_edited.png)
I do not sweat. I never have. Maybe if it is 100 degrees Fahrenheit with a 100% humidity I might glisten. The women in my boot camp class drip with sweat and I am bone dry. This is not a healthy condition. I must take precautions so I do not overheat. There have been times when I have had to ice my body to reduce my body temperature. I have learned to live with this. Sweating is an important body function.
Did you know that you’re born with anywhere between 2 million and 4 million sweat glands, and the number of such glands you have will determine, in part, how much you sweat? Women generally have more sweat glands than men, but men’s glands tend to be more active and produce more sweat.
Sweating can be quite embarrassing if you’re at school, work, or out with friends. Sweat marks and the smell may cause embarrassment but is also be very beneficial to your health. The almost 1 liter of sweat our bodies produce per day can strengthen our immune system and give us healthy-looking skin.
Sweating is the way the body and the skin protects itself from overheating.
We must eliminate the stigma associated with sweating because the health benefits of sweating are beneficial to our health.
Sweating-
Prevents you from overheating-As your body temperature rises, your body will automatically perspire to release a salty liquid from your sweat glands to help cool you down and prevent you from overheating. This is controlled by your autonomic nervous system, which you cannot consciously control. Certain emotions, such as anxiety, anger, embarrassment, or fear, can prompt you to sweat more.
Detoxifies The Body-One of the most efficient ways to detox your body is to sweat. Sweating flushes the body of substances such as alcohol, cholesterol, heavy metals, and others. The body releases these toxins by using sweat as the outlet; sweat purges the body of toxins.
Research confirms that sweating helps detoxify dangerous heavy metals, BPA, phthalates and petrochemicals from the body. This helps support proper immune function and helps prevent diseases related to toxic overload. BPA is often detected in human sweat, sometimes even when it is not found in blood or urine tests.
Prevents Colds and Other Illnesses-In regular amounts, sweating helps your immune system function better, by fighting off a cold or flu, or infection Sweating may help kill viruses and bacteria that cannot survive in temperatures above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Inducing sweating for healing has a long tradition across many cultures.
It Zaps Zits-Your pores open up when you sweat and that releases the buildup inside them. Sweat helps purge the body of toxins that can clog pores and cause pimples and blemishes.
Interestingly, profuse sweating can actually help decrease body odor. Foul body odor is related to the toxins being expelled — it's not your "natural" scent. If you're living a "clean" lifestyle, a lifestyle in which you're minimally exposed to dietary and environmental toxins your sweat will be close to odorless.
The problems with deodorant/antiperspirant
Blood tests show that many of the substances commonly included in deodorant products can, work their way past the skin and into the body. Research shows that some compounds used in deodorant are absorbed and stored in fat cells, which are prevalent in the underarm area according to the Journal of Applied Toxicology. The underarm tissue also contains hormone receptors, which may have a reaction to some of those same deodorant ingredients.
Here are 5 deodorant ingredients that are of concern.
Parabens
There are many different parabens which are used as preservatives in deodorant and other personal care products. Research suggests some parabens may interfere with the way your body produces and regulates estrogen and other hormones. Parabens are hormone impersonators, they mimic estrogen in the body.
Aluminum
Typically found only in antiperspirants, some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds, which used frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects. Aluminum, is a metal, and a common ingredient in antiperspirants that works by “plugging” sweat ducts to stop sweating. Aluminum can cause instability on the level of the cells, meaning it can increase our cells’ tendency to mutate.
Triclosan
The Cosmetic industry adds this chemical to many products in order to prevent bacterial contamination, and to kill bacteria on the skin. It is added to anti-acne products, some deodorants and antiperspirants, and in hand sanitizing soaps. Triclosan is so common today that 75% of Americans have detectable levels of the stuff in their urine.
Some animal studies have linked triclosan to unusual hormone activity. Additional research suggests triclosan could change your microbiome.
The use of triclosan has been linked to: abnormal endocrine system/thyroid hormone signaling, weakening of immune system. Children exposed to antibacterial products at an early age may have an increased chance of developing allergies, asthma and eczema.
Phthalates
Phthalates are common ingredients in all personal care products (that means everything from body wash to shampoo to lotion to hairspray to soap), including deodorant and antiperspirants. These compounds help deodorant and other cosmetics with a fragrance—stick to your skin. The primary concern with phthalates is their ability to disrupt the endocrine system, especially in males. Phthalates also impact female health, as exposure can cause early onset puberty.
One major concern when it comes to phthalates is that they could impair reproductive ability in men, or that they could impact fetal development in pregnant women.
Fragrance
Fragrance formulations, can contain hundreds of ingredients. The identity of ingredients is often unknown, making it impossible to identify the ways in which fragrance ingredients might impact our health. Many common fragrance ingredients are linked to hormone disruption.
How can we protect ourselves?
If the above ingredients are of concern to you, ditch all underarm deodorant products. This is the only way to ensure you’re not exposing yourself to potentially toxic chemicals.
Otherwise:
Avoid products with undisclosed fragrance.
Products labeled as “antibacterial” might contain triclosan.
Look at the label to see contains natural antibacterials such as tea tree oil and clove or if it contains harmful chemicals like triclosan.
Skip the antiperspirants, which often contain aluminum to reduce sweating. Our bodies are intended to sweat as a means of detoxing and cooling down. Sweating can be awkward, but it’s necessary for a healthy body!
A good rule of thumb for choosing any product is to look for ingredients that you recognize. Choose simpler options instead.
Go without. Try going without deodorant, you might be surprised to learn you don’t smell.
Comments