Long-Term Deodorant Abstinence: Unexpected Consequences Worth Pondering Over
In a groundbreaking six-year experiment, wellness influencer Alyse Parker has shed light on the complex interplay between diet, personal biology, and genetics in body odor. Parker's findings, presented in numerous YouTube videos, have sparked new conversations about the causes of body odor and its relationship with habits, food, and DNA.
Parker, who was vegan at the time, switched to a raw food diet (eating only fruits and vegetables) in 2018 and maintained her usual workout routine, including intense gym sessions. Remarkably, she reported no noticeable change in body odor even after a year without using deodorant.
The experiment uncovers the sometimes unexpected science behind a daily ritual many take for granted. Genetics, particularly variations in the ABCC11 gene, play a significant role in determining body odor. About 2% of people carry a variant of the ABCC11 gene that stops their bodies from producing the key compounds responsible for underarm odor. This variant is most common among people from East Asia and results in sweat composition that bacteria cannot metabolize into typical body odor.
However, the effect of this gene variant is primarily on underarm odor; individuals carrying the AA allele may still produce sweat and body odor from other parts of the body. Thus, no genetic variation completely eliminates all body odor, but some can effectively make individuals "odor-free" under the arms.
Dietary components, especially animal products, can change the chemical makeup of sweat, affecting how we smell. Parker's observations were backed by a 2006 study in Biology Letters, which found that people who avoided meat had less intense and more pleasant axillary odor.
The smell of sweat comes when skin bacteria break down specific compounds in sweat, especially after exercise or during stressful moments. Sweat itself is over 99% water and almost odorless.
Parker's experiment did not prove that everyone can toss out their deodorant, but it does suggest that diet may play a significant role in body odor. The experiment is detailed and backed by peer-reviewed research, making it a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion about body odor and its various factors.
More broadly, genetic differences also influence how people perceive smells, including body odors, by affecting olfactory receptors and scent sensitivity. This helps explain why people have different reactions to various odors, though it is distinct from producing body odor.
In summary, genetics (especially ABCC11 gene variants) significantly affects body odor production, and certain genetic variations can result in very low or absent underarm odor, effectively making those individuals odor-free in that area. Diet may also play a significant role in body odor, with dietary components potentially altering the chemical makeup of sweat. As we continue to learn more about the complex interplay between diet, personal biology, and genetics, it's clear that body odor is a fascinating and dynamic area of research.
[1] Biology Letters, 2006 [2] Current Biology, 2003
- Alyse Parker's experiment, which involved switching to a raw food diet and maintaining her fitness routine, suggests that dietary components, such as those found in animal products, can significantly impact body odor.
- Genetic differences, such as variations in the ABCC11 gene, play a significant role in determining body odor, with some variations making individuals effectively "odor-free" under the arms.
- The interplay between diet, personal biology, and genetics is a complex and fascinating area of research, as demonstrated by Alyse Parker's experiment and supported by various scientific studies, including those published in Biology Letters (2006) and Current Biology (2003).
