Hyperhidrosis is a condition where a person sweats excessively, even if it’s not hot outside, they are not exercising, or living in a hot area. Research suggests that certain foods might worsen this condition. In this article, you can find some of the dietary causes of hyperhidrosis. It’s good to know what foods can cause you to sweat more, so you can avoid them, especially if you are in a public setting.
Foods With High Sodium (Salt) Content
One of the main dietary causes of hyperhidrosis is consuming a lot of salty foods. When one consumes such meals, the body tries to get rid of the excess sodium through sweat and urine. It is advised that a person with hyperhidrosis limit their intake of sodium to 4 grams daily. Some foods that have elevated sodium content include pickles, roasted nuts, canned soups and vegetables, salad dressings, fries, packaged chips, bacon, and more.
Caffeine
While that morning cup of coffee is great to awaken your senses, it also stimulates the central nervous system. Caffeine causes the blood pressure and heart rate to rise as it triggers the flight-or-fight response. This causes the sweat glands to get activated as well. Furthermore, consuming coffee or other caffeinated beverages like tea or energy drinks can elevate the body temperature, opening the sweat pores even more. Thus, caffeinated drinks are one of the dietary causes of hyperhidrosis.
Fatty Foods And Processed Foods
When you eat food that is rich in fats, the body tries hard to digest it, causing you to sweat. It’s the same with processed foods. They also lack the natural enzymes and fiber necessary to aid the digestion process and make it even more difficult for the body to break them down. All this extra work causes the body to sweat excessively, making hyperhidrosis worse. High-fat dairy products, white bread, chocolates, candy, deep-fried foods, microwavable meals, etc. are all examples of fatty or processed foods that those with hyperhidrosis need to avoid.
Spicy Foods
Have you ever felt yourself sweating after dipping your chips into a spicy salsa dip or eating hot wings with tabasco sauce? That’s because such foods contain a compound called Capsaicin that triggers a burning sensation when it comes into contact with body tissue. So when you eat spicy food like wasabi, curry, etc. you trick your body into thinking that it’s a hot day outside. It then activates your sweat glands in order to start the cooling process, making you sweat more.
Sweet Foods
Just like spicy food, even too much sweetness is also one of the dietary causes of hyperhidrosis. When you eat food that is packed with sugar (or carbohydrates, generally), they lead to excessive heat production in the body as they are difficult to digest. This results in excessive sweating. Also, sugary food items can cause a spike in the insulin levels in the body, which also triggers the sweat glands. Potatoes, beans, pasta, and bread are some examples of carbohydrate-rich food that must be avoided while sugary items like cakes, candies, cookies, packaged fruit juices, sodas, etc. need to be cut off from the diet too.
Alcoholic Beverages
When we ingest alcohol, it causes our blood vessels to widen, making the heart rate and body temperature rise. This, in turn, causes the sweat glands to activate and perspire in order to cool down the body.