HT City

Have BO? Cut down on these 5

- Sanya Panwar (With inputs from dietician Dr Anupam Dey)

Fixing bad breath after a meal is relatively easy: Just pop a mint, use mouthwash, or better yet, floss and brush your teeth. When it comes to stopping stinky sweat, though, science hasn’t produced a whole lot of definitive evidence for odourneutr­alising foods. Many people sweat profusely all the time for absolutely no reason. But what causes persistent body odour, the kind that seems like it just won’t go away? You’re eating foods or drinking beverages that cause the body to produce strong odours, say experts.

You would have probably noticed that you are a bit more stinky after a night of heavy drinking, and that’s normal. Alcohol can cause bodies to produce malodorous sweat. Other things you consume can cause this to happen, too, even when those foods are good for you.

To minimise body odour watch your intake of these. Alcohol: It metabolise­s into acetate or acetic acid , which can be secreted into your sweat. When that acidic sweat is metabolise­d by skin bacteria, it can leave you with that signature “I went out last night” scent. Cruciferou­s vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflowe­r, and other cruciferou­s veggies, as well as eggs and milk, can be odour-offenders. They contain sulphur, a stinky compound that smells like rotten eggs.

Spicy foods: Foods such as garlic and onions can give you what Dr Dey calls “garlic sweat” due to the high concentrat­ion of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These foods also typically contain sulphur.

Fish: Eating fish cause an all-over fish smell in people who have the genetic condition called trimethyla­minuria, wherein body is unable to break down a foul-smelling compound.

Red meat: Findings from a study suggest that eating meat might be affecting your sweat. The fatty acids in meat may find their way into sweat, making it more stinky.

 ?? PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTO­CK ?? Garlic and onions can make your sweat stink
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTO­CK Garlic and onions can make your sweat stink

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