Theres also another condition called asymptomatic bacteria that can cause your pee to smell but doesnt necessarily mean you have a UTI. This includes an initial decrease in exercise performance. 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!) However, not everyone can smell it. That distinctive springtime smell: Asparagus pee People often report brain fog, tiredness, and feeling sick when starting a very low carb diet. Tbh, tons of totally harmless reasons could explain this. 7 Ways To Keep Your Vagina Healthy As You Age. 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). They might want to make sure nothing else is causing the odor. Onions. Theres no need to erase your vaginas natural odor. A keto diet induces ketosis which is a metabolic state where your body uses fat for energy, says Dr. Kielb.During this state, your urine and breath may both have an odour. This high-fat, low-carb eating plan has its fansand detractors. Samantha Lauriello is a social media strategist and editor. 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. 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. That said, if youre losing weight, enjoying your keto diet, and feeling healthier, there is no need to worry about your ketone levels. Sometimes your pee smells funny when you take certain kinds of multivitamins. WebNo one really pays that much attention during a quick bathroom break. Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Related to Incontinence & Overactive Bladder. Learn these things your poop can teach about your health. If you've been working out or sweating, change out of wet or damp clothing as soon as possible. Urine odor Causes - Mayo Clinic The odor is caused by the buildup and release of toxins in your urine. That doesnt mean youre unhealthy. Or it could just be something you ate. 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.. However, send an email with your understanding of the situation. Its primarily caused by the reduction in your muscles glycogen stores. Foods that convert tosulfur compounds in your body can make your urine smell rotten. Studies report that 22 to 50 percent of the population have smelly urine following consumption of asparagus. "Of course, having diabetes increases the chances of spilling glucose into the urine if blood glucose levels are too high." It can also cause stomach pain, throwing up, and feeling sick. WebAnswer (1 of 16): I did all of that for quite some time and didnt notice a different smell to my pee. Come along for the ride! 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). Your vagina and nose will thank you. Asparagus is notorious for making urine smelly. "It's never normal for your vagina to have an odor," said Dr. Streicher. All rights reserved. 2. The meter measures your ketone levels by calculating the amount of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in your blood. Thats called hyperosmia. Not only does this give your urine a strange multivitamin pill odour, but it can also turn your urine a fluorescent green or greenish-yellow hue. What is the link between genetics and asparagus pee? The quick evaporation of those asparagus metabolites when peeing causes your urine to have a sulfurous odor, like rotten eggs or cooked cabbage. Too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) can make your pee smell like fish. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes that happens when ketones build up in your blood. Asking yourself, Why does my pee smell? An also take some bathroom spray with you/ spray before you go- it creates a film that traps odors. Extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can give it a strong odor. Unfortunately no, according to Smith. 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. The Paleo Diet A Beginner's Guide Plus Meal Plan, What Is the Ayurvedic Diet? As you might expect, this switch doesnt happen overnight. Two studies have shown that people who are unable to smell the odor in their own urine also dont detect it in the urine of known producers. OtherUTI symptoms include: Liver disease. Doing so may increase your risk of digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. "Too much coffee will make your urine concentrated, and hence will impart a foul odor to your urine," internist Dr. Aditi Gupta, head of the doctor's panel at JustDoc, says. 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. I'm eating leafy greens. 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. How long does it take to go away? Check out more body parts youre not washing the right way. A lot of people report insomnia or waking up at night when they first reduce their carbs drastically. Keto diets, along with other low carb diets, are highly effective for Your genes affect whether you can Theyre responsible for most of the unique health benefits of the keto diet. On the other? This is one of the primary ketones present in the bloodstream. I'm drinking water like a fish and peeing like it's going out of style. The vegetable is still healthy and a good part of your diet, says Dr. Brant. Once it gets there, it stays there. Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage. Maple syrup urine disease. Ketones can give your urine a sulfur smell.. 'I Lost 50 Lbs. So can vitamin B-6 supplements. The more fat your body burns in ketosis, the more ketones, like acetone, your body produces as byproducts. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. After the initial rapid drop in water weight, you should continue to lose body fat consistently as long as you stick to the diet and remain in a calorie deficit. The rest are unaware of the smell. Despite the nutritional benefits of asparagus, many are opposed to eating the vegetable due to its pungent aftereffects. Many long-term keto dieters claim that they sleep better than before after adapting to the diet (25). If you follow keto and start noticing that your vagina smells bad, consider checking in with your OB-GYN. The main downside of this test method is that it requires pricking your finger to draw blood. When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet. It monitors acetone, one of the three main ketones in your blood during ketosis (3). Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nearly two weeks before being called in the office. Trimethylaminuria. Vanillin, the primary chemical present in vanilla, is difficult to identify in two or three people out of a hundred. 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 odor has become so well known that post Yes, there's actually a disease for your pee named after the sweet breakfast condiment. 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. Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee. You may notice the smell as the fluid mixes with your pee. It causes strong or sweet urine. But the food isnt the only one to cause a switch in urine odor, Dr. Movassaghi says. There are rare conditions that create a rotten 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Discover signs and symptoms of ketosis, like changes to your breath, appetite, or energy levels. When you get into ketosis, a large part of the brain starts burning ketones instead of glucose. Why Asparagus Makes Pee Smell If you notice it's a common occurrence, definitely see your doctor. Research Scientist in Epidemiology, T.H. 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. These are chemicals that are naturally produced by your body. 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). They work by forcing your body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on glucose from carbs for energy. /r/keto is place to share thoughts, ideas, benefits, and experiences around eating within a Ketogenic lifestyle. Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. When your body isnt getting the glucose it needs for energy, your body begins to burn fat for energy, which produces ketones. If you cant, thats called asparagus anosmia. No matter how funky your mid-morning pee smells, coffee is totally worth it. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you dont treat high blood sugar. These foods also produce methyl mercaptan, a gas that has a rotten cabbage odor and is released when peeing and breathing. noticed that their vaginas started to emit an intense order after going on the low-carb diet. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. But your doctor can help you manage the smell. PKU, short for phenylketonuria, is another inherited disorder where the body can't break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein. We recommend our users to update the browser. These compounds are passed into the urine, giving it a peculiar smell. Asparagus isnt the only food that has genetically linked controversial smell or taste effects. As you pee, these aspargusic acid-turned sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that distinctive asparagus pee scent. When adding these supplements, make sure to include sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell, notes Dr. Bobart. Hepatic steatosis (aka fatty liver, which is a buildup of fat in the liver), Hypoproteinemia (deficient levels of protein in the blood). Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. But don't let this freak you out too much -- PKU is usually diagnosed in infancy, so if you haven't developed it yet, you're probably good. One of the hallmarks of a keto diet is a reduction in blood sugar levels and an increase in ketones. 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. About one-third of women over the age of 65 can have bacteria in the urine on and off, says Dr. Comiter. Douching can open you up to a whole host of other issues and increase your risk of infection.) The inability to smell this asparagus pee is an example of. Its also packed with nutrients, including folic acid, calcium and antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. The only downside: Asparagus seems to cause an unpleasant smell in our urine. It goes from being mild and lovely to being forceful and pretty terrible. Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of ketosis, both positive and negative. It's one of the universally acknowledged food truths, like how coffee makes you poop and beans make you fart. Pee Smell Some of these issues should subside after the transition period, but it may be important to be mindful of different foods that may be causing digestive issues. Many people on keto and similar diets, like the Atkins diet, report that their breath takes on an unusual, fruity smell. Staying in the metabolic state of ketosis on a low carb keto diet requires reducing sugar consumption. 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.. It causes symptoms like fruity breath, sweet-smelling urine, excessive thirst, and tiredness. On a keto diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptations. The digestion of asparagus produces methanethiol and S-methyl thioesters, chemical compounds containing stinky sulfur, also known as brimstone. Eliminating carbs can also help control and stabilize blood sugar levels. That's because your body breaks down fat for energy instead of carbs. 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. 10 Signs and Symptoms That You're in Ketosis - Healthline If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee. 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. But it can also be normal if eating this vegetable doesn't change the smell of your pee. When this happens, your liver starts producing high numbers of ketones to supply energy for your brain. Short-term decreases in performance can occur. Sarah Coseo Markt receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. keto crotch and the office : r/keto - reddit.com Sulfa is found in some diabetes medication, antibiotics, migraine medicine, anti-inflammatories, and (quite fittingly) diuretics. 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. Drinkinglots of water throughout the day can help with these smells and keep your urine clear. They say their vagina has a more pungent smell since they've gone keto. Though most everyone probably produces the scent to some degree, it seems not everyones noses pick up on it. 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. Also, make sure to eat plenty of healthy low carb veggies, which still contain plenty of fiber. Here are 12 fast foods you can eat on a low carb diet. This usually improves after a few weeks. How To Prevent an Unpleasant Vaginal Odor, Keto Breath Is a Common Problem for Low-carb Dieters, Why Does Sex Have a Smell? Why Your Pee Stinks While on the Keto Diet - LeftoverSwap More bacteria get released into your urine during a UTI, causing a distinguished rank odor that he describes as a "pungent rotten-egg smell, often fishy-like." Terms of Use. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. Here's what the keto flu is, why it happens. Ammonia (NH 3) is a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. Along with many other delights, springtime brings the beginning of the asparagus growing season. Certain foods, including asparagus and fish, can make the urine smell. Kidney stones. However, long-term keto dieters often report increased focus and energy (14, 15). While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. Tyrosinemia. Keto crotch sounds similar to the keto breath phenomenon. 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. Vitamins dissolve either in fat or water before they are absorbed by your body. And just because you dont smell it doesnt mean youre not making it. Theyre commonly used to treat UTIs and other infections. 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. Strong, ammonia-like urine is a sign that youre alittle dehydrated. 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. The use of acetone breath analyzers has been shown to be fairly accurate, though less accurate than the blood monitor method (10). There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for the distinctive scent in your urine. "Your urine isn't going to make your vagina smell," confirmed Dr. Streicher. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohns disease or diverticulitis. Watch out for these clear signs youre not eating enough vegetables. Several key signs and symptoms can help you identify whether youre in ketosis. In fact, a study my colleagues and I conducted in 2017 found that only 40 percent of those surveyed reported detecting the odor in their urine. Maxine Yeung is a registered dietitian and personal trainer. Keto vs. Mediterranean: Which Diet Is Really Better for You? "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. Asparagusic acid is only found in asparagus, though Smith says there are plenty of other foods that can change the smell of your urine. This odor is because of the breakdown of a substance called asparagusic acid All rights reserved. Go see your doctor right away. What does pee smell like when in ketosis? - Quora Why does your pee smell after eating asparagus? Experts You know eating asparagus makes your pee smell weird. But it doesnt represent a risky infection because its just bacteria that flourishes in the urine and then disappears. If you experience other symptoms like a burning sensation while peeing or a fever, see a doctor. Coffee is also a diuretic, which doesn't help things. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. It could, for example, be caused by urinary tract infection. And while asparagus itself doesnt have an odor, when it is digested, the sulfur bonds -- between the amino acids in The Ayurvedic diet is based on the principles of Ayurvedic medicine and focuses on balancing different types of energy within your body. There are some common foods and medications that can change the odor of urine. I'm so glad to know im not crazy. And that means that even if your pee is the same, it may seem like the odor is weird or more intense. The reasons why this happens are still being investigated. 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. 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. Its usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. He says that one cannot prevent the breakdown of asparagusic acid if they have the enzymes present in their body.. So when you catch a whiff of a not-so-usual odor, it can really freak you out. If your urine smells sweet, you feel unwell, or you have other symptoms along with foul-smelling urine, though, talk to your doctor. Your body needs water to dilute waste products in your urine. pee smell And it's not like smelly pee will stink up your vagina. The smell is present; you just can't detect it. 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. You can lessen these symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough electrolytes. Press J to jump to the feed. The 18th century French botanist Louis Lmery wrote that asparagus causes "a filthy and disagreeable smell in the urine, as everybody knows." Fluids help water down, or dilute, your pee. Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}What To Know About Pilates And Weight Loss, 29 Vegetarian Keto Recipes That Are *So* Delish, 18 Keto Smoothies That Legit Taste Like Milkshakes, Easy Keto Side Dishes For Every Taste Bud. You can also use special indicator strips to measure the presence of ketones in your urine daily. Terms of Use. Weird Reasons Your Pee Smells Funny | Reader's Digest Canada Other foods, including Brussels Like not a nasty infectious smell, just like a stronger natural smell? The disease can cause other serious symptoms like seizures, sleepiness, irritability, and poor feeding. Some babies are born with a condition called tyrosinemia type 1. Asparagus is a big culprit for smelly urine; in fact, your pee can start smelling like asparagus just 20 minutes after you eat it. While some people believe this to be fat loss, its primarily water weight (2). Tell them you are under the care of a medical doctor and if they are saying you are prohibited from using the common bathroom, you'll need that in writing on official company letterhead or email. Keto Crotch Is A Thing You Should Know About, The Real Difference Between Keto And Low-Carb. You know what your pee should smell like -- you experience it anywhere from six to eight times a day -- so an unfamiliar scent might be a sign that something is awry; a warning message flowing from your body to the toilet. I'm five weeks on keto and I work in a leasing office. These make your pee smell for a few reasons. It then disposes of the ketones through both exhalation and urination. "Alcohol ferments and causes the odor of the urine to be like rotting greens," Dr. Gupta says. If things just smell off, go see a doctor ASAP to make sure everything's OK. Pissing sugar may sound like an amusing Southern expression, but it could be a sign of diabetes. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. If your baby has the disease, you may notice this syrupy odor a day or two after theyre born. Sick or elderly people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible. 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. A 2016 study found that whether or not someone could smell asparagus pee is associated with a genetic variation near multiple olfactory receptor genes. I have to think happy thoughts during squats," another woman posted on Reddit. Asparagus Your body gets rid of nutrients you dont need through peeing. Keto Pee Smells Like Cat Pee (Why? & Now What?) Here are the vitamins and supplements doctors take every day. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. What is asparagus pee? Maybe I'm just a freak of nature!". 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. Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell? - Healthline