Why I'm Ok with B.O.

Seriously, I could really care less if I emit a "little" b.o. here and there. I know I am clean. I bathe daily. (I know your eyes are like silver dollars at the moment and I'm totally fine with it.) Through research and reading, I have come to realize that deodorant is more harmful than good... in my opinion.

Awhile back I did a post on the skin... our skin is the barrier that can either trap or absorb what it comes in contact with. For instance, if it is something that is spread onto the skin and is made up of a laundry list of chemicals, it will definitely be absorbed. In respect to the use of deodorant, breast cancer is high on the list of concerns, not only because of the underarm's close proximity to breast tissue but because several common ingredients in deodorants are estrogenic compounds.

Deodorant contains several ingredients, four of which are dangerous chemicals that are absorbed through the skin. They are: aluminium, parabens, propylene glycol and triclosan.

First, the aluminum in deodorant is designed to plug pores and stop the skin from emitting sweat. Sweating is an important function in the body for maintaining proper body temperature and to eliminate toxins. So by using deodorant you are stopping something that nature intended. More importantly, aluminum is a metal that mimics estrogen and can promote the growth of cancerous and non-cancerous cells. One of estrogen's roles in the body is to promote the growth of breast tissue, so an excess might lead to cancerous overgrowth.

Another chemical found in deodorant are parabens. Parabens are artificial preservatives found in over 13,000 personal care products. Again we have another hormone disruptor being introduced to the skin around the armpit, and then being absorbed into the body... very close to the breast. Studies prove that evidence of parabens are present in breast tissue and tumors.

Next harmful chemical in deodorant is proplyene glycol, this is an agent that prevents things from drying out. Ironically, proplyene glycol is a chemical currently found in antifreeze. It is a neurotoxin that is known to cause dermatitis, kidney and liver damage.

Lastly is triclosan, an antimicrobial agent used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces. There are studies showing that triclosan disrupts thyroid and other hormonal functions in the body. You can read more about triclosan here.

To me, the dangers of deodorant definitely outweigh the benefits. Why mess with nature? We can't eliminate every toxin our body comes in contact with, but we can take baby steps in the choices we make when it comes to the products we put on our body.

So you may be asking, "what do I do about the smell... the sweat?". Luckily, all natural deodorants are becoming more mainstream and have improved their effectiveness over the years. They are using ingredients like baking soda, hops and essential oils. You may have to try different kinds until you find one that works for you. Make sure to look for "paraben-free" and "aluminum-free".

But to be honest with you, your diet plays a major role in your body's smells whether it be from your breath, bowels or underarms. Eating a clean diet... a diet with minimally processed and sugary foods, lots of fruits and vegetables and less animal products ... over time will actually eliminate some of those odors that we try to mask.

The Disease You Can Really Fight Against

Are you afraid of things? Are there things you avoid so you don't have to face unsettling situations? Or are you one of those people that just faces things head on?

I guess you could say I am an "avoider" of things that scare me. I will do just about anything I can do avoid scary or potentially hazardous places or occurrences.

I'll just put it out there... I am scared to death of one disease. Well, there are several. But one in particular that just sends chills through my body at the thought. It is... Alzheimer's. With other diseases I feel I would at least try to alter my diet diet, lifestyle and use other natural methods to help or control the disease... with Alzheimer's, it goes out of your control.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people, symptoms begin to appear after the age of 60. Research states that damage to the brain begins at least a decade before symptoms appear.

Current research states that although Alzheimer's disease may be genetically to blame, but there are studies that are proving abundant routes to prevent it as well.

Along with exercise and keeping your mind active, here are my simple strategies on how to do your part to fight Alzheimer's...

1. Consume fish oil. The DHA in fish oil is found to increase the production of LR11, a protein that is found at reduced levels in Alzheimer's patients. LR11 is known to destroy the protein that forms the plaques associated with the disease. Best methods to consume DHA is either through wild salmon and tuna, ground flax and hemp seeds or supplementation.

2. Eat Berries. Berries contain a cocktail of chemical compounds including anthocyanins and polyphenolics. These antioxidants have been proven to inhibit oxidative stress in the brain to protect against age-related diseases, mostly Alzheimer's. They are also known to "mop up" and recycle certain cells blamed for memory lapses and other mental decline, keeping the mind sharp into old age. Choose deep or bright colored berries such as strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries and blackcurrants.

3. Eat a diet low in saturated fat. According to the Natural News website, "people with high cholesterol, high blood pressure and who are obese are far more likely (600% more) to lose healthy brain function and be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than people who maintain a healthy body weight, and who eat a healthy diet."

4. Embrace Indian food (ie: turmeric). Turmeric is the deep orange-yellow colored ingredient found in curry spices and has been used as a powerful medicine in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine for centuries. A characteristic of a brain diseased with Alzheimer's is a build-up of the protein amyloid which causes inflammation. The oil in tumeric (curcumin) crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to amyloid protein fragments, preventing them from aggregating together into plaques. According to the Livestrong website, "a study investigating curcumin's effects on amyloid plaques in the brains of mice demonstrated how effective it can be by reducing 30 percent of the plaques in a single week".

5. Avoid aluminum. Let's just cut to chase...

• In 1993, the World Health Organization said, "There is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of aluminum."
  
• The Agency for Toxic Substances and & Disease Registry reports that "Exposure to high levels of aluminum may result in respiratory and neurological problems.

Aluminum is most commonly found in cookware, beverage and food cans, some foods, prescription and over-the-counter medications and deodorant. Inside the body, dementia is seen when a brain has a plaque substance in it - and aluminum is often at the center of these plaques.

Ways to Avoid Aluminum:
Find aluminum-free deodorants. I love Jason's.
Use cast-iron cookware.
Choose fresh or frozen fruits/vegetables over canned.
Avoid canned beverages.
Be an avid food label reader.

What are you presently doing to avoid disease and illness?