Okay, this is not the nicest of topics, but it’s a Keto fact of life.
Keto can stink.
There, I said it out loud. Being on Keto, especially in the beginning and during some phases of intermittent fasting, can be rather um, ‘less fresh’ smelling than usual.
Is that a more delicate way of saying it?
During beginning ketosis and intermittent fasting, the body is ridding itself of a ton of toxins. The way the body rids itself of these things is through places like the armpits and tongue.
That, in turn, causes wicked B.O. I have never had a B.O. problem in my life; seriously, never. Fresh as a daisy every day. I was on Keto for about eight days when all of a sudden I smelled something that almost made me fall over.
“What on earth is that horrendous B.O. smell coming from? OMG, it’s M.E.!!!”
I only use natural products, but they did NOT cut it; holy Hanna! I mean, this was superhuman, nothing natural was going to touch this!!! In desperation, I ran to the drugstore and bought some clinical men’s product that barely did it!
Two things did the trick for me. The first was water, water, and more water. I found out that if you drink a ton of water, it helps to flush out the toxins in a more efficient way. I also have an infrared sauna and started using that daily. I did find a natural product that actually worked very well, the brand is called Native, and it’s 100% natural, smells very lovely and not heavily scented, and it WORKS.
A coated tongue and bad breath also happens when the body is ridding itself of toxins and when you are losing weight. Again, water is your friend, but so is brushing more often (and make sure you brush your tongue very well). I use an all natural toothpaste with Neem, and it’s so refreshing. Neem is terrific for your gums, and it helps get rid of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
Here’s the good news: this period of wicked B.O. and a lousy breath only lasts about a week. Once I was fat adapted and running on ketones efficiently, it all went away; thank goodness! When I stepped it up to a 23:1 intermittent fasting plan, I did notice a bit of these symptoms for about a day, but then they went away again. Make sure that you stay fat adapted. In the beginning, you may also be feeling the Keto flu; BHBs (US | Canada) can help you stay on track even during a rough start.
It’s not an easy subject to talk about, but you need to be prepared...you know the saying ‘it’s not you, it’s me?’... that is very applicable here!
If you're feeling lonely because your friends won't hang out with you anymore, you can join my Facebook group for those on the Keto journey. We've been where you are, and we don't mind a bit if you stink!
You got this!
Leta ~ Intentionally Bare
DISCLAIMER: The information in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. The content in here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or heard here.
