Deoderant

Question 1

What is the source of body odor?

Answer 1

produced by bacteria that breakdown proteins in our sweat into acids

Question 2

What are antiperspirants?

Answer 2

ingredients that physically stop the release of sweat by contracting and plugging sweat ducts

Question 3

What is the most common antiperspirant compound found in commercial deoderants?

Answer 3

aluminum chloride

Question 4

Why is aluminum chloride bad for you?

Answer 4

Some research suggests that aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and have estrogen-like effects (Darbre, 2005).

It is also commonly found in breast cancer tissue

Question 5

What is the biggest problem with antiperspirants?

Answer 5

Most traditional medicine systems emphasize the importance of diaphoresis in eliminating metabolic waste; the skin is designed to function as an eliminatory system, so deliberately plugging up the sweat ducts is a step in the wrong direction.

Question 6

How can body odor be neutralized

Answer 6

Alkalizing (basic) ingredients like baking soda and arrowroot, which have a pH of 8-8.5, can help to neutralize the acids that cause body odor

Antimicrobial agents