We all know that what we eat can affect our overall health, but did you know that it can also alter our body odor? Certain foods can cause us to emit a less than pleasant smell, while others can leave us smelling fresh and clean.

Here are 10 foods that can alter your body odor.

1. Garlic

Garlic is a culinary staple in many households, but it can also cause bad body odor. When we eat garlic, its sulfur compounds are absorbed into our bloodstream and then released through our pores, giving us a pungent smell that can linger for hours.

2. Onions

Just like garlic, onions contain sulfur compounds that can cause bad body odor. These compounds are released through our pores and can give us a strong, oniony scent. Cooking onions can help reduce their odor-causing potential.

3. Red Meat

Red meat contains a lot of protein, which can break down into amino acids that produce strong body odor. This is especially true for meats like beef and lamb.

4. Cruciferous Vegetables

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage contain sulfur compounds that can cause bad body odor. These compounds are released through our pores and can be especially strong if we eat a lot of these vegetables.

5. Spicy Foods

Spicy foods like curries, hot peppers, and garlic can cause us to sweat more, which can lead to increased body odor. This is because our sweat glands release more than just water—they also release compounds that can smell bad.

6. Alcohol

Alcohol can cause bad body odor in a few different ways. First, it can cause us to sweat more, which can lead to increased body odor. Second, the smell of alcohol itself can be emitted through our breath and pores.

Finally, alcohol can also disrupt our gut bacteria, which can lead to a less-than-pleasant smell.

7. Coffee

Coffee is a diuretic, which means it can cause us to urinate more frequently. This can lead to dehydration, which can cause bad body odor. Additionally, coffee can also lead to an acidic environment in our mouths, which can contribute to bad breath.

8. Fish

Fish contains choline, a nutrient that can release trimethylamine (TMA) when broken down in our gut. TMA has a strong, fishy odor, and can be released through our pores when we eat fish.

9. Fermented Foods

Fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir contain healthy bacteria that can promote good gut health. However, these same bacteria can also release compounds with strong body odor when they break down in our gut.

10. Sugar

Sugar can contribute to bad body odor in a few different ways. First, consuming a lot of sugar can lead to an overgrowth of yeast in our gut, which can cause a yeasty smell.

Second, sugar can also feed the bacteria on our skin, leading to a less-than-pleasant smell.