New fad diet brings halitosis to Hollywood

What do Gisele Bundchen, Jennifer Lopez and renowned opera singer Katherine Jenkins have in common? They all recently started a diet that is known to cause bad breath, among other unsavory side effects.

The trio, as well as countless other A-listers, is jumping on the newest weight loss fad called the Dukan Diet, according to The Sun.

The weight loss plan, which was named for French nutritionist Dr. Pierre Dukan, calls for extended periods of eating nothing but protein, the news source reports. Not even vegetables are allowed during these stages of crash protein consumption.

However, protein is one of the leading causes of halitosis. When these molecules are broken down, they release particles called ketones, as well as ammonia. These travel through the bloodstream and into the lungs, where their smell is then exhaled. A person who is eating nothing but protein should expect to have fiercely bad breath.

Are these celebrities prepared to handle that? There has been no word. However, this isn't the first time that Hollywood went crazy over a diet that was sure to cause halitosis. Not too long ago, the Atkins diet was all the rage. While the weight loss plan produces respectable results in individuals who adhere closely to it, many people also reported having constantly offensive breath.

It seems that people who perceive themselves to be overweight, and celebrities in particular, are willing to go to nearly any length to drop the extra pounds. For example, Jennifer Aniston has been reported to follow the Atkins diet, though she has not publicly commented, according to the Daily Mail. Scores of Hollywood's elite have also jumped on the low-carb, high-protein fad.

However, these dieting trends may force individuals to sacrifice one area of their appearance - their breath - to improve another aspect - their weight. This sacrifice may not be necessary though, as some experts have said that more sensible weight loss approaches that include a balanced diet may also be effective.

For individuals who cannot resist the rapid losses promised by these diets, there is still hope of avoiding halitosis. Specialty breath freshening products, such as the ones offered by TheraBreath, may help significantly improve the symptoms of bad breath.