Do your sweat odors bother you? Have you looked at the contents of your plate? As the Cleveland Clinic in the United States explains, our diet can have an impact on body odor. “When sweat from the apocrine sweat glands mixes with bacteria on the surface of the skin, that’s when the odor appears, specifies the clinic website. And that smell can be amplified or affected depending on what you eat – whether it’s spicy foods that make you sweat more or foods high in sulfur, like garlic, carried in your sweat.”
Spices can make us smell bad
First of all, gastroenterologist Christine Lee cites spices, including curry, cumin or fenugreek. “These spices contain volatile compounds that can be absorbed into your bloodstream and released by your sweat glands, causing a distinct odor.”warns the specialist.
Garlic and onion don’t just harm your breath
While garlic and onion are known to leave unpleasant breath, these alliacs can also make body odor worse. “They can also boost metabolism, body heat and sweating.”, alerts Dr. Lee. This excess perspiration can mix with bacteria present on the skin and accentuate odors.
Body odor: red meat can make you smell bad
And if you use garlic to season red meat, it may make your sweat smell even worse. The American gastroenterologist explains that red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, releases specific proteins during sweating. If they are initially odorless, they become so by mixing with skin bacteria.
Cruciferous vegetables: body odor linked to cabbages
Although they are good for your health, cruciferous vegetables are associated with unpleasant odors. Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts or cauliflower release sulfuric acid. However, the latter contributes to the appearance of bad body odor.
Asparagus gives a strong smell to urine
Asparagus is synonymous with spring, but also with a strong smell. They contain a specific acid, transformed into sulfuric acid during digestion. “This gives your urine a strong sulfuric smell., warns the specialist. But not everyone would be affected: it would depend on genetic variations.
Sweating: fish can change smells
In the case of fish, genes also play a role in the appearance of foul odor. “In very rare cases, our bodies convert a byproduct called choline into trimethylamine, which has a strong fishy odor, explains Dr. Lee. This compound passes through your body and is released through your breath and skin.” A rare disease called trimethylaminuria causes the same odors to appear with other foods such as cabbage or beans.
Alcohol harms our health and our good smell
Finally, alcohol can also harm body odor. “Alcohol is metabolized into acetic acid, which is released through the pores of your skin as well as your breath.”she specifies.
To limit the effects of food on our body odor, the specialist advises drinking plenty of water. “This can help to eliminate toxins and reduce body odor”, she explains. To get the maximum benefits, you should drink at least eight glasses of water per day.
