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Body odour can be due to hormonal changes in the body, excessive sweating, an unhealthy diet and genetics. The reasons can be many especially during summer season, but when your body smells offensive, you may start to lose your confidence and even become more self-conscious.
Though deodorants and perfumes are available to control body odour, they do not treat the underlying cause. In many cases, the problem can be solved easily by just following a healthy diet. What you eat and don’t eat may contribute to the intensity of your body’s natural scent.
In fact, there are many foods that will help you deodorize and cleanse your system. Many are also effective at combating bad breath.
1. Lemons
The lively and awakening scent of lemon plays a key role in making your body smell great. The natural disinfectant and antibacterial abilities of lemons also help eliminate body odor and control bad breath caused by bacteria.
The acidic property of lemon juice helps lower the skin’s pH level, which makes it difficult for odor-producing bacteria to survive. Plus, being rich in vitamin C (an immune booster), lemons help remove harmful toxins present in the body.
However, the plus point is that lemon is easily absorbed by the body, thus improving your scent very quickly.
- Start your day with a glass of warm lemon water to help clean and refresh your system.
- To combat odor coming from your underarms or feet, you can rub half of a lemon on the affected area. Allow the juice to dry completely, then take your shower. Use this remedy once daily until the odor is gone completely.
2. Tomatoes
Another food that can fight body odor is tomatoes. Tomatoes contain natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help cut down the amount of odor-causing bacteria in the body. Also, being a natural astringent, tomatoes help shrink pores and block the ducts that secrete sweat, thus controlling excessive sweating.
Even drinking tomato juice can help lower your body temperature, which in turn will reduce sweating.
- Drink ½ cup of fresh tomato juice daily or include fresh tomatoes in your salad.
- Before taking a shower, apply freshly extracted tomato juice on the body parts that sweat a lot and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it off in the shower. Repeat as needed.
3. Cold Green Tea
Antioxidant-rich green tea is a wonder drink that can help prevent bad breath, body odor and stinky feet. Green tea supports detoxification by aiding production of glutathione, a carrier-antioxidant that eliminates harmful toxins from the body. The fewer the toxins in your body, the better your body will smell.
The polyphenols in green tea also help freshen your breath and destroy the compounds that cause bad breath.
- Put 1 to 2 teaspoons of green tea leaves in a cup.
- Pour hot water over it.
- Cover and steep for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Strain, add a little raw honey and drink it.
- Add few ice cubes.
- Drink 3 to 4 cups of green daily.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil makes a wonderful and natural deodorant to help your body smell pleasant. The antimicrobial property of the medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil help keep the growth of odor-causing bacteria in check.
Intake of coconut oil also supports digestive health, another important element in fighting both body odor and bad breath.
Use coconut oil for oil pulling, an ancient technique that supports detoxification.
- Put 1 tablespoon of organic coconut oil in your mouth.
- Swish the oil around your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Spit it out, then brush your teeth as usual.
- Do this daily in the morning, on an empty stomach.
Note: Do not gargle with the oil and do not swallow it.
You can also massage a little coconut oil gently onto the body parts that sweat the most.
5. Rosemary
The aromatic herb rosemary can also help annihilate body odor. The volatile oils in rosemary can help combat any type of odor that comes from your body by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Also, the compounds menthol and chlorophyll in rosemary help neutralize strong body odor and lend a nice fragrance to your body.
- Drink 2 cups of rosemary tea made from fresh or dried leaves daily. To make the tea, add 1 to 1½ teaspoons of the herb to a cup of hot water, cover it and let it steep for 5 minutes. Strain out the herb before drinking it.
- You can also mix 8 to 10 drops of rosemary essential oil in 1 ounce of water. Apply it on the areas that sweat a lot. Use it 2 or 3 times a day.
Note: If external application of rosemary causes skin irritation, discontinue its use.
6. Sage
Sage is another herb that can help your body smell sweet and nice, due to the presence of aromatic compounds like diosmetin, apigenin and luteolin in it. Its antibacterial effects also prevent bacteria from multiplying on the skin, thereby eliminating body odour.
Plus, this herb reduces the activity of sweat glands, so that you sweat less. It even aids in flushing out harmful toxins from the body. Sage also helps improve your oral health.
- Drink sage tea 1 or 2 times daily. To make the tea, steep 1 teaspoon of dried or fresh sage in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Strain, add some lemon juice and drink it.
- Alternatively, add 2 tablespoons of dried sage to 4 cups of hot water. Allow it to steep for 10 minutes. When the solution cools, use it to rinse the body parts that sweat a lot. Do it as needed.
Note: This herb is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. Also, avoid sage in large amounts, as it can cause dizziness.
7. Cinnamon
Known as a great breath freshener, cinnamon is another spice that saturates the body quickly, leaving behind a fresh aroma. In fact, cinnamon improves rather than sabotages your natural smell.
Its volatile oils help fight bad breath by reducing the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
- Drink cinnamon tea at least once daily. To make the tea, steep a medium-sized cinnamon stick in hot water for 10 minutes, then drink the refreshing tea. It will also help improve your digestive health.
- To instantly fight bad breath, use cool cinnamon tea as a mouth rinse.
8. Parsley
The strong oils in parsley help overpower nose-offending scents. Parsley also contains a good amount of chlorophyll, which has alkalizing effects. This means it helps alkalize the body and purify the blood.
In addition, its antibacterial effects combat the odor-causing bacteria in the body. Parsley also aids in detoxification.
- Drink 2 cups of parsley tea daily. To make the tea, steep 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh parsley in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Strain, then let it cool a bit before you drink it.
- You can also use lukewarm parsley tea as a mouth rinse to fight bad breath. Even chewing a few fresh parsley leaves is a temporary fix to mask halitosis.
9. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass contains large amounts of chlorophyll, a compound that counteracts body odour. Wheatgrass also helps reduce excessive sweating by balancing the acids and toxins in the blood that cause sweating.
In addition, it is rich in B vitamins and other nutrients that help regulate body temperature.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of wheatgrass juice in a cup of water.
- Drink it on an empty stomach in the morning.
- Follow this routine daily.
Note: Due to the very strong taste, some people may feel nauseated in the beginning.
Foods to avoid
- Avoid foods like garlic and onions that cause strong body odour.
- Avoid foods that have a high sulfur content.
- Avoid foods like red meat, alcohol, artificially flavored foods and junk foods. They contain toxins that are released through sweat and can give you a foul body odour.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables to detoxify your body and control body odour.
- Drink enough water every day to prevent a buildup of toxins in your body.
- Always wash your clothes after wearing them once.
- Do not wear tight shoes and avoid wearing shoes for long periods of time.
- Keep yourself dry as much as possible.
- Opt for cotton clothing rather than synthetic fabrics to avoid trapping sweat and moisture.
