Daily Health and Medicine News

Can supplements cause body odors?

Overview
Certain supplements can affect the way your body smells and give off a distinct, unpleasant odor. Sometimes taking a normal dose of a particular supplement can cause you to have body odor, but other times body odor only occurs if you’ve taken too much of a particular supplement. If you notice that your supplement is causing you to smell bad, talk to your doctor about discontinuing that particular supplement.

Garlic
Fresh garlic can cause body odor and bad breath, and the same is true for garlic supplements. These supplements often are made with fresh or dried garlic powder, which causes the supplements to have a similar effect to the real deal. Garlic supplements are sometimes used to help treat high blood pressure, prevent atherosclerosis and to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers, such as rectal, colon and stomach cancers. Garlic supplements, however, should not be substituted or used in place of traditional medications. Talk to your doctor before you begin taking any supplements to treat medical conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements are sometimes used to help prevent the spread of solid tumors and to inhibit the growth of certain cancers, such as colon, pancreatic and prostate cancers. Omega-3 fatty acids also are used to help ward off cardiovascular disease and prevent fatal heart attacks. These supplements contain anti-inflammatory properties, making them useful in the treatment of inflammation associated with arthritis, eczema and other health conditions. They’re often made from fish oils and oils extracted from beans, such as navy beans, soybeans and great northern beans. These supplements can cause your breath and body to have a fishy smell, even when taken at the correct dosage.

Carnitine
Your body produces carnitine on its own, via the liver and kidneys, and it is stored in the brain, heart, skeletal muscles and sperm. Typically, your body can make all the carnitine it needs, but certain medical conditions can inhibit the production and storage of carnitine. Certain medications also cause this to happen, which might make it necessary to take a carnitine supplement. A rare side effect of taking carnitine supplements is body odor; other rare side effects include increased appetite and body rash. Do not take these supplements without your doctor’s approval, because they can interfere with some medical conditions.

Choline
Your body can manufacture choline on its own, notes the Linus Pauling Institute, but certain conditions and medications can make it difficult for your body to produce this nutrient. Choline is required for the body to remain healthy. Consuming high doses of this supplement, typically 10 to 16 grams a day, can cause a fishy body odor and increased sweating. Adults only require 3.5 grams of choline per day.

Alternatively Speaking: Self-awareness brings confidence

Alternative medicine enthusiast Natalie Marx answers your questions: Are there any natural remedies for toothache? How can I deal with bad breath?
Talkbacks (2)

I have witnessed many wonderful recoveries through the usage of natural medicine. These include some of the most intense and complex combinations of problems that people face — depression, anxiety, insomnia, OCD, every kind chronic pain and addiction, chronic fatigue, eating disorders, and the list goes on.

Each person who was healed embarked on a journey of self discovery learning new ideas and healthy practices. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for our own health. We create it or destroy it, both through our own actions and our actions as a society. While we cannot control everything that could make us ill, we can control enough to make a difference. Often a huge difference. Natural therapy aims to heal the whole person, not just to relieve an annoying symptom. New knowledge and self-awareness brings with it confidence and personal insight. In the end, your own self-care practice not only consolidates the healing, but also results in a life full of harmony.

Q. Dear Natalie, my youngest daughter is ten years old and has been suffering from terrible tooth ache. Do you have any natural remedies since she is terrified of visiting the dentist!

A. Toothache can be one of the most unbearable conditions experienced by a person. There can be throbbing, consistent pain that can be very hard to deal with on a day to day basis. The best solution is of course to visit a dentist and get a professional opinion. However, in cases where this might not be immediately possible, or in the case with your daughter’s fear, it may be necessary to try a few herbal remedies for temporary relief.

Clove oil is a well known and favored home treatment for tooth ache. Dab a small amount of clove oil on a cotton swab and hold the oil directly to the painful tooth or gum area until the oil has had time to absorb into the affected area. Clove oil has an unpleasant flavor, so it’s probably wise to keep the oil from touching your daughters tongue.

You can alternatively try dipping a cotton swab in vanilla essence and press it against the affected tooth. Do make sure you target the correct tooth, referral pain can sometimes make identification difficult. Try a little Turmeric powder mixed with mustard oil onto a cotton bud and press into the affected tooth. This can also provide relief without any ill effects.

A calendula based toothpaste such as Weleda brand is very preventive in nature. Calendula has a long history of being used for the gums and teeth.

Another easy to use remedy is to peel a clove of garlic and press it against the tooth for relief. The juice of the garlic is an effective natural anesthetic and will provide immediate relief. Make sure your daughter is getting a good amount of vitamin C and calcium in her diet as they help maintain strong teeth.

Alcohol can lead to bad breath, or worse

SUMMARY: There are plenty of health issues associated with excessive alcohol consumption, and while halitosis is not the worst of them, it can signal the presence of major dental problems. So say Japanese researchers from the Fukuoka Dental College’s Department of General Dentistry.

There are plenty of health issues associated with excessive alcohol consumption, and while halitosis is not the worst of them, it can signal the presence of major dental problems. So say Japanese researchers from the Fukuoka Dental College’s Department of General Dentistry.

In a study published in the International Dental Journal, the team associated heavy daily drinking with powerful bad breath and an increased risk of periodontal disease.

The group began by recruiting 235 adults, all of whom complained of chronic oral odor. Scientists then used a halimeter to measure each volunteer’s level of halitosis, confirming the presence of an odor by using an organoleptic (or nose-based) test.

Researchers then interviewed participants to determine how often they consumed alcohol.

Among those who drank daily, many were found to have severe halitosis. These subjects also tended to have deep pockets of infection under their gumlines, indicating the presence of periodontitis, a serious infection of the gums and dental roots that can lead to tooth loss.

Specialty breath fresheners can reduce the smell of bad breath caused by alcohol-related tooth decay. Incidentally, such products are often alcohol-free, which may be a boon for individuals who are seeking treatment for chronic drinking.