What Causes Menopausal Hot Flashes and Sources of Body Odor?

Most women who experience menopause will have associated body odor, which can be especially troublesome for those who
are more prone to perspiration or are affected by outside influences that can exacerbate odor. Typical causes include:

Decreased Antioxidant Protection

Our skin’s antioxidant properties diminish with age. As a result, palmitoleic acid, a naturally occuring fatty acid on our skin
oxidizes, producing a body odor substance called Nonenal. Nonenal was discovered in 2001 and Identified as the
main cause of body odor after 40 by the Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido. It is generally not a problem
for young people because of the higher concentration of natural antioxidants on their skin.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

The female hormone estrogen helps regulate the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature. When estrogen
levels drop during menopause, a false message is sent to the hypothalamus indicating that the body is overheated. The hypothalamus
springs into action, causing an increase in sweat production. While sweat itself is odorless, certain parts of the body, such as
armpits or the groin, have sweat glands that secrete high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids that bacteria thrive on, resulting
in body odor. In addition, when estrogen levels go down, the ratio of the male hormone testosterone goes up, resulting in higher levels
of lipid acid and production of Nonenal.

Insufficient Oxygen Levels

Our body’s normal metabolism gives off odors as a natural by-product of the body’s ridding itself of waste products. If the body
does not receive enough oxygen during menopause, there is a build-up of anaerobic bacteria. The body then goes into overdrive
to rid itself of these body toxins, resulting in increased odor.

Other Life Style Causes

Increased perspiration may also result from high emotional stress, which may include worry about body odor! Other causes of
excessive sweating include low blood sugar, parasites, metabolism problems, diabetes, liver disease, and an overabundance of
refined sugar, which feeds bacteria and fungus on the skin.
While body odor is discreetly addressed in Western cultures, the Japanese have a healthy and open attitude towards this subject. As they revere all the senses, smell is an important aspect of sensuality. Therefore, Mirai’s APG-40 formula from Japan helps eliminate all sources of body odor, and is the only product line that eliminates Nonenal, a for a feeling of total beauty.