It’s burning out there. And with the sultry weather comes the problem of sweat and body odour. Though it isn’t necessary that you will smell bad whenever you are sweating.
What is body odour?
Body odour is the smell your body releases when sweat comes into contact with your body’s bacteria. Bacteria is the villain behind making your sweat smelly. The most common affected areas are the armpits, groin, and the pubic area.
While body odour is common in most people, the extent of odour depends from person to person. A person may be more prone to body odour if they are overweight, eat certain types of foods, have certain prior health conditions or are under stress.
Causes for body odour
A number of factors like diet, sex, health, and medication contribute to body odor, but the major contribution comes from bacterial activity on skin and gland secretions. There are three types of sweat glands in the human body: sebaceous glands, eccrine sweat glands, and apocrine sweat glands.
Body odour typically results from the apocrine sweat glands from which most chemical compounds are secreted that the microbiota present on the skin further processes into the substances that cause odour. Certain areas like the underarm areas, the navel area, the neck, the genitals, and behind the ears are more prone to this.
How does diet play a role in body odour?
Body odour can be largely affected by a poor diet. Potent ingredients such as chilly, garlic, onion, and so on can give the sweat a pungent odour. A protein-rich diet is also believed to be a cause of body odour.
If a person is consuming high-levels of particular food items, foul-smelling compounds they contain may be excreted through your sweat glands to give an unpleasant odour. Those compounds called VOCs or volatile organic compounds, can produce some particularly pungent sweat, according to a New York-based dermatological study.
Foods that can improve body odour
Increasing your intake of certain nutrients helps you reduce odours. Try getting plenty of these in your diet, and see the difference.
Leafy-green vegetables: Spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula and other leafy greens contain high levels of chlorophyll, which can neutralise odour-inducing components.
Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits etc contain citric acid that encourage the passage of water through the body that minimises toxins.
Fibre-rich foods: Food items like lentils, peas, and various kinds of beans contain high amounts of fibre. Ensure you are eating enough of these as it facilitates digestion.
Herbal teas: Herbal teas like green tea, chamomile tea improve digestion hence preventing unwanted residuals in the gut which can cause bad odour. Flavoured teas like a jasmine or peppermint tea can help you smell fresher quickly.
FAQs
Leafy-green vegetables: Spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula and other leafy greens contain high levels of chlorophyll, which can neutralise odour-inducing components.
What naturally kills body odor? ›
How do you get rid of body odor naturally?
- Baking soda: Make a paste using baking soda and water. ...
- Green tea: Put green tea bags in warm water. ...
- Apple cider vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with a small amount of water in a spray bottle. ...
- Lemon juice: Mix lemon juice and water in a spray bottle.
As a diuretic and liver stimulator, celery has the ability to fight odor by eliminating toxins in your body. Every stalk of celery contains androstenone and androstenol, the pheremones that attract female mammals.
Can lemon stop body Odour? ›
“Lemons can temporarily decrease odor in the armpits, and the alpha-hydroxy acid in citric acid can kill odor-causing bacteria,” Dr. Geeta Yadav told Shape in an interview, but added that “antiperspirant and deodorant are a much better and safer way (than using lemons)” when it comes to diminishing body odor.
What foods help with odor down there? ›
However, some anecdotal evidence suggests that consuming sweet-smelling foods such as watermelon, apple, and celery might help. Females should also try to drink plenty of water. Remaining well-hydrated prevents bacterial overgrowth.
How do I make my body smell good naturally? ›
How To Make Your Body Smell Good Naturally
- Cut Back on Steak and Booze. ...
- Use Lemon Juice as a Cologne-Free Fragrance. ...
- Create Your Own Herbal Hair Rinse. ...
- Use Orange Peel as a Natural Body Rub. ...
- Place Cedar Wood Chips in Your Shoes. ...
- Add Patchouli Oil Drops To Your Shampoo. ...
- Swap Cologne for a Natural Body Spray.
The easiest way to eliminate body odor is by taking a bath or shower, which will remove bacteria from your skin. However, for many people a daily shower or bath may not be necessary.
How to stop body odour permanently? ›
The following suggestions may help:
- Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
- Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. ...
- Try relaxation techniques. ...
- Change your diet.
Tips for Reducing Body Odor
- Keep Yourself Squeaky Clean.
- Use Antibacterial Soap.
- Towel Off Well.
- Use 'Industrial Strength' Antiperspirants.
- Keep Your Clothes Clean.
- Cut Out or Cut Back on Certain Foods or Drinks.
- Other Body Odor Treatments.
- Other Body Odor Preventions.
Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins and reduce body odor. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Green tea. Not only does green tea contain catechins but also polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that reduce odour causing sulphur compounds in the body and help fight off other bacteria that can cause bad breath.
Can yogurt reduce body odor? ›
Yogurt has an active compound that helps to neutralise odour causing sulphur compounds in your body.
What food makes you smell good? ›
Eat These 3 Foods to Smell Amazing
- You smell what you eat. I've also learnt that the smells of what you eat linger on your body – again, in the form of our stinky old enemy sweat. ...
- Apple. ...
- Orange & Grapefruit. ...
- Lemon Water and Herbal Tea. ...
- Chili Pepper, Onion and Garlic. ...
- Asparagus. ...
- Smelling good with Maison 21G.
Baking soda holds intrinsically alkaline traits, which balances the acidity in sweat processed by bacteria, to reduce unfavourable smells from the body. Prepare a paste with baking soda and water, apply directly on the armpits, to decrease moisture levels and rancid sweat gland secretions.
How to detox armpit smell? ›
For example, one tablespoon bentonite clay, activated charcoal or baking soda, as each help detox the armpit — or one teaspoon of all three. Then add one to two teaspoons water and one teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Mix all ingredients together into a paste, then apply the mask to your pits generously.
How can I make my body less smelly? ›
The following suggestions may help:
- Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
- Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. ...
- Try relaxation techniques. ...
- Change your diet.
3 STEPS TO SAFELY REMOVE DECOMPOSITION SMELLS
- Step One: Ventilate the area. It's important to ventilate the area to help remove the odor and keep a flow of fresh air. ...
- Step Two: Wash the environment thoroughly. ...
- Step Three: Absorb the odors.
The best way to prevent smelly armpits is to wash daily and after sweating. Using antiperspirant or deodorant and shaving the armpits can also help. Avoiding alcohol and certain foods, such as onions and garlic, will also help prevent smelly armpits in some cases.
What are the 10 causes of body odour? ›
Causes of body odour
- being overweight.
- consuming rich or spicy food and drink – such as garlic, spices and alcohol.
- some types of medication – such as antidepressants.
- certain medical conditions – a fruity smell can sometimes be a sign of diabetes, while a bleach-like smell may suggest liver or kidney disease.
