Body Odor in Menopause

Don’t let body odor kill your confidence – feel great again because it’s treatable!

Perhaps you have experienced body odor at some point in your younger years. Now that you are in this article, here’s my clever guess: you are experiencing it again at midlife. Well, cut the worries! Let me boost your self-esteem as soon as now, by telling you two facts that you might have missed out on:  

1. There are a number of biological and behavioral reasons for changes in body odor as we get older.
2. There are effective tips on how to deal with it! 

B.O. affects common areas in your body such as the hands and feet, vaginal area and armpits. Your hair can also release a different smell.
The good news is, you can finally put a stop to it, as soon as you include the effective remedies that we will be talking about, into your lifestyle!
To start, you have to know the reasons that cause body odor first!

Why does it happen?

How do I prevent body odor?

Where do I get help?

Why does it Happen?

When we think of body odor, we usually consider perspiration as the root cause. In reality, sweat doesn’t have any odor. However, natural body changes and environmental factors may affect sweat characteristics, which causes odor.

During menopause, hormonal changes affect how the body digests food. Menopausal women tend to have difficulty when it comes to metabolizing some food. Examples are egg, onion and garlic. If this happens, your body will smell much like what you just had for dinner.

The drop in estrogen levels can also be the culprit of this condition. Estrogen helps the brain with temperature control. However, during menopause, the brain perceives the hormonal change as an increase in body temperature. The brain then tries to lower body temperature by sweating. Sweat itself is odorless. However, when sweat dissolves the bacteria or dirt in your pores and skin, this causes body odor to occur.

A person may also develop body odor because of zinc and magnesium deficiencies. These minerals make the body smell good! Zinc and magnesium are the natural perfumes of the human body.

Another cause of body odor is increased sugar consumption. The bacteria and fungi that often cause odor feed on sugar. If you have very high sugar levels in your body, you are prone to that stinky smell. Smoking will cause body odor* as well. The toxins that you inhale with it may also cause changes in the body.

Body odor associated with perspiration affects many of us. But there are plenty of  remedies to prevent it. You can arm yourself with the right knowledge, tips and tricks to maintain your natural fragrance.

How do I Prevent Body Odor?

Empower yourself to treat your menopausal symptoms, because you certainly can! Avoid having that icky feeling and smell great with the following tips:

Eat Right

You want to follow a normal diet, but you also need to minimize some food choices.

• Fill your meals with oyster, crab, shrimp and fish. You may want to choose white meat over red meat. Red meat actually contributes to odorous sweat.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Food items like mint, parsley and lemons usually help promote good smell.
• Eat food with healthy fiber content. Feed your body with more broccoli, spinach, cabbage and lettuce. You may also consume wheatgrass. It is known to be a natural deodorant because of its rich chlorophyll content.
• Reduce your consumption of spices, coffee and alcohol. These things usually cause odor.

Stay Hydrated

Drink lots of water. Water helps in flushing the toxins out and cleanses your body. It also helps keep you cooler and prevent excessive sweating.

Aside from keeping you hydrated, water makes you feel better by reducing hot flashes and night sweats. These symptoms usually arise with other changes during menopause. It is good to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, as professionals suggest.

Say No to Smoking

Smoking does add a different tinge to your body’s smell. Smoke is an environmental factor. Its smell can stick to your skin, mix with sweat and cause odor. Even if you don’t smoke, you may want to avoid second-hand smoke. Don’t stay in areas where smokers dwell.

Maintain Good Hygiene

We may be stating the obvious here, but it’s a good reminder that keeping yourself neat and clean is important. Showering before you sleep is recommended to prevent night sweats. However, if night sweats are bothering you, it is also good to shower in the morning. You want to get rid of the bacteria mixed with your sweat as you slept the night before.

When bathing or taking a shower, concentrate on areas that may become odorous, use mild soap and water. When brushing your teeth, make sure also to brush your tongue!

Gear Up Right

Choosing the right clothes will not only make you look good but also smell good! Always wear clean clothes, and choose loose ones. They don’t have to be baggy. To avoid body odor, you can wear something that is not too tight. Your clothes should allow you and your skin to breathe. Clothing made of cotton is a good option during menopause.

Be Stress-Free!

Make sure that you feel relaxed most of the time. Find ways to be stress-free! This will help avoid excessive sweating. Sweat may cause bacteria to form, which in turn causes you to smell bad. So, stay calm and smell good!

Keep Your Body Cool!

You can use the following items to keep you cool wherever you go! You can also choose to use the right type of bedsheets to keep your body cool. Choose bed linens made of cotton material, which makes it easy for your skin to breathe.

Smell Great with Good Supplements

Phytoestrogenic food and supplements can also help. You can check out a list of phytoestrogenic herbs from this website! Experts suggest taking zinc and magnesium supplements to revive your natural smell. Some reputable labels for these supplements include the following:

Alternative Choices for Smelling Good!

• Alternative treatments including aromatherapy and acupuncture can also help. A simple yoga technique may keep your mind and body calm and avoid excessive sweating.
• Relax with a detoxifying bath using Epsoak Epsom Salt, Pure Dead Sea Bath Salts or Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes! These items will help you calm down and flush out toxins from your body.

Where Do I Get Help?

Not all parts of your body may smell a little bit off. Some women may experience regional odor, which means that you can treat them separately. Here are some tips to help you manage your smelly armpits, feet, breath, hair, and groin.

Fight Off Smelly Armpits!

• Sage Tea – brew some organic sage tea and apply it to the underarms. The antibacterial property of sage will fight off the bacteria that may cause odor in the armpits. Sage teas like Sage Tea, Organic and Sage Leaf Tea are generally effective.
• Use Organic Deodorants – Green Tidings All Natural Deodorant Lavenderand Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant – Lavender + Sage will keep you smelling fresh all day!
• Wash your armpits and rub with a soft washcloth to remove any residue from your deodorant. Brooklyn Bamboo has very soft, organic baby washcloths that you can also use as an armpit scrub.

Say Goodbye to Stinky Feet

• Avoid wearing nylon socks because they contribute to odor. Choose cotton socks or those that are made with natural fiber. Socks like Flora & Fred Organic and HUE Women’s cotton shoe liner are actually good.
• You can keep your feet dry by soaking them in strong black tea. Strong tea can kill bacteria and it also helps in keeping pores closed to maintain dryness.
• Talcum powder and baking soda are also excellent resources in maintaining dry feet. Just sprinkle the powder on your feet, especially the soles and between toes.
• Dry your feet thoroughly before wearing socks and shoes. Avoid wearing plastic shoes. They often trap moisture and don’t allow your feet to breathe.
• Wear different shoes alternately. That pair of shoes that you wore today, allow them to fully dry before you wear them again. Choose a different pair tomorrow while the other pair is drying.
• Wash your feet with  Sea Salt Soap.

Freshen Up your Breath

• Make it a habit to brush and floss your teeth. Experts recommend using organic toothpaste like Redmon´s Earthpaste Natural Organic Tooth paste . Some organic floss, like RADIUS Natural Silk Floss and Tom’s of Maine Flat Floss , are also good.
• Use mouthwash, but choose alcohol-free products. Mouthwashes like TheraBreath Oral Rinse and Nature’s Answer Alcohol-Free Mouthwash are actually highly recommended by experts.
• When brushing, include the tongue and the walls of your mouth. Once finished brushing, you can swish some alcohol-free mouthwash to cleanse the mouth and help remove sediments.

Flip Your Hair ‘Coz It Smells Good’

• Use gentle hair products. As much as possible, you would want something that’s organic or raw, like products from Morocco Method*. Synthetic chemicals may harm your scalp and hair, and the results may be unfavorable.
• Shampoo your hair well. Choose shampoos that have tea tree oil, as it helps in retaining a pleasant smell to your hair and scalp. Check out Maple Holistics Natural Hair Treatment.
• You can find your hair’s best friend in Aloe Vera! You can purchase a fresh aloe vera plant and remove the gel. You can then apply it directly to your washed hair and rinse after 15 minutes. Or mix a teaspoon of lemon juice and a teaspoon of aloe vera to your favorite shampoo. Apply it well to wet hair and rinse. You can check out Earth’s Daughter for natural aloe vera gels.
• Apple cider vinegar can be great too! It removes built-up dirt from your hair and makes your hair shiny as well. You can use just half a cup of the apple cider vinegar and mix it with two cups of water. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Use the mixture as a spray and leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Organic apple cider vinegar, such Bragg´s is a good option.

Smell Good Everywhere!

Vaginal odor is a problem that many women experience but feel shy addressing. We understand you! See if some of the tips below will work for you. Smell fresh and clean and feel more confident all day long!

• Stuff your food list with probiotics! Good bacteria help regulate your vaginal health! The good bacteria in probiotics help you have normal pH levels and keep you smelling fresh down there!
• Apple cider vinegar can play as your hero too! This vinegar can help normalize your vaginal flora and get rid of infection-causing bacteria. Pour a cup or two of apple cider vinegar into your bath water, and rinse with it as well.
• Remember to wipe from the front to the back. When you go to the bathroom and wash, wipe from your vulva to your anus. This method allows you to wipe from the cleanest to the dirtiest regions and avoid infection and pooling of bacteria.
• You can use natural or organic vaginal emollients and soaps as well. Check out a great post about this topic on this website!
• Get a V-steam*! This is a good method to treat vaginal issues in general. A V-steam basically helps you detoxify your vagina and your body. The process involves sitting on a steam chair that brings medicated steam to your vaginal area. The steaming liquid below the chair has an infusion of different herbs including basil, rosemary and mugwort.

Of course, it is good to remember that what works for me may not work well for you. That’s why there are so many options that you can choose from, to see which ones work best for you. In general, you only need to pay attention to your own unique lifestyle — and everything else will work out. Seek your doctor’s advice if you think you are having a severe body odor case, to rule out any serious underlying condition!

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Are you also bothered with body odor? What did you do to get rid of it?
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References:
www.health911.com
www.morroccomethod.com
natural-fertility-info.com
www.medicaldaily.com