Keto Diet: Bad Breath Side Effect?

The ketogenic diet is a popular, low-carb, high-fat diet that restricts the intake of carbohydrates and puts your body into a state of ketosis, which burns fat instead of glucose and causes weight loss. However, one of its common side effects is bad breath, also known as keto breath. This phenomenon is caused by the chemicals your body creates during ketosis, which are released when you exhale. The breath is described as having a metallic taste and a sweet, fruity, or nail polish remover-like smell. While keto breath is temporary, there are ways to minimise it, such as staying hydrated, eating less protein, and maintaining good oral hygiene.

Keto breath is caused by ketosis

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet designed to help you achieve ketosis. This is a natural metabolic state that occurs when you don't receive enough carbs for energy and your body starts burning fat for fuel. Ketosis occurs when your body breaks down fat for energy.

When your body breaks down fat for energy instead of carbs, it converts the fatty acids into chemicals called ketones. Ketones are natural chemicals your body produces when you burn fat for energy. These include beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone.

Ketones are usually harmless and are released from the body by exhaling and urination. Since acetone is an ingredient in some nail polishes, your breath may smell like nail polish remover when you are in a state of ketosis.

Keto breath is a common side effect of ketosis. It is caused by the chemicals your body creates during ketosis, which are released from the body by exhaling. It is different from typical bad breath and has a very distinct smell and taste. Some people describe keto breath as having a metallic taste in their mouth and a smell that's sweet, fruity, or similar to nail polish remover.

Keto breath usually appears in the first week or two of starting a low-carb diet. However, it is only temporary and should go away on its own once your body adjusts to its new carb intake levels. This might take a couple of weeks, but there are a few things you can do to reduce keto breath in the meantime.

Ketosis is a metabolic state

Ketosis is a normal metabolic process that occurs when the body uses fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, resulting in higher blood ketone levels. Ketosis can occur in people who eat a low-carb keto diet to lose weight. The keto diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates.

The keto diet has many possible benefits, including potential weight loss, increased energy, and treating chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. However, the diet can be challenging to follow and may produce side effects, including "keto" breath, constipation, and keto flu, which includes symptoms such as an upset stomach, headache, and fatigue.

"Keto breath" is a common side effect of the keto diet, caused by the chemicals the body creates during ketosis, which are released from the body by exhaling. Some people describe keto breath as having a metallic taste or a chemical smell, while others report a fruity or nail polish remover-like odour. This side effect is temporary and usually improves within a few weeks as the body adjusts to the low-carb intake. Drinking plenty of water and lowering protein intake may help reduce the taste and smell of keto breath.

Ketosis occurs when the body breaks down fat for energy

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body uses fat as its main fuel source or energy, instead of glucose. Typically, the body breaks down carbohydrates or glucose for energy. However, when the body does not have enough glucose for energy, it burns stored fats instead, resulting in a buildup of acids called ketones. Ketosis occurs when the body breaks down fat for energy.

The keto diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet designed to help achieve ketosis. This diet restricts the intake of carbohydrates, putting your body into a state of ketosis, which burns fat instead of glucose and causes weight loss. Ketosis can be challenging to maintain and may not be suitable for everyone. It is also associated with a risk of developing kidney stones, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, and nutrient deficiencies.

Ketosis occurs when the body starts to obtain energy from stored fat instead of glucose. The body breaks down fat, producing a compound called ketones, which become the body and brain's main source of energy. The fat used to create ketones may come from the diet or the body's fat stores. The liver produces ketones when the glucose level decreases, and insulin levels are low.

Ketones are natural chemicals that the body produces when burning fat for energy. These include beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone. Ketones are usually harmless and released from the body by exhaling and urination. Acetone, in particular, is an ingredient in some nail polish removers, which is why breath may smell like nail polish remover during ketosis.

The keto diet has many possible benefits, including potential weight loss, increased energy, and treating chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and brain cancers. It may also improve blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol, and supplement cancer treatments.

Ketones are released through exhalation

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet designed to help the body achieve ketosis, a metabolic state that occurs when the body doesn't receive enough carbs for energy and starts burning fat for fuel. When the body breaks down fatty acids, it creates a byproduct known as ketones. These ketones are natural, harmless chemicals that are released from the body by exhaling and urinating.

Firstly, ketones are created when the body breaks down fatty acids. These ketones, including beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone, are released from the body through exhalation. Since acetone is an ingredient in some nail polishes, the breath of someone in ketosis may smell like nail polish remover.

Secondly, the body adjusts to having fewer carbs, which creates certain compounds that cause odours. When following the ketogenic diet, the body metabolises fat and protein differently, creating ammonia, which is released when breathing and can cause bad breath.

Thirdly, the excessive accumulation of ketones in the body can contribute to bad breath. The ketones exhaled have very distinctive scents, often unlike typical bad breath. For example, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate can cause a fruity or sweet smell, while acetone on the breath creates a resinous smell.

Finally, ketones are released from the body through urination as well as exhalation. Staying hydrated helps get rid of excess ketones, as the body flushes them out through urination.

While ketones are released through exhalation, they are also released through urination, and the body can be encouraged to release them in this way by staying hydrated.

Keto breath is temporary

Keto breath is a common side effect of the keto diet. It is caused by the body entering a state of ketosis, which is the goal of the diet. When the body enters ketosis, it breaks down fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, resulting in higher blood ketone levels. This process creates a distinctive smell and taste in the mouth, often described as metallic or fruity, with some comparing it to nail polish remover.

Keto breath usually appears within the first week or two of starting the keto diet. However, it is important to note that it is not permanent. As your body adjusts to the lower carb intake, the keto breath will subside, typically within a few weeks.

Tips to Reduce Keto Breath

While keto breath is temporary, there are some tips you can follow to reduce it during the adjustment period:

• Increase water intake: Drinking more water will help flush out the ketones through urination, improving your breath.
• Lower protein intake: Eating too much protein can worsen keto breath as the breakdown of protein produces ammonia, which can cause a strong odour.
• Practice good oral hygiene: Brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash regularly can help reduce the odour associated with keto breath.
• Mask the odour: Sugar-free mints, gum, or natural breath fresheners like mint or cinnamon can help mask the odour of keto breath.
• Increase carb intake slightly: A very small increase in carb intake, about 5 grams per day, can help lower ketone levels and improve keto breath without kicking you out of ketosis.

Frequently asked questions