Many of us exercise great pride and care in taking care of our looks and our attire, yet we still struggle with offensive body odor. No matter what some of us do, it doesn’t seem to help much; even an early-morning “remedy” can lose its effectiveness once we get to mid-afternoon and the day is wearing on us. With that in mind, today we take a look at body odor and how it relates to nutrition, and then we discuss some natural supplements that can help deal with it.
Body Odor and Nutrition
Body odor (B.O.) occurs as a result of your sweat coming into contact with bacteria perched on your skin. It can vary in its manifestation; body odor can be sour, onion-like, tangy, or even sweet. Body odor can start emerging in an individual around the time they reach puberty, which is when the apocrine glands (which are connected to hair follicles) are activated. Body odor is more likely to occur in men than in women.
The amount that you sweat does not necessarily impact body odor. Rather, body odor is entirely dependent on the bacteria present on the skin. Aside from genetics, hormones, certain medications, and certain health conditions, one of the primary factors in body odor is nutrition.
Eating a lot of certain foods can cause body odor. Some of these foods are healthy: these include broccoli, asparagus, and red meat. These foods can increase the presence of bacteria on skin which can cause B.O. when combined with sweat. However, this does not mean you should stop eating them. Lastly, alcohol can cause B.O., as it leads to the production of acetic acid, which is secreted alongside sweat.
Natural Supplements to Reduce B.O.
Some nutrients and natural substances can work in the body such that they reduce the likelihood you experience B.O. Here are the supplements which can help stifle your stench:
Magnesium: If you are magnesium deficient, you’re more likely to experience B.O. This is because magnesium helps the body break down sweat. Without sufficient magnesium, compounds in sweat can form sulfur compounds, which smell like rotten eggs. This acidic sweat is smellier than it would be if you had sufficient magnesium in the body. If you’re not getting enough magnesium in your diet and you’re experiencing B.O., supplementing with magnesium could be a remedy.
Chlorophyll is derived from plants and has long been pegged as a means to reduce body odor. Some scientific studies have supported this use of chlorophyll supplements. Chlorophyll concentrate capsules are an easy way to ingest this natural substance.
Vitamin E: Damaged skin cells can harbor bacteria, which leads to B.O. Supplementing with vitamin E is very beneficial for the skin, and can help heal damaged skin cells. In turn, skin is healthier, and B.O. can be mitigated.
Witch hazel is an astringent, meaning that it contracts skin pores when applied topically. You can apply topical witch hazel to the hairy parts of your body which sweat the most, such as the underarms. These are the areas where apocrine sweat glands are most concentrated. Witch hazel has an antiperspirant effect which can diminish body odor.
Probiotics: The digestive tract is full of bacteria, both good and bad. If you consume a lot of sugar and carbohydrates, the bad bacteria in the gut will flourish, leading to the production of hydrogen sulfide, which gives off a sulfur-like smell. Taking a probiotic supplement introduces good bacteria to the gut, which can reduce the production of such diet-related compounds that cause body odor.
If you experience body odor, you can overcome it. In addition to conscientious diet choices and seeking treatment for underlying causes if necessary, consider the natural supplements discussed above. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any of these for the first time.