How Foods Change Your Body Odor for Better or Worse, According to Experts

It’s no secret that certain foods give off certain odors, but the way they interact with the gut, skin, and other parts of the body can also change people’s body odor.

Ongoing research in Europe has shown that human aroma contains biological information about health, age and genetic compatibility – and can also signal attraction to others.

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In a BBC reportLina Begdache, assistant professor of health and wellness studies at the State University of New York at Binghamton, revealed the biological impact of food on body odor.

As food is digested, the interaction between its chemicals and bacteria in the gut releases gases that can lead to bad breath, also known as halitosis.

Foods can impact body odor on a biological level due to their interaction with the gut and skin, experts say. (iStock)

As the chemical components of food are metabolized, some sweat through the skin, interacting with bacteria and creating a different smell, according to the expert.

The “hottest” foods contain sulfur as a common ingredient.

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Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are all “highly high in sulfur compounds”, British nutritional therapist Kerry Beeson told the BBC.

Foods in the Allium family, like garlic and onions, can also impact breath and sweat odor.

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Although garlic may cause bad breath, some research over the past decade suggests it may make the smell of sweat more appealing.

Since garlic has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, this may make its scent in men more “pleasant” for women, researcher Jan Havlíček, from Charles University in the Czech Republic, told the BBC.

Cruciferous vegetables can cause unpleasant odors in the body, according to experts. (iStock)

Other vegetables, like asparagus, are known to cause smelly sweat and urine due to a compound called asparagus acid, as well as sulfur, the BBC reported.

The volatility of sulfur compounds promotes greater dispersion in the air, leading to a foul odor that can last more than five hours, according to a study by the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

But a study published in the journal Chemical Senses suggests that not everyone can smell asparagus in their urine, depending on genetics.

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2017 Australian research found that, generally speaking, men who ate more fruits and vegetables were “significantly associated” with more pleasant-smelling sweat that had a floral, fruity, sweet and medicinal quality, according to testers.

Self-reported dietary data also found that consumption of fat, meat, eggs and tofu led to more pleasant sweating, while higher carbohydrate consumption produced less pleasant sweating.

When meat, fish and alcohol make odors worse

Meat and fish can produce a “distinct” body odor because animal proteins can interact with skin bacteria when they are broken down and excreted, Beeson told the BBC.

Fish and beans contain a strong-smelling compound called trimethylamine, which can lead to a rare syndrome called trimethylaminuria, or “fish odor syndrome.”

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More of Havlíček’s research conducted in 2006 studied men who ate meat for two weeks compared to those who did not. Their perfume was then appreciated by women.

Men on a meat-free diet were rated on average as more attractive, more agreeable, and less intense.

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“To our surprise, those who ate meat smelled slightly worse than when they didn’t eat it,” Havlíček told the BBC. “It’s something that wasn’t common during our evolution, eating meat every day.”

Certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol, which dehydrate the body, can cause your breath to smell less. (iStock)

According to Begdache, drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause your gastrointestinal tract to smell sweaty and smelly, due to a compound released by the liver called acetaldehyde.

Alcohol also dehydrates and reduces saliva flow, leading to more festering bacteria in the mouth and an increased risk of bad breath.

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For coffee and tea drinkers, Beeson noted that caffeine can stimulate the apocrine glands, which produce sweat in the armpits and groin, which could lead to stronger body odor.

Nutrition, hydration and the path to a fresher scent

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Los Angeles-based dietitian and nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein noted that certain diets, such as keto, can produce “smelly, metallic” breath.

This can occur when a person follows a diet high in fat, moderate protein, and low or no carbohydrates.

Staying hydrated may be key to removing the stink, according to a registered dietitian nutritionist. (iStock)

“When your body breaks down fat for energy in a state of ketosis, it naturally produces different chemicals, including acetone, also known as nail polish remover,” she said. This is how many people describe the smell when following a strict keto diet.

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Muhlstein reiterated that bad breath is usually caused by odorous bacteria, so indulging in probiotic-rich foods that improve the microbiome of the mouth and body, like yogurt and kefir, can potentially help.

“To our surprise, those who ate meat smelled slightly worse than when they ate no meat.”

Staying hydrated is also key to suppressing unpleasant odors, according to the expert.

“Smelly breath and body odor could be a sign of dehydration because the bacteria in your body are more concentrated, and therefore smellier, so drinking more water and staying hydrated with electrolytes can help,” she said.

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“Adding things like mint leaves or ginger to your water can have additional benefits, as they can add more antimicrobial elements and provide a fresh scent.”