6 foods to reduce sweat and improve body odour this summer

It’s summer time already! Yes, it may be time for mangoes and more, but the scorching sun also brings with it oodles of sweat! The heat, dryness, humidity, and amount of exposure to the sun cause your body to sweat more, and this can even lead to a bad body odour. But have you ever considered your diet to resolve this issue? Well, there are certain sweat reducing foods which can also help you smell nicer!

Dietitian Hari Lakshmi, Consultant Dietitian/Nutritionist, Motherhood Hospital, Alwarpet, Chennai, tells HealthShots that the summer season can be difficult, especially for people who have the problem of excessive sweating also known as hyperhidrosis. They have to shower at least twice a day and apply antiperspirants around the clock to keep it under control. However, many fail to recognize that your food intake also has an impact on the amount of sweat you produce.

Yes, there are certain food items that can help reduce sweating and improve body odour.

Causes of sweating

Before that let’s take a look at some causes of sweating that leads to body odour. These include:

* Diabetes
* Menopause hot flashes
* Infection (Athlete’s foot-a fungal infection)
* Low blood sugar
* Thyroid problems (Overactive thyroid)
* Leukemia
* Certain medication’s side effects
* Stress, anxiety, and depression
* Hygiene issues

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Excessive sweating all the time can even make situations embarrassing for many people. That’s why finding a solution is essential.

Consume these 6 sweat reducing foods in order to improve your body odour:

1. Water

Drinking adequate amounts of water will help keep your body cool and protect you from dehydration due to excessive sweating.

2. High-fiber foods

Fiber-rich foods like oats and whole grains help in improving digestion. Improved digestion helps keep body temperature under control and reduce sweating.

3. Olive oil

Using olive oil to cook your food can also boost metabolism and digestion. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, it prevents temperature surges and controls sweating.

4. Fruits

Including fruits which have high water content like apples, grapes, watermelons, pineapples, and oranges will also help in reducing your sweat levels. Additionally natural smell of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and pineapples is absorbed by the body and will leave a fresh smell on your skin.

5. Vegetables

You should incorporate vegetables like celery, cucumbers, lettuce, red cabbage and spinach into your diet. These are dense with water and help regulate sweat levels.

6. Green tea

Drinking hot drinks may seem counterproductive, but green tea is rich in antioxidants and has a calming effect which helps in keeping the nervous system cool and sweating under control.

What to avoid for better body odour

Remember to stay away from caffeine and alcoholic drinks. These items act as stimulants and rev up the nervous system. Because of the heightened response of the body, there is an increase in the amount of sweat produced.