High Protein Diets and Bad Breath

An embarrassing side effect of low carbohydrate diet programs is halitosis (bad breath), commonly experienced within a few days of increasing protein consumption, a frequent companion to the low carb diet. Ketones (smelly chemicals) are produced as the body burns fat and exits through breath, urine and perspiration. A malodorous breath is the curse of dieters (just ask the co-workers, friends, family and just about any other person who comes into close contact with people who consume low carb-high protein foods). Ironically, it is one of the signals that a high protein diet is working, much to the dismay of many people who are on the breath receiving end of conversations with such a dieter.

The problem with low carb, high protein diets is that there is an insufficient amount of carbohydrate available for the body to burn off to supply its energy needs. When carbohydrate intake is too low, the liver converts fat molecules into fatty acids and ketone bodies, an alternative to glucose as a source of energy. When excess ketones (acetones) are produced, it can create an unhealthy state we call ketosis. Ketosis can lead to many health problems and is actually dangerous in extreme cases. Since most high protein diets limit the amount of carbohydrates you are allowed to eat, your body has no choice but to break down fat and other tissues, releasing ketones into your system. “Keto breath” is sometimes noticeable on people who are on very low calorie diets or on people with poorly controlled diabetes. Some people describe the odor as smelling like a combination of nail polish and rotten pineapple.

Another source of bad breath is the bacteria that live in the mouth. Bacteria feed off the food that lingers in the crevices of the gums, cheeks and tongue, giving off waste products that dentists refer to as “volatile sulfur compounds” (the smell of rotten eggs). These bacteria are part of a group called anaerobic because they thrive in dark, moist places that contain very little oxygen. Other bacteria within this group produce waste byproducts that smell like smelly feet, decaying meat, rotting corpses and fecal material. In general, we cannot detect these odors in a healthy person who maintains good oral hygiene, but when a person begins to diet, that changes. That’s because most of the volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath are waste products created by anaerobic bacteria as they digest proteins. To help counteract this, people who diet or exercise a great deal need to increase their fluid intake not only to replace the fluid lost during this time, but to keep the mouth clean and flushed out so that food and bacteria can more easily travel down the digestive tract.

When you consider the fact that Americans already consume more than twice the amount of protein needed, the addition of a high protein diet adds far too much protein to a system already on overload. Some of the health risks associated with eating too much protein include gout, kidney disease, kidney stones, and osteoporosis. So, if you or someone close to you notices that your breath smells, don’t just pop a breath mint to cover it up (although this can help). Instead, use this information to adjust the ratio of carbohydrates and proteins to achieve a healthier balance. One way to do this is to stay with low fat, high dietary fiber and high carbohydrate content, and to increase the amount of aerobic exercise you do. Include plenty of wholegrain, unprocessed grains, high-bran cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, low-fat or skimmed milk and dairy products, legumes and small quantities of polyunsaturated oil or margarine. An excellent choice of vegetable is cabbage because it is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, while it is high in dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, thiamin, vitamin B6, calcium, iron and magnesium. Our Cabbage Soup Diet can help you avoid sacrificing important vitamins, minerals and fiber while helping you maintain a healthy fluid level as you lose weight. Contact us at www.betterlifeunlimited.com for more information about the Cabbage Soup Diet (click here for details or to buy) and any other nutrition-related questions you may have.

ref;The Better Life Experts | July 15, 2009