To be odor free without the use of deodorants you need to consider the whole picture and that means you will need to consider the following:

• Probiotics promote healthy bacteria that live in and on the body. In fact, there is an estimated 10 times as many flora bacteria in and on the body as there are human cells in the body. The key here is to promote friendly bacteria inside and out and minimize (unfriendly) odor causing bacteria. A good presence of friendly bacteria will help keep the odor causing bacteria in check. This is something that starts from within. One more time on that point, a healthy odor free body starts from with-in. Therefore, a healthy, clean diet is critical.
• Lay off the junk food. The idea here is clean in, clean out and junk in, junk out.
• Work on minimizing or even eliminating the not so healthy habits. Many things like alcohol exit the body through the lungs and skin, which can lead to odor. Coffee for example is very acidic and can upset the bodies ph levels and this can lead to an imbalance of unfriendly odor causing bacteria. Too much sugar can feed Candida (yeast) and this can lead to imbalance as well.
• Avoid antibiotics. Antibiotics taken internally kill all bacteria good and bad and can disrupt digestion and lead to a variety of deficiencies and conditions. Without healthy internal bacteria it is very difficult for the body to have healthy external bacteria to fight odor and infection.
• Eat plenty of fiber and make certain you are eliminating properly. Fiber acts as a sponge that absorbs toxins that can cause odor. Certain forms of fiber are also food for healthy bacteria as well.
• Choose your soaps and bodily cleaners wisely. Be very careful not to choose anything that has antibacterial properties as they will completely disrupt the protective layer of healthy bacteria on your skin. Still, while other soaps may not contain antibacterial properties, they are so harsh that they wash away everything on the surface of the skin including healthy bacteria and natural oils. This not only dries and harms the skin but will set the stage for premature aging of the skin.
• Wear only natural fibers against the skin such as wool, silk, cotton and linen.
• Be mindful of how you launder your clothes. Treat the underarms of shirts to kill bacteria before laundering. Wash in the hottest water possible for the color of clothing so as to aid in elimination of bacteria. Be careful not to allow damp articles of clothing in the laundry as this will lead to mold, mildew, and bacteria growth.
• Work up a sweat. As long as you and your doctor feel you are up to it, work up a healthy sweat; a roaring sweat if possible. A good sweat opens pores, refreshes the skin, and releases toxins. It’s true that unfriendly bacteria need moisture to cause odor and they get that moisture from perspiration. But sweat is actually odorless and for good reason. Sweat contains Urea, which actually protects the body from harmful bacteria and sweat also contains mineral salts.  These salts are capable of neutralizing odor causing bacteria. In fact, some of the most effective natural and safe deodorants on the market today are made from mineral salts. It’s also important to note that a good sweat also brings to the surface healthy bacteria from within.
• Consider shaving your underarms. Men this may be a little extreme so you may want to consider trimming back the hair with your beard trimmer to a short length. The lack of hair will likely cause a little more perspiration but it will also minimize bacteria growth.
• Consider a loofa and mild natural soaps when bathing. Mild soaps can help keep your skins protective bacteria in tact while a loofa can gently scrub away dead skin that feeds odor-causing bacteria. Also, showering will more effectively rinse the body than tub bathing.
• Drink plenty of water. Fresh clean water cleanses the body like none other.

Written by DMK of Seven Grains.