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Do you really know?

Which foods change our body odour?

14 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

4.621 - 7.304 Joseph Chance

Which foods change our body odour?

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Chapter 2: What factors influence our unique body odour?

8.445 - 29.127 Joseph Chance

Thanks for asking! Did you know that each of us has a truly unique body odour, which is influenced by a mix of genetic, hormonal, age-related, environmental and lifestyle factors? And your diet plays a significant role in shaping your natural scent. Some foods have their own noticeably strong odours,

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Chapter 3: Which foods are known to affect body odour?

29.107 - 50.001 Joseph Chance

like garlic or onions, for example, and can in turn cause us to sweat more. The same goes for spices and chilli, which makes sense given how hot they are. If you eat a lot of turmeric, you may notice a tangy aroma emanating straight from your skin pores, caused by an uptick in sweat acidity and the presence of a molecule called carvone.

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Chapter 4: How do drinks like coffee and alcohol impact body odour?

50.302 - 54.047 Unknown

I've even noticed a sulphur-like smell in the past.

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54.067 - 61.116 Joseph Chance

That's right, and that particular smell tends to come from digesting certain specific foods, like onions or cabbage.

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Chapter 5: What role do bacteria play in our body odour?

61.516 - 80.019 Joseph Chance

If you like asparagus, you may well have recognised a distinctive odour in your pee, which is a result of the digestive system breaking down asparagusic acid into sulphur-containing compounds. Now if you find yourself with a cabbage-like odour that reminds you of rotten eggs, it may be down to problems with digesting dairy.

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80.059 - 85.004 Joseph Chance

Red meat and processed meats can also dial up the intensity of your sweat scent.

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Chapter 6: Are there specific foods that can improve body odour?

85.345 - 98.079 Joseph Chance

When it comes to drinks, both coffee and alcohol can increase body temperature, leading to more sweating. Alcohol in particular is considered toxic by the body and expelled through urine, respiration and sweat.

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98.76 - 101.723 Unknown

Is there anything else that could explain a change in odour?

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102.023 - 122.501 Joseph Chance

Indeed, the bacteria living in our bodies play a role. All of our body odours are actually produced by the bacteria we host. They generate these odours based on what we feed them, essentially by metabolising products and creating smells, both pleasant and unpleasant. Medication can also impact body odour by causing excessive sweating.

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122.842 - 141.514 Joseph Chance

According to medicalnewstoday.com, this happens with the likes of desipramine, nortriptyline, pilocarpine, protriptyline and zinc supplements. Meanwhile other medications can alter your breath by disrupting digestive transit and causing burping Are there any foods that can improve body odour?

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142.034 - 166.033 Joseph Chance

Yes, there are actually, at least according to a study published in January 2017 in Evolution and Human Behavior. It found that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables made male body odor more attractive to women. On the other hand, a diet heavy in foods like pasta or bread, which are rich in carbs, can lead to sweating and hence an unpleasant body odor. There you have it.

166.013 - 181.93 Joseph Chance

Now you know which foods change our body odor. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.

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