Bad Breath, Chronic Cough

Having bad breath isn’t just socially awkward. While sometimes it’s just because you had spicey garlic chili sauce on your burrito for lunch, other times it can be indicative of gastric bacterial overgrowth and also of metabolic imbalances. As such, it can be an indication that there is some internal sanitation work to do. Chronic coughs can keep you up at night, causing insomnia and fatigue. They can also be indication of bigger, systemic issues. Listen in as Tony, Will and Kinna delve into the common causes of bad breath and chronic coughs. You’ll learn how to detect what’s most likely causing either of those issues in your case. You’ll also learn about natural steps you can take to help correct body chemistry imbalances commonly act as contributing causes of those annoy symptoms.

In this Episode You’ll Learn

Chronic bad breath can be an indication of bacterial overgrowth in the stomach.
Bacterial overgrowth sometimes occurs because stomach acid levels are deficient.
Usually gastric acid levels keep the pH of the stomach low enough to kill off bacteria that comes in with food we eat.
If gastric acid production is inhibited (e.g. by a PPI or anti-acid medication) or depleted (e.g. by H.pylori) then bacteria can populate the stomach.
Bacteria in the stomach ferment the food we eat and, in doing so, create exotoxins that can be the cause of bad breath.
Bacterial fermentation can also create excessive gaseous pressure and alkaline by products, both of which compromise the functionality of the upper valve of the stomach (the Lower Esophageal Sphincter – L.E.S.)
The L.E.S. normally seals the contents of the stomach in nice and tight so that none of the acid or enzymes from the stomach get regurgitated up the esophagus. The L.E.S. responds to pH levels in the stomach. When the pH of the stomach gets low enough (sufficiently acidic) it triggers the L.E.S. to seal shut and tight, but if there is bacteria in the stomach making the stomach too alkaline then the L.E.S. never gets that trigger to seal, so reflux can occur.
That gastric reflux can irritate the tissue esophagus and that can trigger inflammation and contribute to coughing symptoms. Additionally, the refluxed gastric content can get in the airway, which can also significantly contribute to chronic coughing symptoms.
Other issues, such as allergies, can also contribute to inflammation in the throat and that can cause chronic coughing.
Individuals in a parasympathetic imbalance are most prone to allergy symptoms. Steps taken to correct a parasympathetic imbalance can often alleviate many allergy symptoms.
Steps taken to wipe out gastric bacteria and restore stomach acid levels and the proper functioning of the L.E.S. are described in detail in our Digestive Issues Course.
Sometimes a hiatal hernia is the cause of gastric reflux and must be addressed through additional steps, which are also detailed in our Digestive Issues Course.
Correcting stomach acid levels and wiping out gastric bacteria are the primary goals one should have when working to eliminate the true cause of most cases of bad breath.
Bad breath can also commonly occur in the early stages of a ketogenic diet. This is due to the scent of specific ketones, and possible also due to catabolic tissue degeneration, that frequently occur in the early stages of a ketogenic diet.
Taking steps to correct digestion and the Catabolic Imbalance (if present) and the Parasympathetic Imbalance (if present) are great places to start if you’re working to alleviate a chronic cough.