Basically, we have to be extra vigilant when it comes to things that we put inside. Some research suggested that foods can not only influence our general health, but also our body odour. If you are interested, go on and read this article.
If you have tried rubbing garlic on the sole of your foot, you would realize that particular action would cause a garlicky taste on your tongue. I mean, how is that even possible? It’s like our feet act as a metaphorical taste bud. It signals the body that you were processing garlic through your digestive system, even though it is not.
The key to this phenomenon is a molecule, which is contained in garlic called Allicin. It is able to penetrate through the human skin, into the bloodstream, thanks to a chemical structure called dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). This particular molecule can act as a conduit, enabling other molecules to enter the circulation through those tough skin.
Apart from that, Allicin also has a property of mixed water and oil. This is due to the DMSO. It allows Allicin to permeate through the skin, into the bloodstream and travel all the way to your mouth. In general, water and oil don’t mix which makes human skin acts as an effective defence mechanism, disallowing things to permeate through easily.
Fortunately for Allicin, it has the property of both, thanks to the DMSO. This causes you to taste garlic without actually taking them in. That’s neat, right? Oh yeah, if you were interested, then know this. Garlic can influence your mouth odour as well. You know that already, do you? Good.
Allicin produces sulphur as its byproduct. This gas would be excreted through the lungs which would manifest itself as a smelly breath. Now, what you need to know that, apart from that, Allicin can also make us emit a distinctive body odour. Again, the sulphur can interact with bacteria on the skin which causes body odour especially when you were perspiring.
In 2015, Charles University in Prague and Stirling University has conducted research which yields an interesting concept. The result is quite different and dare I say, were opposed to the original concept regarding body odour and garlic intake.
As I have said above, garlic can cause your body to emit a distinctive odour which can be quite smelly. However, the research indicates that men who took a capsule of garlic extract per day, consistently, would produce an attractive body odour. Well, to women of course.
In that study, 42 male subjects took either raw garlic, capsules containing garlic extract 1000 mg per day or a placebo capsule. For those who weren’t familiar with placebo, it’s basically a pill or medication which contained nothing. It doesn’t do anything to the body, pharmacologically speaking.
After a certain period, a pad was given to each subject so that they can put it under their pits and collect the smell for 12 hours. Each and every pad were then collected and put inside an individual jar before it will be given to women subjects. They (those women) have to smell those, you know? So expect the worst review anyone could have given.
You know what? It’s kinda good and that’s what has been experienced by those women. They like the smell of pits of those who took garlic. That’s regardless of whether it is raw garlic or capsules containing garlic extract. So, what do you think caused it to be that way?
The main suspect is the molecule Allicin. I mean, this molecule works wonder. Is there anything else it wouldn’t be able to do? It has an antimicrobial property which allows it to prevent the interaction between sulphur and the skin commensal. Pretty cool, right?
According to one of the 2015 study authors, it’s not surprising that women would react differently towards male body odour. It has been one of the factors that can spice up their intimate relationship. From an evolutionary perspective, men's body odour has been used by women to choose their sexual partner since thousands of years ago.
In fact, according to Charles J. Wysocki, a neuroscientist, all of this has something to do with a chemical substance released along with body odour called pheromones. Pheromones can be emitted from several locations on your body such as your back, your armpit and your neck.
However, armpits are the part which emits the highest pheromones compared to the other body part. That’s weird, isn’t it? I mean people are getting attracted to the smell of armpits. It seems illogical.
Well, for your information, the smell of men’s armpits can reduce women’s emotional stress and influence their menstrual cycle in a positive way. You can refer to any romance films. Women do like to lay down on the arms of their men, right? What kind of "structure" is located near to the men's arm? Male armpits, right? That couldn’t have been just a coincidence, right?
If the study in 2015 was right and garlic is able to reduce body odour, then the pheromone concentration would be highest in men who took them. This would allow women to smell pheromones in conjunction with male’s body odour. It’s largely speculation up to this point, but it seems reasonable. At least for me.
There are positive and negative sides of incorporating garlic in your diet. It has its own nutritional value, but for some people, taking garlic would mean more cons than their pro. It ranges from self appearances to allergic reaction for those who are allergic to it. Nevertheless, if you experience any symptoms such as itching, shortness of breath or rashes, pay your doctor a visit for medical advice and consultation.
This article was also posted on Think About Blog and Medium. If you aren't familiar with me, check out this article.
(All of the images used in my articles are either from Freepik or Shutterstock).
