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Newly immersed in the plant based lifestyle, one of the realizations that led to further change was this one: what I put on my body affects my health as much as what I put in my body.
My health and wellbeing improved dramatically eating fruits, vegetables, simple gluten free grains, nuts and legumes. The chronic pain and inflammation I experienced for more than 20 years healed. I walk now without a cane. So many symptoms and disorders cleared up, one by one.
Achieving that level of health, my attention turned outward to the products I put on my body and use in my home. As I read labels I grew concerned. The lotions, shower gels, cleaning and laundry products I used put me in contact with chemicals and additives that impacted me in a negative way. How? Because what comes in contact with the skin, the body’s largest organ, passes through and enters the bloodstream.
First on my list, I eliminated a common product that most people begin using in their early teens. In fact, 95% of the adult population in the US use antiperspirants, to control sweating and odor. It’s understandable. We’ve been taught that it’s not okay to smell sweaty. However, that antiperspirant has far reaching health consequences that may surprise you, due to the inclusion of the heavy metal aluminum.
Here’s why it’s important to switch to aluminum free deodorant.
Aluminum in Antiperspirant
Antiperspirants contain a host of chemicals and additives that aren’t healthy for the body. Most concerning is the presence of the heavy metal, aluminum. This metal is included in antiperspirants to help prevent perspiration. Aluminum disrupts the body’s natural ability to perspire by blocking sweat ducts. The aluminum forms a temporary gel-like plug that prevents sweat from exiting the ducts.
Let’s talk about sweating for a moment. Why do we sweat, anyway?
Perspiration is a natural process. Sweating cools the body, regulating internal body temperatures. While our bodies are covered in sweat glands, those beneath the arms are thicker and contain proteins that bacteria loves to feed on. It’s the bacteria feeding on the proteins in sweat that creates odor.
Antiperspirants eliminate odor by preventing sweat, which interferes with the body’s temperature regulation. That’s not healthy. However, it is the aluminum plugging the sweat ducts that poses the greatest health risks. Aluminum from antiperspirants is absorbed by the skin and enters the bloodstream. From there it can settle and accumulate in tissues and organs such as the brain and liver, where it does harm. Additionally, viruses such as Epstein Barr, shingles and herpes strains love to feed on heavy metals. The toxic excrement from viruses accumulates as well, contributing to the stress the body is experiencing.
Why It’s Important to Switch to Aluminum Free Deodorant
These are the symptoms and disorders associated with an excess of aluminum in the body:
- damage to DNA, abnormal cell function and gene changes
- reduced mental function including ADHD, brain fog, problems concentrating, difficulty learning and poor memory function
- dementia and Alzheimer’s
- depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder
- chronic fatigue
- neurological disorders
- insomnia
- anemia
- skin rashes and irritation
- tremors, chronic aches and pains, muscle weakness, fibromyalgia
- digestive issues such irritable bowel syndrome
- greater risk for heart attacks
- impaired vision, hearing, speech and motor control
- autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, ALS, Lyme’s disease, Parkinson’s
That is a formidable list associate with heavy metals. I personally do NOT want to struggle with those disorders. Eliminating aluminum (and mercury) from my life is a small price to pay for greater health and wellbeing.
I’ll offer a follow up post soon on the damaging effects of mercury and how to eliminate it. For aluminum elimination, stop using antiperspirants, aluminum foil, baking powder with aluminum in it, aluminum cookware and aluminum cans.
Aluminum Free Deodorants
There are a variety of excellent aluminum free deodorants available. In fact, more and more have come onto the market just since I became aware of the dangers of aluminum.
Look for products with natural ingredients such as baking soda, essential oils and coconut oil. Read the label. Make sure chemicals and aluminum are not listed. I’ve used several brands, with great results. You can find those listed at the end of the post.
Another alternative is to make your own deodorant from simple, wholesome ingredients. See my post HERE for DIY deodorant.
When switching from an antiperspirant with aluminum to a deodorant without, your body may go through a detox time. For a couple of weeks you may sweat more and experience body odor as your body recovers and begins functioning as it should. This is natural. As your body adjusts you will experience less sweating and odor. And I promise you, eliminating animal products from your diet impacts the body’s natural smell tremendously. Want to know why we are so stinky? Hint. It’s what we eat that smells so bad as it leaves the body.
Eliminating Heavy Metals
After preventing more heavy metals from entering the body, it is necessary to remove the accumulation. Otherwise, they continue to do harm. Diet is crucial for flushing heavy metals, including aluminum, from tissues and organs.
Eat plenty of these foods:
- avocados
- bananas
- blackberries
- celery juice
- cilantro
- coconut oil
- flax seeds
- oranges
- strawberries
- wild blueberries
Add these herbs and supplements to your diet as well:
- Atlantic sea dulse
- B12 with methylcobalamin & adenosylcobalamin
- B complex
- barley grass juice powder
- EPA & DHA – plant based, not fish based
- ester C, a potent vitamin C
- GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid
- gingko biloba
- ginseng
- lemon balm
- magnesium
- melatonin
- probiotics
- spirulina
- zinc
I highly recommend drinking the heavy metals detox smoothie, created by Anthony William, to help eliminate aluminum from the body. Start the day with one of these smoothies several times a week. Check out my post about this amazing smoothie HERE.
Purchase aluminum free deodorants below:
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