A keto diet (which stands for a ketogenic diet) is when a person significantly reduces their carbohydrate intake. Most of the calories consumed in a ketogenic diet are from fats and proteins. A ketogenic diet’s goal is to enter into a state of ketosis, where the body burns stored fats for energy use instead of glucose, which leads to a build-up of acids in the body.
Keto breath is an unwanted side effect that can occur at the beginning of following a ketogenic diet. It may be true that keto breath disappears once the body enters a state of ketosis. Until then, here are a few helpful tips to reduce keto breath:
Drink More Water
Drinking more water helps the body expel more ketones in the urine than in the breath by producing more urine. Drinking more water also helps to flush out oral bacteria in the mouth that could be contributing to bad breath.
Increased Carbohydrate Intake
When carbohydrates are eliminated for a ketogenic diet, the body breaks down fats instead of glucose for energy, producing ketones. However, the amount of carbohydrates a person can ingest while staying in a ketosis state varies from person to person. The amount is generally around 20-50g of carbohydrates. Sometimes, to reduce keto breath, the number of carbs can be slightly increased while still staying in a state of ketosis.
Using Mints/Mint Gum
These products will help hide the smell of keto breath and increase the salivary flow, which helps clear oral bacteria from the mouth.
Signs of Being in Ketosis
Typically the first few weeks of a keto diet will produce a flu-like feeling called the “keto flu.” This occurs because the body is adapting to being in ketosis. Symptoms associated with the keto flu are nausea, vomiting, headaches, tiredness, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, constipation and darker urine.
A keto diet is very effective at helping people lose weight in the short term. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes and reducing cardiovascular issues. But, long-term effects may be fatty liver disease, kidney stones, and low protein levels in the blood.
If you have any questions about a keto diet or ways to help with keto breath, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.