Ketosis breath is a condition that often develops when a person’s body enters a state called ketosis. In most cases, ketosis is brought on by a general lack of carbohydrates in a diet. This is usually due to people intentionally following various low-carbohydrate diet plans, although it is also possible for people to enter ketosis for other reasons or by accident. When the body enters ketosis, it starts burning different chemicals for fuel, and these produce some unpleasant-smelling gasses that can escape when a person breaths out.
Ketosis is the name for the condition a person’s body enters when it has to rely mostly on fat for fuel. Generally speaking, carbohydrates are the main fuel used by the body. Fat is usually kept as a backup, even though it is technically more efficient for many activities. When there are no carbohydrates available, the body has to switch gears, and it goes into a hyper-fat-burning mode, which eventually causes ketosis breath and a few other symptoms.
The ability to burn large amounts of fat is the primary reason why people go on low-carbohydrate diets. The specific carbohydrate level allowed by the different diets is often quite variable. Some may require a person to almost completely remove carbohydrates from the diet, while others may only require a moderate reduction. Some of the diets don’t actually put a person into ketosis, and they can still generate weight loss because they tend to reduce a person’s overall daily caloric intake by making them fuller. Over time, this can potentially lead to certain symptoms, including ketosis breath, a lack of energy, and excess thirst.
Scientists are generally split regarding the potential health hazards of ketosis. There are many experts who suggest ketosis can be extremely damaging to the body over time. Others bring up the point that some diets in certain parts of the world involve up to 90% protein without causing any health problems. For example, the traditional Inuit diet of the aboriginal people of colder regions of North America had a very low carbohydrate intake, and there are no proven health problems associated with their way of eating. Many experts suggest that the Inuit people were able to get all the nutrients their bodies needed in order to survive through mostly animal sources, but some still say the issue hasn’t been studied enough.
Most experts say that the best way to lessen ketosis breath is to stop using a low-carbohydrate diet. In cases where that is not an option, many people may choose to use breath mints and other over-the-counter halitosis remedies. Some people also recommend drinking more water than usual.