Different foods affect your body's smells
What we eat and drink can affect how our body smells. Various studies at universities around the world have shown that what we put into our bodies changes our bodily smells. Researchers say that each of us has a unique pattern of bodily odours. This is similar to the uniqueness of a fingerprint. Lina Begdache, an assistant professor of health and wellness at the State University of New York, said the odours our body gives off come from two areas. One is the stomach, which is full of bacteria. When these bacteria break down food, gases and chemicals are released through our breath. Some of these gases can give us bad breath. The second area is the skin. Food can change the smell of bacteria on our skin when we sweat.
Researchers say the foods that give off the strongest smells contain sulphur. This chemical often creates a "bad-egg smell". Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower contain a lot of sulphur. Another food that affects how smelly we are is garlic. This is well known for making our breath smell. However, researchers say it can make our armpit sweat smell nicer. Scientists also say drinks affect body odours. Alcohol can lead to stronger, unattractive bodily smells and bad breath. Caffeine in coffee and tea creates chemicals that produce sweat in areas like our armpits and groin. If we want to smell a little sweeter, we should eat oranges, apples, parsley, and yoghurt, and drink water and green tea.
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Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
eat / drink / smells / researchers / body odour / fingerprint / health / bacteria / skin / sulphur / chemical / vegetables / garlic / armpit / sweat / caffeine / armpits / yoghurt
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True / False
1) Food but not drink affects the smells coming from our body. T / F
2) The article suggests our body smells are as unique as our fingerprints. T / F
3) Food changes our bodily smells via the stomach and the skin. T / F
4) The article says sweat can wash away badsmelling bacteria on our skin. T / F
5) The chemical sulphur gives off a sweetsmelling smell. T / F
6) Garlic can make our armpits smell nicer. T / F
7) Chemicals from coffee can affect the sweat in our armpits. T / F
8) Drinking green tea is good if we want to smell sweeter. T / F
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Discussion
1) What do you think about what you read?
2) What do you think of a bad-egg smell?
3) Should we eat less cabbage and broccoli?
4) What do you think of eating garlic?
5) What do you think of using deodorant, body spray and perfume?
6) How do you think your favourite food changes your body smell?
7) Why is it important to drink lots of water?
8) What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
