Wellness Minute:
Is Your Deodorant Impeding Your Body's Detox Process?
by Carollyn Mushro
A basic household staple used by both men and women on a daily basis could be majorly interfering with your wellness goals– DEODORANT. It’s understandable why people hang on to conventional deodorants and antiperspirants: we don’t want to look sweaty, smell stinky, or feel uncomfortably damp in our armpits.
Deodorant is a product that inhibits your body’s natural secretion of toxins through our largest detox organ– our skin. An antiperspirant and deodorant combo will clog your skin follicles so that you’re not able to sweat as much as your body requires…all of which could potentially cause long-term health effects.
Sweating is a natural process of cooling and detoxifying your body. When we inhibit our body’s natural cleansing and detoxifying process, deodorants and antiperspirants also release harmful chemicals into our bodies. Our armpits play a super important role in our body’s detox process, so clogging them with anti-perspiration is impeding our body’s natural lymph & immune function.
Most conventional deodorants & antiperspirants contain parabens, propylene glycol, triclosan, TEA, DEA, among other toxic chemicals. Some of these chemicals increase the risk of breast cancer by mimicking estrogen. Aluminum is the ingredient in antiperspirants that actually clogs your pores and prevents sweating. Aluminum is known to be inflammatory, especially when applied to the glands surrounding the breasts. Aluminum exposure has been linked with the development of Alzheimer’s disease and interferes with estrogen levels. When our body can’t process estrogen properly, there’s a higher risk for breast and prostate cancer.
Switching to a natural deodorant can be the perfect solution. Spring is the perfect time to make the switch to prep for the hot summer months to come. Unfortunately, our pits can start releasing all the toxins they have been hanging into for years, making the switch to a safer alternative... umm...stinky! This is actually a good thing because it means your body can finally release all the yuck.
This is how I recommend making this crucial swap for long-term health benefits:
Step 1– Detox those pits to help your body get rid of toxins it has been hanging onto.
Here is the recipe I like to use. You can do this as often as you wish– some people repeat it daily until they notice a decrease in odor.
- 1 T Bentonite Clay— pulls metals together & draws them out
- 1 T organic ACV— antibacterial, detoxifier, regulates pH
- 1 T water
- 1 capsule activated charcoal— great for removing impurities from the skin
- Essential oils of choice: Tea Tree, Rosemary, Cilantro, Lavender or Geranium are all great choices.
Mix all ingredients using non-metal bowls and spoons. Apply liberally to the pits, waiting approximately 20 minutes for it to draw out impurities, then rinse it off. As an added bonus, any leftovers can also be used as a face mask!
It may be tempting to skip this step, but I believe it is crucial for long-term success. I usually do this detox a few times a year for general maintenance and self-care.
Step 2– Look for a deodorant (not an antiperspirant) that contains baking soda (I think this ingredient is key!) A few favorite brands are Schmidt’s, Native and Primally Pure.
Be sure to avoid the following common offenders: Aluminum Salts, “Fragrance” (this is a trade secret term that can be used to hide questionable ingredients), Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Dyes, Talc, Triclosan, Triethanolamine (TEA) and Diethanolamine (DEA).
Step 3– Mind what you consume. Certain foods will actually change the way your body odor smells. If you want to test the way foods can change your body odor, try removing typical offenders like caffeine, alcohol, pork, and foods fried in unhealthy oils. The best foods for combating body odor are leafy greens.
Quality supplements with spirulina and chlorophyll will help with body odor, as will a probiotic. Staying hydrated with plenty of water helps your body remove everyday toxins in an efficient way and can help prevent body odor, as well!
About the Contributor
Carollyn is a wellness enthusiast living in the Chicago burbs with her husband and two children. She loves inspiring families to find their own healthy journey through holistic modalities. She loves kombucha, travel, and questioning the status quo.
You can find her on IG: @carollyn.mushro