Raw food diet may cause halitosis

Switching to a raw food diet can improve heart health, decrease the risk of diabetes and cause bad breath, several natural health sources report.

According to the Raw Food Institute, cooking food eliminates 30 percent of its nutrients and 100 percent of natural enzymes, which the body utilizes for many important functions. Since most raw food diets encourage fruit and vegetables consumption, they naturally contribute to some improvement in bodily health.

However, switching overnight to a regimen based solely on raw foods can cause some unpleasant side effects. Montgomery Village Patch recently reported that an immediate switch to raw foods can entail headaches, nausea, body odor and bad breath. It attributes these symptoms to the body's natural cleansing process.

Whatever the cause, raw food diets have been known to cause halitosis. The bad breath may come from switching one's dietary intake too quickly, though some health authorities suspect that it may come from commonly consumed raw foods, like wheat grass.

To eliminate bad breath while maintaining the weight and heart benefits of raw food, individuals may consider brushing often and rinsing with a specialty breath freshener.