Damp monsoon days can mean excessive perspiration and with that comes body odour. Body odour is a combination of sweat and bacteria. Sweat is odourless; it is the bacteria that live off perspiration that creates the odour. Fortunately, there are ways to combat this problem and stay fresh even on the most humid days. We tell you how! Sniff! Is that me? Image Credit: intimatehealthhelp (dot) net Body odour can turn-off people, make you extremely self-conscious and worse still - cause some generally awkward social moments. This is why sniffing out the problem and tackling it at the earliest is your only solution. As we told you before, sweat is odourless; it’s the bacteria that thrive on your body that contributes to body odour. This odour comes from factors like gender, genetics, health, lifestyle, diet, medication et al and mostly differs from person to person. Why do you sweat? Hygiene Image Credit: Thinkstock Some people don’t bathe enough. But, good hygiene is not only about taking a bath, it also includes washing your clothes. Certain fabrics like cotton and synthetic materials easily absorb body odour. Additionally, some people tend to have overactive bacterial growth. In the end, it always boils down to maintaining proper personal hygiene. Diet Image Credit: dentistry (dot) about (dot) com Eating certain foods can also affect how you smell. Garlic, cumin, coffee and onions are known to have such properties. Zinc deficiency can also cause body odour because it regulates detoxification in the body, i.e. it controls how the body handles waste. Likewise, a sugar imbalance and caffeine can alter the amount and type of perspiration. Sweating Image Credit: crazyoldwelshman (dot) wordpress (dot) com Some people smell a lot because they perspire more. This can be due to stress, physical activity or because of a condition known as Hyperhidrosis, which causes excessive sweating. Tobacco consumption Image Credit: ecign (dot) blogspot (dot) com Tobacco gives you bad breath and so can alcohol. Even strong antibiotics leave a peculiar stench in the body that a sensitive nose can catch. Treating body odour Bathe more Image Credit: Thinkstock Bathing is a good way to start and washing your clothes helps, too, especially your underwear and socks. A shower helps you get rid of dirt, grime and bacteria with the constant flow of water as opposed to normal bathing. Shower twice daily, sometimes thrice when you’re at home. Also, wear cotton and silk-blended fabrics in monsoon. They stay fresh and give you more breathing space during this humid climate. Proper Nutrition Image Credit: Thinkstock Cutting down on body odour inducing foods such as caffeine helps a lot. Coffee, chocolate, canned beverages and other caffeine ailments contribute to odour because they stimulate sweat glands. Eat healthy foods that contain lots of fibre - whole grains, wheat, soy products and vegetables. Of course, drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily as it keeps sweat glands active, dilutes perspiration, which in turn reduces body odour. Use Deodorants or Antiperspirants Image Credit: Shutterstock Many deodorants mask body odour, but only some of them actually fight bacteria. The most effective of them contain aluminium and zinc. Both elements are known to fight odour-causing bacteria. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, clog sweat glands, so that bacteria don’t have anything to interact with. Get rid of them by using antibacterial soap. Other Ways to Keep Odour at Bay Image Credit: ps (dot) uci (dot) edu One of the best products for treating body odour, and possibly a cheaper one, too, is using boric acid. It’s an effective remedy against body odour. Simply apply it wherever you want to keep the smell away. This is most effective after your bath. It slows down the spreading of bacteria. However, use it in limited quantities. Using it in excess will cause skin irritation. You could also use aroma oils in bath water. Alternatively, it is imperative to keep your feet clean and dry. Dust your feet with foot powder and wear well-ventilated footwear in the monsoon. Find out what’s causing your body odour and deal with it accordingly. Don’t be afraid to see a doctor if the stubborn stench persists. If you follow these rules on a regular basis, there will no need for a doctor anyway! You may also like: 6 Ways To Prevent Bad Body Odour How To Get Rid Of Body Odor Naturally Foods That Make You Stink