Do Sweat It!

Oct. 1, 2014

It’s October 1 and 93° ...  for those of us who are weary of summer, that’s quite annoying. However, there are two good things about it:

1. One more pool day – it’s pretty sweet to be in the pool on Oct. 1, 10 days into Fall.
2. Today’s high temps and sweltering humidity provided the perfect test day for a new deodorant I ordered. Primal Pit Paste is a truly aluminum- and paraben-free deodorant recommended on Danielle Walker’s blog, and my trial size arrived yesterday. More in a moment about why I chose this concoction …

The verdict:  Pit Paste rocks! Not only is this stuff invisible, non-sticky, non-greasy, non-fragranced (if you want it that way – they also have a bunch of essential-oil based fragranced varieties), but it works!  Other “natural” deodorants I’ve tried don’t keep me dry (which I can kind of put up with because sweating releases toxins), and they don’t work particularly well in the odor area, either. With Pit Paste, no wetness, no odor – it felt I didn’t have anything on my pits at all. I promptly ordered the regular size.

A lot of deodorants claim to be “natural” and aluminum-free, when in reality, aluminum is the main ingredient. Once I learned that aluminum is a neurotoxin a couple of years ago, I thought I was so proactive by ditching my Secret solid for a natural salt deodorant. But when I learned about Primal Pit Paste, whose Web site says most ”natural” deodorants do have aluminum, I checked my deodorant’s ingredient list.  It proudly claims to have no aluminum chlorhydrate, listing the only ingredient as potassium alum. Look that up! It’s a naturally occurring form of aluminum salt. So technically, manufacturers can say it’s “natural” – but just because something occurs in the earth doesn’t mean we need it in our bodies. Aluminum is a prime example of that. It has been linked to Alzheimer’s and other neurological issues as well breast cancer. Find links to studies showing that aluminum has been shown to interfere with estrogen-related gene expression here, here, here, and here. And these are from the NIH, the bastion of Western-Medicine thought. To read Dr. Joseph Mercola's thoughts on the health dangers of aluminum in antiperspirants and deodorants, click here.

So what is the ingredient list for Primal Pit Paste? From their Web site:

This is not an antiperspirant, but you would not know it because it keeps you dry. It is important to sweat and release toxins. Most deodorants and antiperspirants not only keep the toxins in by preventing you from sweating, but they are designed to absorb into the skin. And what are you absorbing? Aluminum and Parabens, to name just few harmful chemicals linked to Alzheimer's and Cancer.

Organic Coconut Oil, which has many health benefits for your brain and overall health.

Organic, Raw Grade-A Shea Butter, which has amazing properties like vitamin A and D which are great for your skin. In Africa, shea butter is used for cooking. It is derived from the nut of shea karite -tree. The shea butter we buy is fair trade, which is helping to support the women in Africa.

Non-Aluminum Baking Soda is a powerful odor-fighting ingredient!

Organic Arrowroot Powder is used as a thickener and helps with soaking up moisture while you sweat out those toxins!