Smell You Later!
What we eat affects how we feel, look and even smell—and sometimes not in a good way. Plenty of foods give us smelly skin, bad breath and body odor, usually caused by the ways our bodies metabolize compounds of sulfur. These five foods might make us smell, but we can combat offensive odors naturally and keep enjoying the smelly foods we love.
GARLIC
Vampire repellent. Love the taste of garlic but hate the way it lingers on your skin? The smell oozes from our pores because crushed garlic releases a sulfur compound called allicin.
What to do: Wash the garlic smell from your hands by replacing it with something more pleasant, like coffee. Rub a handful of coffee beans between your hands or exfoliate with ground coffee under cool water.
ASPARAGUS
Stinky pee. What makes asparagus unforgettable, other than its grassy-green flavor and satisfying snap? Most people will smell it again when they urinate, because the sulfur compound mercaptan breaks down and leads to seriously smelly odors.
What to do: Drinking plenty of water helps dilute your urine and make the smell less strong. Bottom line: Asparagus lovers simply have to put up with the stinky pee—fortunately, the smell evaporates quickly.
ONIONS
Tears of pain. The smell of sautéed onions sticks around long after a savory dinner. The smell seeps into our lungs and comes out through our breath, and the more we eat, the stronger the smell.
What to do: Sautéing onions can help cut through their bite, but make sure to blot sautéed onions with a paper towel to remove excess oil for a significantly weaker smell. If onions make you cry, place them in the fridge or freezer a few hours before chopping to help slow down the release of irritating chemicals.
COFFEE
Coffee breath. Ugh. Caffeine can jolt the central nervous system and make us sweat, and the highly acidic pick-me-up can also reduce saliva, which leads to dry mouth and bad breath.
What to do: If you can’t skip the coffee, cut down on milk and sugar, which only increase bad-breath bacteria, or eat an apple, which contains enzymes that can help kill those bacteria. Drink water to keep your mouth hydrated, and try replacing your second or third cup with an herbal or green tea.
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
Fiber farts. Crunchy cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are packed with nutrients, antioxidants and sulfurs that can give a rotten smell (comparable to rotten eggs) to body odor.
What to do: You want these nutrient-dense foods in your diet. What helps to combat the gas are high-potassium foods like avocados, sweet potatoes and bananas, and probiotic foods like yogurt. Whenever you eat high fiber foods, drink plenty of water as it will help reduce gas.
