Sulfa drugs can give your pee a bit of stench. What is asparagus pee? I have no idea! How dehydrated you are can not only change its color, but also create a much more pungent smell, as can dietary choices and medical conditions. Brushing your teeth several times per day or using sugar-free gum can resolve the issue. If your pee smells funny in a very distinct way, its time to drink up. But some foods -- especially asparagus, which has a smelly sulfur compound -- can change the odor. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. Thats why its important to drink water when youre thirsty. Washing inside of it could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria. They can also make infections more likely. UPDATE: For everyone saying asparagus, I just checked my food diary and I last ate asparagus on October 13th. Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Some women on Reddit have reported the smell going away after a while, while others said it persisted. But theres no particular reason the keto diet would cause you to break out only around your crotchat least, none that the scientific community has found a direct link to, says Christine Greves, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Poor sleep and insomnia are common symptoms during the initial stages of ketosis. Nearly two weeks before being Asparagus is a big culprit for smelly urine; in fact, your pee can start smelling like asparagus just 20 minutes after you eat it. The culprit of that asparagus pee smell is a particular sulfur compound found only in that vegetable. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body. MedTerms online medical dictionary provides quick access to hard-to-spell and often misspelled medical definitions through an extensive alphabetical listing. Lastly, theres the controversy. Talk to your doctor if it hurts to pee and you have a fever. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. It happens when your body cant break down trimethylamine. Not everybody, Louis. When this happens, your liver starts producing high numbers of ketones to supply energy for your brain. How To Prevent an Unpleasant Vaginal Odor, Keto Breath Is a Common Problem for Low-carb Dieters, Why Does Sex Have a Smell? Douching with fluids or chemicals will kill the good bacteria and allow bad bacteria to move in instead. Fruity-smelling urine can be a sign of other diseases and complications. Youll need another kind of medicine for viral infections. 7 Ways To Keep Your Vagina Healthy As You Age. While its unlikely that a keto diet can maximize performance for elite athletes, once you become fat-adapted, it should be sufficient for general exercise and recreational sports (24). Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty. Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that youre alittle dehydrated. Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Any diet can change your vaginal pH, Dr. Shepherd says, which can then change the odor a bit. 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. Morning sickness may leave you dehydrated. 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. Benefits, Downsides, and More, 12 Fast Foods You Can Eat on a Low Carb Diet, The Keto Flu: Symptoms and How to Get Rid of It, Nutritionists Put Mediterranean, DASH, and Flex Diets at the Top of Their List Once Again, The 6 Best Sweeteners on a Low Carb Keto Diet (And 6 to Avoid). Sometimes your pee smells funny when you take certain kinds of multivitamins. There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too. Let your vagina clean itself. Along with many other delights, springtime brings the beginning of the asparagus growing season. Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells. Unfortunately no, according to Smith. . "I've been on the diet for about a month and a half now and I've noticed that my vaginal odors have gotten MUCH stronger(It smells like a mix between urine and dischargeI'm not exactly sure how vaginas are 'supposed' to smell like. When you enter a state of ketosis, usually by purposely forgoing almost all carbs and going on a keto diet, your body releases ketones as it burns fat for fuel. Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. He says that one cannot prevent the breakdown of asparagusic acid if they have the enzymes present in their body.. Coffee contains caffeol, the fragrant oil you smell after it's brewed, which you smell again when you pee it out, especially if you've downed a lot of it. B vitamins can also make your pee look a bright greenish-yellow. Why Does My Urine Smell Strong Like Ammonia. 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.. Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts. Here is everything you need to know about these. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. Sarah Coseo Markt receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. The release of ketones might also result in keto crotch, but it's never been researched. Most everyone knows about asparagus pee, but there are some other foods and medications that can also change the odor of the urine. Whats the Ideal Ketosis Level for Weight Loss? Several key signs and symptoms can help you identify whether youre in ketosis. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Yes, there's actually a disease for your pee named after the sweet breakfast condiment. That can lead to infections and discharge, which can smell bad when you pee. Yet, science does show that going keto can change the odor of your breath and urine, making both smell like nail polish remover. However, this usually improves in a matter of weeks. 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. As many weight loss studies have shown, youll likely experience both short- and long-term weight loss when switching to a keto diet (2, 6). Theyre responsible for most of the unique health benefits of the keto diet. As for hours my pee smells more like days. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. That's also why your pee becomes dark and bad-smelling, she adds, because as your body gets dehydrated from drinking too much coffee, the bacteria become more concentrated in your waste. The Ayurvedic diet is based on the principles of Ayurvedic medicine and focuses on balancing different types of energy within your body. A quick search online will reveal several keto followers who complain about this particular effect. Despite the nutritional benefits of asparagus, many are opposed to eating the vegetable due to its pungent aftereffects. Here are the 6 best sweeteners for a keto diet. A keto diet generally involves a major change in the foods you eat. An also take some bathroom spray with you/ spray before you go- it creates a film that traps odors. 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. It is a normal phenomenon and is not related to the overall health of the individual. While this breath may be less than ideal for your social life, it can be a positive sign for your diet. The ketones themselves may also affect your brain, helping to reduce appetite (12) (13). Learn these things your poop can teach about your health. Cleveland Clinic: Urine Smell: What Does It Mean?, Colorado State University: Water-Soluble Vitamins: B-Complex and Vitamin C 9.312., Journal of the American Medical Directors Association: Cloudy, Foul Smelling Urine Not a Criteria for Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection in Older Adults., Mayo Clinic: Diabetic ketoacidosis. Urinary tract infection (UTI), Urine odor., Merck Manual Consumer Version: Tyrosinemia., Metabolites: Quantitative Determination of Common Urinary Odorants and Their Glucuronide Conjugates in Human Urine., National Health Service: Kidney stones, Smelly urine., National Organization for Rare Disorders: Maple Syrup Urine Disease., Pacific Mens Health: Men's Health 6 Reasons Your Pee Stinks., U.S National Library of Medicine: Trimethylaminuria.. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. There are hills to die on, and this ain't one of 'em. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. Researchers are skeptical of this finding because women are known to detect odors more precisely and consistently than men. 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. During the first few months there was some extra smell stuff happening all over - crotch and otherwise. If you need to go, let it flow. According to one study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism in November 2016, these urine markers are highest in the morning and after dinner. This is dangerous and can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, the American Diabetes Association warns. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. 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. Some of the common ones are: Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, curry, and salmon. Sulfa is found in some diabetes medication, antibiotics, migraine medicine, anti-inflammatories, and (quite fittingly) diuretics. Staying in the metabolic state of ketosis on a low carb keto diet requires reducing sugar consumption. They work by forcing your body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on glucose from carbs for energy. 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). Another way to measure ketosis is by testing urine for other byproducts, specifically beta-hydroxybutyrate and urine acetoacetate. Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell, notes Dr. Bobart. Keto diets, along with other low carb diets, are highly effective for weight loss (4, 5). 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. Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you dont treat high blood sugar. Why Do I Feel So Crappy On The Keto Diet? The good news is that these vitamin-induced urine smells are harmless, so you can keep taking your daily vitamin supplements. or you can pee at home because your piss reeks. But that doesn't mean people aren't still experiencing some less-than-pleasant odors down there on the keto diet. Tough Journeys: When Cancer Strikes People Living With Dementia, Sea Spray Can Waft Polluted Coastal Water Inland, Cats, Dogs 'Part of the Family' for Most American Pet Owners: Poll, Dozens of Medical Groups Launch Effort to Battle Health Misinformation. Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think. Press J to jump to the feed. According to some experts on the keto diet, nutritional ketosis is defined as blood ketones equal to or above 0.5 millimolar (mM) (8). Some people are hypersensitive (or hyposensitive) to androstenone, a component of sweat. 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. There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for the distinctive scent in your urine. This content is imported from poll. 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. We recommend our users to update the browser. Were talking headaches, fatigue, body aches, dizziness, and nausea. The study The Paleo Diet A Beginner's Guide Plus Meal Plan, What Is the Ayurvedic Diet? The symptoms resemble those of the actual flu, but with a different cause. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Talk to a doctor about what vitamin doses are right for you. 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. Like not a nasty infectious smell, just like a stronger natural smell? This is one of the primary ketones present in the bloodstream. In most cases, a strong urine smell is caused by your food or is a sign that youneed more fluids. Vitamins dissolve either in fat or water before they are absorbed by your body. Asparagus is the perfect springtime vegetable. Ever settle into the restroom to do your business and, amid the calming sound of your yellow stream, notice an awful smell? You dont need to say anything about being under medical care. The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a popular, effective way to lose weight and improve your health. Theres also another condition called asymptomatic bacteria that can cause your pee to smell but doesnt necessarily mean you have a UTI. This is great for weight loss, but not so great for your body odor. You know eating asparagus makes your pee smell weird. As you pee, these aspargusic acid-turned sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that distinctive asparagus pee scent. The enzymatic process breaks down distinct chemicals as your body digests meals. How long does it take to go away? Your body gets rid of nutrients you dont need through peeing. The human nose has about 10 million olfactory receptors that determine how you perceive smells. But while theres no direct link, going keto could potentially have an indirect effect on whether you develop a rash. Affected by Urinary Infection. I'm drinking water like a fish and peeing like it's going out of style. But, the good news is that it settles down and goes away after you've been keto for awhile. Theyll test your pee for ketones and help you manage your diabetes. Why Does the Keto Diet Cause ConstipationAnd How Can You Stop It? While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. People born with this condition cant break down certain amino acids. Find out the diseases you can prevent just by washing your hands. The short-term side effects of a keto diet are better known. Those are chemicals your body makes when you burn fat, instead of glucose, for energy. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Maybe you can conduct your own survey at the next family meal that includes a platter of asparagus or soon after. That bagged urine really smells because once its out of you, the bacteria flourish, says Dr. Comiter. Theyll need to follow a special diet. Vegetables are good for your body, but dont be alarmed if they make your urine smell like rotten cabbage. 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. 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. Heres everything men need to know about bladder leakage. Just say you want their outrageous demand in writing. And some say another unpleasant side effect of the keto diet exists: "keto crotch," or a foul-smelling vagina. 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. Does a Healthy Penis Smell BadAnd What About Semen? Once it gets there, it stays there. These chemicals just happen to be things that we react to. Try drinking more water to mute the smell of your urine. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. 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. 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 might be the most common reason for stinky pee. About one-third of women over the age of 65 can have bacteria in the urine on and off, says Dr. Comiter. But the food isnt the only one to cause a switch in urine odor, Dr. Movassaghi says. Chief among these molecules is methanethiolone of the six to eight sulfur molecules researchers have identified as likely culprits of smelly asparagus pee. Make sure you get some assistance.. Health posed that question to an OB-GYN, who said keto crotch has never been scientifically investigated. Here's what the keto flu is, why it happens. Mayo Clinic: Hyperglycemia in diabetes, Strong-smelling Urine Not Necessarily Cause for Concern., American Family Physician: Urinalysis: A Comprehensive Review., American Diabetes Association: DKA (Ketoacidosis) & Ketones., Nutrition & Metabolism: Branched-chain amino acids in health and disease: metabolism, alterations in blood plasma, and as supplements., National Organization for Rare Disorders: Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Tyrosinemia Type 1, Trimethylaminuria., MIT Medical: Ask Lucy: Could it B-vitamins?, Harvard Health Publishing: Urine color and odor changes., Frontiers in Psychology: Pregnancy and olfaction: a review., British Journal of General Practice: A nose for trouble., Urology Care Foundation: What is a Bladder Fistula?. That's because, like coffee, alcohol is a diuretic that makes the bacteria in urine more concentrated as you pee more and become dehydrated. Foods that convert tosulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. 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. When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet. While some people believe this to be fat loss, its primarily water weight (2). Fast weight loss can occur during the first week. These often cause people to quit the diet before they get into full ketosis and reap many of the long-term benefits. A change in vaginal smell could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or an STD. Fun! I'm about to ovulate so maybe that with keto makes things a little more potent. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Maxine Yeung is a registered dietitian and personal trainer. A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs. They say their vagina has a more pungent smell since they've gone keto. It was like a light switched one day I couldnt smell it, next time I ate asparagus the strong smell was there. Its crunchy yet tender and can be used in everything from salads and soups to pasta dishes. All rights reserved. The vagina, the urine, a lot of your body is supposed to have a certain type of acidity, says Brant. There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for You can measure your ketone levels with a breath analyzer or urine strips. There are also long-term effects of a keto diet. On the other? "Breaking the seal" isn't a thing, but drinking alcohol definitely makes you have to pee more. 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. If this sounds horrible, it is. Most importantly, dont make the mistake of eating a diet that lacks diversity. Asparagusic acid is broken into volatile compounds that are discharged through the urine. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Your urine might smell funky if it hangs out in your bladder for a while. The most reliable and accurate method of measuring ketosis is to measure your blood ketone levels using a specialized meter. And if you've been swimming or wading in a river, lake, or chlorinated pool, it can also help to shower or rinse off after you've been in water. There are rare conditions that create a rotten Asparagus pee is not the only aroma that causes anosmia in some people. Keto diets, along with other low carb diets, are highly effective for 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. 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!) If you want a more accurate assessment, monitor ketone levels in your blood, urine, or breath every week. Its just the nature of an unsterile urine specimen. He suggests dropping an aspirin in the bag because salicylic acid neutralizes and banishes the bad smell. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. To reduce fatigue during this switch, you may want to take electrolyte supplements.