The ‘deathly’ odours of summer

19 Oct, 2014 - 00:10 0 Views

The Sunday News

AS we progress further into the summer, with the temperatures obviously becoming more and more unbearable, the human body is bound to emit odours that are not friendly to the nose.
The past few weeks have been unbearable, as the temperatures have been sweltering and I must assume that it is likely to get worse.
I should emphasise that it is hot, very hot this summer and body odour is a common problem faced in the sweltering heat.

Body odour is a common problem, if I may say that we all as human beings experience. This week while I was doing a little research on my article I stumbled upon a few facts, which I will share with you on beating the “deathly summer odours”.

Body odour occurs due to the smell of bacteria that grows in the body.
According to a health magazine I read a few days ago, that body odour is the smell of sweat is not true, as we actually produce two kinds of sweat: eccrine, a clear, odourless sweat that appears all over our bodies, performing the vital role of regulating body temperature and apocrine, a thicker substance that is produced by glands in the underarm and groin areas.

The magazine stated that apocrine sweat is a vestige of our pre-historic days and serves no apparent purpose. It, too, is odourless until bacteria on the skin’s surface act upon it. The by-product of this “unholy union” is what we call body odour.
There are various causes of body odour, with some being controllable, while others are involuntary.

Some of the common causes of body odours vary from plain hygiene such as bathing and grooming to medical conditions.
I am sure we have at one stage come across a person with bad breath and have thought to ourselves, “Gosh does this person own a tooth brush?”

For your own information some of these odours are a result of medical conditions, such as kidney and liver disease, fungal infections and low blood sugar.

Of course there are some self-inflicted odours caused by excessive alcohol consumption, cigarettes, poor hygiene, physical activities and sports. Then there are odours caused by hormones, this one in particular affects the ladies.

Even though there are various causes of odours there are ways of preventing or covering them, with the first and most important being

BATHING!
I came across some simple tips on how to prevent body odour in summer, some of the tips being very simple and easy to follow.
1 The first I came across was drinking a glass of water in the morning on an empty stomach to clear all unwanted toxins from the previous day and night.

That prevents your body from pushing out unwanted toxins through the pores, as they are simply washed out of the body naturally.
The most essential tip is bathing. Some people take this for granted for reasons best known by them. I do understand that economically not everyone can afford to buy toiletries every other month but it helps to try out some tips.

2 To prevent smelly armpits apply baking soda to your armpits as well as to your feet to reduce body odour.
Also while bathing, add white vinegar to a mug of water and use it to rinse the armpits. This will definitely help in lessening odour.
Other useful tips include taking baths at least twice or three times a day in the summer season when one tends to sweat a lot, that is only if possible and if one has easy working conditions.

During summer you can apply baby powder to your armpits, instead of deodorants.

3 I was somehow affected by this one, as I love spicy foods.
Frequent consumption of foods containing garlic or curry can cause some overpowering odours to emanate from your pores. They often last up to 24 hours after consumption. Try cutting back on these spices and see if it helps.
Drinking plenty of water will also help you to smell fresh and sweet.

4 Body odour always lingers on clothes. So, wash your clothes every day and never repeat the same outfit without washing it first.
Remember, wearing something sleeveless will only make the smell more prominent. If you are a person who perspires a lot, wear something with sleeves as often as possible. Wear cotton clothes to soak up your sweat during summer.

Body odour is a major concern in the summer season. It affects both men and women to almost the same extent. We are concerned about our smell because people judge how we take care of ourselves by our smell and use this information to decide whether we are worth associating with.

Feedback:
Hello Peter, I am extremely fascinated by your articles. I enjoy when you highlight fashion trends. Keep it up bro. — Richie.
People should stop dressing like they are on the market. I believe if you wear something decent guys would be dying to see what’s inside the long dress. If you are half naked you look loose and cheap and it’s rare to get a man who wants to marry you. — 0774671436.

For your feedback, views and comments link up with me via whatsapp or sms ONLY on 0772337433, you can also e-mail me on [email protected]

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