You know how sometimes you just know that the person sitting next to you came back from lunch at Chipotle? That’s because certain foods can leave odors, making you stink from afar. Since they’re foods that make you smell bad, it’s best to decide when to nosh based on your daily schedule. For instance, you might want to forgo the garlic sauce on your beef dish when on a first date.
As a certified health coach, I work with clients on getting in touch with their bodies, aromas, of course, and dietary habits in order to find a lifestyle that works for their needs. If you’re in need of a hot date, or a major work presentation, you might want to watch what you’re eating and go for more pleasant smelling foods.
Often confidence can help you excel and feel comfortable in different settings, so if you’re insecure about your body odors, it can be a real buster. Plus, they’re plenty of other foods you can eat as a substitute for days when you’re being extra cautious. Here are 11 foods that can make you smell bad and that you might want to watch out for on a few occasions.
1. French Fries
Pretty much any types of fried foods will have the same effect on your body: leaving you with unfortunate body odors (and maybe even a stomach ache). The fats and oils found in these processed, greasy foods are likely to cause a stink that can overcome your entire body. Yuck.
2. Cake
Not just cake, but any high-sugary foods will lead to gross smells from down there. To avoid smelling bad in your vaginal regions, ditch the sweet stuff for something healthier and odorless, like vegetables or low-sugar fruit (which is at least natural and not processed, in moderation).
3. Asparagus
Have you ever had asparagus and then noticed that your pee smells horrible? It’s totally real, and it’s also pretty gross. When on date night, swap asparagus for a bed of greens, instead. The urine smell can also be found on your body parts, so you might notice the body odors all around you after eating a few spears of asparagus.
4. Spicy Foods
Put down the hot peppers: spicy food can make you smell bad. While it might speed the metabolism or aid in squashing cravings, it will also lead to some body odors due to the gases that are released through the pores of the skin. Plus, these odors can last for a few hours.
5. Eggs
According to Maggie Moon, MS, RDN, and author of The MIND diet, over email with Bustle, eggs can cause you smell super bad, so you might want to rethink your brunch order depending on your afternoon and evening plans, if you’re worried. Due to sulfur, it can lead to foul smells that can last for a few hours.
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6. Alliums
Moon says that the allium family also have the tendency to release sulfur compounds, leading to bad smells on the body. Such foods include garlic and onion, so be wary of the added flavors when you’re cooking or ordering a meal. If you love the taste, maybe go a bit lighter on your shake.
7. Organ Meats
Moon cautions against eating organ meats due to the choline content (also found in eggs, as above). “Choline containing foods such as eggs, beans, wheat germ, saltwater fish, and organ meats produce a chemical called trimethylamine (TMA), and some people can’t metabolize it, resulting in a fishy body odor that can be smelled in sweat, saliva, breath, and urine. Luckily, this is a rare disorder. It’s called trimethylaminuria (TMAU), and it affects one in 200,000 people,” Moon adds.
8. Cruciferous Veggies
Over email with Bustle, Dr. Lisa Ashe, Medical Director at BeWell Medical Group says that “broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage can make your breath stink as well as your flatus.” If you’re craving some of these veggies, watch your intake and eat moderately. Besides, excess could lead to gas and stomach pains, Ashe explains.
9. Alcohol
Though not a food, it still counts. “If you drink a lot, it can come out in your sweat,” advises Ashe. To help remedy this, Ashe recommends, “Drink plenty of water before, during, and after you drink.” You can also watch your portions, making sure to stick with one or two drinks a night, instead. Dairy can also cut the stink, says Moon.
10. Curry
Unfortunately, while Indian food is totally delicious, it can also be smelly, as a result of some of the spices that are mainly used in the cuisine, advised researchers at Berkeley Wellness at the University of California, to Medical Daily. “Cumin and curry,” says Ashe, can be pretty problematic when you’re worried about bad body odors. Mask the smell with a dairy, creamy sauce if possible.
11. Red Meat
According to a 2006 study published in the journal Chemical Senses, red meat can leave a foul smell. While getting in some solid protein is important, it might be worth going meatless a few days of the week or trading in your beef tacos for chicken.
If you notice any bad odors after eating these foods, try manipulating your palate a bit and eat less stinky foods. Or, at least on the days that smelling fresh really matters.
