![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/flexitariannutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/woman-applying-deodorant-istock-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
What’s the difference between deodorants\u00a0and antiperspirants?<\/h2>\n
First things first, let’s clarify the difference between these two products:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Deodorants try to hide the smell of body odour<\/strong> using other fragrances. \u00a0They can also combat the smell by neutralizing fatty acids and creating a less hospitable environment for bacteria which can cause body odour. \u00a0In short, they generally try to make it less smelly when you sweat.<\/li>\n
- Antiperspirants, as the name implies, try to prevent you from sweating<\/strong> in the first place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In my case, I decided to stop using both of these products. \u00a0These days the two have become somewhat interchangeable, so you will find that most antiperspirants will include deodorants, and vice versa.<\/p>\n
So what’s wrong with deodorants and antiperspirants?<\/h2>\n
Both products contain ingredients I decided I did not want to put on my body. \u00a0Let’s explore some of these.<\/p>\n
Aluminum\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Aluminum is a dangerous heavy metal that can affect your nervous system and has been linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Breast Cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n
While some people argue that the aluminum (and other chemicals) used in antiperspirant is in such tiny amounts, it wouldn\u2019t be dangerous, we need to remember that this is just one of many products we might use which\u00a0contain it. The issue of accumulation is something to strongly consider, and eliminating as many sources as we can should be a priority. Also, let\u2019s remember that it blocks your pores in order to keep the sweat IN, but sweat is a<\/strong> normal process<\/strong> used by\u00a0our body to remove harmful\u00a0toxins (similar to going to the bathroom…). We need that process to function properly. Stopping it is not healthy.<\/p>\n
Parabens<\/h3>\n
You will find this ingredient in many cosmetics, including deodorants.\u00a0 There appear to be links to breast cancer<\/a>\u00a0and it is thought to alter your body\u2019s hormonal balance.<\/p>\n
Triclosan<\/h3>\n
This ingredient is added to kill bacteria (to control body odour), you will also find it in hand sanitizers.\u00a0 Unfortunately, this kills all<\/strong> bacteria, including the beneficial bacteria you do NOT want to kill.\u00a0 Triclosan is classified as a pesticide<\/strong> by the FDA and has many possible toxic health affects<\/a> indicated.<\/p>\n
So, I thought that these\u00a0reasons alone were sufficient to make me never want to wear antiperspirants or deodorants again.<\/p>\n
How I stopped using deodorant completely<\/h2>\n
Even after I’d decided I wanted to stop using deodorants, it wasn’t that easy. I tried. For many months. I started by not wearing any during weekends, and sometimes skipping a day here and there at work, but it was hard. I felt like everyone around me could smell my stench. Because it wasn’t pretty at first. And by pretty, I mean I stunk<\/strong> (although I did my best to hide it by washing my armpits at work). The good thing is that I had already started eating better and the better I ate, the less stinky I was. During that time I tried dozens of natural deodorants, some not working at all, and some briefly (I would reapply it at work 5 times a day!). I gradually moved from antiperspirant to natural deodorants. Although there are many natural deodorants on the market that don\u2019t contain dangerous ingredients, I noticed that I had to change brands very often because they weren\u2019t working for long. A lot of the natural deodorants work with enzymes, and can suddenly stop working.<\/p>\n
Something I noticed was that if I managed not to wear any for more than a few days, it wasn’t as bad as the first day after I stopped wearing any. Do you see what I’m trying to say? I would smell better after not wearing any antiperspirant\/deodorant\u00a0for 4-5 days in a row than I did on day 1. I don’t have any scientific backing for this (maybe I should search for it?), but I think it’s the body detoxifying from the crap contained in those products. Ever notice\u00a0how we smell bad when we’re sick?<\/p>\n
Then one day, I decided that there was no way around it, I had to stop. So, just like ripping a Band-Aid off, I stopped wearing antiperspirants and deodorants altogether. Some days were better than others, for obvious reasons summers are more challenging than winters. Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way.<\/p>\n
- Antiperspirants, as the name implies, try to prevent you from sweating<\/strong> in the first place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Subscribe](\"https:\/\/flexitariannutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/subscribe-wide-banner-pink.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"signature](\"https:\/\/flexitariannutrition.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/ECP-xo2.png\")
<\/p>\n