By Zainab Al-Mashoor
KUWAIT: When it comes to personal hygiene, most of us focus on showering, using deodorants, and wearing clean clothes. However, one often overlooked aspect of body care is the influence of our diet on our natural scent. The saying "you are what you eat” might be more accurate than we realize, extending beyond just our physical appearance to include the very essence of how we smell. Body odor is naturally influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, hygiene, and diet.
Primarily influenced by the bacteria on our skin and the substances that our body excretes through sweat. Sweat itself is mostly odorless; however, when it interacts with the bacteria on our skin, it can produce various odors. "Next time you consider a meal, think about how it might influence your scent, says Dr Shaikha Ahmad Alqallaf, A Clinical Nutritionist. As a nutritionist, she gets complaints from patients including children about their body odor and how uncomfortable they feel at public spaces. Their diet plan adds to be a primary reason such as consuming junk and fast foods.
Dr Alqallaf adds, "In some Gulf countries, elder women or women who just gave birth smells mostly like fenugreek seed as their culture and tradition involves adding the seeds in their food and drink which helps them to breastfeed and also help the digestion system but also leaves an unpleasant smell - reflecting their body odor.
Dr Alqallaf explains how diet can significantly impact body odor in various ways. Foods high in sulfur, such as garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, can lead to a stronger and more pungent body odor because sulfur compounds are metabolized and released through the skin and breath.
Red meat can also contribute to more intense body odor; the longer digestion time required for red meat results in increased sweat production and a higher concentration of fatty acids, which bacteria break down into unpleasant odors. Strong spices, including cumin, curry, and fenugreek, can impact body odor as well. These spices contain aromatic compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and later released through sweat glands. Additionally, caffeine can contribute to body odor by increasing sweat production.
Conversely, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables generally leads to a more pleasant body odor due to their high antioxidant and fiber content, which helps detoxify the body and reduce odor-producing compounds. Finally, dairy products may cause body odor in individuals with lactose intolerance, as undigested lactose ferments in the gut, producing gases and compounds that can affect body odor.
To manage body odor involving the smell of breath, sweat or even excretion effectively, Dr Alqallaf suggests adopting several nutritional strategies. First, maintaining a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help promote a healthier body odor. It is also important to avoid excessive consumption of foods known to cause strong odors.
Hydration plays a crucial role as well; drinking plenty of water helps dilute sweat and reduce the concentration of compounds that contribute to body odor. Incorporating herbs with natural deodorizing properties, such as parsley, basil, and mint, can also help neutralize body odor. Additionally, green tea, known for its polyphenol content, can further aid in reducing body odor.
Consuming probiotics through foods like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables can support a healthy gut microbiome, which may indirectly influence body odor by enhancing overall digestive health. Therefore, understanding how different foods impact your body odor can help you make more informed dietary choices. If you notice a particular food is affecting your scent negatively, it might be worth moderating its intake. Conversely, incorporating more odor-neutralizing foods can contribute to a fresher natural aroma.