By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

August 01, 2014

• Smelling sweet and fresh during the dog days of summer
• The real problem behind unpleasant body odor
• Simple diet trick can make you more attractive

It wasn’t long ago that my patients from up north were complaining about the cold, snowy weather that had driven them south for the winter. Now, just a few short months later, and it’s the heat and humidity that’s on everyone’s minds.

Well, everyone wants to keep themselves smelling sweet during these dog days of summer. And, if you’re like most people, you’re counting on your deodorant, antiperspirant… maybe even an extra shower each day… to stay fresh and odor-free.

But this may surprise you…

Sweat itself doesn’t actually smell bad. In fact, certain sweat glands produce pheromones – fragrant chemicals your body produces that attract the opposite sex.

It’s not until after sweat hits your body that odor occurs. And slathering on deodorants isn’t actually the best way to control those smells. There’s a better solution that’s completely natural. It gets to the root of the problem – once and for all – and keeps you smelling good all day long.

Let me explain…

Your body has two types of sweat glands. Eccrine glands are found all over the body. But the sweat they produce doesn’t smell. It’s mostly water and salt.

It’s the apocrine glands that are linked to body odor. These glands are found in hairy areas, like your armpits and groin. But they don’t actually produce odor on their own, either. That doesn’t occur until the sweat from them is combined with the bacteria on your skin.

This is where the problem occurs, because these glands excrete waste product when you sweat. And skin bacteria love to feast on those waste products. Then, as the bacteria break the waste down, odors are released.

So, the real problem is two-fold: The quality of bacteria on your skin and the quality of the waste products your body produces. And guess what controls both of these factors?

The foods you eat!

The foods that make you smell bad are the ones your digestive tract can’t break down. They putrefy in your gut, which produces a toxic build-up of stinking waste and “bad” bacteria – both inside your body and on your skin.

This combination is what produces those smelly odors under your arms and in your groin area.

Which foods cause these problems?

Sugars and refined/processed foods top the list. These are loaded with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. They also include a hefty dose of unhealthy, processed fats. But they don’t include any enzymes, fiber or nutrients your body needs to digest them.

And here’s another thing…

Both sugars and starches interfere with your ability to digest proteins. This may be part of the reason meat-eaters often have an offensive body odor. If the meat can’t be digested, it’s left to rot in your gut.

What can you do?

Clogging up your underarms with deodorant and antiperspirant isn’t the answer to getting rid of underarm odor. Taking extra showers doesn’t do much good either, because the odor will return the minute you start sweating again. (Plus, soap strips away bacteria that are good for your skin at the same time it removes the bad.)

So, how do you prevent nasty underarm odor from attacking?

Even if you think you’re eating healthy, there are several ways you can tweak your diet and start smelling better.

Clearly, the first thing you want to do is rethink any packaged foods you’re buying. Even if they sound healthy, there’s a good chance they have hidden sugars and other processed ingredients in them that will slow down your digestive process.

Cutting back on meat is a good idea, too. In fact, awhile back researchers had women rate the armpit odor of men who ate red meat for two weeks, then again after the men ate no meat for two weeks.

Guess what happened? The women found the men’s odor much more attractive and pleasant after the no-meat diet. (Chalk this up as one more good reason to limit meat consumption to about 13% of your diet!)

Here are some additional tips:

Eat plenty of dark-green leafy vegetables. Eating your greens increases certain cells in your digestive system that protect your intestines from “bad” bacteria. They also contain chlorophyll, which alkalizes your body, purifies your blood and acts as an internal body deodorant.

You can get plenty of green vegetables with your meals, or supplement with a green drink. These drinks are loaded with phytonutrients, chlorophyll and antioxidants that deliver the same nutritional punch as fresh green vegetables.

Supplement with probiotics. Remember, when your digestive system is out of whack, it can lead to body odor. The best thing you can do to restore a healthy gut is to stock it with healthy bacteria. This will increase the amount of good bacteria in both your belly and on your skin – and keep you smelling good.

Look for one that contains multiple strains of lactobacillus and bifobacterium. It should also include a “prebiotic” to help the good bacteria survive the trip to the gut and intestines.

Drink those odors away. Water is something everyone should drink plenty of each day. It helps your body eliminate toxic waste products. You can even boost the effects by adding a little lemon – a natural purifier and deodorizer.

Sources:
Havlicek J, et al. “The effect of meat consumption on body odor attractiveness.” Chem Senses. 2006 Oct;31(8):747-52.

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. “Gene discovery reveals importance of eating your greens.” ScienceDaily. Mar 2014.