Vegan = bad smell?

Question

My bf & I recently become vegetarians...and lately I've been having really bad breath and strong odors from my underarms...
My BF says that it's part of a detox when u go from eating bad junk to eating natural foods and that's the way of your body cleaning itself from all the damage..

Is that true? Is there anyway for me to maintain my breath? I hately smelling... :( (trust me it's not lack of brushing teeth or hygiene...)

Answer 1

It's highly possible, but never experienced it.

Bad breath is definitely due to what's in your gut.
Lots of vegetarians/vegans are still (no offence) stupid eaters.
Sure, they quit meat and animal stuff, but they still eat these awful food mixed which cause horrible digestion.

Examples? There are endless examples! Breakfast, muesli or granola with fruit and soy milk on it, then orange juice and run out the door and have some coffee on the way. For Lunch they eat a salad, sandwich, some fruit, more coffee... off they go again... If you don't see what's wrong with the above, then this could very likely be the source.

Stinky sweat when suddenly starting to eat more healthy?
I could see that.

A little side story if I may: There's a great book called Cleanse and Purify Thyself. I never tried it, but just reading what people have to say about what happens. Literally you stop eating and drink these teas which will give you enough nutrients and stave off your hunger long enough to do the cleanse (I think it takes a month!). So, literally, since no food has been going in, and none is coming out, then you must be empty after at least a week or so, right? Wrong. All these people eating meat and other foods not designed to be eaten by humans is all clogged up in there. Apparently it has hardened along the lining and in the folds of the intestines. You take certain teas to soften then break it up then final tea to flush it out and wow... just imagine what comes out!! People said that 10, 20, 30,... feet comes out. Some are so amazed that they actually measure it. And they say it stinks like death. Afterwards, they hardly need to eat as much since their digestion is not clogged anymore and all sorts of ailments they never would have connected with their digestion disappear. Oh, then there's the chapter about getting the parasites which you never knew you had out of you. Very small but very interesting book.

Ha ha ha... man... funny stuff... "Wow, look at it all!" "Man, what died in there?" "Oh my god, don't open the bathroom door, I think something crawled in the window last night and died!"

Answer 2

Most people who convert do notice a change in smells but mostly it is from what they are eating. Meaning it's not a bad smell. Normally it's very fresh smelling.
On looking this up I did find that bad odors can be from other things. Stress, medical conditions and bacterial could all be causes of the bad smells.

I would suggest you check out the link provided and make sure none of the following apply to you. Just to be on the safe side.

Now to deal with your issues until you look or can be looked at.

Bad breath-
Practicing good oral hygiene is always important, so start here. There are three areas of concern in the mouth: the tongue, teeth, and gums. Brushing your teeth, flossing, and cleaning your gums, followed by rinsing thoroughly, will help minimize the problem by removing the buildup of bacteria. The tongue may be loaded with decaying food particles and bacteria that cause bad breath. Brushing or scraping your tongue first thing in the morning and before bed will help eliminate the problem here. By removing the buildup of decayed material, a major breeding ground for bacteria, you will reduce your plaque as well. The plaque leads to periodontal disease, which, in turn, can lead to heart disease. So this oral hygiene step is very important to your overall health!

Get your teeth cleaned and any cavities filled. Plaque and cavities are a great breeding ground for the bacteria that cause bad breath.

Another way to improve your oral hygiene is to use a water pik after breakfast. Put an ounce of hydrogen peroxide in the water.

Try brushing your gums and tongue with some powdered cloves or myrrh.

Brush your tongue twice a day with a toothbrush soaked in chlorhexidine (an antibacterial agent).

Swish water around in your mouth after each meal or snack. This will reduce the food particles or drink residue (primarily sugar) that may lead to your bad breath.

Most people who are going the natural route use Tom of Maine products. The link is also provided.

Answer 3

I have experienced the same thing and your BF is right. While some people may not have the same experience there must be a reason for your situation. Logic would tell me that your recent change in diet would have something to do with the aroma your body is emitting. After a night of heavy drinking the smell of alcohol will seep from your pores. I am not a doctor but I imagine this is the same concept. Give it time and it will go away.

Answer 4

While I didn't convert to vegetarianism, awhile ago I did convert from eating mostly junk to natural, healthy foods and didn't experience a smell. I personally, don't believe in the idea of a body "detox." (You can't detox your body, that's what your liver and kidneys do all the time, if they didn't you would die) So it could be from something else.

Answer 5

Changing my eating habits to a vegetarian diet, 10 years ago, did not result in any body odor etc... Might want to explore other areas of you life, like changing deodorants, washing powders or could be a hormone or dental problem. Check it out from the American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/bad_breath_faq.asp

Answer 6

I would say its most likely detox.

although, a lot of the processed meat substitute and wierd 'health' packet foods can have some weird stuff in them...

if youve been eating a tonne of that stuff it could be it.

exercise and water is usually the best way to work through a detox : )

Answer 7

Yes, . . . they pretty much stink all the time. It goes beyond detox. And though some of the vegans say they don't stink, normal people around them will disagree--in private of course.

The vegans are too close to the stench to notice it. The "best" they ever smell is like the musty odor of the decaying detrius on a forest floor.

Many use crappy vegan deodorant that masks the stench for awhile, but ultimately it creeps through and assaults "normal" nostrils. It's one of the reasons I avoid them to be honest with you.

Answer 8

Try raw organic apple cider vinegar for bad breath. It also helps detox.

Answer 9

Yes it is...Your intestines can hold 10 pounds of waste that goes UNpassed.Once you start detoxing your body, you start to release all of the waste. Thats the bad odor.

Answer 10

I have no clue whatsoever. That didn't happen to me when I became a vegetarian...it probably does have something to do with such a rapid change in diet (did you do this transition in a short period of time?) but yay for going vegetarian!!! we can be buddies!!! haha

.peace.