HEALTH
From Issue #20
Bothered by Body Odour?
Say
N.O. to B.O.!
by Vanessa Grant
Friends, free time and fabulous weather – all
great things summer brings. But with warm
weather comes sweating, which stinks – literally.
WHY WE SWEAT
Whether you’re clammy because it’s hot out, or you’ve been
exercising, or your crush just walked by, the source is the
same. Though you may not feel so cool with sweat dripping
down your back, the part of your brain that controls body
temperature, called the hypothalamus, is trying to keep you
cool. When you heat up past 37°C (98.6°F) your brain tells
your body to release that extra heat by sweating. When sweat
hits the air, it evaporates, cooling you down.
WHY WE SMELL
The not-so-fabulous part about this incredible airconditioning
system is the accompanying scent. Sweat on its
own doesn’t smell; it’s basically salt water. But when
combined with the bacteria on your skin, watch out! Also,
once you hit puberty, your apocrine glands – found in your
armpits and genital area – start producing the real stinky
stuff. Ah, the joys of adulthood.
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
The obvious answer to beating body odour is bathing.
Keeping clean not only gets rid of the offending scent, it also
prevents it. Deodorants, which only mask your natural musk,
and anti-perspirants, which make the pores in your armpits
swell up so they can’t release sweat, are also pleasant scent
protectors.
7 TIPS TO BEAT B.O.
1) Use vinegar instead of, or along with deodorant – but make
sure there aren’t any funky smell side effects. Vinegar lowers
the pH level of your skin so bacteria can’t grow there.
Cornstarch or baking soda – or a lethal combination of both –
will not only prevent odour like it does in your fridge but will
also kill any scent-causing bacteria.
2) Chowing down on parsley, alfalfa and other leafy greens
prevents both bad breath and putrid armpits. The chlorophyll
(thank you science class) in these plants has a deodorizing
effect that works from the inside out.
3) Drink sage tea. It will actually reduce sweat gland activity
so you don’t need to worry so much about the resulting
odours.
4) Sometimes a zinc deficiency can cause bad body odour, so
talk to your doctor about taking a supplement or changing
your diet to include yummy foods like prunes, cucumbers and
Brussels sprouts. Okay, so they’re not so appetizing, but
without them, neither are you!
5) Stay away from hot beverages – especially those with
caffeine – and stinky foods like garlic and onions.
6) Eating less meat is also a good idea if you’re particularly
sweaty. Those barbecue treats take a long time to make their
way through your system and begin to decay during
digestion. No wonder you smell after a hamburger!
7) Finally, if you think you sweat more than others, contact
your doctor.
SWEATY FACTS
➡ The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands.
➡ Each foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands!
➡ There are sweat glands all over your body, except your lips,
nipples and external naughty bits.
➡ The lining of your outer ear has modified sweat glands that
produce earwax.
➡ Humans can produce up to three litres of sweat in one hour.
➡ Sweating makes you sexy. When you sweat, you produce
pheromones that, some say, attract the opposite sex.
➡ For the ladies: menstruation makes you sweaty. You sweat
more at that time of the month. The pheromones you
produce when you sweat can also affect your friends’
periods and synchronize their cycles with yours.
Illustration by Samuel Buensuceso
