Atkins Diet...Bad Breath?

[foxy]

Even though summer is basically over and I've hung up my bathing suit for the season, it would be nice to shed a few pounds.

I know the Atkins Diet is supposed to be very effective. I hate the idea of giving up bread and pasta even for a few weeks but I could do it to lose a few pounds. What stops me more is the bad breath (ugh) thing I've read about as a result of the diet. Soo... is it true?

[BobbyThompson]

The bad breath is a result of "keytosis", a kind of halitosis that results from your brain forcing your body to break down protein instead of carbs, it's natural and desired first source of energy.

 

Here's a cursory outline. The brain pretty much runs on glucose and other base sugars. Carbohydrates provide an excellent source for it, but the Atkins diet removes them from your intake. This forces your body to break down the fat/protein stores for energy instead, which is why it's so effective. After a few weeks of this, a byproduct of the process is keytosis. A rather potent miasma oozing from the mouth. Just make sure you read Hooboy's E-News brief today about bad breath :-)

 

Personally, I think it's a little harsh to say "I'm sorry Mr. Brain, you're gonna have to work for it today." but all of my friends who have tried the diet have lost a good portion of weight from it.

 

Good luck!

Bobby Thompson in LA

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Good overview Bobby. Only a point to clarify and one to add. It is my understanding that ketones are a byprduct of the incomplete combustion of fats. So, not only are fats burned but some are sneaked out of the body, excreted without acutally being 'burned'.

 

Also, in addtion to fouling the breath it actually exudes from the skin and obviously from the urine too. I know that protein spill over in the urine also causes a strong odor. I'm not sure that protein breakdown, which does occur with the diet, actually produces ketones since the chemistry of fats and proteins are so different. However, since both stink it is of little consquence to one's date. :o

[eastbayguy]

>I know the Atkins Diet is supposed to be very effective. I

>hate the idea of giving up bread and pasta even for a few

>weeks but I could do it to lose a few pounds. What stops me

>more is the bad breath (ugh) thing I've read about as a result

>of the diet. Soo... is it true?

 

There is a downside to anything and everything. Most of the people who have trouble with Atkins don't read the fine print. The other poster was correct, Atkins works due to ketosis which starts in about 48 hours after starting the diet.

 

The key to success with no side effects on Atkins is reading the fine print. You need to drink truly copious quantities of water. All the water you can stand and more. Enough water that you pee very often. The water is required to help flush out the by-products of the weight loss. Drinking tons of water has two beneficial effects. First, the bad breath is eliminated or greatly reduced. Second, it cuts way down on constipation.

 

You can (and should) eat quantities of non-starchy carbs. My typical Atkins lunch was a nice Cesar salad. You can and should eat green leafy vegtables.

 

Atkins DOES get results. Drop some weight and begin an excercise program and you'll be fine.

 

--EBG