Why You Should Use Aluminum- Free Deodorant ?

The next time you lift your hand for your favourite deodorant or antiperspirant to get rid of that embarrassing odour, think twice - for some of these may cause serious health problems, including cancer. An adult human body has about two million sweat glands that keep our body cool by producing sweat. There are two types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine. The eccrine glands are temperature sensitive and adjust the amount of sweat and keep the skin moist. The apocrine sweat glands on the other hand  controlled by body's hormone system and are activated by emotional stress.

Deodorants, antiperspirants and Perfumes:

 Body odour is caused by  bacteria breaking down apocrine sweat on the skin which causes odour and due to its ammonia turns clothing yellow. Similarly, non water component of eccrine sweat, sodium chloride, causes the body odour. Antiperspirants are expected to reduce perspiration and body wetness, deodorants are supposed to remove body odour. Perfumes, on the other hand, are a totally different product which merely mask the body odour, not remove it.

While deodorants are based on chemicals meant to kill odour-producing bacteria, anti-perspirants are based on astringent salts which retard the flow of eccrine sweat. However , a regular use may cause several health problems including cancer. To be classified as an anti-perspirant, the product must contain aluminum. For all the aluminum salts used in anti-perspirants are very acidic when mixed with perspiration. Cancer cells can only grow in acidic medium. Nothing can grow  in alkaline medium including bacteria, fungus , yeast and virus .

Although cosmetic products were used even as long as 3500 BC in ancient Egypt, the mass marketing of recent decades has resulted in unprecedented quantities being now used on the human body. most common deodorants on the shelves like Axe, Secret, Old Spice, Dove, Right Guard typically contain chemical toxins. Razor nicks may increase the risk of skin infection and absorbability of aluminum from deodorants. The degree of antiperspirant/ deodorant usage and axillary (armpit) shaving is associated with an earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis.

Research studies :

 In 2004 study , which found parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from human breast tumors( source Whelan). A 2007 study measured the aluminum content of breast tissue from 17 breast cancer patients and found that the aluminum levels were higher in the outer regions of the breast, in close proximity to where antiperspirant would be applied (Medical News)

Aluminum and zirconium from deodorants, which are applied frequently in exactly the same place and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen like effects. Because estrogen has the ability to promote the growth of breast cancer cells. Dr Philippa Darbre, a cancer researcher at the University of Reading published an article in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry titled " Aluminum, antiperspirants and breast cancer. Britain has one of the world's highest rates of breast cancers. Britons are also big users of deodorants and antiperspirants. By blocking sweat glands in the armpits ( particularly in women who shave their underarms), antiperspirants allow toxic compounds to accumulate in the underarm lymph nodes near the breasts, prompting cancer to develop. The rise of breast cancer in men parallels the increase in women, and has also doubled in the past three decades.

How deodorants cause cancer ?

The majority of breast cancers occur in the part of the breast that is the closest to the armpit, where we apply antiperspirants and deodorants. The location is referred to as the upper outer quadrant. If the use of antiperspirants is to blame, this would be accounted for by the fact most people are right-handed and likely to apply more deodorant to their left armpit. Dr Darbre advises all women to "cut down or cut out" antiperspirants especially those with a history of breast cancer. Please be advised that everything including chemicals in deodorants is toxic at high levels. There is evidence that skin is permeable to aluminum when applied as antiperspirant.

Antiperspirants work by preventing perspiration from occurring. Deodorants allow perspiration but block odour. Even aluminum free deodorants contain propylene glycol and triclosan fierce endocrine disrupters. However, you can really avoid these poisons and still take care of your beauty needs. Beauty requires sacrifices, but none of them should be your health. There are plenty of deodorants out there that don't contain harmful ingredients and get the job done naturally.

 Aubrey Organics, Crystal Body, Jason, Pure and Natural, Weleda, Avalon Natural Products,  Dessert Essence, Kiss My Face, Terra Naturals, Burt's Bees, Earth Essentials, Miessence, Tom's of Maine are some of the brands that contain natural ingredients .Always read ingredients list , even reputed brands may contain propylene glycol.

Most natural deodorants are "crystal" deodorant stones and made from alum (potassium alum). The full chemical name of potassium alum is actually potassium aluminum sulphate. Use your common sense while shopping for any kind of deodorant.

You can even make your own natural deodorant at home and it is aluminum free and works better than most deodorants. you will be surprised to k now that more women are using chemical free make-up options. in today's world overall consumers are becoming more aware of the dangerous chemicals in food and personal care products. I urge you to take an initiative and go organic and toxin free as early as possible and stand above the crowd.

Baking Soda coconut oil Deodorant Recipe :

Ingredients you need :

1. 1/4 Cup baking Soda (aluminum free)

2. 4 tablespoons coconut oil

3. 1/4 cup corn starch

4. 10 drops lavender essential oil ( Optional but not necessary)

Method of preparation :              

Mix corn starch and baking soda in a saucepan on low heat on stovetop. Melt one tablespoon coconut oil and stir gently to the mixture , adding more coconut oil till it reaches a consistency of dough. Remove from heat and add your favourite essential oil drops and stir well and store this mixture in a glass container.

Keep in mind that mixture will solidify and you have to reheat a little bit in hot water and apply to underarms lightly, it will work wonders. Baking soda being alkaline won't allow bad bacteria to multiply and produce odours. Coconut oil is a known antibacterial and doesn't clog the pores.