in the shower, you could rinse your armpit with a mixture of water and alcohol or white vinegar to get rid of the body odor.
5. Drink plenty of water and dress appropriately
Drinking water can help to get rid of the body odor. Wear bright colors made with organic cotton instead of synthetic fabrics. Change your shoes on a regular basis. Keep in mind that changing your shoes can help you get rid of accumulation of bacteria in a concentrated spot.