Protein Digestion & Body Odor

It has been said that we are what we eat. It can also be said our bodies can produce odors that reflect what we eat and the way in which our body processes it, whether it is too much garlic, spice, alcohol or even protein.

Eating and Body Odor

• Large amounts of garlic, onions, alcohol and spices can minutely alter body chemistry so your body odor reflects what you ate. Too much protein in your diet, or an inability to metabolize it properly, can also affect how your body smells.

Atkins Diet and Body Odor

• Some diets, particularly the Atkins diet, which focus on making proteins and fats a large part of a diet, can induce something known as 'ketosis.' Ketosis is a state that occurs when a body burns fat instead of carbohydrates, particularly fat from animal protein, for energy.

Ketosis

• With ketosis, the liver is converting fat into fatty acids and excess ketone bodies, which your body then uses for energy, but which also creates excess acetone in your body. Acetone is detectable by a chemical, ammonia-like smell in breath odor, body odor and in urine.

Protein and Ammonia Odor

• According to Dr. Gabe Mirkin, author of Dr. Mirkin's "Good Food Book," in an article on body odor and protein, another type of ammonia body odor can be caused if you are eating more protein than your body requires.

Protein, Choline and a Fishy Smell

• Also according to Dr. Mirkin, when your liver metabolizes choline–an essential nutrient that comes from proteins found in eggs, liver and fish–the process can create a chemical compound in the blood called trimethylamine, which can then give your body a fishy smell.