If your armpit odor is particularly strong... is the culprit 'this food'?

The two main sweat glands in our body are the eccrine gland and the apocrine gland. Sweat produced by the eccrine gland is sterile and odorless. Sweat secreted through the apocrine gland contains some fatty components and flows through hair follicles. When the sweat components combine with the sebum from the sebaceous glands connected to the hair follicles, it becomes sticky and serves as food for bacteria. When bacteria encounter sweat from the apocrine gland, they produce ammonia, which causes odor.

 

Unfortunately, the sweat glands in the armpits are apocrine glands. To reduce armpit odor, it is better not to sweat at all, but that is not an easy task. Instead, there is a way to avoid foods that cause strong armpit odor.

 

High-fat and high-calorie foods can cause strong body odor... Foods rich in vitamin A and E, such as tomatoes and carrots, help eliminate odors.

 

High-fat and high-calorie foods increase the secretion of hormones that stimulate sweat glands. These foods, which are high in calories and contain a lot of fat, make body odor more intense. Popular summer health foods such as seolleongtang (ox bone soup) and chicken soup are also typical high-calorie foods. Dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese, as well as animal-based foods such as meat and eggs, have high fat content, so it is advisable to reduce their intake whenever possible.

 

On the other hand, foods rich in vitamin A help alleviate armpit odor. Vitamin A aids skin metabolism and has the effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria and viruses. Green and yellow vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, and tomatoes are rich in vitamin A. Vitamin E can inhibit the production of peroxidized lipids that cause bad odors, thereby potentially eliminating armpit odor. Foods containing vitamin E include olive oil, peanuts, and sesame seeds.

 

Drinking plenty of water is also helpful. It not only helps eliminate toxins from the body and reduce odor, but also replenishes the body's lost fluids through sweating. According to the World Health Organization, the recommended daily water intake is about 8 glasses of 200ml each, roughly 1.5 to 2 liters.

 

Thoroughly washing with soap is important... using deodorant is recommended if necessary.

 

In addition to food management, it is also important to develop a habit of thoroughly washing with antibacterial soap. Neglecting to wash because you sweat less increases the likelihood of bacteria remaining on the body to multiply. Purchasing a diluted formalin solution with about 0.3% concentration from a pharmacy and applying it to the armpits can also help alleviate bromhidrosis.

 

It is also good to use deodorant that suppresses armpit sweat secretion and eliminates odor using chemical ingredients. Apply deodorant to the armpits after showering when there is no moisture. However, even if you sweat a lot, do not arbitrarily increase the amount used. Deodorants contain trace amounts of environmental hormones such as triclosan, which can cause side effects.

 

Wearing natural fabrics such as cotton and linen that absorb sweat well or dry easily can help reduce body odor. However, avoid tight-fitting clothes. Even if you sweat, if the clothes do not dry and the areas where the clothes touch the skin remain damp, bacteria can quickly multiply and worsen the odor.

 

⟨3-line summary⟩

✔ The armpits contain apocrine sweat glands, which are responsible for producing odor-causing sweat. When you sweat, unpleasant odors often occur.

✔ Foods high in fat and calories such as seolleongtang and samgyetang stimulate sweat gland secretion and intensify body odor

✔ Consuming foods rich in vitamin A and E such as carrots, tomatoes, and nuts, along with adequate hydration, helps alleviate odor.