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Ammonia smell on breath
Why does my breath smell like Ammonia for the past 2 years? Im a vegetarian and have been diagnosed with Candida. Can you suggest something?
The production of Ammonia is a result of metabolism, problems occur when this metabolic waste is not properly cleared via the Urea cycle and kidneys. Ammonia is the by product of protein/ amino acid catabolism (break down) in the digestive process, it is not a detrimental substance if the body can clear it adequately. Ammonia is the combination of Nitrogen (produced from protein breakdown) and Hydrogen. An excess in the body is known as hyperammonaemia and can result in cell damage, vomitting, fatigue, Helicobacter pylori infection, confusion, irritability and nausea.
Ammonia production may be elevated if there is an underlying contributing factor such as Helicobacter pylori, stress, amino acid deficiency or liver cirrhosis. There is a link between the symptoms of an overgrowth of the Candida bacteria (as you mentioned) and Ammonia production and smell on the breath. A proper balance of good digestive flora is needed to ensure that there is no overproduction of Ammonia. You mentioned that you are also a vegetarian, this may also be a contributing factor because a deficiency of essential amino acids may contribute to the problem. This sounds contradictory given that Ammonia is produced as a by product of amino acid/ protein digestion, however these amino acids are also required to detoxify toxins in the liver. A deficiency of these may result in insufficient detoxification pathways and therefore an accumulation of Ammonia.
Diet tips to reduce Ammonia smell
- Support kidney filtration by alkalising the diet, reducing acidic forming foods, reduce diuretics and drinking adequate amounts of water. Alkaline foods are water, lemon juice, miso soup, fruits and vegetables, sprouts, grains, fish and vegetable broths. Acidic foods are tea, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, dairy, wheat, sugar, red meats, refined and processed foods and deep fried foods
- Drink herbal teas such as Dandelion Leaf and Green Tea as they support the function of the kidneys to filter wastes from the body
- The best advice to support the role of the kidneys is to ensure adequate fluid intake, at least 2 litres of water/ day. There is a saying which goes “the solution to pollution is dilution” which explains the role the kidneys place in removal of wastes from the body.
- An alkaline diet rather than an acidic diet cleanses and tones the kidneys. An alkaline diet involves eating foods such fresh vegetables and fruits, lemon juice, water, brown rice, miso soup and vegetable juices. An acidic diet is foods like sugar, wheat, dairy, red meat, oranges, alcohol, preserved and processed foods
- Have a vegetable juice each day to encourage liver detoxification and kidney filtration. Some ideas are fresh juiced beetroot, carrot, celery and ginger or watermelon or pineapple, green apple and mint
Lifestyle factors to reduce Ammonia smell
- Avoid alcohol as it will decrease kidney filtration
- Support the liver in its role of detoxifying and eliminating wastes from the body
- Improve Kidney filtration and elimination
Natural therapies to reduce Ammonia smell
- Probiotics help to lower blood levels of Ammonia
- Chlorophyll added to water water helps to deodorise the taste in your mouth. Chlorophyll is also alkalising and binds to heavy metals and helps to eliminate them from the body
- Taurine, Carnitine or Methionine as these are amino acids which help to reduce the production of Ammonia by detoxifying it and facilitating its removal from the body. These are available in supplement form or increase the following foods in your diet - animal protein, seafood, avocado, fish, milk, green beans, eggs, garlic, onions and yoghurt
- Spirulina, Wheat Grass and Chlorophyll nourishes and tones the kidneys and increases the amounts of waste removed via filtration, it is also a blood cleanser and alkaliser
- Herbs to improve the functioning of the kidneys to remove more metabolic wastes from the body are Borage, Chapparal, Cornsilk, Dandelion leaf, Goji Berry, Alisma, Poria, Ginkgo biloba, Green Tea, Lemon Grass (tea), Milk Thistle, Rehmannia, Parsley, Celery, Juniper, Roship (tea), Sarsaparilla, Bearberry and Golden Seal. Taking a herbal supplement may help to assist in reducing the possibility of more stones forming, strengthen kidney filtration, alkalise and improve the health of overall kidney function
For further information please see following Ask a Naturopath.com webpages concerning Kidney and Liver health