Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Strange question, but I've noticed that since I ditched the soaps and shampoos a few weeks ago, I've gotten a massive amount of increased interest from the opposite sex, almost to the point of being annoying.Has anyone else had that or something similar happen?

edited Jan 18 2011 at 1:58

Elizabeth
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asked Jan 11 2011 at 7:14

bittykitty
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Ambimorph · Answer 1 · 2011-01-11 18:03:26Z UTC

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As a woman, I find just leaving hair under the arms is enough to get this effect. Even soap can't completely disrupt the ability of hair to retain the pheromone-containing oils and subtly infuse the air. As I said recently to a friend on the subject of underarm shaving, I do shave for some occasions when I'm going somewhere where it just isn't socially acceptable to be that attractive.

answered Jan 11 2011 at 18:03

Ambimorph
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I lol'ed at your last sentence. Great stuff. – Paul Jan 11 2011 at 18:49

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"...where it just isn't socially acceptable to be that attractive." LOL Love it! – WordVixen Jan 11 2011 at 19:03

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LOL there are such moments.I work third shift in a grocery store on the weekends, and trust me, you don't want to be sexually attractive after the clubs close on a Saturday night and the drunks start coming in.Had to throw a few out on their butts last weekend. – bittykitty Jan 11 2011 at 20:33

Agree- while I'm not convinced about pheromones, I am convinced that your smell makes a big difference when it comes to the attraction! There's a reason why the ex-cleansing I attended this past week involved burning the ex's t-shirts- the smell is such a trademark! – JeJ Feb 26 2012 at 2:39

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It's never even remotely been a problem for me, Wisper. I suspect the people you hang out with are different from the ones I hang out with. I don't think you have privileged knowledge about the preferences of all men. Indeed, I've probably been intimate with more men than you have. Further, I am not in the habit of acting embarrassed about my body or my choices when "scoring". – Ambimorph Feb 29 2012 at 18:25

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Stephen-Aegis · Answer 2 · 2011-01-11 12:42:00Z UTC

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Mine happened shortly following my weight loss.

I find it hard to blame the new me, the no soap, or the new confidence.

But the effect is surely there.

answered Jan 11 2011 at 12:42

Stephen-Aegis
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I had the same, but going from obese to in shape will do that. I suspect it was my new confidence more than anything else. – sherpamelissa Jan 11 2011 at 14:07

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I lost most of my weight post celiac(almost 60 pounds)..that was 2 years ago.Only been paleo for about a month.Can't figure out any other reason than maybe increased pheromones from not covering the smell up with other chemicals.Think I'll use some leftover body spray and see if it changes things,just as an experiment. – bittykitty Jan 11 2011 at 18:05

Kaz · Answer 3 · 2011-01-11 07:26:00Z UTC

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I haven't been brave enough yet to ditch the 'poo, but I do know that one of my favorite smells in the entire world is my man's smelly pits. I love it; it's his unique man-smell, and it's irresistible.

Perhaps your pheromones are doing the same to attract the opposite sex? I definitely believe humans give off/respond to pheromones, even if unconsciously. :)

answered Jan 11 2011 at 7:26

Kaz
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you like the smell of man pits for real??? – Bronson Jan 13 2011 at 15:28

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Yes; yes, I do. :D Granted, it's a specific man's pit, but it's quite nice. – Kaz Jan 13 2011 at 18:12

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Kaz, I know what you mean. My sweaty husband is a wonderful smell. 8) – Ali Jan 18 2011 at 21:47

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Man-smell is awesome when fresh. Old man-smell (to be distinguished from old-man-smell, the smell of the elderly) is a little icky. – gone2croatan Jan 28 2011 at 17:59

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So this is true? My mate doesn't mind my fresh sweat either. I was perplexed. Though i don't mind, as I rarely wear deodorant. – Caleb the Hobbit Feb 25 2012 at 19:02

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JeJ · Answer 4 · 2012-02-26 02:20:55Z UTC

My ex-polo-shirt-wearing-whole-grain-eating-boyfriend: "You stink, go have a shower. Why didn't you shave?"

My current-Frenchie-meat-eating-boyfriend: "Why did you shave? That deodorant stinks, I thought I threw out all the nasty scented things you had in the bathroom."

Different strokes, different folks! Also, probably a fairy substantial cultural aspect, as I was alluding to.

luckybastard · Answer 5 · 2011-01-11 13:14:24Z UTC

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After I started lifting heavier I noticed it. I also started taking showers with no soap a few weeks ago but women had started showing increased interest before then. Needless to say, my gf's none too happy.

answered Jan 11 2011 at 13:14

luckybastard♦
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PaleoDavid · Answer 6 · 2011-01-11 13:43:33Z UTC

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Yeah, but I think the diet has a lot to do with it as well in as much if you were still eating the SAD, the odor might not be as sweet so to speak.

That said, I use soap after heavy work outs, shampoo rarely. More often than not I use a bit of coconut oil - not much though.

answered Jan 11 2011 at 13:43

PaleoDavid
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Definitely re: diet. I had a friend who didn't shower much (although when he did he used soap), but he smoke and drank a LOT and that really affects your smell. I shower around 2x/week but with a clean diet my sweat smells almost sweet. – Dan Feb 25 2012 at 17:28

wjones3044 · Answer 7 · 2011-01-11 14:40:06Z UTC

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No such problems for me. I've reduced soap use and eliminated deodorant but continue to use this Indian "Hair Soap" hand soap to wash my hair. Maybe I need to commit to 100% natural? Or perhaps it's my naturally repellant personality?

answered Jan 11 2011 at 14:40

wjones3044
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Aww, I don't think it's your personality! Your wandering about in the middle of Ohio somewhere. You need to find smarter women. :) – sherpamelissa Jan 11 2011 at 14:49

+1 for the kind words! – wjones3044 Jan 11 2011 at 17:11

I can attest to that from personal experience. The midwest is not a a happy hunting ground, ladywise. – Futureboy Apr 29 2011 at 15:59

Travis Culp · Answer 8 · 2011-01-18 18:32:14Z UTC

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Pheromones have lately been shown to be a myth for humans.

Edit: http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/current/research/111110.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=oZmk-XWeAn8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=doty+pheromones&source=bl&ots=fFza7NsLEc&sig=3k2xZbcLXOKCRwdjwMtxgXs06pE&hl=en&ei=WNw1TYL0GI70swPLgdHfBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=doty%20pheromones&f=false

I always forget that not everyone reads the same science news feeds as I do. Additionally, I forgot that we're all die-hard skeptics here.

edited Jan 18 2011 at 18:32

answered Jan 11 2011 at 22:16

Travis Culp♦
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It would be cool to add a link or something. – memostotle Jan 11 2011 at 23:21

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Well, for me, I know smell has a huge amount to do with how sexy I find a man. I love REAL MAN smells. Sweaty, dirty, worked hard kind of smells are the best. – sherpamelissa Jan 11 2011 at 23:50

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Given some personal experiences- I'm going with not a myth, but not as potent far range as the media likes to make it. – WordVixen Jan 12 2011 at 2:19

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Pheremones as they apply to other animals may not exist in mammals, but smell definitely plays a role in attraction. There was a study done where women's reaction to male sweat (e.g. attracted vs. unattracted) changed when they went on birth control, leading one to believe that hormones/smell/attraction are linked. steadyhealth.com/… – Dan Feb 25 2012 at 17:32

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I am absolutely convinced of the effect of pheromones on humans. I spent close to 15 years doing darkroom work, and the revolving doors to get in and out of the darkroom sort of capture the scent of the person who just passed through. It was sweaty, stressful work at times, and as a result of passing back and forth through those clouds of pheromones there were a ridiculous number of sexual tension filled awkward moments. – Happy Now Feb 27 2012 at 11:40

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Adam Crafter · Answer 9 · 2011-01-18 03:32:17Z UTC

Facts, fallacies, fears, and frustrations with human pheromones

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.a.20125/full

I have definitely noticed that i have a different pull when i have been eating paleo and getting great whole body exercise.

I have no complaints.

Greg · Answer 10 · 2011-04-29 15:50:38Z UTC

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My wife is slowly disowning me since I've gone the no soap, no deo, no poo route. I have to use some kind of musk improvement product at least once every 4 days or else I don't get any :(

answered Apr 29 2011 at 15:50

Greg
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Aaron B. · Answer 11 · 2011-04-29 16:03:30Z UTC

I never gave up soap entirely, but I started getting compliments on my scent for the first time in my life when I stopped using shampoo and deodorant/antiperspirant and replaced my deodorant "body bar" with a very plain soap. I'm also a big guy who's always sweated a lot. My guess is that all that stuff only served to clog the pores and keep the sweat where it could build up odor, while now the sweat flows freely and evaporates quickly like it's supposed to.

My clothes seem to stay cleaner now too, with no "pit stains."

Irvin Kelly · Answer 12 · 2012-02-25 16:31:06Z UTC

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I haven't used soap or shampoo for 3 weeks now, and yes I am getting extra attention at work from women and men.

answered Feb 25 2012 at 16:31

Irvin Kelly
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Ebice · Answer 13 · 2012-02-25 18:27:36Z UTC

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Since dropping soap I'v had a split effect. Many of my friends/coworkers ect. seem to be more attracted to me.

But, a minority of them keep telling me I stink. I notice that the people who tell me I stink regularly douse themselves with scented chemicals/antibacterials. No conclusions yet.

answered Feb 25 2012 at 18:27

Ebice
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My response has been similar. But the minority of people who say I stink seem to forget that humans are still animals. – Caleb the Hobbit Feb 25 2012 at 19:00

miked · Answer 14 · 2012-02-26 02:26:04Z UTC

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Well I tend to get lucky on days that I don't use soap. Then I tell my wife and she gets mad for rewarding me for not getting clean. I think there's something to it.

answered Feb 26 2012 at 2:26

miked
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jbone · Answer 15 · 2011-01-13 06:24:33Z UTC

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Do you all use soap to wash your hands at least?

answered Jan 13 2011 at 6:24

jbone
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I scrub under my nails with a brush in the shower,I use soap on my dishes, and I wash my hands after using the rest room/handling raw meat.But I'm not paranoid about germs on everything.I don't use my armpits to pick up produce.Some people will actually wipe their children's hands with those bleach wipes the stores put out for grocery carts. That can't be good. – bittykitty Jan 13 2011 at 17:58

Actually, bittykitty, using too much sterilizer / sanitizer is pretty bad. I can't find the article I read on it, but excessive use can essentially burn / chap your hands, as well as killing potentially good bacteria that help protect you against disease. Will try to hunt down links to accompany. – Mitschu Jan 22 2011 at 19:56

There is also the natural defense argument, which states that people who expose themselves to germs more often tend to build up stronger immunities, ironically making them more resistant to getting sick in the first place. – Mitschu Jan 22 2011 at 19:57

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I'm not sure you can build up a natural defense to the latest mutation of the flu virus or norovirus. Immunity only goes so far. – jbone Jan 25 2011 at 2:18

There is no natural defense where I live,because Myrtle Beach is a tourist town.We get bugs from all over place.Three times a year, minimum,half my workplace will be out over a two week period. – bittykitty Jan 28 2011 at 14:42

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pheromones:anyone notice being more sexually attractive after discarding soaps?

15 Answers