4 common foods that cause body odour

When it comes to getting rid of body odour though, science hasn’t produced a whole lot of definitive evidence for neutralising foods. Many people sweat profusely for absolutely no reason. Most times, it’s just because of scorching weather. But what causes persistent body odour, the kind that seems like it just won’t go away?

You might find this hard to believe but there are some foods and drinks that cause our bodies to produce strong smells. If you’re eating high levels of certain foods, the foul-smelling compounds they contain may be excreted through your sweat glands to give off an unpleasant odour. Compiled from Hindustan Times, here are five foods to cut down on if you want to smell good.

1. Cruciferous vegetables

PHOTO: FILE

Broccoli, cauliflower, and the rest of the cruciferous vegetable, as well as eggs and milk, can be odour offenders. They contain sulphur, a stinky compound that smells like rotten eggs, so eating them may increase the amount of sulphur to skin bacteria. This allows them to make more sulphur-containing compounds, meaning you may start producing a bad smell.

2. Spicy foods

PHOTO: FILE

Yummy as they may be, garlic and onions can give you what experts call “garlic sweat,” thanks to the high concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) they contain. Like your cabbage and cauliflower, these veggies also typically contain sulphur. In other words, not only can garlic   make your breath stink, the smell can seep out of your pores too.

3. Fish

PHOTO: FILE

Fish carry their own pungent aroma, at least when they’re out of the water. But can they alter body odour in humans? Apparently, yes - at least in people who have a genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria which is the body’s inability to break down a foul-smelling compound. Eating fish cause an all-over fishy smell in people who have the genetic condition.

4. Red meat

PHOTO: FILE

Meat is also on the list of smell-inducing, sulphur-rich foods. Findings from a study published in the journal Chemical Senses also suggest that eating meat might be affecting your sweat.

In this small study, researchers put a group of 17 men on meat or no-meat diets for two weeks and collected their underarm sweat. The sweat from those on the vegetarian diet was judged by a group of women to be significantly less pungent. The researchers theorised that fatty acids in red meat may find their way into sweat, making it smell worse than usual.

Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.