How long will I stink?

[rhonda524]

Oh my gawd I stink. About 10 days ago I went on a 50% raw diet after being on about the worst diet imagineable. My body odor is horrible. I am eating a lot of green stuff. Isn't the chlorophyll supposed to be a natural deodorant.? I am using the Toms natural deodorant.but it obviously isn't doing the job. I've considered something stronger but they are usually toxic. I know that a lot of my body toxins are in my fat and I have a lot of fat to lose, it could take a long time. Am I going to have this odor problem as long as I am losing fat or will it get better?

[ar81]

I think feeling stressed could contribute to stink.

If I was you I would not give it too much importance.
Focus your mind in something nicer.

Program your mind to smell better.

[rhonda524]

I don't have no stinkin thinkin! (ha ha get it?) Seriously, I am not that stressed over it just wondering if I can expect it to get better anytime soon.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by rhonda524

Oh my gawd I stink. About 10 days ago I went on a 50% raw diet after being on about the worst diet imagineable. My body odor is horrible. I am eating a lot of green stuff. Isn't the chlorophyll supposed to be a natural deodorant.? I am using the Toms natural deodorant.but it obviously isn't doing the job. I've considered something stronger but they are usually toxic. I know that a lot of my body toxins are in my fat and I have a lot of fat to lose, it could take a long time. Am I going to have this odor problem as long as I am losing fat or will it get better?

Hi Rhonda. This sounds very much like a body that is detoxifying. It is much like a water-only fast, but the detox is a lot more gradual. I would expect this to continue for perhaps 30-45-60 more days in a 50% raw diet. If you wanted to expedite it, i believe a water fast would make it happen in 3 days or a juice "fast" in 10. I have tried Tom's too and it seemed to be quite worthless. If it is important that you smell good in the next 30-60 days, i would just use something that you know works or maybe shower 2x per day.

Good job on going 50% raw... that's a really nice step.

Best wishes.

[Deergirl]

Maybe you could try one of those mineral crystal deodorants? They have a certain compound in them that helps control the growth of bacteria that makes the sweat stinky. It's a natural product and they actually look like crystals. You make them wet, apply them like a roll on deodorant and your set. They work for most people, but they aren't a small miracle though. I guess it depends on how much you sweat.

If it takes as long as MightySunTzu says, I'd advice you to shower regularly or take a washing cloth and soap and wash yourself at the sink three or four times a day.

[liamona]

Are you drinking enough water? You may need to drink a lot more than usual. Be sure to keep some on your nightstand so you can drink some if you wake up in the night.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by liamona

Are you drinking enough water? You may need to drink a lot more than usual. Be sure to keep some on your nightstand so you can drink some if you wake up in the night.

That's the first thing that came to my mind. All body fluids odors seem exacerbated when you drink little fluids.

I expect your situation to be only temporary, although people's BO is often close to that of their food. Wasn't it Erin who mention Steve's earthy smell when he first went raw? I have also often been told I smell spicy (and I do cook with lots of spices)

[rhonda524]

Thanks everyone. With this new diet I just haven't been very thirsty. I figured its all the water in the raw food. Plus without all the processed foods there is very little salt. Should I drink water even if I am not thirsty? I used to drink alot of water.

[Hyperchiller]

Maybe you could try to do a Colon Cleanse to get rid of the toxins faster. Just an idea.

It seems like the toxins are coming out of your skin. If you do a Colon Cleanse, more toxins will come out at the back end.

[WordKeeper]

Water definitely helps with the body odor issue.

I have a terrible time with body odor off and on. I think mine is related to candidiasis but I'm not sure. Anyway - drinking half my weight in ounces of water definitely helped.

I use Tom's and that helps on a normal day but when body odor strikes little if anything helps. So these are the things that I did. They didn't solve the problem but they definitely made it better. I put tea tree oil on a cotton swab and wiped under my arms. That definitely killed the BO but then tea tree oil isn't the sweetest smell. The other thing that I did which gave me a boost of confidence was keep that anti-bacterial gel in my purse and regularly (sometimes as often as every hour) I would go to the bathroom and put a dab of anti-baterial gel under my arms. It definitely helped. Plus it was easy to carry with me.

[ginkgo]

Do you bathe at least once a month whether you need to or not? A popular soap in health food stores is Dr Bronner's magic soap. Get the one kind that has tea tree oil in it. Did you know that Chinese do not get body odor? Non-Chinese do not believe this when they hear it, but it is true. Maybe it is all that tea that they drink! They do not drink water, only tea.

[jeff3]

A friend of mine who was on a fruit kick said she used to slice an apple open and rub it under her arms and on her pubic region, said it really worked but was sometimes "sticky". I thought strawberries might be better for that but she said their small size made application more difficult.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by aelle

I have also often been told I smell spicy (and I do cook with lots of spices)

I'll bet you're yummy.

I can't believe I forgot to mention in my previous post that taking pure chlorophyll eliminates body odor. Although I had read about that in nutrition books, I didn't think much about it until I read a post about hunters taking it to eliminate all body odor in the celebrity blog Jezebel:

Jezebel - Got Stank? Nullo May Help

Intrigued, I did a trial for a few months, and it really does work. I was able to eliminate using any armpit products, and noticed that I could go without bathing in the winter for a while, if I didn't work up a sweat.

But instead of nullo tablets, I used World Organic Liquid Chlorophyll from Vitacost.com.

I stopped after I ran out of my last bottle. But maybe I should start again since summer is coming....

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by liamona

I can't believe I forgot to mention in my previous post that taking pure chlorophyll eliminates body odor. Although I had read about that in nutrition books, I didn't think much about it until I read a post about hunters taking it to eliminate all body odor...

Intrigued, I did a trial for a few months, and it really does work. I was able to eliminate using any armpit products.

... I used World Organic Liquid Chlorophyll...

Hi liamona,

this is quite interesting. and no doubt the chlorophyll has a lot of benefits beyond helping us to smell good. What is the necessary dosage?

[liamona]

I took a tablespoon in the morning and at night. It takes a few days or more to take effect. Just keep taking the pit sniff test until you're happy with the results.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by liamona

I took a tablespoon in the morning and at night. It takes a few days or more to take effect. Just keep taking the pit sniff test until you're happy with the results.

haha, sounds good. I don't think i'll be needing anything for a while because i am currently in the process of eliminating all toxemia. But once i begin to refeed, i'd like to bring chlorophyll in to the program for the multitude of benefits it provides. Thanks for the good tip!

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

Did you know that Chinese do not get body odor? Non-Chinese do not believe this when they hear it, but it is true. Maybe it is all that tea that they drink! They do not drink water, only tea.

Actually it is in their genes.. They also do not have earwax, it is the same gene (or one linked to it)*

* Source; discovery channel several years ago, any mistakes in this are due to my memory (or lack of it).

[sepiagal]

What kind of foul odor are you giving off?

I had a molybdenum deficiency and my armpits smelled liked onions (sulphuric acid).

Molyb helps your body metabolize sulphur.

If you smell like bacterial growth you could have a zinc deficiency. Your sweat contains zinc normally which helps inhibit bacterial growth. If you're deficient then your sweat lacks this mineral which can also cause foot odor problems. (Warmer temps might mean you're not wearing shoes as much.)

Vegetarian, vegan and raw diets can be low in zinc.

[Desmond]

It could also be what you are eating.
Are you eating large amounts of asparagus?

[liamona]

Originally Posted by sepiagal

If you smell like bacterial growth you could have a zinc deficiency. Your sweat contains zinc normally which helps inhibit bacterial growth. If you're deficient then your sweat lacks this mineral which can also cause foot odor problems. (Warmer temps might mean you're not wearing shoes as much.)

Oh yeah, that too.

Vegetarian, vegan and raw diets can be low in zinc.

But even meat-eaters can be deficient (like with vitamin B-12).

A good way to find out is to try a zinc lozenge. If it tastes really, really good, you probably are deficient. If it leaves a horrible metallic taste in your mouth, probably not.

I've heard that Zinc Status by Ethical Nutrients and Solgar Flavo-Zinc Lozenge are the best ones to try.

[sepiagal]

Originally Posted by liamona

A good way to find out is to try a zinc lozenge. If it tastes really, really good, you probably are deficient. If it leaves a horrible metallic taste in your mouth, probably not.

I've heard that Zinc Status by Ethical Nutrients and Solgar Flavo-Zinc Lozenge are the best ones to try.

Ethical Nutrients is one company that makes Zinc Status but there is at least one other maker of that product/test.

I'm not sure about the lozenges indicating a zinc deficiency (as a taste test). Some logenzes have low amounts of zinc. But Zinc Status (or Zinc Tally in Europe and Canada) is calibrated to be accurate or more accurate than the lozenges.

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by liamona

Oh yeah, that too.



But even meat-eaters can be deficient (like with vitamin B-12).

A good way to find out is to try a zinc lozenge. If it tastes really, really good, you probably are deficient. If it leaves a horrible metallic taste in your mouth, probably not.

I've heard that Zinc Status by Ethical Nutrients and Solgar Flavo-Zinc Lozenge are the best ones to try.

By using this logic I would conclude that I have a chocolate deficiency.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by sepiagal

I'm not sure about the lozenges indicating a zinc deficiency (as a taste test). Some logenzes have low amounts of zinc. But Zinc Status (or Zinc Tally in Europe and Canada) is calibrated to be accurate or more accurate than the lozenges.

That's good to know! It probably is more accurate than just doing the zinc lozenge taste test.

Originally Posted by jeff3

By using this logic I would conclude that I have a chocolate deficiency.

LOL. Well, you better get some then, so you don't suffer.

[Nathalie]

This topic is so interesting! Here's my take on a few things:

1. Yes you will experience body odor as you cleanse. You can also try "skin brushing" to accelerate the exit of toxins through your skin. Just dry skin brush before you shower.

2. Chinese people don't have body odor... mostly. My boyfriend is Chinese and I was amazed the first few years we were together that he never smelled. But if it's really hot or he's been working out, he does sweat and produce odor.

Just my two cents. Very fun conversations though.