Some of the foods fuelling your gains might also be fuelling stench. You hit the gym, smash your protein intake, and think you’re on top of your game—but if people start inching away from you mid-convo, your diet might be to blame.
Diet and body ordour are linked
Certain high-protein, diets can affect body ordour. Muscle-building foods don’t just help you bulk up—they can also mess with your body’s natural scent, making your BO more noticeable (and not in a good way). But don’t worry, you don’t have to choose between smelling fresh and hitting your macros. Here’s what might be making you reek—and how to fix it without sacrificing your gains.
Red Meat
A high intake of red meat is tough on your digestive system, leaving behind residue in the GI tract. When released through sweat, it interacts with bacteria on your skin, making body odour (BO) more intense. A study even found that women rated the body odour of meat-eaters as less attractive compared to vegetarians.
Fish
Fish is packed with choline, a compound responsible for its strong scent. Some people struggle to metabolise fish properly, leading to the release of trimethylamine through their sweat. The result? A fishy body odour that sticks with you long after your meal.
Low-Carb Diets
When you’re on a low-carb diet, you can have breath like a camel. Carbs are your body’s go-to energy source. When you cut them out, your body shifts to burning fat for fuel, producing ketones—one of which is acetone. This can give you a distinct, almost sweet-smelling BO, especially on your breath.
Quick Fix
If you’ve got a date or an important meeting, you might want to avoid these foods beforehand. But if you can’t resist, try this trick from dermatologist Dr. Debra Jailman: eat foods rich in chlorophyll, like parsley or coriander, after your meal. They help neutralise odours, keeping you fresh.
How to Smell Better While Keeping Your Gains
If you’re serious about muscle growth but don’t want to smell like a gym sock, swap out the worst offenders for these fresh alternatives to reduce the impact of diet and body odour.
- Red Meat Alternative: Opt for lean poultry (chicken, turkey) or plant-based proteins like lentils and quinoa, which don’t leave behind odour-causing residue.
- Fish Alternative: Stick to low-choline fish like cod and haddock, or get your Omega-3s from walnuts and flaxseeds.
- Low-Carb Fix: Balance your macros! Keep some healthy carbs (sweet potatoes, oats, brown rice) in your diet to avoid ketone breath while still fuelling your workouts.
