What does your smell say about your health?

Sometimes a body odor not only makes you and those around you uncomfortable, but it can also be a warning sign of your underlying health conditions.

Body odor can act as a mirror of your state of health. Some symptoms of diseases even produce a distinctive scent. So how do you know if you have health problems?

The science behind body odor

The body odor you may be most familiar with is sweat, which is an essential function of the body. Allison-Ottey, executive director of the COSHAR Healthy Community Foundation and a member of the HealthyWomen Advisory Council on Women's Health, explains: we are conditioned. "It's a cooling mechanism, and if you can't sweat you can die from overheating."

What can body odor tell about your health?

Why does our sweat sometimes smell bad? You may be surprised to learn that sweat itself has no odor. “In the purest sense, sweat is simply your body releasing fluid,” says Allison-Ottey. "But if you have bacteria or fungi on your skin, when they mix with sweat, you get a smell that can be pungent." This can be embarrassing, but there's nothing to worry about if the smell goes away after you shower.

Certain foods can also cause body odor. “If you eat a lot of asparagus, your urine will smell bad,” says Allison-Ottey. "And your breath can smell bad after eating foods like garlic."

What can your body odor tell you?

Your body odor can signal many unusual conditions in your health. Here are some health risks that you can identify through your own odor.

Body odor can alert you to the state of your health.

Diabetes

A fruity body odor can be a sign of diabetes. “The sugar that comes out of the urine can cause some odors,” explains Allison-Ottey. "In the old days, doctors used to diagnose diabetes by smelling a person's breath or urine." Your urine may also smell sweet if you are suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that occurs in people with diabetes when their bodies do not have enough insulin.

Ketosis

Being in a state of ketosis, which occurs when your body burns fat because it has no carbohydrates to burn — often as a result of following a ketogenic diet (commonly referred to as “keto”) — can cause Your breath has a foul odor. This is often referred to as "keto breath." “Keto crotch” can also happen because the keto diet can upset the pH balance in your vagina.

Vaginal condition

A change in the smell of urine can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection , which can cause a pungent odor due to ammonia production. And, while yeast infections are usually odorless, bacterial vaginosis can have a foul odor.

Liver or kidney disease

A bleach-like body odor may indicate a liver or kidney disorder.

Intestinal problems

Bad-smelling stools can also be a cause for concern as they can indicate conditions like Crohn's disease, an intestinal infection, or nutrient malabsorption.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes also cause your body odor to change.

Changes in hormones can also cause new or different odors. By nature, each person has their own unique scent. “We all secrete pheromones,” says Allison-Ottey. However, during times like ovulation, this scent can become stronger.

"The theory is that when you're ovulating, you have a pheromone or another scent because in the animal kingdom (this serves the function of attracting) males so you can get pregnant," she added. "So while ovulating, some women will notice that they have a different scent than usual." Hormonal changes during times like menopause, menstruation, or pregnancy can also cause additional body odor, as they can lead to hot flashes and increased sweating.

So what does your smell say about your health ? When you notice an unusual body odor or anything new, you should see your doctor, as these could be warning signs of an undiagnosed medical condition.