I saw this article in a health newsletter that arrived in my email inbox. It had some good tips but was not completely toxic-free. So here’s my rewritten nontoxic version.
Summer is about sweating. Sweat is a good thing, it cools your body down on a hot day, to maintain consistent body temperature.
Perspiration itself is practically odorless, made up mostly of water and salt. When it mixes with the bacteria that live on your skin, however it turns into body odor.
Keeping body odor under control starts with following some basic rules of hygiene:
- Bathe at least once a day – more often if needed. Showering or taking a bath reduces the amount of bacteria on your skin and also washes sweat down the drain.
- DON’T use an antibacterial soap. Though antibacterial soaps will kill the bacteria that causes body odor, most antibacterial “deodorant” soaps contain triclosan, a pesticide that can cause liver damage when absorbed through your skin. Just plain, unscented soap works well enough. And you don’t even need to apply soap to your entire body–armpits, upper thighs, and feet are the areas that generate most body odor.
- Dry your body carefully. Pay particular attention to the area between your toes and to armpits, upper thighs and genitals. When your skin is dry, it’s harder for bacteria to breed.
- Shave your underarms regularly. This will help keep bacteria from building up there.
- If needed, use a baking soda to reduce underarm odor. Yes, plain baking soda. I have recommended baking soda to a number of people who have suffered for many years with unconquerable body odor, and they say it’s the only thing that has worked for them. Just take a bit of dry baking soda on your fingertips and pat it under your arms after you’ve dried off from your shower. Your skin should be slightly damp, but not wet. If the baking soda feels too abrasive to you, you can mix it with cornstarch or white clay.
- Wear clothes made with natural fibers. Cotton, linen, silk, and wool all allow your skin breathe.
- Wash your clothes often — especially clothes that you sweat in. In summer, when you’re more likely to perspire, change your clothes frequently.
- Keep your feet dry. Wear socks made of moisture-absorbing materials like cotton and wool and change them often. To allow your feet to breathe, choose sandals and shoes made of leather. Better yet, go barefoot when you can.
- Watch what you eat. Sometimes eating spicy or fatty foods can lead to body odor.
If your body smells really bad continuously, it might be a sign of illness or toxic overload. It makes sense to me that the body in its natural state would smell good, as do other things in nature, and that a bad odor would be a symptom of something wrong with a body. Check with your health professional if bad body odor persists.
