Home > Info and Fun > Articles > Deodorizing Naturally

Deodorizing Inside and Out

There are a lot of articles out there stating that eating red meat makes your body odor more pungent. But is there fact behind the claim? This article will outline how you can deodorize your body inside and out, and why its important to do it without the help of synthetic anti-perspirants.

Any Google search for "deodorizing diet" will lead you to a popular article called "Body odor can be eliminated by a change in diet." The author claims that eating red meat is "the number one cause of body odor." Although he citess no studies, his evidence in empirical:

“I've noticed that people who consume a large quantity of red meat on a regular basis tend to have much stronger body odor than those who avoid it,” he states. “[I]f you find a healthful vegetarian and put them side by side with a heavy meat eater in a sniff test, I'm confident your nose will lead you to the conclusion that the meat eater is the most offensive of the two.”

He also cites his own personal experience, suffering from “rather disgusting” (his own words) body odor, and that by eliminating red meats, fast food, and processed sugars, he is now as fresh as the morning dew (my own words). But what does science say about his claims?

In 2006, a group of researchers in the Czech Republic put the theory to the test. The collected the perspiration of males, meat-eating and non-meat-eaters. They then had women judge the odor of the perspiration by a number of factors. What did they find?

More Articles: Top Ten Reasons to Avoid SLS The Problem with Parabens The Bigger Problem with the Toxic Toothpaste Recall Organic Labeling Lies Chemical Database ...more

Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the nonmeat diet was judged as significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense. This suggests that red meat consumption has a negative impact on perceived body odor hedonicity.

So, actual studies back up the author's claim. Eating red meat, according to this study, does make you smell more pungent. But what's the science behind it all?

The author claims that bacteria plays no role in body odor, and that it's all caused by diet. He says that bacteria causing odor is a ridiculous idea because we have bacteria all over our bodies. His theory is that all odor is caused by “toxins” being released. He doesn't state what these “toxins” are, however. Let's take a look inside our bodies to understand what's really going on in this odiferous puzzle.
Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are located all over the body. The sweat that eccrine glands produces is nothing much more than salt water. Apocrine glands, however, are different. Apocrine glands develop during puberty, and are located in the underarm and groin areas. The sweat that these glands produce contain fatty acids and proteins that are then eaten by bacteria. So even though we have bacteria all over our bodies, odor only comes from areas with apocrine glands.

So, let's look at how this relates to the red meat issue. When we eat red meat, our bodies contain more protein and fatty acids than someone on a vegetarian diet. Thus, more proteins and fatty acids are excreted through the apocrine glands of a meat eater than those of a vegetarian. A the underarm of a meat-eater has more “food” for bacteria to eat and multiply with, so there's more body odor. It's all starting to make sense now.

But what about the author's claim that junk foods cause body odor? Although I am unaware of any studies that relate to this issue, I have a theory. Junk foods are more difficult for the body to digest. Organs like the liver, stomach, and intestines may not know what to do with the chemicals and preservatives contained in these foods. Since these “toxins” can't be eliminated through the digestive tract, the body may send them to the apocrine glands for excretion. This process may increase the overall production of fatty acids and proteins in the sweat, making a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. This may also be the case with the red-meat eaters, as there are plenty of undigestable materials in meat. (This is also applicable to smoking, drinking, and drug use.)

So, the bottom line is that the article is right and wrong. Toxins are not the direct cause of smells, but increase the density of the materials that bacteria love in sweat. Although it may be simpler to say that toxins are the cause of body odor, we can't leave out the bacterial element altogether.

Now that we've taken the scenic route to this point, let's take a look at how we can control body odor, and why we need to do so naturally.

As discussed above, the body rids itself of undigestable materials (aka toxins) through sweat glands. This is a natural process that should not be disrupted. When we use antiperspirants, we're actually shrinking the sweat gland and blocking the toxins from leaving the body. Toxins then build up for extended periods of time until this buildup shows its face as a plethora of diseases, including cancer, MS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression, the list goes on. (To find out more about the reality of these toxins, watch this video.) In addition to the problem of toxin buildiup, the aluminum salts in anti-perspirants have been directly linked to Alzheimers disease.

So, how do we control odor naturally?

Reduce toxins going in the body.

• An organic diet low in meat and dairy and high in vegetables and whole grains is best for detoxifying the body.
• Talk to your health care provider (conventional and holistic) about certain herbs like milk thistle that can help detoxify your liver.
• Toxins can also enter the body through the environment. Paints, solvents, air pollution, water pollution, pesticides, fertilizers, can all affect your body chemistry. Stay away from these toxins as much as possible.
• Use natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar when doing housework.
• Freshen air with natural essential oils instead of synthetic air fresheners.

Wear clothing that will breathe.
Cotton and other natural fibers will wick sweat away from the body. The drier you are, the less bacteria will be able to grow.

Use a natural deodorant with antibacterial essential oils.
Be careful about the deodorants you choose. If the deodorant you're using contains any type of synthetic ingredient, including “fragrance,” you're just adding toxins to your body and not really solving the odor problem. Some deodorants labeled as natural contain propylene glycol, which will actually break down your skin's natural barrier and go right into your bloodstream. Read the label and make sure the products you use contain 100% natural (preferably organic) ingredients that you can understand.

Apply deodorant immediately following showers, before bacteria has a chance to start growing. If you are borrowing time between your next shower, freshen up with a solution of baking soda, dust yourself with arrowroot powder, wipe down with diluted vodka, or wash with soap and water and reapply deodorant.

I hope you've found this article informative; if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me at stephanie @ bubbleandbee.com (omit spaces.)

Happy deodorizing!