While some people claim a firm link between the body odor and poor nutrition, the scientific evidence is tentative at best. It is thought that foods with strong odors may affect body odor temporarily, but there is very little research to suggest a long-term correlation between what you eat and how you smell.
Body Odor
Body odor occurs when you sweat, but it's not the sweat that stinks. The hairy parts of your body like the armpits, groin and scalp are fitted with a particular type of sweat gland called an apocrine gland, which secretes an especially fatty type of sweat. When this sweat leaks onto your skin and comes into contact with the bacteria that congregate in the warm, protected areas in which the glands are located, the resulting interaction produces an odor.
Toxin Theory
Some people believe that body odor is caused by toxins excreted through your sweat glands, and claim that foods like red meat and processed foods are the cause. Adherents claim that switching to a plant-based diet will relieve body odor to the point where deodorant and antiperspirants become unnecessary. While the theory makes sense, it doesn't hold true-- your liver and kidneys filter out toxins, and your sweat glands do not play a role in the process. No dietary changes whatsoever can prevent the apocrine glands from producing their special sweat, and no food restrictions can prevent that sweat from reacting with the bacteria on your body to produce a smell.
Food Connection
Food can impact body odor. A 2006 study in the journal "Chemical Senses" asked women to evaluate the scent of two groups of men -- one group followed a vegetarian diet for two weeks, and the other group continued eating meat. The women rated the odors of the vegetarian men as more attractive and less intense than the meat-eaters, even when the study was repeated a month later with the groups switched. MayoClinic.com advises eliminating foods with strong odors from your diet if you notice a correlation between consumption and odor, although it will not prevent the primary cause of body odor.
Treatment
While a healthy diet is always a smart move, it isn't likely to make a big impact on your smell. Hygiene is more important -- bathe daily, dry thoroughly and wear clean clothes. These measures help prevent the buildup of bacteria that cause the odor. Antiperspirants and deodorant control most body odor, but doctors can prescribe a prescription-strength antiperspirant called aluminum chloride for more severe cases. In the most extreme cases that include truly excessive sweating, Botox injections may help by disabling the sweat gland.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Sweating and Body Odor; December 9, 2010
- NaturalNews.com; Body Odor Can be Eliminated Through a Change in Diet; Mike Adams; February 8, 2005
- "Chemical Senses"; The Effect of Meat COnsumption on Body Odor Attractiveness; Havlicek J, et al.; October 2006
- "Clinics in Dermatology"; Anatomy of the Sweat Glands, Pharmacology of Botulinum Toxin, and Distinctive Syndromes Associated With Hyperhidrosis; Kreyden OP, et al.; January-February 2004
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