Also called a UTI, such an infection happens when you have bacteria in any part of your urinary system. Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. They work by forcing your body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on glucose from carbs for energy. This chemical on its own smells like rotten eggs, rotting fish, or garbage. Certain foods, including asparagus and fish, can make the urine smell. All rights reserved. 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!) Here are 7 tips for how to get into ketosis. As you pee, these aspargusic acid-turned sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that distinctive asparagus pee scent. 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. He says that one cannot prevent the breakdown of asparagusic acid if they have the enzymes present in their body.. 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. 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. 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. This includes an initial decrease in exercise performance. If your baby has the disease, you may notice this syrupy odor a day or two after theyre born. 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. According to some experts on the keto diet, nutritional ketosis is defined as blood ketones equal to or above 0.5 millimolar (mM) (8). Extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can give it a strong odor. Ever settle into the restroom to do your business and, amid the calming sound of your yellow stream, notice an awful smell? You might also feel sick, have pain that comes and goes, and have bloody urine. Here is everything you need to know about these. "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. Some antibiotics are made from mold and can make your urine smell yeasty. 2023 Readers Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, Photo: Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). There are rare conditions that create a rotten The group of peeps who have experienced smelling an off scent down below seems to be pretty large, at least on the Internet. A keto diet generally involves a major change in the foods you eat. One big issue for many keto dieters is sleep, especially when they first change their diet (14). Come along for the ride! It also has its own odor profile that creates that familiar beer-pee smell. 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. Skip the medical care point. it is this increased ammonia Pee Smell That bagged urine really smells because once its out of you, the bacteria flourish, says Dr. Comiter. Digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea are common side effects in the beginning (14). And remember to be gentle when washing this sensitive area. It turns out there are lots of things that affect the smell of your pee. Eliminating carbs can also help control and stabilize blood sugar levels. Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage. Too much of this compound can give body fluids, like urine, a rotten odor. If you notice a new or strange scent, talk to your doctor. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohns disease or diverticulitis. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Sulfa drugs can give your pee a bit of stench. 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. 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. After several weeks, many keto dieters report that their performance returns to normal. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. Some people avoid eating cilantro because they claim it has a soapy aftertaste. If the odour persists or your urine becomes cloudy, seek a physicians care. As you progress into a keto diet, youll start to burn fat and ketones as your main fuel sources. When in ketosis, your body converts the fatty acids into chemicals called ketones. Ultimately, if you are following the guidelines of a keto diet and staying consistent, you should be in some form of ketosis. However, long-term keto dieters often report increased focus and energy (14, 15). 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. 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. Although, many do not consider doing this just for the sake of smelly urine. "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. There are also long-term effects of a keto diet. While this breath may be less than ideal for your social life, it can be a positive sign for your diet. Some people can smell the characteristic odor that asparagus gives to their urine, while others cannot. Morning sickness may leave you dehydrated. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. Researchers are skeptical of this finding because women are known to detect odors more precisely and consistently than men. When you get into ketosis, a large part of the brain starts burning ketones instead of glucose. It then disposes of the ketones through both exhalation and urination. These receptors are regulated by hundreds of genes. Trimethylaminuria. It's pretty rare, and since it's genetic you'll see it in infants and other young kids. Everyone has their own individual scent sense of the environment. But, scientifically speaking, why would a diet high in fat and very low in carbs change the scent of your vagina? Testing blood ketone levels with a monitor is the most accurate way to determine whether youre in ketosis. But some foods -- especially asparagus, which has a smelly sulfur compound -- can change the odor. (Also, definitely don't douche. A small 2010 study showed that about 8% of people have none or only small amounts of enzyme to break down asparagusic acid. 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. And it's not like smelly pee will stink up your vagina. What it is, how it works, what to eat, what to avoid and a sample paleo meal plan for one week. 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). It just absolutely shifted my whole mood for my job. Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. One is that some people simply dont produce the smell. A quick search online will reveal several keto followers who complain about this particular effect. Your perception of diverse odors is absolutely distinct. Thats why its always a good idea to remind kids to take bathroom breaks. This issue does go away over time though. Pee Smell This one's also a rare genetic disorder, but for those afflicted, the odor can also impact breath and sweat, according to Dr. Ellerkmann, so it's hard to get away from. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. No matter how funky your mid-morning pee smells, coffee is totally worth it. Theres no need to erase your vaginas natural odor. You can also use special indicator strips to measure the presence of ketones in your urine daily. The release of ketones might also result in keto crotch, but it's never been researched. 'I Lost 50 Lbs. That doesnt mean youre unhealthy. This is the method is used in most research studies (7). Onions make you cry, and they also make your urine stinky. You could just be super sensitive to scents. Kidney stones. Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can affect the way your pee smells. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Here are 12 fast foods you can eat on a low carb diet. The vagina, the urine, a lot of your body is supposed to have a certain type of acidity, says Brant. And that means that even if your pee is the same, it may seem like the odor is weird or more intense. In most cases, a strong urine smell is caused by your food or is a sign that youneed more fluids. However, not everyone can smell it. This is termed the low carb flu or keto flu.. Pee Smell 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). 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." Her areas of expertise include fibroids, irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal pap smears, infertility and menopause. Vanillin, the primary chemical present in vanilla, is difficult to identify in two or three people out of a hundred. Dr. Comiter refers to this condition as teachers bladder or truckers bladder because those are the people who tend to hold it in a lot since they dont have as much time in the day to go to the bathroom due to their hectic schedules. If you've been working out or sweating, change out of wet or damp clothing as soon as possible. 9 Causes of Smelly Urineand What To Do About It - Health Many people on keto and similar diets, like the Atkins diet, report that their breath takes on an unusual, fruity smell. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Let your vagina clean itself. Onewarning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. Things That Can Affect the Smell of Your Pee - WebMD Ketones are an extremely potent fuel source for your brain. 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. Overconsumption of coffee not only makes you wired; it could make your urine smell like a venti latte. However, it can often be hard to know whether youre in ketosis or not. Urine This is dangerous and can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, the American Diabetes Association warns. While some people believe this to be fat loss, its primarily water weight (2). Asparagus isnt the only food that has genetically linked controversial smell or taste effects. Leslie, S.W., Sajjad, H., Nazzal, L. Renal Calculi (Cystinuria, Cystine Stones). StatPearls Publishing, 2020. 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. 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?. Foods. 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. When your ketone levels are elevated, youre considered to be in ketosis. 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). When your body is in ketosis (a.k.a., it breaks down fat for fuel instead of carbs), it produces ketones (chemicals like acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoneyes, that last one is the same ingredient in nail polish remover). Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts. 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. Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. .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. It causes symptoms like fruity breath, sweet-smelling urine, excessive thirst, and tiredness. It causes strong or sweet urine. Does Garlic Actually Treat Yeast Infections? . 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. Why Your Pee Stinks While on the Keto Diet - LeftoverSwap 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. Make sure you get some assistance.. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. You might experience digestive issues, such as constipation or diarrhea, when you first switch to a keto diet. However, theyre not considered very reliable. Keto diets, along with other low carb diets, are highly effective for Vitamins dissolve either in fat or water before they are absorbed by your body. The odor is caused by the buildup and release of toxins in your urine. The soap you use is also important. You may notice the smell as the fluid mixes with your pee. Theres also another condition called asymptomatic bacteria that can cause your pee to smell but doesnt necessarily mean you have a UTI. Sulfa is found in some diabetes medication, antibiotics, migraine medicine, anti-inflammatories, and (quite fittingly) diuretics. Several key signs and symptoms can help you identify whether youre in ketosis. Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells. Some stones are made from cystine, a substance with sulfur in it. Keto Crotch Is A Thing You Should Know About, The Real Difference Between Keto And Low-Carb. After several decades of running on a carb-heavy fuel system, your body is forced to adapt to a different system. There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too. Keto diets, along with other low carb diets, are highly effective for weight loss (4, 5). Weight loss. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, orbloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. Why Does the Keto Diet Cause ConstipationAnd How Can You Stop It? It was like a light switched one day I couldnt smell it, next time I ate asparagus the strong smell was there. As discussed above, removing carbs can lead to general tiredness at first. The Paleo Diet A Beginner's Guide Plus Meal Plan, What Is the Ayurvedic Diet? While youre in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesnt smell good. "Your urine isn't going to make your vagina smell," confirmed Dr. Streicher. Most everyone knows about asparagus pee, but there are some other foods and medications that can also change the odor of the urine. If you have more waste than water inyour urine, it can smell more strongly. 8 Things That Can Cause Odor, 5 Things That Can Change the Way Your Vagina Smells, Assessing Vaginal Health: 5 Clues From Your Vagina, Keto Flu Explained: Why Low-Carb Diets Can Make You Feel Sick and Tired, How to Start the Keto Dietand Ways to Stick With It. Maybe you can conduct your own survey at the next family meal that includes a platter of asparagus or soon after. 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. Dr. Ellerkmann has described it as smelling like maple syrup, burned sugar, or malt. However, it was suggested that removing the tips of the head of the asparagus before consuming may reduce the intensity of the asparagus pee. Tbh, tons of totally harmless reasons could explain this. This is when you begin to reap the benefits of a keto diet. Yes. 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). 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). A change in vaginal smell could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or an STD. The smell of rotting fish is hard to ignore, and should especially be a red flag if you notice it in your pee. This content is imported from poll. Some foods and medications, such as asparagus or certain vitamins, can cause a noticeable urine odor, even in low concentrations. These chemicals just happen to be things that we react to. Try drinking more water to mute the smell of your urine. 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. If your urine smells like metal, you might have a pseudomonas infection. Its primarily caused by the reduction in your muscles glycogen stores. For this reason, most people will just perform one test per week or every other week. A study using data from almost 30,000 users of 23andMe found genetic variants in olfactory receptors linked to peoples perception of this adverse taste. The enzymatic process breaks down distinct chemicals as your body digests meals. What is asparagus pee? Renita White, MD, is an obstetrician/gynecologist at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology in Atlanta, Georgia. The use of acetone breath analyzers has been shown to be fairly accurate, though less accurate than the blood monitor method (10). Douching can open you up to a whole host of other issues and increase your risk of infection.) 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. How long does it take to go away? Since women are generally better able to detect smells, its possible some women were either too polite to mention the smell or didnt pick up on it due to their position while peeing. MedTerms medical dictionary is the medical terminology for MedicineNet.com. If your urine smells sweet, you feel unwell, or you have other symptoms along with foul-smelling urine, though, talk to your doctor. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. Keto crotch sounds similar to the keto breath phenomenon. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. Urine odor Causes - Mayo Clinic