People say you are what you eat, but you also smell like what you eat. There are some obvious odor-causing foods most people think of, such as their breath after coffee or the bathroom after beans. But smells also come through sweat and compounds on the skin. Keep in mind, body odor isn’t necessarily a sign of bad hygiene. It could be from aging, illnesses, medications, or diet choices. There’s only so much you can do with mouthwash and body spray, so look out for foods that could make people smell bad.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage are full of beneficial nutrients, including high amounts of fiber and certain carbohydrates that act as prebiotics and ferment in the gut. Unfortunately, they can cause bloating and gas. Additionally, cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, which release compounds that cause a sulfur-like smell to emit from sweat, breath, and gas. But don’t let potential bad smells stop you from eating these foods, since research shows they are full of critical nutrients including antioxidants, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and much more.
Alcohol
Research indicates that heavy drinkers have a different microbiome in their mouths than non-drinkers. (In this case, “heavy drinking” means one drink a day for females, and two a day for males.) Drinkers tend to have less beneficial oral bacteria and more harmful ones linked to gum disease, plaque, tooth decay, and head and neck cancers. Poor oral health can lead to bad breath, as does dry mouth, which is a common effect of alcohol. So put “more dentist appointments” and “smelling bad” on the list of reasons to avoid heavy drinking.
Onion and Garlic
Onions and garlic famously cause bad breath, especially in their raw form. They tend to linger in the mouth, even after brushing your teeth, because they contain sulfur compounds. Plus, these byproducts can be absorbed into the body then exhaled through the lungs, continuing the smell even after the mouth is fully clean. The sulfuric compounds can also get released through skin pores as you sweat. Fortunately, these smells could be mitigated through drinking plenty of water, brushing your teeth and using a tongue scraper, sipping on green tea, and eating fresh foods like apples, lettuce, and chewing on herbs like parsley and mint, recommends Medical News Today. In addition to being delicious, garlic and onions are full of health benefits that shouldn’t be missed.
Red Meat
Red meat is full of essential and non-essential amino acids that support muscles, immune function, digestion, and so much more. However, amino acids also leave a residue in the intestines. Enzymes break down the residue, which gets mixed with bacteria in sweat and magnifies the smell. Meat is relatively hard to digest, explains E. Adam Kallel, a medicinal chemistry consultant at Victrix Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Consultancy, to HuffPost. “As a result, your sweat glands may respond by secreting more perspiration.” However, you can time your activities based on when the smell will begin. “The bacteria need a couple of hours to ramp up to their most odiferous point,” Kallel says. “You can smell worse within two hours of eating red meat.”
Foods That Improve Body Odor
Fortunately, there are foods that can help you smell good. One is apples, since they help oral hygiene and keep bad breath at bay. Another is citrus fruits, like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. They are rich in antioxidants that help neutralize the substances that cause bad body odor, leaving your skin with a fresher scent. And if you have unpleasant flatulence, try adding fresh ginger, wheat bran, fennel seeds, and probiotic-rich yogurt to your diet,
Causes of Body Odor (Aside from Food)
Bodily smells can come from a number of factors aside from food and bad hygiene. For instance, hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating, which is a symptom also common in pregnancy and menopause. Medications can also increase sweating, like certain types of antidepressants, NSAIDS, and omega-3-acid ethyl esters, according to Very Well Health. Additionally, you can brush and floss regularly and still have bad breath from dry mouth, hidden dental issues like cavities, acid reflux, postnasal drip, and tobacco use.
Tips for Reducing Body Odor
- Stay clean. Good hygiene is a no-brainer and it should be the first line of defense against BO. Shower daily and after a sweat-inducing activity.
- Use antibacterial soap. This will help eliminate some of the bacteria that creates bad smells.
- Dry yourself off well. BO-producing bacteria has the opportunity to grow on skin that stays damp.
- Use high strength antiperspirants. Despite being used interchangeably, deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same. The latter blocks sweating and reduces wetness. Meanwhile, deodorant doesn’t block sweating but it masks the smell by inhibiting bacteria and adding fragrance. Many products include both, so check the label.
- Use shoe spray. If you have smelly shoes from sweat, spray rubbing alcohol on them after use, and ensure they are fully dry before putting them back on.
- Wear natural materials. Skip inhibiting, bacteria-breeding fabrics like polyester and spandex, and choose breathable clothes made of cotton, linen, or wool.
- Get a laundry routine. Not all clothes must be washed after use, but that depends on the type of clothes and what activities were done. In general, clothes that touch sweat-prone areas like the armpits should be washed after every wear. You can wear a base layer like a T-shirt under a sweater or the like to absorb perspiration so you don’t need to wash the outer layers as frequently.
- Pick your own scent. Apply perfume or body spray if desired. You can also use homemade perfumes made of a combination of essential oils and carrier oils like coconut oil or grapeseed oil. Popular scents include citrus, vanilla, lavender, rose, peppermint, cedarwood, and sandalwood.