All of you have a unique odor signature that’s largely determined by your health, genetics, personal hygiene, and even the kind of food that you eat. The problem of bad odor can arise because of hormonal changes in your body, an unhealthy diet, excessive sweating, genetics, and poor hygiene.
Besides being an extremely embarrassing issue, body odor can hamper your confidence levels and make you become more self-conscious.
Although there are a whole lot of deodorants and perfumes available to help you control your body odor issues, they don’t really treat the underlying cause. The simplest solution to tackling body odor problems is by following a healthy diet. Everything that you eat reflects on you, your health, and your overall appearance. Simply including a few healthy foods can help you deodorize and cleanse your system completely. A healthy diet also contributes to the intensity of your body’s natural scent.
Foods That Will Make You Smell Good
1. Lemons
Lemons have a lively and awakening scent that plays a key role in making you smell great. It has natural antibacterial and disinfectant properties that eliminate body odor and control bad breath caused by bacteria. Lemon juice also has an acidic property that will lower your skin’s pH level and make it hard for odor-producing bacteria to survive. Additionally, lemons are rich in vitamin C and act as an immune booster, thereby removing harmful toxins from your body.
How To Use
Begin your day with a glass of warm lemon water to clean and refresh your system effectively. To fight feet and underarm odor, rub half a lemon on the affected area and allow the juice to dry fully before showering. Repeat this process once a day until the odor goes off completely.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a fantastic natural deodorant that is also antimicrobial, thanks to the medium-chain fatty acids. This makes coconut oil highly effective in keeping the growth of odor-causing bacteria in check. Drinking coconut oil also aids your digestive health and fights both body odor and bad breath. You can also use coconut oil for detoxification purposes using oil pulling.1
How To Use
Take a tablespoon of organic coconut oil. Without gargling or swallowing the oil, just swish it around in your mouth for about 20 minutes. Now spit it out and brush your teeth like you usually do every day. Repeat this process every morning on an empty stomach. You can also massage coconut oil gently on sweaty body parts.
3. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is rich in chlorophyll, a compound that counteracts the effects of body odor. It even reduces excessive sweating by balancing the amount of sweat-causing acids and toxins in your blood. Additionally, wheatgrass contains vitamin B and other nutrients that help regulate your body temperature.
How To Use
Mix 2 tablespoons of wheatgrass juice in a cup of water. Drink this mixture on an empty stomach every morning. Follow this routine every day for the best results. Remember, you might feel nauseated in the beginning owing to the drink’s strong taste.
4. Tomatoes
The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of tomatoes help you cut down on the amount of odor-causing bacteria in your body.2 As a natural astringent, tomatoes shrink pores and block sweat ducts, thereby reducing excessive sweating, too. Tomatoes can even reduce excessive sweating by lowering your overall body temperature.
How To Use
For starters, drink half a glass of fresh tomato juice every day or have it as a salad. You can also apply freshly extracted tomato juice on the most sweaty body parts and leave it on for about 20 minutes before showering. For desired results, remember to repeat this process daily for as long as you need to.
5. Fenugreek
Fenugreek leaves and seeds are highly efficient in eliminating toxins from your body. They contain vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that are vital for your digestive health.3 Additionally, fenugreek is useful in fighting bad breath caused by a catarrhal infection.
How To Use
Soak a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds overnight in a cup of water. Munch on the seeds in the morning along with a little water to improve the way you smell. You can also prepare fenugreek tea by boiling the seeds in a cup of water. Strain the tea and drink it at least twice a day for best results.
Besides these foods, you can also include cinnamon, parsley, citrus fruits, sage, and rosemary to counter the effects of odor-causing bacteria. Remember to avoid red meat, onions, garlic, alcohol, and other sulfur-containing foods as they contain toxins that get released through your sweat, thereby causing foul-smelling body odor.
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