What Can You Eat to Reduce Body Odor?

Body odor, though embarrassing, can result from a variety of factors, including a change in your body's metabolism, a certain medicine or drug you take or failure to clean your body properly. Perspiration by itself has no odor but when mixed with bacteria, it develops a foul odor. In lieu of merely masking the problem with deodorant, control and reduce body odor by changing what you eat.

Chlorophyll & Magnesium

Take two chlorophyll tablets with each meal to help reduce body odor. You can also take this natural deodorizer in liquid form if you can't swallow pills.

Magnesium provides another natural deodorizer. Eat foods high in magnesium such as green vegetables, including spinach and greens. Some beans, nuts, peas and whole, unrefined grains also make excellent sources of magnesium. Try to consume at least 500 mg of magnesium daily. If you can't get enough in your diet, take a magnesium supplement in pill form.

Vitamins A and B

Eat foods high in vitamins A and B to reduce body odor and add much-needed vitamins to your body. Consume liver, tuna, eggs, carrots, cod liver oil, turkey, bananas, potatoes, legumes, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, apricots and watercress. Many of these foods contain both vitamins A and B. Molasses and brewer's yeast also make excellent sources of vitamin B. Ingest at least 50 mg of each vitamin daily; you can also take a pill supplement.

Rice and Raw Vegetables

Brown rice will also eliminate body odor. Unlike organic whey proteins, brown rice---also a protein---will not produce an odor. Instead of eating a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon and toast, mix a combination of raw vegetables (greens, kale and vegetables containing vitamins A and B) in your blender, and drink it each morning. The raw vegetable smoothie will not produce an odor, and you will receive both vitamins A and B as well.

Zinc

Foods rich in zinc help reduce perspiration and body odor---oysters, lobster, crab, nuts, beans, whole grains and fortified breakfast cereals; you can also take zinc tablets. Try to ingest 15 mg daily of the mineral. Consuming more than 15 mg of zinc may interfere with your absorption of copper.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Reduce your intake of onions, garlic, dairy products, coffee, soft drinks, meats and exotic spices. These foods and substances can lead to body odor. If you do consume them, eat small portions and mix them with foods mentioned above that fight body odor.