Hot and Cold Health

 The following is an excerpt from Hot and Cold Health (c) 2009 by R. G. Heft (Acupuncture Physician FL 1992- 2002) and is based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and the questioning and counseling of 30,000+.

The body digests, transforms food, nutrients into blood into structure into function, into health or disease. You (health, disease, body odor, etc.) are what you eat.

The stomach is the first digestive organ to receive and process food, nutrients. The stomach mixes food and fluids with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and other enzymes, designed to digest animal protein and fat. This mixture sits and ferments, break down before being sent down to the small intestines for further digestion, and eventual nutrient absorption. Digestion in the stomach is a souring process, which is why everyone tends to have a slightly sour smell.

Food (stagnation) that spends too long of a time  in the stomach tends over ferment, spoil, creating an excessive sour smell that  accumulates, overflows, rises up through the throat, breath, skin, armpits, etc. Overeating (the stomach should be 3/4 full and 1/4 empty when eating), tight clothing, eating while standing up, eating late, also tends to weaken and slow the movement of food, creating not only a sour smell but also abdominal bloating, gas, burping, sour breath, etc.  

Weak, slow digestion tends to cause sour, sweet and or musty body odor. Eating salads or fruits or drinking cold drinks at the beginning of the meal tends to dilute and weaken digestion, acid and enzymes, slowing the movement of food. Too many vegetables (especially raw, salads), tropical fruits, juices, sugary foods, cold drinks, etc. especially in combination with dairy products (milk, yogurt and soft cheese) tends to weaken digestion, absorption, blood. It also increases waste as whatever food, nutrients not digested becomes waste. This type of watery, sweet waste, dampness tends to produce sweet, sour and or musty body odors. Low protein and low fat diets, in the extreme, also tend to weaken, slow all function, including digestion, movement of food.

Another potential cause of body odor is processed grains. Grains (pasta, bread, pastry, etc.), especially in combination with oil, fat and sugar, tend to collect and clog the small and large intestines, just like excess cholesterol collects and clogs the arteries, veins, etc.  The clog, accumulated matter (bread, pizza dough, cookies, chips, etc.) tends to be moist, damp and sweet smelling. In excess, it tends to produce sweet, damp and musty body odor.  It can also collect, heat up and produce a hot, damp and smelly rash in the armpits and or groin. Avoid alcohol (beer, wine, etc.). Alcohol worsens dampness, body odor, rashes, etc.  

The musty, sweet smell is generally produced by sweet, damp foods: grains (pasta, bread, flour, etc.), meat, eggs, building food, protein and fat. Animal foods, oil, etc. in excess, tend to produce damp heat. 

Milk, dairy products, in general, tends to easily spoil, turn sour. The spoiling and sour smell are produced by fermentation, enzymes and bacteria that digest and breakdown sugar and other carbohydrates. Those that eat or drink a lot of milk, yogurt, ice cream and cheese (dairy and non-dairy) tend to have a sour and or sweet smell. All dairy is sour, sweet.

Obesity (twenty or more pounds overweight) also slows the movement of food, wastes, blood, etc.

The middle diet, meal plan (1/3 protein and fat, 1/3 grain, 1/3 vegetables (cooked, 3-5), fruit, spices, etc.) adjusted accordingly is recommended. Cooked foods and spices (cardamom, cumin, coriander, fennel, cayenne, turmeric, etc.) increase digestion, metabolism, burning, drying of excess fluids, damp, sugar, sour smell. Spices burn, dry dampness, Dampness is a major cause of body odor. Bitter herbs drain dampness, but are cool to digestion. Cold, weak digestion tends to cause dampness. Do not use bitter herbs (includes laxatives) if your digestion is weak. Reduce dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese, salads, cold drinks, etc. Do not overeat. Take a walk after you eat. Lift your arms overhead and let out a good fart or burp.

Be patient, as it will take months and or years of good eating to change, dry chronic body odor, as you must replace old, stinky tissues (skin, organs, etc.) with new healthy smelling tissues.