How to Get Rid of Body Odor Naturally

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that body odor can be highly unpleasant. While sweating is a natural and necessary way for the body to keep itself cool and remove toxins from the system, when it comes with a repulsive odor, that's never fun. As a form of music, funk is pretty awesome. In terms of body stench, not so much.

Body odor can be chronic, or it can be a temporary situation resulting from vigorous exercise, a high-stress day or extreme heat. It can be influenced by gender as well as the food we eat, our overall level of physical health and any medications we take. Ultimately, body odor signals the smell of bacteria growing on the body.

Antipersperants only mask this odor, and can in fact contribute to the problem, as they inhibit the sweating mechanism that helps rid the body of toxins that most likely cause this body odor. Additionally, antiperspirants contain aluminum, which is a toxic chemical that has been linked to such ailments as Alzheimer's Disease and breast cancer.

Eliminating the root cause of body odor involves long-term, systemic changes such as detoxifying your body and eating a healthy diet that avoids processed foods, chemicals and artificial colors and flavors.

But as a first line of defense to eliminate underarm body odor, try this technique, which I have found to be extremely effective:

1) Get a bottle of organic Apple Cider Vinegar; this is usually available at a local health food store or a chain such as Whole Foods. I use Bragg's raw and unfiltered ACV, which contains the "mother," the enzyme- rich portion of the vinegar with the most curative properties.

2) Before taking a shower, dab some ACV on a cotton ball or pad and rub it under your armpit, making sure to cover the entire underarm area thoroughly. Repeat for the other armpit.

3) Wait at least two minutes (I like to brush my teeth during this time) then take a shower as normal, making sure to rinse off the vinegar.

At this point, the way you want to proceed is up to you. Some people have reported that they do not use soap and still do not have B.O. after using ACV. I use a natural soap and wash my underarms with it.

Some people have also reported that they don't need to use deodorant for an entire day (or more) after rinsing their underarms with ACV. I tried this experiment for a day and it rang true. However, on another, higher-stress day I found I did need deodorant, so you may want to try this out for yourself to see what works for your body.

Whether you want to use antiperspirants/deodorants is another question to consider. Because they contain aluminum, which as stated above, is toxic to the system and inhibits the natural and important process of sweating - thus inhibiting your body's ability to release toxins via sweat - it is a questionable practice. You may want to consider alternative deodorants that do not contain aluminum, or try some other form of deodorant, such as baking soda under the armpits, or coconut oil and lemon juice, which my cousin tried with success.

For more information on getting rid of body odor naturally, visit http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/body_odor.html.

You can also drink Apple Cider Vinegar internally. It is a system detoxifier, has many curative effects on the body and is a great way to add some pep to your step. For more details on ACV, visit: http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html.

If you try this ACV strategy to get rid of underarm body odor, please report back with your results. Good luck!