The Internal Cause of Bad Breath and More Serious Diseases

Good health depends on a good immune system, and for that, a healthy digestive system is crucial. About 80 percent of your immune system resides in your digestive tract. Both good and bad bacteria live there, and the good must outweigh the bad in order for diseases and even conditions like bad breath to be kept at bay.

Having bad bacteria is inevitable, but your digestive system should maintain a ratio of about 85 percent good to 15 bad bacteria to be healthy. Bad breath is one of the most noticeable outward signs of an internal problem. In addition to being a problem in itself, bad breath could be an indicator of a serious health condition. If your breath smells fishy, but you haven’t been eating fish, it may be a sign of kidney problems. A fruity smell to your breath could indicate high blood sugar or diabetes.

The foods you eat contribute to the balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive system. Controlling your diet to make sure it is encouraging a healthy balance of bacteria can keep your digestive tract and your immune system in good health.

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