Some people say their pee smells like Cheerios, which might be a sweet smell that you should tell your doctor about. This may further increase focus and improve brain function (20, 21). In certain types of ultra-endurance sports and events, a keto diet could even be beneficial (22). I now dread coming in. Testing blood ketone levels with a monitor is the most accurate way to determine whether youre in ketosis. 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.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. Theyre responsible for most of the unique health benefits of the keto diet. Heres everything men need to know about bladder leakage. How To Prevent an Unpleasant Vaginal Odor, Keto Breath Is a Common Problem for Low-carb Dieters, Why Does Sex Have a Smell? The symptoms resemble those of the actual flu, but with a different cause. 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. You could just be super sensitive to scents. That doesnt mean youre unhealthy. As you progress into a keto diet, youll start to burn fat and ketones as your main fuel sources. She was previously an assistant editor at Health before moving over to Travel + Leisure as a social media editor. B vitamins are water soluble, which means your body doesnt store them, and whatever you dont need is removed in your urine. 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. Many long-term keto dieters claim that they sleep better than before after adapting to the diet (25). However, theyre not as accurate as a blood monitor. But some foods -- especially asparagus, which has a smelly sulfur compound -- can change the odor. Here are 7 tips for how to get into ketosis. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, for example, all break down into sulfur compounds when digested. How Do You Know If You Have A Hormonal Belly? NOT THIS YOU dont have them dead to right on this. It can also cause stomach pain, throwing up, and feeling sick. 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. Research Scientist in Epidemiology, T.H. Another way to measure blood ketone levels is a breath analyzer. The meter measures your ketone levels by calculating the amount of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in your blood. Atkins Vs. Dont miss the 13 sexual health tips your urologist wants you to know. Digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea are common side effects in the beginning (14). 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. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. 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). "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. 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. WebWhat does ammonia smell like? Its usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. Your food, vitamins, and medications are the most common cause of a badurine 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. Asparagus contains asparagusic acid, an odorless acid that breaks down into volatile sulfurous byproducts, Dr. Christopher Smith, associate professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life. People should strive to have urine thats a light yellow colour, says William Brant, MD, a urologist at the University of Utah Health Care in Salt Lake City, UT. One of the hallmarks of a keto diet is a reduction in blood sugar levels and an increase in ketones. The most common ones that can be experienced for up to two years after following the keto diet, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), include: These short-term symptoms usually go away within a few days or weeks. Washing inside of it could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria. If you notice it's a common occurrence, definitely see your doctor. However, send an email with your understanding of the situation. Ultimately, if you are following the guidelines of a keto diet and staying consistent, you should be in some form of ketosis. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of ketosis, both positive and negative. There's actually a scientific explanation, though; asparagus has asparagusic acid, which is responsible for Also called a UTI, such an infection happens when you have bacteria in any part of your urinary system. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. This may happen more often in children who dont pee when they feel the urge. 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. A 2016 study found that whether or not someone could smell asparagus pee is associated with a genetic variation near multiple olfactory receptor genes. That's the odor you'll notice as the chemical leaves your body. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can affect the way your pee smells. If your urine smells like metal, you might have a pseudomonas infection. In most cases, a strong smell isnt a sign of disease. Yet, science does show that going keto can change the odor of your breath and urine, making both smell like nail polish remover. "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. 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. However, this particular side effect of eating asparagus doesnt happen to everyone, and some Just say you want their outrageous demand in writing. You may lose a noticeable amount of weight as early as your first week on the keto diet. Drinking more water can often help. Douching with fluids or chemicals will kill the good bacteria and allow bad bacteria to move in instead. Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Renita White, MD, is an obstetrician/gynecologist at Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology in Atlanta, Georgia. One big issue for many keto dieters is sleep, especially when they first change their diet (14). When followed correctly, this low carb, high fat diet will raise your blood levels of ketones. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes that happens when ketones build up in your blood. But, the good news is that it settles down and goes away after you've been keto for awhile. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. When they follow up verbally--it will be verbal response--reply all on the same email chain and thank them for stopping by to confirm XYZ. Nearly two weeks before being called in the office. If asparagus is on the menu, it may rear its ugly smell as early as a mid-meal bathroom break. You can measure your ketone levels with a breath analyzer or urine strips. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. This gives you an idea of your bodys ketone levels since more acetone leaves the body when youre in nutritional ketosis (9). It then disposes of the ketones through both exhalation and urination. You can also use special indicator strips to measure the presence of ketones in your urine daily. PKU, short for phenylketonuria, is another inherited disorder where the body can't break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in protein. Our doctors define difficult medical language in easy-to-understand explanations of over 19,000 medical terms. Here are the 6 best sweeteners for a keto diet. If you have more waste than water inyour urine, it can smell more strongly. This will pass once your body becomes adapted to running on fat and ketones. WebNo one really pays that much attention during a quick bathroom break. The sweet smell is from ketonuria, or a buildup of ketones. Also called trimethylaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell. You could have a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. 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. Here are the biggest culprits of why you're stinking up the toilet bowl. 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. Most everyone knows about asparagus pee, but there are some other foods and medications that can also change the odor of the urine. Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts. These chemicals just happen to be things that we react to. Try drinking more water to mute the smell of your urine. Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet. Check out more body parts youre not washing the right way. 2023 Readers Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, Photo: Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). If anything, it's something to be aware of if you notice a change in pee smell with no other explanation. 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. But, it's important not to overdo it by washing excessively or using scented products like perfumes, powders, and deodorant sprays. Asparagus is notorious for making urine smelly. Many people on keto and similar diets, like the Atkins diet, report that their breath takes on an unusual, fruity smell. Your body needs water to dilute waste products in your urine. Ketones are an extremely potent fuel source for your brain. All rights reserved. And just because you dont smell it doesnt mean youre not making it. On a keto diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptations. The more fat your body burns in ketosis, the more ketones, like acetone, your body produces as byproducts. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. But whether this is actually being caused by following the keto diet remains up for debate. However, not everyone can smell it. However, long-term keto dieters often report increased focus and energy (14, 15). There are 3 types of tyrosinemia, which cause problems breaking down theamino acid tyrosine. Some stones are made from cystine, a substance with sulfur in it. The use of acetone breath analyzers has been shown to be fairly accurate, though less accurate than the blood monitor method (10). A keto diet generally involves a major change in the foods you eat. Its crunchy yet tender and can be used in everything from salads and soups to pasta dishes. Chief among these molecules is methanethiolone of the six to eight sulfur molecules researchers have identified as likely culprits of smelly asparagus pee. Does Garlic Actually Treat Yeast Infections? Some STIs can lead to a smelly discharge in males and females. Hepatic steatosis (aka fatty liver, which is a buildup of fat in the liver), Hypoproteinemia (deficient levels of protein in the blood). If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee. And it's not like smelly pee will stink up your vagina. Vanillin, the primary chemical present in vanilla, is difficult to identify in two or three people out of a hundred. Ammonia occurs naturally in water, soil, and the air, and is also found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body. Like any other body part, your vagina needs to be kept clean. 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. Brushing your teeth several times per day or using sugar-free gum can resolve the issue. 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. OtherUTI symptoms include: Liver disease. You dont need to say anything about being under medical care. 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. When voided from the body, they become foul-smelling gas, wafting up from your asparagus pee. 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. It could, for example, be caused by urinary tract infection. The Ketogenic Diet is a low carbohydrate method of eating. Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you dont treat high blood sugar. If youre prone to infections or bacteria, then the bacteria will grow and grow until you pee them out, says Dr. Comiter. 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?. When your ketone levels are elevated, youre considered to be in ketosis. That can lead to infections and discharge, which can smell bad when you pee. The specific culprit is acetone, a ketone that exits the body in your urine and breath (3). 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. 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. The quick evaporation of those asparagus metabolites when peeing causes your urine to have a sulfurous odor, like rotten eggs or cooked cabbage. 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. Wearing breathable fabrics can also help prevent unwanted moisture and scents from building up. It turns out there are lots of things that affect the smell of your pee. 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. Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. 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!). 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. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, orbloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. A keto diet can significantly reduce appetite and hunger. Health issues linked to douching include yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Lastly, theres the controversy. There are hills to die on, and this ain't one of 'em. Webketo crotch and the office. Okay, so people are definitely experiencing something funky going on with their vaginal scents. Let your vagina clean itself. Discover signs and symptoms of ketosis, like changes to your breath, appetite, or energy levels. But that doesn't mean people aren't still experiencing some less-than-pleasant odors down there on the keto diet. Theyre commonly used to treat UTIs and other infections. Bad breath is actually a common side effect of reaching full ketosis. You can lessen these symptoms by drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough electrolytes. Like Brussels sprouts, methyl mercaptan occurs naturally in the vegetable. Your vagina and nose will thank you. It means they dont have the right enzyme to break down the amino acid tyrosine. 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. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. The ketone acetone is partly expelled via your breath. But, scientifically speaking, why would a diet high in fat and very low in carbs change the scent of your vagina? Extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can give it a strong odor. This odor is because of the breakdown of a substance called asparagusic acid 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. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohns disease or diverticulitis. If this sounds horrible, it is. The stinky pee smell might not be related to your keto diet at all. Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty. Your genes affect whether you can Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell, notes Dr. Bobart. The human nose has about 10 million olfactory receptors that determine how you perceive smells. Treatment for an unusual urine smell depends on the cause. These receptors are regulated by hundreds of genes. While this breath may be less than ideal for your social life, it can be a positive sign for your diet. 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. Overconsumption of coffee not only makes you wired; it could make your urine smell like a venti latte. 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. According to some experts on the keto diet, nutritional ketosis is defined as blood ketones equal to or above 0.5 millimolar (mM) (8). It happens when your body cant break down trimethylamine. .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. 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. These include: Vitamins. Come along for the ride! Theyll test your pee for ketones and help you manage your diabetes. And if you're a type 1 or type 2 diabetic who takes insulin, ketones could also affect your urine if your insulin levels are off, and there's not enough glucose for your body to use, Dr. Ellerkmann explains. 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. They have even been tested in a medical setting to treat brain diseases and conditions such as concussion and memory loss (16, 17, 18, 19). Sometimes, ammonia is also a sign of: Urinary tract infection. Fast weight loss can occur during the first week. What is the link between genetics and asparagus pee? It's pretty rare, and since it's genetic you'll see it in infants and other young kids. 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. 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. Instead, a more plausible theory is that going on the keto diet impacts your vaginal pHand that changes your vaginal odor, she says. 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. An also take some bathroom spray with you/ spray before you go- it creates a film that traps odors. Experts say the Mediterranean, DASH, and flexitarian diets have the best foundations and are among the easiest to follow. Watch out for these clear signs youre not eating enough vegetables. Or your genitals may itch, and it might burn when you pee. Sometimes 2 days. And prenatal vitamins might change the way your pee smells. Sulfa is found in some diabetes medication, antibiotics, migraine medicine, anti-inflammatories, and (quite fittingly) diuretics. However, theyre not considered very reliable. 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. 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." The vagina, the urine, a lot of your body is supposed to have a certain type of acidity, says Brant. Yes, there's actually a disease for your pee named after the sweet breakfast condiment. Surgery can fix fistulas. There are some common foods and medications that can change the odor of urine. "Sweet-smelling urine typically indicates the presence of sugar or glucose," Dr. Ellerkmann says. Foods That Aren't as Healthy as You Think. All rights reserved. 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. If foods are responsible, the smell should go away after a few hours. "Oh thank God I am not the only one with a stinky vajayjay. This odor has become so well known that post It's one of the universally acknowledged food truths, like how coffee makes you poop and beans make you fart. Leslie, S.W., Sajjad, H., Nazzal, L. Renal Calculi (Cystinuria, Cystine Stones). StatPearls Publishing, 2020. It doesnt mean youre unhealthy. This chemical on its own smells like rotten eggs, rotting fish, or garbage. Gail L. Nunlee-Bland, MD, chief of endocrinology and director, Diabetes Treatment Center, Howard University. Too much of this compound can give body fluids, like urine, a rotten odor. That bagged urine really smells because once its out of you, the bacteria flourish, says Dr. Comiter. When in ketosis, your body converts the fatty acids into chemicals called ketones. UPDATE: For everyone saying asparagus, I just checked my food diary and I last ate asparagus on October 13th. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. Keeping the vulvar and vaginal area dry is another way to keep unwanted odors down. Several key signs and symptoms can help you identify whether youre in ketosis. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine.