How’s Your BO Today?

That’s because I don’t need it, or the toxic chemicals in it. When I do, I use essential oils in rose water.

However, I and Cameron are not average. Most people wear it because they need it to disguise a rather unpleasant odour. It's the reason why Americans alone spent over US$2.9 Billon on antiperspirants /deodorants in 2012 (ref. 2), while completely ignoring the primary causes.

What then are those causes, and why do some need deodorants and not others? This blog addresses those questions.

What Causes Body Odour (BO)?

First let’s get clear about what BO is and isn’t. Many conventional doctors will tell you that BO is caused by bacteria living in your armpits.

This is only partly true. The fact is bacteria live all over and in you. It is neither possible nor wise to try and eliminate all of them because they offer vital help with basic physiological processes—from digestion to growth to immunisation (ref. 3).

Secondly, BO is triggered only when bacteria living on the skin break down the protein in sweat into acids - a chemical called 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid. But, note that the sweat itself is odourless to humans, though dogs and other animals can smell it.

The smell itself is determined by many factors such as medical conditions (diabetes, liver/kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, hyperthyroidism etc.), hormones, fungal infection and alcohol consumption.

But by far the most significant cause is dietary.

BO is the by-product of your body cleaning itself and eliminating toxins originating in the foods we eat and the environment we live in.

So by using deodorant products, you block the exit door and force those toxins to stay in your system!

BO Basics

Your body is masterfully designed with a series of metabolic processes that help keep it clean on the inside.

They include urination, bowel movements, exhaling carbon dioxide and other toxins through your lungs, and expelling mucus and dust through your nose when you sneeze and blow. As your skin is the largest organ, it plays the most significant part in purging toxins.

Now you may be wondering…"Where do all these toxins come from?"

Your internal garbage pile is a messy mix of toxins from environmental chemicals, smoking, pollution and medications. The biggest sources of inner junk are eating processed "non-foods" and poor digestion. In essence: garbage in, garbage out!

Your body is designed to be nourished by real foods - a variety of fresh, preferably organic vegetables, fruits, meats/fish, nuts, seeds and healthy fats. When it gets these nutrients, enzymes break down each kind of food, so that all the nutrients can be assimilated. Any excess unusable residue is easily eliminated by your bowel movements.

When someone instead exists largely on processed, packaged low quality--aka "non-foods", your body is not designed to know what to do with them.

It tries to break them down to absorb whatever scant "vitamins and minerals" might be in them. But a large part ends up as acid waste and toxins that your body (especially your skin, liver and kidneys—your main organs of detox) has to get rid of.

Over time, the situation may become serious when poorly broken down food molecules may "leak" out of the intestines into the blood stream leading to a disorder known as ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome (ref. 4). This can trigger an autoimmune reaction, which may develop into gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, excessive gas and cramps, fatigue, food sensitivities, joint pain, rashes and more.

In the process, your body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes is impaired and nutrient absorption reduced. This in turn may lead to overeating, excess weight, or to the development of deficiency diseases.

It’s hardly surprising then, that BO is becoming such a revealing symptom of more fundamental internal strife.

So how can one avoid this internal toxic war, and promote a more ‘appealing’ body odour?

How to Prevent the Causes of BO

Remember garbage in, garbage out - the way to eliminate BO, is not to mask it with unhealthy deodorant products. Rather you need to clean up your body from the inside out, and develop a lifestyle that encourages healthy vibrant living.

We have described how to do this in detail here "What are the Key Steps for Vibrant Foundational Health and Well-being"

There are two great advantages of following this Protocol. Not only will you eliminate or reduce your BO, you will also address the key causes of degeneration and aging: (excess free radicals, oxidative stress, glycation, abnormal methylation, chronic inflammation, DNA Degradation, hormonal imbalance and toxicity/impaired detoxification.)

Imagine looking and feeling younger, more energised, and smelling fresher, naturally!

On a side note, I expect that some of you may say. “Well I survive on processed foods and don’t have BO. So how do you explain that?”

My response is “I can’t give you a personal explanation because I don’t know all the factors about you and your lifestyle. What I am sure of however, is that you can’t defy Nature and Natural Laws forever. Eventually the body will break down under the stress of fundamental imbalances and toxic overload.

Who was it who said: “Most people work hard and spend their health trying to achieve wealth. Then they retire and spend their wealth trying to get back their health.”

References

1. Cameron Diaz and deodorant http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/cameron-diaz-says-she-hasnt-worn-deodorant-in-20-years/story-fn907478-1226895651869
2. US deodorant expenditure in 2012 http://store.mintel.com/deodorants-and-antiperspirants-us-february-2012?cookie_test=true
3. How bacteria in and on the body are good for us http://www.livescience.com/32761-good-bacteria-boost-immune-system.html
4. About Leaky Gut Syndrome http://www.sharecare.com/search?query=Could+Leaky+Gut+Be+What+is+Troubling+You%3F