The Organic Advantage The Benefits of Going Natural for Your Dog

11 Natural Deodorant Benefits: Smell Fresh with No Risk

In the United States, deodorant is a part of everyday life for most of us. But, the more you read about the roll-ons and solids sold at most stores, you may be wondering if switching to a natural deodorant is the best option for you and your loved ones. That said, why use a natural deodorant? As it turns out, there are quite a few advantages to this.

You Need To Sweat

First off, our bodies were designed to sweat and some of the products in the deodorant aisle are antiperspirants, which can be harmful to your health. First off, sweat keeps us cool, which is important when we are exercising or doing anything strenuous. But it is also vital for your everyday life.

Keeping your internal temperature at a normal degree helps keep your systems running smoothly. If you start to overheat, trouble can brew. So we sweat and bring out temperature back to normal. Antiperspirants stop us from sweating, which isnt natural.

Some studies have shown that even though the overall health aspect hasnt been proven, sweating does remove some toxins from your body. It also helps regulate the water in our bodies.

Skin Issues

Certain people have shown to have allergic reactions to the ingredients in some antiperspirants and deodorants. They typically result in contact dermatitis under the arms, which can be painful. Symptoms of this rash include red skin, dry patches that resemble scales, oozing blisters, itching, burning, swelling, and hives.

There are several ways you can relieve contact dermatitis. Examples are over-the-counter medications and essential oil blends, but the best idea would be to just not use the substance that caused the reaction. It needs to be mentioned that even natural substances can cause allergic reactions, so if you start seeing signs of a reaction, stop using it.

So Long Synthetic Fragrances

One of the things we love about our essential oils is that they are completely natural. These scents are extracted from their host plants via steam distillation or extraction. After which, the oils in that little bottle are the purest essence of that plant. We cant say the same for synthetic fragrances.

In fact, the synthetic fragrances we find in cosmetics, perfumes, and deodorants are created from petrochemicals. There are few regulations when it comes to using the word fragrance in products, which isnt a great thing to hear when you are a consumer. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported that the average fragrance has fourteen secret chemical ingredients.

Learning about the chemicals found in commercial fragrances used in these products is quite an eye-opener and solidifies my need to use a natural deodorant.

Pores Clogged with Toxins

With this point, we go back to the sweating is good for you ideology. Clogged pores are something you may have only considered when it came to your face. Yet, your skin covers your entire body and every inch of your skin has pores. Sure, there are areas that generate more sweat than others, yet there are pores in those armpits and they can get clogged.

All kinds of thing can clog your pores including dead skin cells and deodorant precipitates. Environmental factors come into play as well including airborne toxins, oil from your hands, and even our beloved sweat. There are ways to unclog your pores like washing them daily or taking a steam bath. But, pulling one culprit out of the mix wouldnt be so bad.

You may be thinking, Well, wouldnt a natural deodorant also clog my pores? The truth is, probably, but the substance will be natural. Not filled with synthetic fragrances, aluminum, and other chemicals the commercially sold brands contain. If you were going to shove anything into your body, wouldnt you rather it be organic than man-made? I would.

No Aluminum

There has been a LOT of controversy surrounding the fact that they use several types of aluminum to creates the sweat stopping powers of certain antiperspirants. But, research has shown that is can cause genes in the breast tissue to become unstable. This does not directly link cancer to aluminum but concern still exists.

Another study shows that using deodorants or antiperspirants on shaved underarms frequently is related to signs of breast cancer at an early age. Time reported that one doctor feels the unstable genes we just spoke about leaves room for tumors to grow.

We would never make the claim that anything causes cancer. But we give you information to judge for yourself. These scientific studies show that aluminum could cause health issues. So why even use it?

No Triclosan

This substance is an antimicrobial added to products to avert bacterial contamination. Animals testing with triclosan showed that it disrupted thyroid hormone-associated gene expressions. Further studies showed that skin exposed to triclosan had issues with normal genetic functioning.

Triclosan is everywhere though. Its in our deodorant and in the liquid hand soap we leave in the bathroom next to the sink. The FDA banned the use of triclosan with a list of other chemicals in 2017, but some products might have slipped under the radar, even in your antiperspirant.

No Parabens

You may think of hair care when first hearing this word, but the fact is, there are different kinds of parabens used for different types of products. They are added to preserve them for sale. Some studies have suggests that parabens close to the breast tissue may mess with estrogen production.

The National Cancer Institute says there is no link between parabens and breast cancer, but Dr. Philip Harvey told Time that just because the direct link hasnt been proven doesnt mean it isnt there. There have been studies that showed no evidence and another that has. With these two studies alone, thats a fifty-fifty chance. Those alone are too close to odds for me.

No Phthalates

I promise, this is the last potentially harmful ingredient in your deodorant on our list, but this one is in a lot of places you would never suspect as well. This hard to pronounce additive is found in cosmetics, personal care items, toys made of plastic, mini blinds, detergents and much more. What it does for deodorants is makes sure the fragrance sticks to your skin.

Weve already discussed the risks with synthetic scents. When added to this to mix, it is all the more worrisome. Phthalates have been linked to asthma and its use during pregnancy, and it has also been connected with lower IQ. When you consider the cautions of all these additives put together, it makes you rethink what you are putting into your pits.

You Can Make Your Own

When it comes to making my own things, I cant get enough. Maybe its the cook in me or maybe its my need to be in constant control of what goes into my body. No matter, I dont mind. Making a natural deodorant isnt difficult if you have the time, ingredients, and ability to follow directions. Plus, you can create one that highlights your favorite essential oils and change them up.

They can be made with arrowroot powder, baking soda, or even charcoal. Coconut oil is a binder that holds a lot of it together, so you can add your scents and makes it easy to apply. Personally, I love floral aroma after I shower so I use equal parts lavender, ylang-ylang, and rose. I like to add some tea tree every now and then because its so powerful, and one drop typically suffices.

It is Better For You

If youve been reading this blog then you know we believe in the powers of aromatherapy and personally use essential oils in our everyday life. We do this because they add to our health and well being. I have personally used several scents to heal burns, battle infections, diminish the look of scars, clean my home, help me focus, and give me room to relax. I love my oils.

So, when you make your own or purchase a natural deodorant that youve researched, they are using whole natural ingredients and scents that can only increase your walk down the path of health and well being. You arent adding to the toxins. For example, coconut oil has amazing benefits, and when you use a homemade deodorant made with it, it adds to your life.

It Works!

Some people will tell you that they tried natural deodorants but they didnt work as well as the commercial products theyve become used to. I dont know how true that is. My belief is that we have been so used to using chemicals to stop our body from functioning properly, like sweating when we need to, that we excuse the risks.

When you take on a life that is natural, you will be cleaning out some toxins from your body. But as you move away from synthetic materials that are possibly harmful to your health, you will find that natural deodorant will work with your pheromones. They wont stop you from sweating, but they will make you smell great.

Finally

Some of the information in this piece is scary, although it is the reality of things we are exposed to every day. For what its worth, take what you read with a grain of salt. Its fair to say that when we suspect products have nasty chemicals in them that can potentially cause harm to our bodies, we try to stay away and remove it from our lives and opt for a safer, more natural alternative.

Let us know if you liked this piece in the comments section below. We love to hear back from our readers and use their insight to bring you what you want.

Should you go organic?

Organic produce may have fewer pesticide residues than conventionally grown produce. But the amounts for both are within the levels for safe consumption. Image: Thinkstock

These foods are grown without fertilizers, pesticides, and other synthetic additives. But are they better for you?

Walk through any grocery store today, and you'll likely see more shelf space devoted to organicsfoods that are grown without most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and animal products that are free of antibiotics and hormones. Demand for organic food is up, with sales reaching $35.9 billion in 2014. "I think people believe these foods are better for them, but we really don't know that they are," says registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

What's the buzz about?

Organic agriculture aims to preserve natural resources, support animal health and welfare, and avoid most synthetic materials. It's not just a philosophy; the USDA regulates the organic industry with strict standards. The soil where crops are grown must be inspected and shown to be free of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and the crops cannot have been genetically modified. Animals raised on organic farms receive no antibiotics or growth hormones, are given feed that has been grown organically, and are able to roam around outside. Processed organic foods must not contain synthetic additives.

The USDA then certifies organic crops, animal products, and processed foods. Only foods that are 95% organic can carry a "USDA Organic" seal.

Is there a benefit?

While organic foods have fewer synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and are free of hormones and antibiotics, they don't appear to have a nutritional advantage over their conventional counterparts. "There've been a number of studies examining the macro- and micronutrient content, but whether organically or conventionally grown, the foods are really similar for vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates," says McManus.

According to USDA data, organic foods have fewer pesticide residues than conventionally grown produce. But the amounts for both types of produce are within the level for safe consumption. And it's unclear if the pesticides used in organic farming are safer than nonsynthetic pesticides used in conventional farming. "The verdict is still out about pesticides and fertilizers as far as the long-term impact on health. There are so many other variables in the environment. It's hard to say it's the pesticide on the peach that was the primary cause of a health-related issue," says McManus.

Similarly, we don't have enough information yet to know if the lack of hormones and antibiotics in organic animal products makes them healthier than conventional animal products.

Should you buy it?

McManus says she doesn't recommend organic food to people, but will talk with them about it if they are concerned about pesticides. "At this time, after examining the data, I don't see any nutritional reasons to choose organic foods over conventional," she says.

If you do want to go organic, you'll likely notice a higher price tag on many items, as much as 10% to 50% more than conventional foods.

How do you make the decision about going organic? "It's usually people who are concerned about what's going into food production and who can afford to make the choice for organic," says McManus. Some people intuitively feel that foods with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and trace amounts of hormones and antibiotics, likely have adverse health effects, even if that has not been proved. And some people choose organic foods not for health reasons, but because they think they taste better.

Making the switch to organic food Where would you start if you wanted to go organic? "Produce," says registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. Try buying organic versions of foods on the Dirty Dozen list, published each year by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The list shows USDA findings of conventionally grown foods most likely to contain pesticide residues. This year's list includes apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, snap peas, spinach, strawberries, and sweet bell peppers. Produce items with thicker skins tend to have fewer pesticide residues, because the thick skin or peel protects the inner fruit or vegetable. Remove the skin or peel, and you're removing much of the residue. The EWG puts out a list of those foods, too, called the Clean 15. On the list this year: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papayas, pineapples, sweet corn, sweet peas, and sweet potatoes. Image: iStock