I have a confession to make:

At one point in my life, I used clinical-strength antiperspirant deodorant.  Oh, the horror. I look back on those days and cringe, asking “Why, why did you do this to yourself!?”

But the answer is simple: I didn’t know any better.

Antiperspirants work by blocking the pores that release sweat. Not only does this block one of your body’s primary routes of detoxification (underarm sweat), but there is great concern with the active ingredient used in most antiperspirant deodorants, aluminum (often in the compound form “aluminum chlorohdrate” or “aluminum zirconium”).  This ingredient is responsible for antiperspirants’ wetness fighting ability, and as a result, most deodorants on the market contain up to 25 percent aluminum by weight.

Strong evidence links aluminum to Alzheimer’s Disease, a terrible illness that severely impacts memory. Though many experiments analyzing the connection between Alzheimer’s and alluminum have been conducted, “of more practical importance is a case-control study which looked at the association of [Alzheimer’s Disease] and lifetime exposure to aluminum in antiperspirants and antacids. Scientists found a direct correlation. The more antiperspirant that was used, the more likely the person would develop [Alzheimer’s Disease]… The risk in high users was as high as 300%” (read more on the connection between aluminum and Alzheimer’s on Mercola).

Furthermore, some research suggests that aluminum compounds found in deodorant, which are applied frequently to the underarms near the breasts, are absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects. Because high estrogen levels have been linked to the formation of breast cancer cells, there is a chance that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer (read more on the connection between aluminum and breast cancer on Mercola).

For these reasons, I’ve been anti-antiperspirants for awhile now.

Now I know what you’re thinking… and the answer is no! I am in a happy relationship with a fabulous man and have friends and function in the workplace and don’t get dirty looks from random passerbys (i.e. I do not have horrible BO).

The reason: natural deodorant works!

I whip up my DIY all-natural detoxifying deodorant in my kitchen.

A twist on the classic DIY deodorant recipes, this deodorant contains a powerful detoxifying ingredient that pulls toxins from the skin. It’s the anti-antiperspirant. With just 5 ingredients, most of which can be purchased at your local grocery store, this DIY is a must try! Find all of the details here. 

If DIY isn’t your thing, not to fret.

There are plenty of natural deodorants available for you to purchase. Visit the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database to see those with the lowest toxicity scores.

Remember that what may work for one body may not work for another. But do not give up! It is possible to smell great and be non-toxic, and you are bound to eventually find an all-natural deodorant that works with your bod.