They say you are what you eat, so it’s no surprise that diet plays an important role in your overall health. Many diseases and health conditions are caused by ingesting the wrong kinds of food and beverages, and conversely, many diseases and health conditions can be treated by ingesting the right kinds of food and beverages. But just what are the proper foods to eat in order to help banish stinky feet (called bromodosis in the medical world)?
Citrus Fruits
Regularly eating fresh citrus such as lemons, limes and oranges can significantly cut down musky odors that may be lingering on your skin. “The acids in citrus fruits help flush water through your body. And because citrus also contains fiber, they move through your system slowly and flush out toxins that contribute to body odors,” David Colbert, MD, a dermatologist and internist in New York City, told Women’s Day. So try adding lemons, grapefruits and other citruses to your daily diet to help combat foot odor and other bodily odors.
White Fish
Though it sounds a bit counterintuitive to eat fish to smell fresh, ingesting light fish like halibut, cod and tilapia can help cut down on body odors from your head all the way down to your toes. The reason is because your gastrointestinal tract breaks down fish differently than other protein-heavy meats like beef and other types of red meat, which are often the cause of many body odors.
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Herbs
Many spices and herbs contain chlorophyll, a compound that naturally neutralizes odors before they’re emitted through the skin in sweat. Herbs that contain high amounts of chlorophyll and other odor-banishing components include parsley, garden cress, mint, rosemary and sage. You should also eat plenty of dark, leafy greens as they also contain high amounts of chlorophyll that help stinky feet smell fresh.
Oysters
Again, it might sound crazy to think that ingesting a salty sea creature can help reduce foot odor, but it’s true. The reason is oysters are high in zinc, a lack of which has been found to contribute to strong foot smells. Oysters are one of the few foods naturally high in zinc content, containing an average of 78.6mg (524% of your recommended Daily Value) of zinc per 100 grams. Other foods that contain high amounts of zinc include crab, lobster, wheat germ and dark baking chocolate.
Of course, if the above foods sound completely unappealing, you can always try these natural foot soaks to help fight bromodosis. They’re also an effective way to stay foot-odor free, in addition to keeping your feet thoroughly washed, changing your shoes and socks on a daily basis and maintaining a healthy diet.
