Badger Breath!

Having just read up on this again I will add one more theory to the mix. A recent theory suggested that it's not from ketones, it's from ammonia in the protein, and so it's more of an Atkins thing than an LCHF thing. Then, today, I read that the acetone in the breath ("pear drops smell") only occurs if the acetone is not metabolised by being converted to pyruvate before it escapes in your breath. So that suggests that raising your energy demand, aka exercise, might eliminate it. Want to try that?

What I do know is that it's not always or even often the case that people get 'pear breath' on low carb. Sometimes it happens but often it doesn't. I wish I knew why for sure.

I also experience a bad taste in the mouth, and put it down to the Atkins effect. I have the cleanest teeth on the planet!
How do we know when our breath smells unless we have a really truthful (fearless) family member/friend?

Kingsland said:

I also experience a bad taste in the mouth, and put it down to the Atkins effect. I have the cleanest teeth on the planet!
How do we know when our breath smells unless we have a really truthful (fearless) family member/friend?

Click to expand...

Apparently, lick your wrist, let it dry, smell it! Works

I actually had a taste in my mouth (not an unpleasant one though!) when I was first low carbing, but it went away fairly quickly.

If it's pong (ammonia), it can apparently be caused by consuming too much protein, or perhaps more importantly if you don't eat protein for your body's' needs, it can cannibalize your muscle protein and break it down - e.g. if you eat a starvation or very low carb low fat diet. See Jenny Ruhl's explanation. About.com also has similar information.