It is embarrassing and annoying to have body odor. It is not surprising that people do the not-so-subtle armpit check every now and then just to make sure that they do not smell bad.
There are easy ways to deal with body odor. Learn how to get rid of body smell with these 5 proven methods.
Practice Good Personal Hygiene
Get rid of body odor-causing bacteria by bathing or taking a shower regularly. Make sure to lather up with a good soap, washing effectively all the areas that are most susceptible to body odor – armpits, breasts, feet, and genital area.
Use a clean towel to dry yourself up effectively. Bacteria thrive in warm and moist environment. Pay attention to areas where the skin folds – around the groin, beneath the breasts and around the abdomen. Think about using unscented talcum powder on these areas after your bath to ensure dryness.
Pay particular attention to areas where bacteria are likely to breed. Hair tends to absorb odor easily. Shave your armpits regularly. Exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skin and stubborn grime.
Choose your Clothes and Do Your Laundry
You tend to sweat more and smell bad when you use synthetic fabric which traps sweat. Opt for fabric like thin lace, sheer mesh, or cotton, instead. These fabrics absorb sweat and breathe well, creating less sweat and less body odor.
Make sure that you do your laundry regularly. When you keep your clothes clean and fresh, you are likely to smell fresh yourself.
Use Effective Personal Hygiene Products
Body odor is often the result of perspiration and bacteria. You can use an antiperspirant to stop excessive sweating. Antiperspirants contain chemicals like aluminum to block perspiration. Most antiperspirants are formulated to last the entire day. If you do something strenuous, however, like aerobics or running, it may be prudent to reapply the antiperspirant.
Sweat cools down the body. You do not want to eliminate it completely. You can use a deodorant to mask or avoid body odor. A high quality deodorant makes you smell fresh the entire day.
If you have a body odor problem, you can use natural remedies to address it. You can use a vinegar spritz to kill the bacteria, especially in your underarms and feet. In place of vinegar, you can also use apple cider, tea tree oil, vodka diluted with water, witch hazel, or lemon juice as natural antiseptics.
Make the Necessary Lifestyle Changes
Choose what you eat wisely. Eat healthy. If you want to avoid body odor, decrease your intake of foods that are likely to cause body odor. Reduce your use of onions, garlic, curry and other strong-smelling spices. Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other vegetables that belong to the cruciferous family also tend to cause body odor.
Make sure to include whole grains, leafy greens, healthy oils from avocado, salmon, and olives, seeds, nuts, and fruits in your diet. Reduce your intake of fatty food like highly marbled cuts of beef, chicken skin, and fried food.
Support gut health. If you have certain problems with your gut, you are more prone to develop body odor from the poorly digested food.
How can you make your gut healthy and efficient?
Take probiotics supplements. They improve the quality of intestinal flora, decrease gut toxins and improve digestion. Buttermilk and yogurt are also good sources of probiotics.
Take apple cider vinegar and other forms of digestive enzymes to help digestion.
Take chlorophyll or wheat grass supplements. They are efficient natural deodorizers.
Go on a detox plan to cleanse your body and get rid of toxins.
Drink a lot of water to eliminate toxins from your system. Drink between two to three liters of water every day. It is a good way to stay hydrated, healthy, and smelling fresh and clean.
Work out on a regular basis. Physical exercise gives you a good sweat and eliminates toxic build-up that causes body odor. See to it that you take a shower and dry off carefully after your workout.
Avoid nicotine and tobacco. They promote free radicals that undermine health. They also encourage bacteria to form on the skin, causing bad odor.
Reduce your intake of alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.
Learn How to Cope with Stress
When you feel stressed out, your apocrine glands produce more sweat – sweat, which when combined with bacteria causes body odor.
Learn how to cope with stress effectively and relax. Yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises have been found useful in decreasing stress.