<Things you should know> Correct knowledge about "odors" (2) How to prevent and deal with "body odor" Body odor prevention and treatment methods Foods that make body odor stronger or weaker Common problems related to body odor To communicate confidently in social situations, body odor care is essential. Controlling body odor is not only considerate of others, but also beneficial for yourself. This article, supervised by a doctor, introduces various methods for controlling body odor. Why not acquire the knowledge to create a body that doesn't smell? Body odor prevention and treatment methods The effectiveness varies depending on the cause and severity, but the following are some methods for suppressing body odor. Wipe away sweat frequently. Sweat itself doesn't emit a strong odor, but if left unwiped, the components in sweat and dead skin cells are broken down by bacteria naturally present on the skin, resulting in an unpleasant smell. Therefore, it's important to wipe away sweat frequently. Wash the body To suppress body odor, thoroughly washing away sweat and other dirt is also effective. Recently, there has been an increase in products that target the source of odor, such as body soaps with high sebum and dirt absorption capabilities. Make use of these items and try to keep your body clean. Use of antiperspirants Using antiperspirants is also effective in controlling body odor. Maintain an odor-free state by using antiperspirants that suppress sweat secretion and antibacterial agents that inhibit bacterial growth. Refrain from smoking and drinking. Smoking and drinking alcohol stimulate the apocrine sweat glands. Those who suffer from body odor, especially underarm odor, should refrain from these activities. Furthermore, alcohol and nicotine themselves contain strong-smelling components, so consuming them will intensify body odor regardless of individual constitution. Don't let stress build up. When stress builds up, the balance of the autonomic nervous system is disrupted, and the sympathetic nervous system becomes dominant. This makes the body sweat more easily, which can cause body odor. Also, stress reduces saliva production, making bad breath more likely. Another important factor is reviewing your diet. There is a deep connection between food and body odor. We will discuss the relationship between diet and body odor in more detail later. If your body odor does not improve even after trying the methods described above, it may be due to an underlying medical condition. Since the odor could be a sign from your body, it would be a good idea to consult a doctor. Foods that make body odor stronger or weaker There is a deep connection between diet and body odor. This is thought to be related to the fact that Japanese people tend to have less body odor compared to people of European descent and African descent. It is said that the difference in body odor arose because, while people of European descent and African descent have historically consumed a diet high in meat, Japanese people have mainly eaten fish and vegetables.Here, we'll introduce some foods that can intensify body odor, and conversely, some that can suppress it. Typical examples of foods that intensify body odor ■ Meat High-calorie, high-fat foods, such as meat, stimulate the sweat and sebaceous glands. This leads to the secretion of large amounts of sweat and sebum, which causes body odor. Besides meat, other foods high in dairy fat, such as butter, are also contributing factors. ■ Garlic Foods that naturally have a strong odor can cause bad breath and other body odors. Chives are one example of this. ■ Alcohol As mentioned earlier, it can stimulate the sweat glands and, in itself, become a source of body odor. Typical examples of foods that help reduce body odor ■ Alkaline foods The foods we eat can be divided into acidic and alkaline foods. For example, meat, fish, eggs, and grains are acidic foods, while vegetables, seaweed, and mushrooms are alkaline foods. Eating a balanced diet of these foods helps maintain a healthy body, but an acidic diet can lead to poor health, illness, and stronger body odor. Modern diets tend to be deficient in alkaline foods, so try to include them in your diet. Foods that improve the intestinal environment When intestinal bacteria break down the food we eat, odor-causing substances are produced. Some of these are expelled from the body as feces or flatulence, but the rest are absorbed in the intestines and sent to the liver. The liver then neutralizes the odor, but any substances that spill out return to the intestines and are processed in the same way as before. This process is called enterohepatic circulation, and if this process is impaired, more odor-causing substances enter the bloodstream, leading to bad breath and sweat.Therefore, in order to suppress body odor, it is important to maintain a state in which this enterohepatic circulation functions normally. Foods that improve the intestinal environment are effective in this regard. Specifically, examples include mekabu, mozuku, and natto. Common problems related to body odor Finally, I will address some common concerns regarding body odor. I'm not very good at noticing my own body odor. Is there a way to check it? Our sense of smell becomes desensitized to the same odor if we are exposed to it for a long time. In other words, it is extremely difficult to notice your own body odor. The easiest way to find out is to ask someone you can confide in, such as family or close friends. Other people around me don't seem to notice, but I can't help but feel like I smell... Because body odor can be unpleasant to others, many people are very sensitive to their own smell. Some even develop olfactory reference syndrome, where they believe they smell bad even though they don't. In this case, it's not a body odor problem but rather a neurotic disorder. In either case, appropriate treatment is necessary, so if you're concerned, we recommend consulting a doctor. I'm a woman, but I'm troubled by body odor associated with aging. Many people believe that body odor associated with aging is unique to men, but this is not the case at all. Nonenal, the substance that causes body odor associated with aging, increases with age in both men and women.Furthermore, in women, it has been found that the "Sweet" scent, a fragrance unique to young women caused by lactone C10 and lactone C11, decreases with age, which can also contribute to the perception of age-related body odor. Therefore, taking measures against nonenal while also cultivating a "Sweet" scent can be considered an effective way for women to combat age-related body odor. Supervised by: Dr. Tsuneaki Gomi, Gomi ClinicAfter graduating from Showa University School of Medicine, he specialized in plastic surgery at Showa University's Department of Plastic Surgery and psychiatry at Tama Hospital's Department of Psychiatry. He is a proponent of "psychosomatic surgery," which combines surgical techniques with a focus on the patient's mental health, and practices this approach in the treatment of body odor, including axillary osmidrosis, and excessive sweating. In addition to treating patients at his clinic, he has published books and appeared in numerous media outlets, including television and magazines. He is also dedicated to spreading accurate knowledge and treatment methods. We take care to post accurate information,Please point out any incorrect information. 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