Excessive sweating also is known by the medical term hyperhidrosis. It affects millions of people around the world and refers to excessive sweating in areas including feet, armpits, hands, face, groin and head, regardless of the current temperature or conditions. Usually, hyperhidrosis is caused by disorders in sweat glands. Its effects can be lessened by certain aspects of food and beverage consumption.
Water
Drinking lots of water is one way to fight excessive sweating. The more water a person drinks, the lower her body temperature. A common misconception is that drinking more water will cause the body to sweat more, as there is more fluid to get rid of. However, if the fluid being drawn in is water, it will help lower the core temperature, and the excess will leave the body via urination.
Tea
Drinking tea has a number of positive effects on the human body, from raising anti-oxidant levels to thinning blood. Certain teas, such as green and sage, also contain a property which can dry out oils and toxins in the body that both create sweat and the odor that often comes along with it. Drinking tea also can increase a person's metabolism so that the items causing a person to sweat are expelled via urine.
Stimulants
Caffeine is a stimulus that causes that can cause the body to operate at a higher level -- sending more blood and oxygen to the heart, lungs and brain. The effort needed to make this happen causes the body to work harder and can result in sweat being released from the body as a by-product. Eliminating liquids high in caffeine or sugar -- especially coffee and soft drinks -- from one's diet can allow the body to relax and not feel the need to produce as much sweat.
Spicy Foods
Different foods have different effects on different people. For many people, spicy foods such as garlic and onions can have a negative effect on their dietary systems, raising their core temperatures and forcing the body to produce sweat in an effort to cool down. In addition, many of these foods are often directly responsible for the body odor that can accompany heavy sweating.
Stress-Reducing Foods
Vitamins B and C are directly related to helping the body reduce levels of stress and better cope with it. High levels of stress are a natural cause of excessive sweating, but can be combated by eating foods that contain high levels of these two vitamins. Most fruits and green vegetables contain good levels of vitamin B, while fruits such as oranges and blueberries are great sources of vitamin C. Both of these supplements can also be found artificially in over-the-counter pills.
