# Smelly Feet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-feet/53708 "2001-02-08T23:37:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![likearock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a4c791/32.png) [@likearock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/likearock)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-feet/53708/1 "2001-02-08T23:37:06Z")
I have been told that eating spicy foods makes your feet stink. I love spicy foods, my feet stink. Is there something to this, or is it just my natural skepticism/wishful thinking that causes my disbeleif? ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-feet/53708/2 "2001-02-09T00:46:40Z")
Well, I have heard that certain spices cause certain chemical compounds to be released from your body in sweat. I think Garlic is a good example of this. I suppose that certain other foods might have this effect. You could always try a “smell test”. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-feet/53708/3 "2001-02-09T01:34:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stupendous man \* > **…certain spices cause certain chemical compounds to be released from your body in sweat.** **Add** to that the large number of sweat glands in the soles of your smelly feet, **multiplied** by the bacteria that live in your shoes & raise that result to the **3rd power** as indicated by the level of heat & relative humidity in your shoes by the end of the day. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there are a lot of magnifying factors where feet are concerned. Check out [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54990) where we talk a little bit about sweaty feet. I know, you can’t wait. ---
**Author:** ![st1d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@st1d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/st1d)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelly-feet/53708/4 "2001-02-09T01:55:27Z")
Maybe that’s only because most people don’t bother bending over to figure out whether it’s your feet of something a couple feet higher? Or maybe it’s because your pants funnel the fumes down into your shoes. 😛