Understanding Body Odor

Sweating is a normal function that helps the body maintain a normal temperature and excrete impurities out of the body.  There are two types of glands apocrine: which are located in the armpits, face, scalp, and parts of the trunk.  Then there are eccrine glands which are distributed throughout the body and give off a quart or more of perspiration through out the day (all the more reason to make sure you are getting plenty of fluids even if you are not exercising that day).

Typically the the eccrine excretion has no smell in contrast to the apocrine excretion which has a distinctive odor when broken down by the bacteria that live on the skin.

External factors that can effect body odor include: alcohol, garlic, onions.  Some people develop a defect in their ability to properly use a substance called trimethylamine which is found in foods high choline such as eggs, fish, liver and legumes.  When this takes place the skin will have a fishy odor after such foods are eaten.  Eliminating them from the diet will solve the smelly problem.

Some studies indicate that an increase in the intake of zinc and magnesium can help eliminate unpleasant odors. Good food sources for magnesium include: brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, seseme seeds, pine nuts, cashews, soybeans, hazelnuts, walnuts, and shreaded wheat.  Good sources of zinc include: wheat germ, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, cashews, seseme seeds, pecans, nori seaweed, and all bran. 
photo credit: dominikgolenia