Keto breath / Job Interview

LowCarbInScotland

So as we all know, brushing your teeth, chewing gum and popping mints does not solve the Keto breath problem. I'm looking for a new job right now and periodically have Keto breath, which is the last thing I want to have in a job interview.

I imagine I'll have a day or two notice at least, but I don't want to eat a ton of carbs the day before an interview and make myself sick and bloated, that's nearly as bad as Keto breath. I'm okay with knocking myself out of ketosis, but I don't want to go too far.

I'm at 15-20 net carbs a day right now. Would upping it to 50-75 the day before an interview solve this breath problem if it's an issue at that time? Will the problem resolve that quickly?

Does anyone have any personal experience with this?

wabmester

Hmm, I've never done a breath experiment, but my carbs are all over the map.

As you know, you make ketones primarily to feed your brain, and your brain burns about 500 kcal/day. So anything below 125g carbs is still ketogenic. 200g/d should shutdown ketogenesis and refill your glycogen reserves.

But anything above 20g will reduce ketone production and probably minimize protein catabolism. I would try 40g at first, and ask somebody to sniff your breath.

LowCarbInScotland

Thanks @wabmester I appreciate the insight. Come to think of it, when I was at 35 g last year, I wasn't having this problem, so maybe I'll kick it up to 35-40 for a couple days before and see how it goes.

nvmomketo

What about increasing calories for a few days? Weight loss can cause bad breath in some.

Good luck with the interview.

Christine_72

I nixed my keto breath in a day and a half, by upping my carbs to around 70-80g total

daylitemag

My keto breath dissipated after about 6 weeks in ketosis. I keep a bottle of mouth wash in my car and will take a swish immediately prior to going into a client meeting...just in case. Good luck with the job interview.

LowCarbInScotland

Thanks all for the advice and support! I'm 8 weeks in this time around and it's not too bad anymore, but I still have a few too many icky breath days. Glad it sounds like a little carb and calorie bump will do it so I don't knock out the interviewer

auntstephie321

I don't get the bad keto breath I get this sweet metallic taste, at least this time I do. I kinda like it. Last time I got this burning ammonia smell in my nose that was awful but no one could smell it, just me. To get rid of that I upped my carbs and it worked, it isn't an issue this time. I wonder what the difference is between this time and last time I was in keto levels