There are bacteria in your armpits, on the groin area, near hair follicles and on the scalp. When these bacteria come in contact with the sweat produced by your glands, the release of chemicals causes body odor.

Your body doesn’t naturally stink; the bacteria living in your body only react with what you “feed” them. The smell in your armpit won’t be offensive if it’s just perspiring excess minerals and healthy metabolic waste products; however, it will stink if your body is sweating toxic byproducts which come from eating meat and processed, refined food.

Body odor varies from person to person but some types of smell may indicate certain health problems. If your sweat smells like bleach, you may be suffering from a kidney or liver disease. Diabetics often have a fruity body odor. A person with trimethylaminuria, a rare genetic condition, produces a fish-like body odor.

Gender also plays a role in determining body odor. A study conducted in Geneva, Switzerland found that women’s body odor resembles the smell of onions because it contains high levels of sulphur, which react with bacteria that feed on sweat. On the other hand, men’s sweat contains high levels of fatty acid, which react with bacteria from the underarm to produce a cheesy smell.

Aside from being a medical concern, body odor can also be a social and psychological problem. Body odor is easily detected by others in a close setting, like a romantic date, a job interview or a casual conversation with friends. Excessive sweating can also be seen through wet spots in clothing.

So what can you do to avoid these embarrassing situations?

Using an antiperspirant only increases your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Joseph Mercola warns. Antiperspirants are among the common sources of aluminum, which, when absorbed by the body, wreaks havoc in the brain. It would be wise to avoid them unless you can find a natural, aluminum-free antiperspirant or deodorant brand.

Antibacterial soaps sound like a good idea but you would be better off with regular soap. Sure, an antibacterial soap kills bacteria, but triclosan, the active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps, has been found to kill human cells as well.

Compared to other more serious health conditions, body odor is not life-threatening but it is ego-damaging. Here are some natural tips on how to reduce body odor:

• Consider a change in diet – Avoid red meat, which is one of main contributors to body odor, as well as foods lacking in fiber and those made with hydrogenated oils, added sugars and refined white flour. Adding more plants to your diet will help you perform “internal deodorization.” Try eating more leafy vegetables, greens, sprouts and fresh fruits. Mints and herbs like licorice, parsley, oregano, rosemary, cilantro and celery would also be useful.
• Use baking soda – Before you shower, pour a teaspoon of baking soda in your hand, close it and step into the shower. After stepping into the shower, let the water briefly seep into your closed hand. Apply the moistened baking soda to each armpit. After rinsing your armpits, you can proceed to your regular shower routine.
• Take a chlorella supplement and/or probiotics – Chlorella helps eliminate odors and freshens breath while probiotics support oral health.
• Apply extra virgin coconut on your skin – the lauric acid it contains is a natural antibacterial.
• Try replacing your deodorant with lemon juice – Do a trial and error with the concentration. Taste the juice first to judge its acidity, which helps stop the growth of microorganisms on your underarms. If the juice is too acidic, your skin may suffer burns or develop redness and welts. If this happens, wait for several days before trying again.

1. A healthy mother means a healthy child – Take care of yourself to give your child a healthy head start in life. Krill oil is one of the best supplements you can take before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. It contains DHA and choline, which are critical to your child’s brain development and IQ, and also supports your overall health and positive mental outlook during and after pregnancy. Your child is wholly dependent upon you to provide those nutrients at least during the first three months of his/her life.
2. Breastfeed your baby, if possible, and as long as possible – Babies receive DHA through breast milk. Breastfeeding through the first year will give your child an even greater head start for success in life.
3. Provide structure to your child’s life – It’s not too early for kids to start being organized. Children like a dependable schedule – regular mealtimes, bedtime, waking up time, and more. It helps them understand the concept of time, routines, and gives them a sense of security.
4. Start your child on a healthy diet – Make sure your child eats a healthy and balanced diet composed of high-quality (organic if possible) meats and vegetables. Healthy kids find it easier to resist junk food because their taste buds have been accustomed early on to the taste of healthy foods like veggies. Limit their consumption of processed food as much as possible, including sweets, food with artificial colorings, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup.
5. Teach your child the value of daily exercise at a young age – Aside from the physical benefits, regular exercise can form part of your quality time with your children. You can go for walks, bike rides, play sports, take your dog for a run, jump rope – there are so many different activities that can make exercise fun and exciting.
6. Provide clean indoor air – Don’t smoke inside your house and your car (better yet, don’t smoke at all) and use only non-toxic cleaning products.  Have your house tested for lead paints if it was built before 1978.
7. Give your child probiotics – This will help strengthen your child’s immune system. You’ll feel secure knowing that your child’s immune system is holding up while everyone else in school is struggling with the latest bug.
8. Use non-toxic personal care products – Do not use soaps and shampoos containing risky ingredients like parabens, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), acrylamide, propylene glycol.
9. Be aware of the dangers of immunizations – Vaccines provide more health risks than benefits. Dr. Mercola has been working for years to educate the public about vaccine dangers. You can get more information about this by visiting Mercola.com.
10. Optimize your child’s vitamin D levels – Get your child outdoors for at least 15 minutes per day, preferably in mid-day, to get enough sun exposure to optimize his or her vitamin D levels, thereby boosting his/her immune system and overall health.