BBC: How food affects your body smell

Today, we're talking about something we don't usually mention in polite conversation...our smell. 

Yes- your natural scent, your personal odour. And believe it or not, what you eat can actually make that odor mor epleasant...or less pleasant. 

Some foods can even make you smell more attractive. And others? Well...let's just say they don't help at all. 

Before we explore all of theat, let's start with our quick quiz. Only one question today- short and sweet. 

According to research, which food surprisingly made men's sweat smell more attractive?

a) Broccoli    b) Garlic     c) Beef      d) Coffee

Stick around for the answer later in the show. 

Every person has a natural odor, a scent that's unique to them. Scientists say our mood, hormones, and even stress levels can change that smell throughout the day. 

Food is another big factor- what we eat releases tiny chemicals that affect our odor later. Even a meal from yesterday can influence how someone smells today. 

Odor is your body's natural smell, especially when it comes from sweat. 

And that smell can change based on what you eat. 

Now, many people worry about their sweat, especially in hot weather or after exercise. But sweat by itself doesn't smell bad- the smell comes when bacteria interact with it. 

What you eat can affect that process. Certain foods make your sweat stronger, and scientists can  measure whether the scent is pleasant or not. 

Sweat is the liquid your body produces to cool down. 

And when sweat mixed with bacteria, that's when body odor appears. 

One big group of foods that affects your smell is spices. Garlic, curry, cumin- they release strong scents that stay in your body for hours. 

Some people even feel more confident after eating dishes with spices, because they like the warm, rich smells that come from spicy foods. 

Spices are strong-flavoured ingredients that add taste to food. 

And they can also change how your body smells afterward. 

You know, Phil, this reminds me of something funny. I used to think my body odor got worse after eating spicy noodles- but my partner once said, "Actually, you smell kind of nice today." And of course, I had eaten a huge bowl of garlic noodles. 

I love that! I had a similar moment. I once ate a very spicy curry before recording a show, and I thought everyone would avoid me. But instead, two colleagues said the room smelled "warm and comforting." Maybe my spices were doing me a favour!

It's interesting how personal these smells can be. Sometimes the scent we worry about is the scent someone else actually likes. 

Exactly- our natural odor tells a story, whether we realize ir or not. 

Now let's talk about fatty foods. These foods make the body work harder to digest, and that can change the chemicals released through your skin. 

People who regularly eat a lot of fatty foods often have a heavier body smell. Scientists think this is because of how the body precesses oils. 

Fatty foods are foods high in fat, like fried foods or fast food. 

And these foods can make your natural smell stronger or heavier.