The Daily Tonic: Aluminum Armpits, Excellent Electrolytes, And More

The Daily Tonic is a two to five minute read sharing science backed health news and tips, all while getting you to crack a smile or even lol on occasion.

(8.4.2022) We all know that stereotypical health nut that doesn’t use any deodorant and washes their hair with raw egg yolks (yes—that is a real thing). Now, if you have ever had the pleasure of actually standing next to one of these exemplars of health, you may have noticed that they also smell exactly like someone that doesn’t use any deodorant and washes their hair with egg yolks. 

We all have to draw a line somewhere so before we move on here, let’s make one thing clear—we are not trying to scare you away from using deodorant. Given the temperatures lately, we all need a little help in the underarm department for the sake of those around us. 

With all that being said, there are some choices that are better than others when it comes to dealing with those sweaty armpits and the body odor that comes with them. 

There is a very big difference between antiperspirants and deodorants. As the name suggests, antiperspirants actively work to block your pores and prevent sweating in the first place. Deodorants on the other hand do not stop you from sweating, but rather work to mask the unpleasant odor associated with sweaty armpits. 

Aluminum is the active ingredient in many armpit products

Why is this such an important difference? Well, sweating is one of our body’s natural ways of getting rid of toxins. While most of the toxins in our body are processed through the liver and the kidneys, some of the gunk we want out of our bodies does make its way out in our sweat. This is why blocking that process with the use of antiperspirants is such a bad idea. 

It is also important to note that we have very important lymph nodes located right under the skin in our armpits. By plugging our pores with antiperspirants directly in that area, not only are we obstructing the process of getting toxins out, we are also putting toxins in. 

Aluminum is the the main ingredient used in most antiperspirants and since this ingredient is soluble, some of it will actually enter your pores and make its way into your bloodstream. While the connection between aluminum and some neurological and hormonal disorders is still controversial, there is some evidence to suggest that the link may exist. 

So basically antiperspirants block a pathway to get rid of toxins by essentially clogging your pores with another possible toxin—and this all happens right by your lymph nodes. You don’t have to be much of an expert for that to raise a red flag. 

The key takeaway? Noone is saying you have to smell like a towel that got left in a gym bag for a week in order to optimize your health. There are plenty of aluminum and paraben-free deodorant options out there that can get the job done without having to clog your pores and stop you from sweating. 

Avoid antiperspirants, try your best to stay cool this summer, and also make sure to avoid Axe Body Spray because it isn’t the early 2000s anymore and no one actually likes that smell.

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