Canyon Ranch (Massachusetts)
Concerned about body odor? Blame Odo-Ro-No.

In 1919, that company's ads first whispered the term "B.O.," prompting us to take anxious, sidelong sniffs at our neighbors, and especially ourselves. Today, we're more worried than ever about unwelcome odors. Advertisers offer endless products to foam, oil, disguise, and spray away natural smells, sending them back to the days of mule teams and unwashed calico where they belong.

Teens, whose self-consciousness tends to be extreme, are encouraged by manufacturers to douse themselves all over with perfumed, odor-reducing aerosols. Next time you find yourself in an elevator next to a mightily perfumed adolescent, blame marketing.

Add the horrors of bad breath, foul feet, flatulence, and what a 1940 Lux ad coyly dued "undie odor," and it's a wonder we ever venture outside the shower.

Body odor, however, is a natural phenomenon. It's caused by bacteria growing on or inside you, and mostly occurs in the armpit and groin areas, where most of your apocrine glands are found. In spite of all we're told, it actually sends powerful sexual signals.

Of course, you don't want friends to suddenly remember an urgent appointment anytime you come close, so remember that those odors are generally controllable - and the solutions don't have to involve shelves full of costly products. Some strategies are quite simple and natural. For instance, when you soap up, wait two minutes before you rinse so the soap has time to kill more bacteria. Chemical-free deodorants with ingredients like lemon grass, sage, coriander or chamomile are available. "Crystal" deodorant stones, made from mineral salts, also kill underarm (and foot) bacteria, and may be a good choice for those who are sensitive to aluminum and other common ingredients in conventional deodorants. One natural remedy, from Heinerman's "Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs" by John Heinerman, is to rub a teaspoon of turnip juice under each arm, for up to 10 odor-free hours. (This one is only for the adventurous.)

Listen to your nose
If you've scrued, salved and smeared but still notice breakthrough odor, stop right there. Your body may be trying to tell you something. Changes in odor may actually be a valuable clue that something is out of balance.

First, look at your diet. Zinc deficiency can cause B.O. So can eating onions, garlic or a lot of meat. Not enough Vitamin B and magnesium are other possible causes. Tobacco, coffee, spices, fried foods and alcohol can also contribute to bad breath and B.O.

Or maybe your metabolism is struggling to cope. If you can't metabolize fatty acids, you can get an all-over sweaty foot odor. And some foods can trigger B.O. in people who can't process specific chemicals in food, such as choline from eggs, liver, legumes or fish. Those people should simply steer clear of the offending foodstuffs.

Bad odors, good messengers
You may not enjoy them, but bodily smells can provide valuable health warnings. A fruity, over-ripe apple odor is a classic sign of diabetes, for example, while a urine-like smell may mean kidney disease, or could be a symptom that hormones are getting out of balance.

Saliva helps to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. So before you reach for a breath mint, check your medications. Some, like antidepressants, blood pressure medications and sedatives, may reduce the amount of saliva you produce and result in stale breath.

Chronic infections in the teeth, gums, tonsils or nose also make for bad breath, and are easily missed. Bad breath may be an important red flag. When bacteria flourish unchecked, your immune system is constantly triggered, causing inflammation and even heart disease if bacteria travel through the bloodstream to your heart. So if your breath is bad, be sure to get a dental checkup.

Stomach acid - who needs it? You, actually
As you stay alert to odor changes, make sure you aren't causing them. Advertisers have been sowing doubts and fears again. This time, the focus is on gastro-intestinal well-being. Pop a pill and all will be well with your digestion. Or not. Over-hyped "acid-blocker" pills have caused widespread heath problems. Natural hydrochloric acid in the stomach kills bacteria and helps you absorb your food. Misuse of acid-blockers deprives you of acid needed for digestion.

Such drugs have created a whole population of people who are suffering from malabsorption and malnutrition because they lack the acid for breaking down foods and getting rid of bacteria. Self-diagnosis is difficult, because the symptoms of too much acid - reflux and heartburn - closely resemble those for too little acid. But preventing acid from doing its job allows bacteria to grow. And those bacteria can trigger bad breath, B.O., flatulence, and... right, that's where we came in.

Another common cause of intermittent bad breath is an empty stomach. Is your breath suddenly less than fresh a couple of hours after your last meal? Eat something.

Body odors aren't just a sign that you need to splash on cologne. They create a positive dialogue between you and your body. Think of them as a built-in wellness barometer. Take notice of any changes and run them by your doctor. Timely action can nip potential problems in the bud, and keep you in daisy-fresh health to pursue the active, worry-free, sweet-smelling lifestyle you deserve.

http://www.canyonranch.com/
(800)742-9000 (413)637-4100