If you swear that you've never smelled what's colloquially known as asparagus pee, it is because you lack the ability to recognize the stench. Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that youre alittle dehydrated. The study Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. Webketo crotch and the office. It can take a few days or weeks for this to start working properly. But some foods -- especially asparagus, which has a smelly sulfur compound -- can change the odor. While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. When followed correctly, this low carb, high fat diet will raise your blood levels of ketones. The study looked at nearly 7,000 European American participants and found that about 62% of women and 58% of men had asparagus anosmia, a genetic modification that means they could not perceive or smell the noxious urine, notes Smith. Theyre commonly used to treat UTIs and other infections. Fast weight loss can occur during the first week. On the low carb, high fat keto diet, your body enters a state in which you burn fat for your main source of fuel rather than carbs.Learn how to. Asparagusic acid is broken into volatile compounds that are discharged through the urine. Asparagus is the perfect springtime vegetable. More research still needs to be done on metabolism and genetics to determine exact causes of these differences. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. It was like a light switched one day I couldnt smell it, next time I ate asparagus the strong smell was there. It just absolutely shifted my whole mood for my job. Tell your doctor if you have a fever, blood in your pee, or if youre in a lot of pain. Im sorry they handled this so poorly, truly. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. And consider speaking to a doctor or nutritionist you trust about whether keto is a good fit for your health and lifestyleand definitely chat them up about any questionable symptoms you experience if and when you do. Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. Maybe you can conduct your own survey at the next family meal that includes a platter of asparagus or soon after. They can tell you if its normal. You may notice the smell as the fluid mixes with your pee. It's one of the universally acknowledged food truths, like how coffee makes you poop and beans make you fart. But the food isnt the only one to cause a switch in urine odor, Dr. Movassaghi says. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Tyrosinemia. Does Tiger urine smell like popcorn? The other hypothesis is that everyone produces the odor, but they may not actually smell anything. Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. If youre holding on to it, you will get extra pungent urine.. "Of course, having diabetes increases the chances of spilling glucose into the urine if blood glucose levels are too high." 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. Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. 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You know eating asparagus makes your pee smell weird. Wine and Cheeseburger: Harley and Lara Pair Falafel with Wine. These products may raise your blood sugar levels and reduce your ketone levels. With Walk At Home And MIRROR', This Mom Lost 95 Lbs. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. As you progress into a keto diet, youll start to burn fat and ketones as your main fuel sources. Your vagina and nose will thank you. What To Know About Pilates And Weight Loss, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. "It's never normal for your vagina to have an odor," said Dr. Streicher. They can stop or slow urine flow, leading to a buildup of salt and ammonia. If you have more waste than water inyour urine, it can smell more strongly. Its found in some stinky cheeses, bad breath, and farts, but you most likely know it as the molecule you're smelling when the stove burner doesnt light or there's a gas leak. It is a normal phenomenon and is not related to the overall health of the individual. I now dread coming in. Onions. Keto crotch sounds similar to the keto breath phenomenon. Your body needs water to dilute waste products in your urine. When in ketosis, your body converts the fatty acids into chemicals called ketones. Ketogenic diets have many powerful health benefits, but some people have trouble getting into ketosis. Press J to jump to the feed. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. They may give you antibiotics, special soap, or suggest eating certain foods. Just like how going super low-carb makes your breath reek, it can do the same to your pee. Yes. Dr. Ellerkmann has described it as smelling like maple syrup, burned sugar, or malt. Thats called hyperosmia. Bad breath is actually a common side effect of reaching full ketosis. Weight loss. I'm not drinking as much water because having to run home every time is a huge inconvenience as well as a huge embarrassing reminder. There are hills to die on, and this ain't one of 'em. Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. You may lose a noticeable amount of weight as early as your first week on the keto diet. Treatment for an unusual urine smell depends on the cause. I'm so glad to know im not crazy. When enzymes in the human digestive tract break down the asparagusic acid thats naturally present in the vegetable, these volatile compounds are created. It comes with a whole slew of pretty gnarly side effects like the keto flu, keto breath, and keto diarrhea. As Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1781, A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour.. The only thing you should be using to cleanse your vaginal area is water. If your pee smells funny in a very distinct way, its time to drink up. If the odour persists or your urine becomes cloudy, seek a physicians care. or you can pee at home because your piss reeks. It's best to avoid scented antibacterial soaps, which can affect the balance of natural bacteria in your vagina. Electrolytes are often lost because of the rapid reduction in your bodys water content and the elimination of processed foods that may contain added salt (2). That can lead to infections and discharge, which can smell bad when you pee. Sick or elderly people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible. The NLM reports these symptoms: Some experts have theorized that the keto diet changes vaginal pH (the balance of bacteria in your vagina), which can alter your vaginal scent. Initially, you may suffer from tiredness and low energy. Water-soluble vitamins are excreted into your urine, Dr. Kielb says. Most importantly, dont make the mistake of eating a diet that lacks diversity. However, it can often be hard to know whether youre in ketosis or not. Some foods and medications, such as asparagus or certain vitamins, can cause a noticeable urine odor, even in low concentrations. Whats more, test kits can be expensive. Affected by Urinary Infection. Sometimes your pee smells funny when you take certain kinds of multivitamins. The group of peeps who have experienced smelling an off scent down below seems to be pretty large, at least on the Internet. I'm diabetic and thinking about starting keto again but I smelled sooooo bad. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. But whether this is actually being caused by following the keto diet remains up for debate. Hundreds of variants in the DNA sequence across multiple genes involved in sense of smell are strongly associated with the ability to detect asparagus metabolites in urine. Talk to your doctor if it hurts to pee and you have a fever. If the stinky scent bothers you, tell your doctor about it. Keto (low-to-no carb, high-fat, protein-heavy diets) are all the rage for weight loss. Go see your doctor right away. Since you will be taking in more protein when you are following a keto diet, this can increase the amount of ammonia in your pee. 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. Some women on Reddit have reported the smell going away after a while, while others said it persisted. Dont miss the 13 sexual health tips your urologist wants you to know. Urine is mostly waste products and water and normally has a mild smell and a light yellow color. Here are the vitamins and supplements doctors take every day. Its usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. 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. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. But a lack of fluids does raise your chances of getting kidney stones and urinary tract infections. A problem with your liver can make yourskin and eyes yellow and your urine dark and smelly. As for hours my pee smells more like days. Find out the diseases you can prevent just by washing your hands. This may be water weight, but fat loss may soon follow. Those are chemicals your body makes when you burn fat, instead of glucose, for energy. Ever settle into the restroom to do your business and, amid the calming sound of your yellow stream, notice an awful smell? These compounds are passed into the urine, giving it a peculiar smell. Here are 7 tips for how to get into ketosis. The smell is present; you just can't detect it. Samantha Lauriello is a social media strategist and editor. Thomas Mayo, a physician in the 1670s, described the taste of diabetic urine as wonderfully sweet as if it were imbued with honey or sugar. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, your body tries to get rid of extra blood sugar or glucose in the urine, creating the sweet smell, she says. Last medically reviewed on October 30, 2022. During the metabolism of asparagus, sulfur compounds in the asparagus are eliminated from the body through urine, which results in the pungent smell of urine. But if you notice a rash down there and its not going away, its time to call your doctor, as you could be experiencing a yeast infection, STD, or other skin condition. These include: Vitamins. UPDATE: For everyone saying asparagus, I just checked my food diary and I last ate asparagus on October 13th. See additional information. He says that one cannot prevent the breakdown of asparagusic acid if they have the enzymes present in their body.. On the other? Though most everyone probably produces the scent to some degree, it seems not everyones noses pick up on it. This unpleasant smell is from the buildup of phenylalanine in the body, and if untreated, could lead to serious health complications such as intellectual disability, seizures, and brain damage. They say their vagina has a more pungent smell since they've gone keto. If this sounds horrible, it is. Maple syrup urine disease. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. So while plenty of people are sure the keto diet is the cause of their odorous vagina, no science yet supports this. Vaginal odor can be caused by these other factors as well: If changes in vaginal odor are accompanied by itching, burning, redness, or swelling, you'll want to see your healthcare provider to nail down the exact cause. Asparagus contains sulfur-like compounds. There are many fast food options available that are low in carbs. This odor has become so well known that post Most everyone knows about asparagus pee, but there are some other foods and medications that can also change the odor of the urine. If your toilet bowl smells like a fish market gone bad, it could be trimethylaminuria (try saying that three times fast, or just one time, slow). Asparagusic acid is only found in asparagus, though Smith says there are plenty of other foods that can change the smell of your urine. If you've been working out or sweating, change out of wet or damp clothing as soon as possible. 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. Ah, the keto diet. You could just be super sensitive to scents. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. You dont need to say anything about being under medical care. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This chemical on its own smells like rotten eggs, rotting fish, or garbage. Make sure you get some assistance.. A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs. PKU, short for phenylketonuria, is another inherited disorder where the body can't break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein. What it is, how it works, what to eat, what to avoid and a sample paleo meal plan for one week. If the The Keto Diet: What's The Difference? If you follow keto and start noticing that your vagina smells bad, consider checking in with your OB-GYN. It affects babies and children. B vitamins in your multivitamin are often the culprit of smelly urine. WebNo one really pays that much attention during a quick bathroom break. 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. This is one of the primary ketones present in the bloodstream. Or your genitals may itch, and it might burn when you pee. There are also long-term effects of a keto diet. These are chemicals that are naturally produced by your body. You might experience digestive issues, such as constipation or diarrhea, when you first switch to a keto diet. I'm drinking water like a fish and peeing like it's going out of style. On a keto diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptations. These receptors are regulated by hundreds of genes. In most cases, a strong smell isnt a sign of disease. You can measure your ketone levels with a breath analyzer or urine strips. Coffee is also a diuretic, which doesn't help things. As trimethylamine collects in your body, your sweat, breath, and urine will smell rotten or fishy. Onewarning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. If foods are responsible, the smell should go away after a few hours. Another way to measure ketosis is by testing urine for other byproducts, specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate and urine acetoacetate. "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. Whats the Ideal Ketosis Level for Weight Loss? So can vitamin B-6 supplements. However, this usually improves in a matter of weeks. There are 3 types of tyrosinemia, which cause problems breaking down theamino acid tyrosine. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The 6 Biggest Keto Diet Mistakes Yet, science does show that going keto can change the odor of your breath and urine, making both smell like nail polish remover. Instead, a more plausible theory is that going on the keto diet impacts your vaginal pHand that changes your vaginal odor, she says. The ketones themselves may also affect your brain, helping to reduce appetite (12) (13). Thats because bacteria can build up in your urine and make it stink. If you have this condition, your urine might just smell like regular ol' pee (to you, at least) even if your urine contains post-asparagus sulfuric compounds. A healthy vaginal pH is acidicbetween 3.8 and 4.5and foods like onions, garlic, red meat, dairy, asparagus, broccoli, alcohol, and fruit can all affect the natural balance youve got going on, Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, ob-gyn at Montefiore Medical Center in New York previously told Women's Health. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. As Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1781, A few stems of asparagus eaten, shall give our urine a disagreable odour.. Just say you want their outrageous demand in writing. Other foods, including Brussels sprouts, onions, cabbage, and turnips can also make your pee smell funky because of a metabolic byproduct called methyl mercaptan, a gas with a putrid, sulfurous smell that emerges when your body breaks down these vegetables. Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Theyll need to follow a special diet. 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. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Tell your doctor right away if you vomit, have trouble breathing, or feel confused. That said, if youre losing weight, enjoying your keto diet, and feeling healthier, there is no need to worry about your ketone levels. Leslie, S.W., Sajjad, H., Nazzal, L. Renal Calculi (Cystinuria, Cystine Stones). StatPearls Publishing, 2020. And it's not like smelly pee will stink up your vagina. The research hypothesizes that this unexpected finding is due to a few modest women who did not want to acknowledge they could smell the stench or that the female stance during urinating makes them less likely to notice an odd odor. A small 2010 study showed that about 8% of people have none or only small amounts of enzyme to break down asparagusic acid. Whats more, there are further benefits primarily an increased ability to burn more fat during exercise. Youll need another kind of medicine for viral infections. Surgery can fix fistulas. Denying bathroom use is a violation of basic workplace rights. According to data, 40 percent of subjects firmly believed that they could detect a distinct odor in their urine after eating asparagus, whereas 60 percent could not and were labeled asparagus anosmic. /r/keto is place to share thoughts, ideas, benefits, and experiences around eating within a Ketogenic lifestyle. Thus, they dont produce smelly urine, says Smith. That's the odor you'll notice as the chemical leaves your body. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. When you get into ketosis, a large part of the brain starts burning ketones instead of glucose. If you mess with the acidity, things dont work out very well. The lesson here is to just leave your vagina alone. Anyone eating asparagus has the potential to produce pungent-smelling urine; however, not everyone can smell it. The inability to smell this asparagus pee is an example of. Bad bacteria that snuck its way into your bladder through your urethra often causes these strange odorous smells. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. "One type of ketone, acetone, is an ingredient in some nail polish removers, which is why your breath may smell like this familiar scent," said Cynthia Sass, RD, Health contributing nutrition editor. There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for Several key signs and symptoms can help you identify whether youre in ketosis. noticed that their vaginas started to emit an intense order after going on the low-carb diet. It has been reported 62 percent of women were unable to smell the odor, whereas 58 percent of men reported being unable to smell the odor. 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. How long does it take to go away? The smell of rotting fish is hard to ignore, and should especially be a red flag if you notice it in your pee. But, the good news is that it settles down and goes away after you've been keto for awhile. Skip the medical care point. Many people report decreased hunger while following a keto diet. This process, the goal of a keto diet, is called ketosis. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Another way to measure blood ketone levels is a breath analyzer. Some antibiotics are made from mold and can make your urine smell yeasty. If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee. A quick search online will reveal several keto followers who complain about this particular effect. You could have a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. 13. They work by forcing your body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on glucose from carbs for energy. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, orbloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. According to Dr. Dutta, In general, you can expect the keto flu to last anywhere from 24 hours to up to two weeks, as your body adjusts to being in ketosis. There are rare conditions that create a rotten Heres everything men need to know about bladder leakage. Regardless of whether you prefer the green, purple or white variety, asparagus provides a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and its consumption as part of a healthy diet may reduce risk of cancer and cardiovascular-related diseases. If asparagus is on the menu, it may rear its ugly smell as early as a mid-meal bathroom break. Although the correlation isn't strong or that widely understood, Dr. Ellerkmann says taking a medication that contains sulfa might make your pee smell funky. Employer: "OP please contact your doctor to provide us with a doctor's note so we can properly file this. These often cause people to quit the diet before they get into full ketosis and reap many of the long-term benefits. Keeping the vulvar and vaginal area dry is another way to keep unwanted odors down. 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. The reasons why this happens are still being investigated. In certain types of ultra-endurance sports and events, a keto diet could even be beneficial (22). If they are really that stupid to go that far, you'll at least have them dead to rights if you do decide to get an attorney. It could, for example, be caused by urinary tract infection. You may need to take antibiotics to get better. They might want to make sure nothing else is causing the odor. If your baby has the disease, you may notice this syrupy odor a day or two after theyre born. Here's what the keto flu is, why it happens. And in the meantime, invest in some Poo-Pourri. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. . Doing so may increase your risk of digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies. Gail L. Nunlee-Bland, MD, chief of endocrinology and director, Diabetes Treatment Center, Howard University. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Watch out for these clear signs youre not eating enough vegetables. 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.. Ketones are an extremely potent fuel source for your brain. You may end up having the keto flu, which is basically a bunch of flu-like symptoms that often appear at the beginning of the keto diet. A lower proportion of women were able to detect the odor, compared to men, despite women being thought to have a more keen sense of smell. If you notice your pee is smelling really foul (not just strong, like when you're a little dehydrated), it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, says Dr. Mark Ellerkmann, director of urogynecology at the Weinberg Center for Women's Health and Medicine in Baltimore. This issue does go away over time though. 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.. Ultimately, if you are following the guidelines of a keto diet and staying consistent, you should be in some form of ketosis. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. Does Garlic Actually Treat Yeast Infections? Certainurine smells can be a sign of some conditions, but your doctor might not consider that to be the case unless you have other symptoms. But tbh, that's probably not what's going on here, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a minimally invasive gynecologist in Dallas and founder of Her Viewpoint. Thank you", This! Webketo crotch and the office. The deficiency appears to be random, and up to 50 percent of people can sense the smell. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. They can also make infections more likely. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohns disease or diverticulitis. Some people can smell the characteristic odor that asparagus gives to their urine, while others cannot. This may happen more often in children who dont pee when they feel the urge. However, they tend to improve again after the initial adaptation phase is over. That's because, like coffee, alcohol is a diuretic that makes the bacteria in urine more concentrated as you pee more and become dehydrated. The keto flu, or carb flu, is used to describe symptoms often experienced by those beginning a keto diet.