On my narrowly averting scurvy! Arrr!

Arrrr!

It seems I have narrowly averted catching scurvy!

Yes, you heard me right. Scurvy! Just like a pirate! Let me tell you about it.

When I first started the Keto diet I learned that one of the negative side-affects of being in ketosis is very bad breath. Because of this I started brushing my teeth a lot more.  At first maybe 4 times a day instead of the usual 2.  I started having a lot more problems with food getting caught between my teeth, bleeding gums and so on. Yep, I had gingivitis. I started brushing and flossing even more often. I started gargling with Listerine: first twice a day, and got all the way up to 4 times a day before I figured out what was going on.

I researched and researched, read every thing I could find on the Keto diet, on the biological state of ketosis, on ketogenisis in general: NOWHERE could I find any evidence that ketosis caused gingivitis. Was it because I was suddenly brushing a lot more? What was causing my gingivitis?  I kept brushing even more, but it kept getting worse. It got to where it hurt to chew, my gums were bleeding every time I brushed or flossed, and so on. It was a royal pain. But no information whatsoever that keto was causing this. But I was certain it all started a few weeks into the keto diet.

Then, about 4 days ago on a fluke I looked at it from the other perspective. I reversed my research. If the keto people don't know anything about gingivitis, maybe the dental people know about ketogenisis?  So, I started reading articles on gingivitis.  WHAM! It hit me like a board across the forehead. Maybe I should say "face-palm" but no, it was more like a board across the forehead. Gingivitis can be caused by a severe lack of vitamin C!  Who knew!  Wow. This was amazing news. Because I definitely had not had ANY vitamin C for two months at about this time.

Before the keto diet, I probably had orange juice, lime juice and/or lemon juice, straight, with sugar, or in cocktails about 6 to 8 times a week. Being fond of the Margarita, and Tequila Sunrise, and other such delicacies in the evening, and a decent glass of OJ in the morning, I rarely needed to take vitamin C.  I only took vitamin C supplements if I felt I was coming down with a cold or flu.

Once I read this, I immediately started taking vitamin C supplements morning, noon and night. You know what?  I immediately noticed a difference in my gingivitis. Now, after 4 days of regularly taking vitamin C my gums no longer hurt at all. I can chew food without problem.  When I brush there's only a tiny amount of bleeding. Who knew?  Vitamin C!  The things you take for granted.

Of course, now that I realize this, there are several other vitamins I can't get in my diet that I'm going to start taking supplements regularly for: mostly in the B family. And if I hadn't discovered this, I could have gotten worse and worse until I had scurvy. Yes, you heard that: scurvy!  Scurvy isn't a disease that you catch, it is simply the affects of severe vitamin C deprivation on your body. Gingivitis is one of the first symptoms of it.  Who knew!  I certainly didn't.  

Feel like I've got some pirating experience now!

And let me tell you, take your vitamin C - one way or another. You need it!

Arrrr