Natural Deodorants -
Do They Stop Sweating?
Book Review
July 5, 2012 |
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I have absolutely no hesitation in saying "Stop Sweating and Start Living" will soon put antiperspirant companies out of business.
I was reluctant at first to endorse any product but this book was different. The remedies it suggests are all-natural and target the root causes of problem sweating.
My only complaint is that it is only available as an instant access ebook. It can't be purchased in bookstores or on Amazon.com, but I'm sure the instant download feature is popular with people overseas and those who are ready to get started.
I strongly recommend "Stop Sweating and Start Living" to anyone who sweats excessively in the underarm, hand, foot, face or back areas.
- James Chambers
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Just as sweating is a normal biological function so deodorants
are a common part of modern lifestyle. They have emerged as
a convenient response to the sweat problems that the fast and stressful
life of
today creates. However the outlook regarding the concept of
deodorants seems to have undergone a massive transformation in recent
years
following some path-breaking new medical research.
The whole idea of a deodorant is closely associated with perspiration
and body odor. Perspiration leads to body odor in some cases and
to hide the body odor we need deodorants. While most people still
buy the artificial deodorants available on the market natural deodorants
attract those who prefer natural lifestyles. However in order to
comprehend the pros and cons of natural deodorants we have to know
some basic facts about body odor and perspiration first. Only then
will we be able to comprehend how natural deodorants work as a safeguard
against social embarrassment and discomfort without resulting in
a long-term health hazard.
What is perspiration?
Perspiration or the process of sweating is just another physiological
function like breathing or digestion performed by the human body.
It is in fact the body’s way of maintaining the “homeostasis” to
keep us cool. We have over 3 million sweat glands under our skin
which are connected to the brain through the channels of the sympathetic
nervous system. When the body temperature goes beyond normal limits
the brain sends the signal to release fluids on to the surface of
the skin so that the skin as well as the whole body cools down.
Thus sweat glands are like the air conditioners of our body and
perspiration is a beneficial process to neutralize the effects of
sudden spurts of heat on our system.
What is body odor?
Body odor is an outcome of sweat but perspiration itself has no
odor as such and this is an important distinction. At its core
sweat is a salty watery liquid free of any odor. When it reaches
the skin’s surface it becomes exposed to other elements and
certain types of bacteria start to break down the sweat. It is the
action of these bacteria that is responsible for the strong body
odor that some people emit.
From areas like the underarms sweat cannot evaporate easily and
the bacteria have more chances to accumulate in this and similar
parts of the body. In addition there are special kinds of sweat
glands to be found under the skin of the underarms called apocrine
glands. These are the glands that grow during puberty and secrete
sweat in response to sexual arousal emotional tension or nervousness.
The organic substances that these glands ooze draw a higher number
of odor-causing bacteria.
In addition to these bacteria factors such as stress wrong diet
skin problems or dysfunctional metabolism may also cause body odor.
The use of deodorants in dealing with body odor
Whatever the source of body odor deodorants seem to be the commonest
solution for combating this irritating part of life. Deodorants are
products meant to diminish body odor by deactivating the functions
of odor-causing bacteria. However they do not address or claim to
eliminate the root causes of the odor from your system. They merely
reduce the discomfort resulting from a foul smell. Being applied
more than once through the day deodorants work to prevent bacteria
from growing in those parts of the body that sweat most profusely
and thereby keep the bad odor in check to a large extent.
The emergence of natural deodorants
At the turn of the millennium the world seems to have been invaded
by new generations of environmental hazards and newer kinds of diseases
seem to creep into human genes. Extreme stress in our professional
as well as personal lives threatens to strike at the core of human
relationships. Under these circumstances natural ways of living
and use of all things natural in almost all aspects of life are becoming
the norm for an increasing number of people all over the world as
our concern about the environment and the effects of chemicals on
our health rises rapidly. People are concerned about what they are
eating what they are using on their skins and even what they are
wearing like never before. The use of natural deodorants is an integral
part of this new attitude to grooming among both men and women. In
short natural deodorants represent an organic solution to the problem
of body odor.
What is a natural deodorant?
Natural deodorants are an environment-friendly answer to the problem
of body order. In most natural deodorants ammonium alum is
the chief ingredient. It is an organic compound abundantly
found in nature
and it encourages bacterio-static action reducing bacterial
growth. Since alum molecules weigh almost 36 times more than
water it is
impossible for our skin to absorb them physically.
You can obtain
these natural deodorants in the form of crystallized rock
but they are also available in spray and roll-on forms.
Natural deodorants are strictly free of toxic components
such as alcohol and aluminum. They are biodegradable and
cruelty-free. Perfume is an optional ingredient and in most
of the cases
essential
oils are added to make them scented.
Benefits of natural deodorants
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Several studies in applied toxicology have found links between
breast cancer in women and chemical ingredients used as
preservatives in some synthetic deodorants. But alum the chief
ingredient
of natural deodorants is an organic element and its molecules
are too large
to permeate through the skin
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They address the problem of odors
by hindering the process of bacterial growth without
blocking the pores on the skin
and without interfering with the process of cooling the
body through perspiration
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Tests have confirmed their hypoallergenic
nature
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They offer a non-sticky way of neutralizing underarm
odor and offer all-day protection
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They are stain free and
have a shelf life of 10-12 months
Natural deodorants do not stop sweating
Most people unintentionally use deodorants and antiperspirants as
synonymous terms. But they are grossly mistaken in their concept.
Antiperspirants are some aluminum-based chemicals that work
in reducing perspiration. But perspiration has its own designated
functions.
It is one of the ways to cool our body and maintain salt levels.
Artificial antiperspirants block the pores to prevent sweating.
Deodorants
on the other hand are based on a different principal altogether.
The ingredients in them slow down the process of
bacterial growth which are the main reasons some of us have
body odor. So
with deodorants you don’t have to worry about cooling the body
or clogged pores.
Below are the recipes of two of the most effective natural deodorants
that can be easily made at home:
Baking Soda Powder and Cornstarch Mixture
Baking soda is an alkaline that helps in the rapid evaporation of
sweat. To get a hundred percent natural deodorant make a mixture
of equal quantities of baking soda and cornstarch. You can also add
a few drops of essential oil to make it lightly scented. Apply on
dry underarms.
Liquid Deodorant
If you prefer your natural deodorant in liquid form make tea with
aromatic herbs like sage rosemary mint or coriander. Dilute with
mineral water and add essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus
to get the anti-bacterial effect.
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