How to Stop Underarm Odor
The odor under your arms isn't caused by perspiration, which is comprised mostly of water and salt. In fact, it's caused by bacteria that is attracted to the places where you sweat the most. If you want to know how to stop having unpleasant underarm odor, there are a few steps you can take to ensure that your body and underarms smell nice and fresh. Read on to find out how to do it.
Adjust Your Diet
Avoid a variety of foods. If you want to stop underarm odor, one easy trick is to avoid certain pungent foods or foods that are known to increase underarm odor. Here are some foods that you should avoid:
- Garlic
- Onions
- Fish
- Curry
- Hot peppers and other spicy foods
- Red meat
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages. You may love your morning coffee or have a few beers or glasses of wine throughout the week, but if you want to eliminate your underarm odor, then you should cut down on -- or even eliminate -- these beverages as soon as you can.
Stay hydrated. Drinking a lot of water helps naturally cleanse your body and to keep you smelling fresh. Aim to drink a t least 8 - 10 8 oz. glasses of water a day.
Eat foods that improve your body odor. Some foods that have been proved to improve your body odor include fruits, veggies, and whole grains. These foods can help improve your body's metabolic function, helping it to work more efficiently. Eating a healthy balanced diet will also help lower your body's stress levels, which may decrease the amount you sweat, and therefore will lower the amount of bacteria that is attracted to your body.
- Take a wheat grass supplement along with your meals.
- Chew on parsley, alfalfa, or other leafy greens after meals to help neutralize strong scents.
Eat chlorophyll-rich foods. Foods that are rich in chlorophyll, such as kale and spinach, have been recommended to help neutralize the smells of foods that cause underarm odor.
Add magnesium and zinc to your diet. You can add magnesium and zinc to your diet through vitamins, or by eating foods that are rich in these vitamins. Here are a few foods to try:
- Foods rich in magnesium: nuts and seeds, spinach, lentils, avocado, bananas, and figs.
- Foods rich in zinc: pumpkin and squash seeds, dark chocolate, and peanuts.
Maintain a more healthy diet. Studies show that if you are overweight, obese, or even just an unhealthy eater, you've placed more strain on your body, which makes movement more difficult and makes it easier for you to sweat, thereby attracting bacteria that can cause underarm odor. If you're overweight, it may be time to eat a more balanced diet to shed those pounds and eliminate that pesky underarm odor.
Change Your Lifestyle
Shower daily. Make an effort to shower every single day, no matter how tired or busy you may be. This is an excellent way to ensure that your body is fresh and clean throughout the day. If you wake up sweating after a hot night, hop in the shower, and always shower after a long day of movement or especially exercise. You should never forget to shower after working out, or your bad body odor will build up.
- Use an antibacterial soap for best results.
- After you shower, make sure to fully towel off, so you don't leave any moisture that invites bacteria on your body.
Wear natural-fiber clothing. Wearing clothes made of cotton, wool, or silk will make your body less likely to sweat because of the comfort and durability of the materials. And if you're working out, invest in a high-tech fabric that wicks the moisture off your body.
Change and wash your clothes often. If you wear the same t-shirt for three days, then yeah, your armpits may smell. Make sure to always wash your clothes after you wear them, and to avoid wearing the same article of clothing for two or more days in a row, no matter how comfortable it may be. And take extra care with your workout clothes -- dirty and moist workout clothes are a breeding ground for bacteria, so you should wash them after every single workout.
Try some relaxation techniques. People often sweat not because they are overexerting their bodies, but because they are overexerting their minds. Take whatever measures you can to relax and reduce stress, and your body, mind, and underarms will reap the benefits. Try doing yoga, meditating, or taking at least thirty minutes to wind down before you fall into bed.
