Antiperspirants prevent sweating, but at what cost?

[Ravindran]

 

Antiperspirants prevent sweating, but at what cost?

Do you watch Asin on screen telling you to switch to an antiperspirant, which will prevent you from sweating? Do you envy those stars on screen as they flaunt their sweat-free armpits thanks to those antiperspirants?

From deodorants and perfumes that minimize the smell of sweat, now we have antiperspirants that promise no sweat at all.

Sounds good doesn’t it? No sweat, no smell, no wet underarms, no sticking stinking clothes.

But if you just stop for a moment and give this a read you might think differently. You might switch back to a deodorant or maybe even no deodorant at all!

What should I be aware of?

• Blocking of pores - Sweating is a natural process wherein the body cools off and gets rid of toxins from within the body. By blocking the pores and not allowing the toxins to be released you could cause your body harm.
• Breast and prostate cancer - Reports have suggested that antiperspirants contain harmful substances, which can be absorbed through the skin into the body through nicks caused by shaving. Some scientists have also deduced that certain ingredients in underarm antiperspirants or deodorants may be related to breast cancer because they are applied frequently to the area next to the breast. There are also indications that the blocking of pores may lead to prostate cancer. However there is no concrete evidence or research that can prove these facts.

Harmful ingredients:

• Aluminum compounds causing  ailments - The aluminum compounds and other chemicals in the antiperspirant can get absorbed into the lymphatic system (network in the body to carry fluids) of those who shave their armpits. Some tests suggest that this in turn may lead to Alzheimer’s and/or other hormonal dysfunctions.
• Triclosan - Triclosan is a controversial antibacterial agent. It is used in antiperspirants and deodorants because the reason people smell bad is due to the bacteria present in the sweat. Triclosan has been shown to be a hormone disruptor.

Why is sweating good

Sweating cools down the body within minutes. So the more you sweat the cooler your body temperature remains. It acts as a toxic flush and cleanses our pores and skin.

There are also studies that show that sweating calms the nerves and relaxes the mind and body.

All the above in turn reduce the aging process of our face and body. So sweating actually helps you look young!

What causes body odor?

Sweat is a way of the body to release body wastes. So the more toxins you take in, the more odor your sweat releases.

People can pick up toxins from the air, food, household and beauty products. When there are imbalances in the metabolism, strong odors will result.

 The most important thing related to body odor is your diet. Foods that can cause body odor are red meat, highly processed and refined foods, eggs, and strong smelling foods such as onions, garlic and spices. Thus it is essential to detoxify your body to prevent body odor. Once the toxic waste is cleansed excessive body odor can be curbed.

But I still perspire!

Here are some simple tips to manage body sweat and odor in a healthy way:

• Natural, disinfectant soap - Use a natural soap that is not just a beauty soap but is also one that disinfects the body of germs.
• Bathing or showering everyday - It is common sense to bathe regularly and bathe well not in a hurry. Preferably bathe twice a day to stay clean and odor free.
• Fabric - Wear breathable, comfortable fabric. Especially ones that absorb sweat - like cotton, knitted fabrics, towel fabrics, or cotton blended denim.
• Eating habits - Switch to simpler food, easy on the meat and concentrate more on veggies and fruits.
• Cotton padding - You could place a cotton pad in armpits that would allow sweat absorption and prevent cloth dampening.
• Good smelling clothes - Wash your clothes with a nice smelling detergent; it could keep you smelling good too. You can also apply deodorant and perfume to the inside of your clothes and not directly on your body so you smell good and do not harm your skin.

 Natural substitutes for antiperspirants

• Baking soda - A teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a bit of water makes a great natural antiperspirant. How much water to add is up to you depending on your perspiration level and how comfortable you are with the paste. Some apply the baking soda as powder itself directly. You can even add a little bit of your favorite essential oil like sunflower or mustard.
• Baking soda and corn starch – A paste using equal parts of baking soda and corn starch is also a good substitute for an antiperspirant. (but it may give off a different kind of smell and can become moist by the end of the day)
• Lemon - Lime juice also acts as a good antiperspirant but be careful to avoid applying lime juice on cuts or recently shaved areas as it would then cause you great discomfort.

Depending on your preference you can use any of the given options. Messing with the natural processes of the body can cause a lot of harm so do think twice before you use antiperspirants. Switch to a mild deodorant, if at all or ideally just carry a fresh change of clothes!

 

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