5 Worst Foods for Body Odor

Healthy and smelly? Why not? Eating healthy is a great habit with a lot of benefits, but some healthy foods may lead to an overpowering body odor.

Some of these foods may be causing you to be more than a little whiffy due to allergic or generic reactions. 

Some healthy foods, especially seafood, might be the worst foods for body odor due to certain underlying conditions or allergies you are not necessarily aware of.

You can try every deodorant or bar of soap on the market, and you will only mask the scent. Instead, read this guide and see if you may be able to find the culprit to your problem.

Open the fridge and take a good whiff; you may be able to sort this one out. 

Read this guide to find out about the worst foods for body odor, and most of all, the worst processed foods for you. 

What are the Worst Foods for Body Odor:

Let’s discuss some worst foods for body odor.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Vegetables have a nasty side; who knew? Yes, those healthy green bites you are so proud of might just be contributing to that bad smell you haven’t been able to get rid of. Cruciferous vegetables include some of the healthiest vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. 

We all know them as must-eat foods that are healthy, and they certainly are, but don’t be fooled; many foods may be contributing to bad body odor.

Cruciferous veggies may be one of the worst culprits, but alas, it’s also essential for your health. 

The bad odor from cruciferous vegetables comes from the release of a stinky sulfur compound that makes its way to your sweat glands.

These vegetables are seen as the leading cause of foul body odor, but before you give up your healthy veggies consult with your nutritionist to find out if they are, in fact, the root of the problem. 

Red Meat

So, there you have it – vegetarians aren’t the only ones who may suffer from foul body odor.

Meat could be the culprit in the same crime. In fact, there are medical studies that prove red meat contributes to body odor. 

Vegetables are seen as a beneficial food for healthy living and weight loss, whereas red meat may be considered an unhealthy food source by many.

Let’s be clear, red meat might be challenging to digest and contains residue that leaves smelly toxins in your sweat, but it does have its positive traits. 

Red meats include beef, pork, lamb, and veal. These meats are packed with nutrients and protein your body needs to perform at its peak.

You can also try to limit your daily intake – It’s suggested to limit your intake to about 6 ounces per week to prevent an unpleasant odor caused by red meat. 

Fenugreek/Garlic

You may not have heard of this wonder herb famous for its marvelous benefits except, of course, for the possible emission of a fishy smell. This herb has been used in cooking recipes and alternative medicine for centuries. The smell of fenugreek is likened to maple syrup, so that is not that bad, right? Wrong! 

The smell is produced by sotolon, and this component is the culprit responsible for the stench. As it passes through your body unchanged, it goes through your sweat. This component can also be found in aged rum and maple syrup. Fenugreek may possibly be one of the worst foods for body odor.

Unfortunately, with fenugreek, you cannot limit your intake. To get rid of the stinky sweat caused by fenugreek, you will need to completely stop taking it.

Rather try using this slightly overpowering herb when there is no one around. 

No list of smelly foods would be complete without mentioning garlic. This pungent little bulb, tasty as it may be, is infamous for causing garlic breath, and even worst, a ripe garlic sweat that will leave your colleagues heaving.

Fish

Omega 3 fatty acids are of course one of the best foods you can eat when you follow a healthy diet and want to lose some extra weight.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in our fishy friends and provide you with essential vitamins and nutrients – and a nasty body odor.

At least we can say that it’s only certain types of seafood that may cause this issue.

Some may not be as lucky. If you have what is known as trimethylaminuria, otherwise known as TMAU, you won’t be able to have any fish, seafood, eggs, legumes, or liver. These foods will make you stink up the place.

The foul smell is due to the essential vitamin called choline and may be the worst food for you in terms of body odor. 

Some people may have a genetic inability to break down choline, which results in the smell when they eat any of these products.

There is, unfortunately, no way around it; you will need to give up your fishy treats if you wish to get rid of the problem. 

Coffee

Coffee helps with morning breath but may also cause a foul stench when consumed too often. The way in which coffee affects your body odor is through caffeine which activates your sweat gland.

For some unlucky souls who are sensitive to caffeine, a cup of joe can lead to excessive sweating, which causes a vicious cycle. 

Caffeine is the sole reason why most of us crave our coffee each day, but it may also be the reason we notice more pungent sweat whenever we have that strong cup from time to time. Espresso? Yes, that is definitely a big culprit. 

The sweat which causes the foul body odor may be eliminated when switching to decaf coffee instead.

Not so much a picker-upper, but worth the try. Switching to decaf coffee or even green tea can quickly solve the problem while still providing you with a tasty cup each morning. 

Why These Are Not Good for Body Odor

Most of the foods mentioned in this article are essential to receive certain nutrients and vitamins that benefit your health. Some may even be upfront and choose to rather smell than eat the worst processed foods.

Processed foods such as cold meats and other takeaway foods may not give you a stench but are the worst foods for skin and overall well-being. 

Our bodies have two types of sweat glands and could be seen as the sole perpetrator of foul body odor. The Eccrine glands are all over the body and they are known to secrete sweat when the body temperature rises. 

The Apocrine glands develop in areas such as armpits where hair follicles are mostly present. Apocrine glands produce another type of sweat that combines bacteria to create bad body odor. 

Although body odor is not the most wanted element of surprise, it is an essential part of survival as it’s the only way in which your body can cool itself down. 

The skin bacteria break down into acids from the sweat by the Apocrine glands. The waste produced in the body you are smelling can’t really be changed except when dealing with your intake.

With that being said, now you know why men may smell a bit more than women; men simply sweat more.

Healthy foods can change your bad smell to sweat smell sweet. You should avoid certain foods that cause bad smells.

Avoid spicy foods and drinks and take common and healthy foods. Take leafy green vegetables like asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, and common foods that can prevent bad breath and smell. 

Just Deal With It

Nobody likes to be the stinky friend, but it’s great to be alive and even better to do it healthily.

Most of the foods mentioned on this list can still be consumed in moderation. With red meat, for instance, you do not need to stop your meat intake completely; just control your weekly intake.

These are healthy foods that we as humans need to be healthy and are better than consuming the worst foods for you, such as processed foods.