B vitamins in your multivitamin are often the culprit of smelly urine. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. On one hand, it's helped tons of people lose weight. The meter measures your ketone levels by calculating the amount of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in your blood. I now dread coming in. Last medically reviewed on October 30, 2022. Elevated ketone levels cause the bad breath. There are 3 types of tyrosinemia, which cause problems breaking down theamino acid tyrosine. Vitamins dissolve either in fat or water before they are absorbed by your body. Another way to measure ketosis is by testing urine for other byproducts, specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate and urine acetoacetate. Your vagina and nose will thank you. The reasons why this happens are still being investigated. You can also use special indicator strips to measure the presence of ketones in your urine daily. I have no idea! Here are 12 fast foods you can eat on a low carb diet. The enzymatic process breaks down distinct chemicals as your body digests meals. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. We asked almost 7,000 participants from two large cohort studies to respond to the prompt After eating asparagus, you notice a strong characteristic odor in your urine. By linking the questionnaire data with genetic data, we were able to show that the ability to smell or not to smell depends on a persons genetic makeup. . It was darker in colour but it didnt smell the way asparagus infused pee does. Ever settle into the restroom to do your business and, amid the calming sound of your yellow stream, notice an awful smell? Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty. The most reliable and accurate method of measuring ketosis is to measure your blood ketone levels using a specialized meter. While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. They can tell you if its normal. The specific culprit is acetone, a ketone that exits the body in your urine and breath (3). When in ketosis, your body converts the fatty acids into chemicals called ketones. Chief among these molecules is methanethiolone of the six to eight sulfur molecules researchers have identified as likely culprits of smelly asparagus pee. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, orbloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. or you can pee at home because your piss reeks. When followed correctly, this low carb, high fat diet will raise your blood levels of ketones. In most cases, a strong urine smell is caused by your food or is a sign that youneed more fluids. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood. Amy Krambeck, MD, Michael O. Koch professor of urology, Indiana University School of Medicine. Just say you want their outrageous demand in writing. Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. Does a Healthy Penis Smell BadAnd What About Semen? Some women on Reddit have reported the smell going away after a while, while others said it persisted. Your urine can get super concentrated and take on a pungent urine smell similar to ammonia if you dont drink the recommended seven to eight glasses of water a day. When your body is in ketosis (a.k.a., it breaks down fat for fuel instead of carbs), it produces ketones (chemicals like acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoneyes, that last one is the same ingredient in nail polish remover). If the odour persists or your urine becomes cloudy, seek a physicians care. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 2. But unfortunately, no research exists showing that diet alone can alter vaginal pH. It's a metabolic disorder in which your body can't break down trimethylamine, a compound that gets synthesized by bacteria in your gut when you eat foods high in choline and carnitine, like eggs and red meat. If anything, it's something to be aware of if you notice a change in pee smell with no other explanation. It can also cause stomach pain, throwing up, and feeling sick. It can cause bad or fruity-smelling breath for people on a keto diet. "Oh thank God I am not the only one with a stinky vajayjay. If the smell doesn't go back to normal a few days after quitting eating keto, that's a good sign something else might be causing it, since vaginal pH should return to normal after going back to your typical diet, notes Rosser. This odor is because of the breakdown of a substance called asparagusic acid Despite its unfavorable odor after you eat it, its still recommended to keep enjoying asparagus so you can reap all of its health benefits. This usually improves after a few weeks. I have to think happy thoughts during squats," another woman posted on Reddit. According to some experts on the keto diet, nutritional ketosis is defined as blood ketones equal to or above 0.5 millimolar (mM) (8). Testing blood ketone levels with a monitor is the most accurate way to determine whether youre in ketosis. But it can also be normal if eating this vegetable doesn't change the smell of your pee. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. Washing inside of it could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria. These compounds are passed into the urine, giving it a peculiar smell. Maybe I'm just a freak of nature!". If this sounds horrible, it is. Drinkinglots of water throughout the day can help with these smells and keep your urine clear. It's probably best to discuss with your doctor to see how best to manage it. One small yet famous study found that athletes who had switched to a keto diet burned as much as 230% more fat when they exercised compared to athletes who werent following this diet (23). Asparagus pee is something that cannot be controlled by anyone. Here are the 6 best sweeteners for a keto diet. What is the role of sex in smelling asparagus pee? When you start a low carb diet, your body must adapt to burning more fat for fuel instead of carbs. As Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1781, A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour. This odor has become so well known that post-consumption urine is now often referred to as asparagus pee.. It's one of the universally acknowledged food truths, like how coffee makes you poop and beans make you fart. Metabolites: Quantitative Determination of Common Urinary Odorants and Their Glucuronide Conjugates in Human Urine., Indiana University Health: Urine Trouble If You Eat Asparagus., UnityPoint Health: What Causes Urine to Smell Bad?, CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology: Crowdsourced Asparagus Urinary Odor Population Kinetics., BMJ: Sniffing out significant Pee values: genome wide association of asparagus anosmia., Yale Medicine: 5 Ways You Could Pee Better., Family Practice: Accuracy of urinary symptoms and urine microscopy in diagnosing urinary tract infection in women., CDC: Urinary Tract Infection, Chlamydia: Treatment and Care., Kidney Health (Australia): Fact Sheet: Kidney Stones.. Come along for the ride! However, theyre not considered very reliable. /r/keto is place to share thoughts, ideas, benefits, and experiences around eating within a Ketogenic lifestyle. UPDATE: For everyone saying asparagus, I just checked my food diary and I last ate asparagus on October 13th. You end up getting rid of the compound through your pee, sweat, breath, and other fluids. Talk to a doctor about what vitamin doses are right for you. Watch out for these clear signs youre not eating enough vegetables. As trimethylamine collects in your body, your sweat, breath, and urine will smell rotten or fishy. A lot of people report insomnia or waking up at night when they first reduce their carbs drastically. You could have a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. But your doctor can help you manage the smell. As Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1781, A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour.. How To Prevent an Unpleasant Vaginal Odor, Keto Breath Is a Common Problem for Low-carb Dieters, Why Does Sex Have a Smell? Webketo crotch and the office. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. I'm drinking water like a fish and peeing like it's going out of style. Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that youre alittle dehydrated. Couple that with the fact that a lot of people on keto tend to use artificial sweeteners, which also can cause stomach issues, and you might set yourself up for some serious bathroom sprints. Bad breath is actually a common side effect of reaching full ketosis. The study When they follow up verbally--it will be verbal response--reply all on the same email chain and thank them for stopping by to confirm XYZ. It also has its own odor profile that creates that familiar beer-pee smell. Theyll test your pee for ketones and help you manage your diabetes. Asking yourself, Why does my pee smell? When enzymes in the human digestive tract break down the asparagusic acid thats naturally present in the vegetable, these volatile compounds are created. If youre female, it may happen after you give birth or have a certain kind of operation. However, this particular side effect of eating asparagus doesnt happen to everyone, and some Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. If cystine is in your urine, it may smell like rotten eggs. Some people can smell the characteristic odor that asparagus gives to their urine, while others cannot. There are rare conditions that create a rotten Health posed that question to an OB-GYN, who said keto crotch has never been scientifically investigated. The smell of rotting fish is hard to ignore, and should especially be a red flag if you notice it in your pee. A problem with your liver can make yourskin and eyes yellow and your urine dark and smelly. There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for the distinctive scent in your urine. However, this usually improves in a matter of weeks. MedTerms medical dictionary is the medical terminology for MedicineNet.com. health & living health center/do all people's pee smell after eating asparagus article. Go see your doctor right away. Dr. Comiter refers to this condition as teachers bladder or truckers bladder because those are the people who tend to hold it in a lot since they dont have as much time in the day to go to the bathroom due to their hectic schedules. If you're a parent and your kid's pee starts smelling extra syrupy, get it checked out, because untreated, it could lead to seizures, coma, and death. Changes in diet can lead to potential changes in vaginal health, which could mean more rashes, says Dr. Shepherd. If you notice you have a weird odor going on down there right after you go keto, you may want to give it a few days to see if it goes away, says Dr. Greves. It's true that if your vaginal pH is thrown off, you're at a higher risk for developing bacterial vaginosis (an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina), which can have a funky odor, said Dr. Streicher. Find out the diseases you can prevent just by washing your hands. Once theres a bacteria in the hospital or in the nursing home, it hangs around, says Craig Comiter, MD, a urologist for Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, CA. It causes symptoms like fruity breath, sweet-smelling urine, excessive thirst, and tiredness. What To Know About Pilates And Weight Loss, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Certain foods, including asparagus and fish, can make the urine smell. Tell your doctor right away if you vomit, have trouble breathing, or feel confused. On a keto diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptations. WebThis smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. However, it was suggested that removing the tips of the head of the asparagus before consuming may reduce the intensity of the asparagus pee. According to Dr. Dutta, Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. When these build up in your blood, a compound called abranched-chain alpha-keto acid shows up in your urine and makes it, along with your earwax, smell like maple syrup. "Nobody knows if this is a real effect of the keto diet," Lauren Streicher, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University, told Health. Yep, some people online (shout-out to the Reddit page .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}r/xxketo!) Most importantly, dont make the mistake of eating a diet that lacks diversity. Asparagus anosmia specifically is caused by a genetic variation that alters olfactory (re: smell) receptors so you're unable to perceive the sulfuric odor, explains Ehsani. One is that some people simply dont produce the smell. Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter, Women who had ovarian cysts share their stories, A sugar replacement may be linked to heart attacks and strokes, but don't throw it out yet. Short-term decreases in performance can occur. So keto rash is a real thing. Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. Douching with fluids or chemicals will kill the good bacteria and allow bad bacteria to move in instead. But if the smell persists or you start to notice other symptoms like itchiness, burning, and abnormal discharge, its time to see your doctor. It monitors acetone, one of the three main ketones in your blood during ketosis (3). This issue does go away over time though. Terms of Use. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. A 2016 study found that whether or not someone could smell asparagus pee is associated with a genetic variation near multiple olfactory receptor genes. This odor has become so well known that post If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. As excess sugar spills into your urine, it creates a sweet, sugary smell (and taste), explains Stephanie J. Kielb, MD, an associate Professor of Urology, Medical Education and Obstetrics and Gynecology (Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology) at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The vegetable is still healthy and a good part of your diet, says Dr. Brant. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Sick or elderly people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible. "Anecdotally, there have been a lot of reports over the years that diet can influence vaginal odor, but it's never been studied.". I'm eating leafy greens. Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria. Many people report decreased hunger while following a keto diet. The digestion of asparagus produces methanethiol and S-methyl thioesters, chemical compounds containing stinky sulfur, also known as brimstone. Ketogenic diets have many powerful health benefits, but some people have trouble getting into ketosis. When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet. To make one thing super-clear first, there's no research confirming that keto crotch is, in fact, a legit side effect of the keto diet. If you really cant take the smell, then Smith recommends either eating less asparagus or drinking plenty of water to try to dilute your urine and therefore the smell. Either way, you need to get it looked at. Nearly two weeks before being You may need to get the stones taken out at a hospital. Asparagus is a delicious green vegetable that comes with one very noticeable side effectit makes your pee smell foul. But, because your body produces more of them on the keto diet, the excess can make your poop, pee, and breath a little more smelly (again, like nail polish remover). Foods that convert tosulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. But some foods -- especially asparagus, which has a smelly sulfur compound -- can change the odor. Keto vs. Mediterranean: Which Diet Is Really Better for You? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, F/65/5'8" SD:1/18 SW:170ish CW:130ish Goal:healthy/happy/wellfed. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. Sometimes your pee smells funny when you take certain kinds of multivitamins. Its crunchy yet tender and can be used in everything from salads and soups to pasta dishes. Some stones are made from cystine, a substance with sulfur in it. Of course, its entirely possible that other things you do around the time you start the keto diet could lead to a rash in the groin area, like working out more and hanging out in your sweaty gym clothes for too long. Onewarning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. And while asparagus itself doesnt have an odor, when it is digested, the sulfur bonds -- between the amino acids in