Turnip the Funk

Turnip the funk!....nope, not that kind! It's getting hotter here in sunny Napa Valley, and that means sweat.

Sweating is generally a natural process by which the body maintains a healthy temperature (although it can also be a response to stress, heredity, or other stimuli). It is a healthy function of the skin, your body's largest organ, and has many great internal and external benefits. If you happen to notice, in your summery sweats, that something smells a bit off...and you then realize that something is you...do not fear! I've got some easy tricks to help naturally combat body odor so you can sweat away without worry. Most of our sweat evaporates without us being aware, but when sweat accumulates on skin it can become a feasting ground for odor-causing bacteria, especially in the well-known stinky body spots. Since bacteria is generally the primary cause for body odor, getting rid of bacteria can help stop that stink.
Turnips are a great pantry ingredient with antibacterial properties that can be helpful in situations like this. They naturally contain high levels of Vitamin C that can be effective in killing bacteria living on the surface of skin. Other things like lemon juice, tomato juice, and orange peel oil (essential oil) can also be effective as well as many herbs (to find more antibacterial ingredients, use the search box at the top).
To use turnips to fight body odor,you can grate or pulverize the turnips, then press them against a sieve or squeeze in a cloth to extract the juice.You can also juice fresh turnips if you have access to a juicer, or simply slice and wipe turnips directly onto your skin. Apply the turnip juice in all areas with a high chance of bacterial growth or commonly stinky spots, and let juice dry completely. Repeat daily, on-going, to continue fighting the odor-causing bacteria living on skin. There's no way permanently prevent any type of body odor, but you can certainly take easy steps with handy, natural ingredients to fight your funk.)
(Always remember to do a spot test for sensitive skin concerns.