It seems like everywhere in our environment we encounter harmful toxins, pollutants, and carcinogens – it feels unavoidable and often is. These are the bi-products of industrialization; from the cars we drive to factories to power plants. Though our body has a very effective detoxification and elimination system, we often find that we bombard our bodies with more than they can eliminate and the result is disease manifesting itself in many forms.
Unfortunately a lot of the toxins we encounter we put on ourselves, literally, due to the fact that many of the chemicals added to cosmetics are already known to have toxicity profiles. There are multiple toxins found in our cosmetic and beauty supplies as well as our deodorant. A common ingredient in deodorant is aluminum and its salts, which are powerful astringents used to close the pores to stop sweat and odor, though this is good for dry shirts, it prevents the toxins your body is trying to eliminate from being released. This action of hindering toxin elimination has been linked to problems with the sweat and lymph glands around the underarm area. But sadly, the links to disease doesn’t stop there.
In 1993, the World Health Organization said, “There is a suspected link between Alzheimer’s disease and the toxicity of aluminum.” A human interview study conducted with breast cancer survivors demonstrated that the onset of breast cancer was significantly earlier in those who began shaving and using antiperspirants at an earlier age than those who began using it later in life. Though it has also been reported that there has been a disproportionally large increase in the diagnosis of breast cancer in the upper quadrant of the breast (where underarm deodorant is applied) consumer groups fail to persuade the FDA to ban its use, most likely due to the conflicting research that is available at this time. However, there are steps you can take as a consumer to reduce your contact with aluminum as a preventative measure.
If you do wish to limit your exposure to aluminum products; an aluminum-free, natural deodorant is a great place to start. Though it used to be that aluminum-free, natural deodorants meant wet, smelly armpits; that is not the case anymore; many wonderful natural deodorants are available that use toxin-free astringents; such as tea tree oil. There are countless positive advantages to a natural deodorant; in addition to being free of aluminum, they are generally free of dyes and other harmful ingredients, and they are also typically paraben-free. Paraben is another common ingredient in deodorant and because of its estrogen-mimicking effect; it has been linked to higher risks of breast cancer. Read the labels carefully and don’t be afraid to try a different brand if one doesn’t work for you; there are many different ingredients and formulas to choose from.
The fact is there is virtually no way for us to avoid the pollutants and toxins that are all around us, but we should help, not hinder our body from doing its job of eliminating toxins. Drink a lot of water and breathe deeply to aid detoxification and elimination, reduce exposure where you can and keep the armpits open and free to excrete toxins (while remaining freshly scented of course!).