There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too. About one-third of women over the age of 65 can have bacteria in the urine on and off, says Dr. Comiter. Maxine Yeung is a registered dietitian and personal trainer. It has a strong odor that smells like urine or sweat. So while plenty of people are sure the keto diet is the cause of their odorous vagina, no science yet supports this. Check the nutrition label for carbs if youre using gum or other alternatives like sugar-free drinks. If your urine smells sweet, you feel unwell, or you have other symptoms along with foul-smelling urine, though, talk to your doctor. Some medicineslike antibiotics can make your urine stink. Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can affect the way your pee smells. Asparagus Pee The truth is, going on a high-fat, low-carb diet can be a little rough on your body at first. But, the good news is that it settles down and goes away after you've been keto for awhile. Keto Pee Smells Like Cat Pee (Why? & Now What?) It also has its own odor profile that creates that familiar beer-pee smell. If your pee smells funny in a very distinct way, its time to drink up. Douching with fluids or chemicals will kill the good bacteria and allow bad bacteria to move in instead. 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. See additional information. On a keto diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptations. However, they tend to improve again after the initial adaptation phase is over. In addition to having an unfamiliar smell down there, some women are also reporting that theyve noticed a rash in their crotch area on the keto diet (fun!). 10 Signs and Symptoms That You're in Ketosis - Healthline There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for the distinctive scent in your urine. 2023 Readers Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, Photo: Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). Maple syrup urine disease is an inherited condition in which the body can't break down certain amino acids properly, and creates a sweet smell in the urine. It's best to avoid scented antibacterial soaps, which can affect the balance of natural bacteria in your vagina. Humans, on the other hand, rely heavily on their visual sense, so various mutations may have occurred in humans that degenerated the capacity to smell asparagus pee as a random error. Asparagus pee is not the only aroma that causes anosmia in some people. People who use catheters and urine drainage bags may complain of a stinky urine odour in their bags. UPDATE: For everyone saying asparagus, I just checked my food diary and I last ate asparagus on October 13th. Theres also another condition called asymptomatic bacteria that can cause your pee to smell but doesnt necessarily mean you have a UTI. Your doctor can help you figure out ways to manage your childs condition. Doing so may increase your risk of digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies. The human nose has about 10 million olfactory receptors that determine how you perceive smells. However, long-term keto dieters often report increased focus and energy (14, 15). Lastly, theres the controversy. I'm five weeks on keto and I work in a leasing office. Like Brussels sprouts, methyl mercaptan occurs naturally in the vegetable. Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, orbloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. Researchers are skeptical of this finding because women are known to detect odors more precisely and consistently than men. The keto flu, or carb flu, is used to describe symptoms often experienced by those beginning a keto 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. For this reason, most people will just perform one test per week or every other week. The enzymatic process breaks down distinct chemicals as your body digests meals. This usually improves after a few weeks. Anyone eating asparagus has the potential to produce pungent-smelling urine; however, not everyone can smell it. Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Youll need another kind of medicine for viral infections. ", On a separate thread, another user slash keto dieter wondered: "Does anyone else's lady bits smell different too? While this breath may be less than ideal for your social life, it can be a positive sign for your diet. As trimethylamine collects in your body, your sweat, breath, and urine will smell rotten or fishy. Learn these things your poop can teach about your health. Water-soluble vitamins are excreted into your urine, Dr. Kielb says. Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. . Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. If you need to go, let it flow. Eliminating carbs can also help control and stabilize blood sugar levels. 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). "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. Maybe you can conduct your own survey at the next family meal that includes a platter of asparagus or soon after. And while asparagus itself doesnt have an odor, when it is digested, the sulfur bonds -- between the amino acids in It doesnt mean youre unhealthy. If your urine smells like metal, you might have a pseudomonas infection. Find out the diseases you can prevent just by washing your hands. 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. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you dont treat high blood sugar. You may not have other symptoms. But unfortunately, no research exists showing that diet alone can alter vaginal pH. 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. The study 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. The ketones themselves may also affect your brain, helping to reduce appetite (12) (13). 1996-2021 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. If anything, it's something to be aware of if you notice a change in pee smell with no other explanation. And then theres keto diarrhea, which is about as fun as it sounds. One is that some people simply dont produce the smell. This includes an initial decrease in exercise performance. You may need to get the stones taken out at a hospital. 13. Wearing breathable fabrics can also help prevent unwanted moisture and scents from building up. Changes in diet can lead to potential changes in vaginal health, which could mean more rashes, says Dr. Shepherd. The sweet smell is from ketonuria, or a buildup of ketones. 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!) And just because you dont smell it doesnt mean youre not making it. Vitamins dissolve either in fat or water before they are absorbed by your body. Too much of this compound can give body fluids, like urine, a rotten odor. 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. That said, if youre losing weight, enjoying your keto diet, and feeling healthier, there is no need to worry about your ketone levels. The vegetable is still healthy and a good part of your diet, says Dr. Brant. People often report brain fog, tiredness, and feeling sick when starting a very low carb diet. These foods also produce methyl mercaptan, a gas that has a rotten cabbage odor and is released when peeing and breathing. When you pee, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to Some people avoid eating cilantro because they claim it has a soapy aftertaste. or you can pee at home because your piss reeks. health & living health center/do all people's pee smell after eating asparagus article. These include: Vitamins. The use of acetone breath analyzers has been shown to be fairly accurate, though less accurate than the blood monitor method (10). Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. Asparagusic acid is only found in asparagus, though Smith says there are plenty of other foods that can change the smell of your urine. Despite its unfavorable odor after you eat it, its still recommended to keep enjoying asparagus so you can reap all of its health benefits. 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. 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. However, its been suggested that this hunger reduction may be due to alterations to your bodys hunger hormones, along with an increased intake of proteins (11, 12). This gives you an idea of your bodys ketone levels since more acetone leaves the body when youre in nutritional ketosis (9). So when you catch a whiff of a not-so-usual odor, it can really freak you out. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. Helping people with diabetes, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, acid reflux, inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and a number of other issues, every day. 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). Press J to jump to the feed. And some say another unpleasant side effect of the keto diet exists: "keto crotch," or a foul-smelling vagina. The measurement of breath acetones has been used since the 1960s to judge the level of ketosis that occurs in the body, according to a November 2015 article published in Obesity. 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 causes strong or sweet urine. Why does your pee smell after eating asparagus? Experts Given that the keto diet is high in fat, it can end up making your poop a little more liquidy than usual, Barbie Boules, RDN, founder of Nyoutrition previously told WH. And it's not like smelly pee will stink up your vagina. Like any other body part, your vagina needs to be kept clean. These receptors are regulated by hundreds of genes. A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs. It could, for example, be caused by urinary tract infection. It goes from being mild and lovely to being forceful and pretty terrible. 9 Causes of Smelly Urineand What To Do About It - Health 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. Drinkinglots of water throughout the day can help with these smells and keep your urine clear. The soap you use is also important. Keto (low-to-no carb, high-fat, protein-heavy diets) are all the rage for weight loss. While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. It causes symptoms like fruity breath, sweet-smelling urine, excessive thirst, and tiredness. Medications. Keto flu, keto breath, keto diarrheait's no secret the keto diet comes with side effects. 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. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. If you cant, thats called asparagus anosmia. This is a detailed beginner's guide to the paleo diet. Many long-term keto dieters report improved brain function and more stable energy levels, likely due to the rise in ketones and more stable blood sugar levels. Why Your Pee Stinks While on the Keto Diet - LeftoverSwap A 2016 study found that whether or not someone could smell asparagus pee is associated with a genetic variation near multiple olfactory receptor genes. Asparagus isnt the only food that has genetically linked controversial smell or taste effects. This is because your sense of scent, like your perception of color, is determined by your genes. Sometimes your pee smells funny when you take certain kinds of multivitamins. 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. Though most everyone probably produces the scent to some degree, it seems not everyones noses pick up on it. 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. 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. Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Were talking headaches, fatigue, body aches, dizziness, and nausea. If asparagus is on the menu, it may rear its ugly smell as early as a mid-meal bathroom break. Health issues linked to douching include yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Many people report decreased hunger while following a keto diet. Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage. This rare, life-threatening genetic condition prevents the body from breaking down some amino acids. These are chemicals that are naturally produced by your body. These side effects are natural. If this sounds horrible, it is. Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. Ketones are chemical byproducts that provide a new fuel source for your cells. Asparagus pee is something that cannot be controlled by anyone. asparagus pee smells WebAnswer (1 of 16): I did all of that for quite some time and didnt notice a different smell to my pee. 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. With Walk At Home And MIRROR', This Mom Lost 95 Lbs. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. The more fat your body burns in ketosis, the more ketones, like acetone, your body produces as byproducts. Drinking more water can often help. 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. Your perception of diverse odors is absolutely distinct. 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. This may further increase focus and improve brain function (20, 21). Those are chemicals your body makes when you burn fat, instead of glucose, for energy. Many long-term keto dieters claim that they sleep better than before after adapting to the diet (25). Urine is mostly waste products and water and normally has a mild smell and a light yellow color. 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. Pee Smell You can lessen these symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough electrolytes. The short-term side effects of a keto diet are better known. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body. When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet. This content is imported from poll. 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. When your body reaches ketosis on a ketogenic diet, it uses ketones as an alternative energy source. 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. Why Asparagus Makes Pee Smell Is Keto Crotch Real? Doctors Explain The Keto Diet Side Effect 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. Its not dangerous at all. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. 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. Renita White, MD, is an obstetrician/gynecologist at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology in Atlanta, Georgia. They can tell you if its normal. However, theyre not as accurate as a blood monitor. We recommend our users to update the browser. Your pee may also have a strong smell after you drink coffee, or eat fish, onions, or garlic. Your genes affect whether you can NOT THIS YOU dont have them dead to right on this. But it can also be normal if eating this vegetable doesn't change the smell of your pee. If you've been working out or sweating, change out of wet or damp clothing as soon as possible. Affected by Urinary Infection. Let your vagina clean itself. The inability to smell this asparagus pee is an example of. I'm eating leafy greens. This may be water weight, but fat loss may soon follow.