Bad body odor can be a result of many factors, including genetics, poor hygiene, and certain medical conditions. However, what many people don’t realize is that the foods they eat can also contribute to bad body odor.
Health and nutrition experts at Prepped Pots powered by MuscleFood have revealed how consuming food and drinks like garlic and caffeine can cause us to smell.
Bad body odor can come down to many factors from medication, hormones, and underlying conditions. The foods which we consume also play a large part in our body odor with certain foods leading to more unpleasant smells than others.
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According to Ashleigh Tosh, health and nutrition expert at Prepped Pots, body odor is completely natural but the smell of it often comes down to a mixture of different things including the foods you consume.
“When we sweat, we have bacteria living on our body that essentially eats the sweat and that’s what causes us to smell. The types of foods we eat play a part in the kind of sweat we release. Red meat for example causes our bodies to produce fatty sweat, the bacteria on our skin thrive off of this and can cause an unpleasant scent. Our sweat is actually odorless and there’s a reason they say you are what you eat.”
Bad Body Odor Foods
1. Garlic
It’s no surprise that garlic could be worsening the smell of body odor. However, it’s a great vegetable to have in your diet and shouldn’t be removed. Instead, you can neutralize the strength of garlic by adding spinach or mint to your dishes to make the smell less intense.
2. Red meat
Too much consumption of red meat can also give off an unpleasant body odor. This has to do with how our bodies break down their high level of fatty acids. These make the food hard to digest and when this comes out into sweat it can have an unpleasant smell.
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3. Dairy
When our bodies digest dairy, the food releases a compound called trimethylamine which has a fishy smell when released. If your body can’t digest trimethylamine properly then it may be released through sweat, causing a funky smell.
4. Caffeine
Unfortunately for coffee lovers, the stimulants within coffee and other caffeinated drinks can increase the production of sweat. Caffeine goes to our apocrine sweat glands which are responsible for producing fatty sweat that bacteria on our bodies eat – as the bacteria eat this sweat, it causes bad body odor. Caffeine leads to more sweat which gives the bacteria more to eat causing a bad smell.
5. Alcohol
Excessive amounts of alcohol can also come through your sweat and even your pores. This is the body’s way of cleansing itself from the alcohol.
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Foods that Can Help Reduce Bad Body Odor
- Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits contain citric acid, which can help to neutralize the odor-causing compounds in sweat.
- Leafy green vegetables: Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and lettuce contain chlorophyll, which has a strong odor-absorbing property.
- Yogurt: Yogurt contains probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help to reduce the odor-causing bacteria on your skin.
- Whole grains: Whole grains are a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate your bowel movements and reduce gas production. This can lead to a reduction in bad body odor.
- Water: Staying hydrated is important for overall health, including reducing body odor. Water helps to flush out toxins from your body and keep your sweat glands working properly.
If you are concerned about body odor, it may be helpful to avoid the foods listed above and focus on eating more of the foods that can help to reduce it. You should also drink plenty of water and practice good hygiene.
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It is important to note that not everyone will experience bad body odor from the same foods. Some people may be more sensitive to certain foods than others. If you notice that a particular food seems to be causing your body odor to worsen, it is best to avoid that food or eat it in moderation.
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2 Comments
This was a very helpful article. Informative and I love where you say the quote we are what we eat!
Thanks Christi!