by Cicely Richard

Created on: August 19, 2008

Body odor can be caused by a number of internal and external elements. For some unfortunate people, even after cleansing themselves, they still suffer from extreme body odor. Some people who never had problems may develop body odor due to changes in body chemistry. Odor can stem from diet, hormonal changes and even medications. Sweat is the body's natural toxin remover. If the sweat glands are not working properly, there are a few things that can lessen or eliminate body odor.

The primary way to eliminate body odor is a daily cleansing regimen. Expensive cleaning products are not needed, just a bar of soap, a towel and water. Taking a bath or shower removes dirt and reduces smells. For women, it is not necessary to use the feminine products nor is it necessary to scrub your private areas harshly. This will only irritate the area more. An underarm deodorant should be applied once the skin is dried.

For some people, even a daily regimen may not eliminate body odor. Many people don't realize that our diets can affect our overall body odor. Have you ever been near a person who smells like garlic or other spicy foods? For me, if I eat Indian food, I smell like curry and don't want to be around people. In spite of this example, most body odor is caused by an unhealthy diet. I'll never forget one of my friend's mother's ability to tell you were constipated by your body odor. My grandmother had that same ability.

The way they cleaned out the system was a disgusting spoonful of castor oil. If you want to avoid that method, eat a clean diet, filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. This will keep things flowing, so to speak. Avoid processed foods because, in some people, the preservatives cause body odor. If the body odor continues, eliminate one food at a time to determine which one is the body odor culprit. Once it's found, limit the intake of that food. Or, if you must have it, don't eat it if you'll be around a lot of people. If the odor is the result of built up yeast in the system, eat yogurt with probiotics.

Another bad habit that can cause body odor is smoking. If a person is a long-term or chain smoker, sometimes the nicotine actually comes out of their pores. As a non-smoker, I am very sensitive to the smell and a person who smokes that much makes me sick. The best option is to give up the habit. If a smoker doesn't want to quit smoking, make sure they eat a lot of vegetables. I've found smokers who have strong odors substitute cigarettes for food. They should also smoke outside, if possible. Then, the smell doesn't stick to their clothing.

If medication is the cause, talk to your doctor about changing the prescription. If the prescription cannot be changed, implement the diet changes to lessen the odor. Everyone should keep the body well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water eliminates waste and many of the things that cause body odor.

All of us, at one time or another, suffer from unpleasant body odor. But, like any problem, what we put in our body affects what comes out.

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