A ketogenic diet puts the body into ketosis, or metabolic state where its metabolism becomes ketosis. Ketosis produces acetone, which interferes with breathalyzer tests because its chemical composition resembles that of alcohol and can sometimes mislead breathalyzers into misreading it as alcohol.
Knowing which factors could have an effect on a breath test and how a DUI Lawyer Atlanta could use this knowledge to challenge inaccurate results can provide invaluable help when fighting DUI charges against yourself or someone else.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Medical conditions and diets that increase levels of acetone in the blood can cause breathalyzers to produce false positive results, making the breath test inaccurate for that driver. A DUI attorney could argue that their client was wrongly accused due to having such an illness or diet in their lives.
Isopropyl alcohol, commonly referred to as “rubbing alcohol”, is the key component in most antiseptic rubbing alcohol solutions and cosmetic products such as hand sanitizers, aftershave lotions and aftershave balms. Isopropanol has a molecular structure similar to that of ethanol (C2H5OH) which allows oxygen in the air to convert it to acetone if left exposed for too long.
Inhaling large amounts of isopropyl alcohol can have severe health repercussions and even be fatal, including vomiting and diarrhoea as well as bleeding, low blood pressure shock and coma. Furthermore, infants can become especially vulnerable if exposed to it.
Ethyl alcohol, also referred to as ethanol (C2H5OH), is the type of alcohol most often found in alcoholic beverages and breathalyzers can easily detect its presence in bloodstream. Consumption in excess can have adverse health consequences such as liver and brain damage and is also frequently added as an additive in motor fuel in the US.
Breath Fresheners
The ketogenic diet involves eating extremely low-carbohydrate foods to induce ketosis in your body and use fat instead of glucose as fuel, producing an acetone compound which can be detected using special breath testing devices – however these devices could misinterpret its presence as evidence of alcohol intoxication when applied to those following a ketogenic diet.
Acetone produced by the body can be converted to isopropanol, which can sometimes be misread as ethanol – the type found in alcoholic beverages – by breathalyzer machines, leading to false positive BAC readings that could result in arrest and prosecution for DUI, even though no impairment occurred.
There are various defense strategies available to those accused of drunk driving who wish to challenge any unjustified charges brought against them. One effective approach involves challenging the breathalyzer device by showing that it wasn’t calibrated correctly or was contaminated by mouthwash causing false positive readings; alternatively arguing that your client wasn’t intoxicated as evidenced by blood test results or diet records can also help – then your attorney can request having any breathalyzer test results disregarded or reduced by having them dismissed or reduced from evidence against you.
Other Diets
Ketogenic diets, commonly referred to as the keto diet, are low-carb eating plans designed to promote weight loss while potentially decreasing risks related to certain health issues. By cutting back on carbs while increasing fats and proteins in their daily consumption, they aim to promote optimal health while aiding weight loss.
Diets high in meats, fish, poultry and eggs typically include leafy greens, vegetables, fruit and nuts and seeds – with low amounts of dairy products and processed foods being consumed – leading to digestive issues as well as dehydration; it could even result in false positive breath alcohol tests due to liver enzyme formation leading to production of acetone.
A ketogenic diet is an extremely strict eating plan designed to induce ketosis – the state in which your body uses fat for energy instead of glucose – by restricting carbohydrates to 20-50 grams daily compared to 40 grams found in an average banana or baked potato. Unfortunately, such a regimen can be hazardous for individuals living with kidney disease and isn’t advised for children.
A ketogenic diet should also be avoided by those suffering from pancreatitis, liver failure, metabolic syndrome, primary carnitine deficiency or carnitine translocase deficiency or porphyrias. Furthermore, its use may increase risk of hypoglycemia for those taking insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.
