Sweating buckets? Expert guide to improve body odour in Mumbai's humidity

As the month of May unfolds, Mumbaikars can be seen sweating buckets. Street hawkers are now sourcing tissues and wet wipes to encash the soaring mercury levels. Come evenings, people gather at the beach in pursuit of a cool breeze. A close look at the weather forecast by the Mumbai Meteorological Department, reveals that temperatures are expected to touch 37 degrees Celsius this month. With humidity levels hovering around 75 percent, it's time to sweat bullets.

Have you ever noticed that some people tolerate heat less than others? We all sweat, but some sweat a little more. Consequently, it triggers a foul odour and social hesitance owing to the sweat patches that develop around the underarms and collar. However, sweating is essential as it assists the body's thermal regulation, skin hydration, and optimum fluid and electrolyte levels.

Despite the health benefits of sweating, people face a very real problem associated with perspiration. To resolve the mystery of excessive sweating, Midday.com reached out to Dr Aniket Mule, consultant internal medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road, and Tanisha Bawa, nutrition coach and founder of TAN 365.

Does fresh sweat have any odour?

Pure sweat doesn't have any smell. It is a clear, odourless semi-liquid that comprises of water, salts, proteins, and fats. The smell of our sweat is controlled by a variety of factors like genetics, age, diet, and microorganisms present in the body. The odour that we find foul or disturbing is created when this liquid comes in contact with bacteria's excretion. Interestingly, our body hosts millions of harmless bacteria that form a part of the skin's natural barrier.

To survive, bacteria need a moist, humid, and nutrient-rich sanctuary which our armpits naturally offer. Therefore, the fresh sweat that oozes out of our hair follicles, picks up its smell after reacting with microorganisms present on the skin's surface. And because every person has a different combination of bacteria, each one of them acquires a different body odour.

Foods and drinks that aggravate sweating

Can what you eat make you sweat? Nutritionist Tanisha lists down food and drinks that have a thermogenic effect on our body:

Coffee
Drinking coffee is a revitalising act that shakes you up from a morning stupor. However, if you are sensitive to caffeine, it may be doing you more harm than good. When caffeine hits your nervous system, it increases your heart rate which in turn stimulates your adrenal glands. It is a response to increased blood pumping which tends to open up the sweat glands. Thus, causing you to sweat more.

Salty food
Consuming salty food sets a domino effect on the body's metabolism. When one eats food items heavy on sodium, they send their body into a breakdown mechanism. Here, the digestive system works extra hard to get rid of the sodium through urine and sweat. This, in turn, raises the body temperature and leads to excessive sweating.

Alcohol-based drinks
A glass of wine has several patrons. Seldom do they know that increasing the glass one notch higher causes the body to overheat. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, the blood vessels widen as the heart rate goes up. Dilated blood vessels cause the skin to feel flushed which triggers the sweat glands to open up and lead to excessive sweating.

Spicy food
Food packed with chillies is a lip-smacking experience for many Indians. However, chillies contain a chemical known as capsaicin which imparts the sweat factor. Spicy gravy, Chinese food, and even certain kinds of Marathi food like Misal Pao are rich in capsaicin. This active compound is responsible for the burning sensation in our oesophagus and stomach. It makes our body warmer leading to sweat drops trickling down our noses while we munch on spicy snacks.

Sulfur-rich food
Sulfur has the capacity to impart odour to our sweat. Roll back to chemistry laboratories in school where the pungent smell welcomes you as you enter. This pungent, rotten-egg-like smell came from sulfur. Eating sulfur-rich food can amplify the sweat odour. When it's released into our body after the food breakdown, it comes out through perspiration. Sulfur-rich foods to avoid:

Onions
Garlic
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Red meat
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Additionally, stress and anxiety can also lead to excessive sweating triggering the adrenal glands. Certain factors like diet, hormones, or medications can also have an impact on body odour.

Treating the problem of bad odour

Dr Mule shares a comprehensive guide for treating body odour:

1. Taking daily showers and maintaining personal hygiene is of primary importance. One must ensure that they are fully dry after taking a bath.
2. Those who suffer from Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating not related to heat conditions or exercise) are advised to take shower with antibacterial soaps.
3. Armpits and groin should be shaved at regular intervals to ensure sweat evaporation. The presence of hair tends to hold back which gives it more time to interact with bacteria leading to the sweat odour.
4. Wear fresh clothes every day to avoid the accumulation of sweat, grime and dirt.
5. Antiperspirants work by trapping the sweat within the sweat glands. In case one experiences excessive sweating, she can use over-the-counter or prescribed antiperspirants.
6. Your best friend during the summer season is cotton. This fabric works wonders in absorbing sweat thereby letting your body breathe.
7. Try to avoid salty and spicy food, control your alcohol intake, and reduce the daily count of coffee cups.
8. Stress can also induce sweating hence one can try meditation or yoga to tackle the problem of stress and anxiety.
9. In case of excessive sweating, prescription medicines can be availed by contacting a dermatologist.

Hacks to treat body odour naturally

Experts are of the opinion that treating body odour naturally, requires discipline but yields good results. Here are 5 effective ways to improve body odour:

Rub lemon on your armpits
Lemon's antiseptic and antimicrobial properties help in eradicating unpleasant odours produced by the body. The citric acid present in lemon reduces the growth of harmful bacteria and improves the natural odour of your sweat.

Add tomato juice to your diet
Similar to lemon, tomato also has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties which not only help to limit bacteria but also improve body odour.

Block pores with green tea bags
This is a DIY technique that anyone can do at home. Place green tea bags in warm water for 1 minute. Now place the soaked tea bags under your armpits for a few minutes. Green tea helps in blocking hair follicles thereby reducing sweat.

The science behind sweating
The coinciding factors that determine one's tolerance to heat are almost unaccountable, ranging from age, body mass index, and percentage of body fat to metabolism and thermoregulation.

Thermoregulation in human anatomy involves the hypothalamus in the brain along with sweat glands, skin, and the circulatory system. Dr Mule shares that our body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus region in the brain. It is aware of the current temperature and compares it with the normal temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius. If our body temperature is too low, the hypothalamus ensures that the body generates and maintains heat.

Additionally, there are medical conditions that can diminish the body's tolerance to heat. Getting detected with medical conditions such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), and hyperhidrosis may also result in excessive sweating. Other factors that cause intense sweating during summer are pregnancy, menopause, night sweats, obesity, and alcohol abuse. It can interfere with, and disrupt the functioning of sweat glands in our bodies.

Why do some people tolerate heat less as compared to others?
There are certain medical conditions that may make one vulnerable to heat intolerance. This includes health ailments like heart disease, hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, or any mental illness that can be problematic as it breaks one's ability to process and tolerate heat. Dr Mule reveals that lean people tolerate heat when compared to overweight or obese people. Those on the heavier side have less skin surface area in relation to their weight and thus tend to sweat more.

There are certain medical conditions that can steal your peace of mind. Diabetes, alcohol abuse, Parkinson's disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, mitochondrial disease, heart related-conditions, obesity, and thyroid problems can give one a tough time. They can reduce one's heat tolerance. It is better to consult the doctor if you are having any of these mentioned health problems and lead a healthy life. Ignoring these problems is a strict no-no and can land you in trouble. Timely intervention is key to managing these conditions and the complications that arise due to them.

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