It was like a light switched one day I couldnt smell it, next time I ate asparagus the strong smell was there. Is Keto Crotch Real? Doctors Explain The Keto Diet Side Effect The group of peeps who have experienced smelling an off scent down below seems to be pretty large, at least on the Internet. Theyll test your pee for ketones and help you manage your diabetes. Asparagusic acid is only found in asparagus, though Smith says there are plenty of other foods that can change the smell of your urine. 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. I'm so glad to know im not crazy. The keto flu, or carb flu, is used to describe symptoms often experienced by those beginning a keto diet. MedTerms medical dictionary is the medical terminology for MedicineNet.com. 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. However, theyre not as accurate as a blood monitor. They say their vagina has a more pungent smell since they've gone keto. Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. Here are the biggest culprits of why you're stinking up the toilet bowl. "Your urine isn't going to make your vagina smell," confirmed Dr. Streicher. noticed that their vaginas started to emit an intense order after going on the low-carb diet. Many people report decreased hunger while following a keto diet. The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid. "Nobody knows if this is a real effect of the keto diet," Lauren Streicher, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University, told Health. Make sure you get some assistance.. 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!). Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You dont need to say anything about being under medical care. 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. Youll need another kind of medicine for viral infections. 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). Were talking headaches, fatigue, body aches, dizziness, and nausea. The deficiency appears to be random, and up to 50 percent of people can sense the smell. A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs. 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. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. asparagus pee smells In this day and age, urologists run blood tests, not taste tests, to check for diabetes. While theres always waste in your urine, like ammonia, the smell is stronger if youre dehydrated. Scientists believe the odor in question is due to two chemicals: methanethiol and S-methyl thioester. Onions. Thomas Mayo, a physician in the 1670s, described the taste of diabetic urine as wonderfully sweet as if it were imbued with honey or sugar. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, your body tries to get rid of extra blood sugar or glucose in the urine, creating the sweet smell, she says. 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. The quick evaporation of those asparagus metabolites when peeing causes your urine to have a sulfurous odor, like rotten eggs or cooked cabbage. A small 2010 study showed that about 8% of people have none or only small amounts of enzyme to break down asparagusic acid. So why do only some people seem to experience this strong odor after eating asparagus? Asparagus anosmia specifically is caused by a genetic variation that alters olfactory (re: smell) receptors so you're unable to perceive the sulfuric odor, explains Ehsani. As you pee, these aspargusic acid-turned sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that distinctive asparagus pee scent. Yes. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. 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. or you can pee at home because your piss reeks. Foods. More: 4 asparagus side dishes in under 30 minutes. Weight loss. But a lack of fluids does raise your chances of getting kidney stones and urinary tract infections. Why Does My Urine Smell Strong Like Ammonia. A change in vaginal smell could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis or an STD. 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. Why Does the Keto Diet Cause ConstipationAnd How Can You Stop It? The use of acetone breath analyzers has been shown to be fairly accurate, though less accurate than the blood monitor method (10). 2. Vanillin, the primary chemical present in vanilla, is difficult to identify in two or three people out of a hundred. WebWhat does ammonia smell like? That includes sulfonamide antibiotics. The disease can cause other serious symptoms like seizures, sleepiness, irritability, and poor feeding. Your food, vitamins, and medications are the most common cause of a badurine smell. As discussed above, removing carbs can lead to general tiredness at first. Health posed that question to an OB-GYN, who said keto crotch has never been scientifically investigated. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. Fluids help water down, or dilute, your pee. There are also long-term effects of a keto diet. Crystals made of waste products and minerals can build up in your kidneys and form hard stones, which can cause strong-smelling urine. "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 people have a mutation in one of these genes, which alters the receptor's capacity to respond to the chemical that causes pee to smell funny. Genes for Smelling Asparagus Metabolites Determine Urine Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells. Ammonia (NH 3) is a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohns disease or diverticulitis. Here are the vitamins and supplements doctors take every day. According to Dr. Dutta, Elevated ketone levels cause the bad breath. Bad bacteria that snuck its way into your bladder through your urethra often causes these strange odorous smells. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. ", On a separate thread, another user slash keto dieter wondered: "Does anyone else's lady bits smell different too? There are rare conditions that create a rotten smell, too. Denying bathroom use is a violation of basic workplace rights. B vitamins in your multivitamin are often the culprit of smelly urine. They provide the main and most efficient fuel source for all forms of high intensity exercise. And just because you dont smell it doesnt mean youre not making it. These make your pee smell for a few reasons. If your urine smells sweet, you feel unwell, or you have other symptoms along with foul-smelling urine, though, talk to your doctor. Thats because bacteria can build up in your urine and make it stink. However, theyre not considered very reliable. Theyll need to follow a special diet. Thats why its important to drink water when youre thirsty. 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. 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. Urinary tract infections can cause a foul odour that some patients describe as rotten food or sweaty socks. You might experience digestive issues, such as constipation or diarrhea, when you first switch to a keto diet. Hepatic steatosis (aka fatty liver, which is a buildup of fat in the liver), Hypoproteinemia (deficient levels of protein in the blood). 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. You may need to get the stones taken out at a hospital. Pee Smell "Breaking the seal" isn't a thing, but drinking alcohol definitely makes you have to pee more. Staying in the metabolic state of ketosis on a low carb keto diet requires reducing sugar consumption. It also has its own odor profile that creates that familiar beer-pee smell. Any diet can change your vaginal pH, Dr. Shepherd says, which can then change the odor a bit. Many long-term keto dieters claim that they sleep better than before after adapting to the diet (25). Drinking more water can often help. You may start producing smelly urine to the earliest as 15 minutes after eating asparagus, and the effects may last up to 14 hours. This may further increase focus and improve brain function (20, 21). Fun! 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. These foods also produce methyl mercaptan, a gas that has a rotten cabbage odor and is released when peeing and breathing. This smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. 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. Thats why its always a good idea to remind kids to take bathroom breaks. Why Does My Child Have Stinky Pee Terms of Use. WebThis smell is commonly compared to rotten cabbage or rotten eggs and can come from eating asparagus, garlic, and onions. Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell? Cleveland Clinic pee smell There are many fast food options available that are low in carbs. When adding these supplements, make sure to include sodium, potassium, and magnesium. 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.. Like any other body part, your vagina needs to be kept clean. But theres no particular reason the keto diet would cause you to break out only around your crotchat least, none that the scientific community has found a direct link to, says Christine Greves, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. Byproducts build up and cause breath, sweat, and urine to smell like boiled cabbage. Heres everything men need to know about bladder leakage. Unfortunately no, according to Smith. Some people can smell the characteristic odor that asparagus gives to their urine, while others cannot. Anyone eating asparagus has the potential to produce pungent-smelling urine; however, not everyone can smell it. This process, the goal of a keto diet, is called ketosis. Either way, you need to get it looked at. As you progress into a keto diet, youll start to burn fat and ketones as your main fuel sources. Doing so may increase your risk of digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies. If you cant, thats called asparagus anosmia. The short-term side effects of a keto diet are better known. He says that one cannot prevent the breakdown of asparagusic acid if they have the enzymes present in their body.. The Keto Diet: What's The Difference? WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Other foods, including Brussels They work by forcing your body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on glucose from carbs for energy. 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). Many people on keto and similar diets, like the Atkins diet, report that their breath takes on an unusual, fruity smell. 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. Tbh, tons of totally harmless reasons could explain this. This is a detailed beginner's guide to the paleo diet. Surgery can fix fistulas. Trimethylaminuria. WebNo one really pays that much attention during a quick bathroom break. Sometimes, unusual urine Here are the 6 best sweeteners for a keto diet. Also called a UTI, such an infection happens when you have bacteria in any part of your urinary system. But, the good news is that it settles down and goes away after you've been keto for awhile. The study The good news is that these vitamin-induced urine smells are harmless, so you can keep taking your daily vitamin supplements. It just absolutely shifted my whole mood for my job. After several weeks, many keto dieters report that their performance returns to normal. Keto (low-to-no carb, high-fat, protein-heavy diets) are all the rage for weight loss. The enzymatic process breaks down distinct chemicals as your body digests meals. 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). Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? 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. According to Smith, the odor can begin as early as 15 minutes after ingestion and last up to 14 hours. But the exact compound or how many are causing it is still unknown. Some women on Reddit have reported the smell going away after a while, while others said it persisted. Wearing breathable fabrics can also help prevent unwanted moisture and scents from building up. Whats more, test kits can be expensive. When you get into ketosis, a large part of the brain starts burning ketones instead of glucose. Im sorry they handled this so poorly, truly. The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a popular, effective way to lose weight and improve your health. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Employer: "OP please contact your doctor to provide us with a doctor's note so we can properly file this. About one-third of women over the age of 65 can have bacteria in the urine on and off, says Dr. Comiter. Here's what the keto flu is, why it happens. Urine smells like fish The 18th century French botanist Louis Lmery wrote that asparagus causes "a filthy and disagreeable smell in the urine, as everybody knows." It happens when your body cant break down trimethylamine. 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. 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. Discover signs and symptoms of ketosis, like changes to your breath, appetite, or energy levels. So while plenty of people are sure the keto diet is the cause of their odorous vagina, no science yet supports this. You may not have other symptoms. It then disposes of the ketones through both exhalation and urination. Your genes affect whether you can 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). Press J to jump to the feed. It's best to avoid scented antibacterial soaps, which can affect the balance of natural bacteria in your vagina. People often report brain fog, tiredness, and feeling sick when starting a very low carb diet. The smell of rotting fish is hard to ignore, and should especially be a red flag if you notice it in your pee. 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?. In this condition, your body cant break down acompound called trimethylamine. Maple syrup urine disease. If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee. It causes strong or sweet urine. Why Does My Pee Smell? Asparagus, UTIs & More Things It In most cases, a strong urine smell is caused by your food or is a sign that youneed more fluids. Too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) can make your pee smell like fish. It doesnt mean youre unhealthy. It's much stronger than 'musk' for me :/)," one Reddit user posted. If your pee smells funny in a very distinct way, its time to drink up. After several decades of running on a carb-heavy fuel system, your body is forced to adapt to a different system. It means they dont have the right enzyme to break down the amino acid tyrosine. 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. They can be a quick and cheap method to assess your ketone levels each day. 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. 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). 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. To make one thing super-clear first, there's no research confirming that keto crotch is, in fact, a legit side effect of the keto diet. Next, discover the bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. "Alcohol ferments and causes the odor of the urine to be like rotting greens," Dr. Gupta says. /r/keto is place to share thoughts, ideas, benefits, and experiences around eating within a Ketogenic lifestyle. Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria. "Oh thank God I am not the only one with a stinky vajayjay. This will pass once your body becomes adapted to running on fat and 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. Everyone has their own individual scent sense of the environment. These infections are commonly found in hospital or nursing home patients because the bacteria that causes it (and also gives your pee a metallic scent) thrives in those environments. WebAnswer (1 of 16): I did all of that for quite some time and didnt notice a different smell to my pee. Asparagus pee is something that cannot be controlled by anyone. A lot of people report insomnia or waking up at night when they first reduce their carbs drastically. 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. "It's never normal for your vagina to have an odor," said Dr. Streicher. Talk to your doctor if it hurts to pee and you have a fever. If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom. Or your genitals may itch, and it might burn when you pee. 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. However, it was suggested that removing the tips of the head of the asparagus before consuming may reduce the intensity of the asparagus pee. Not everybody, Louis. Lycra or spandex is not very breathable, so it's better to go for cotton instead. I have no idea! 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've been working out or sweating, change out of wet or damp clothing as soon as possible. When followed correctly, this low carb, high fat diet will raise your blood levels of ketones. Come along for the ride! 7 Ways To Keep Your Vagina Healthy As You Age. If you need to go, let it flow. There are some common foods and medications that can change the odor of urine. 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. According to some experts on the keto diet, nutritional ketosis is defined as blood ketones equal to or above 0.5 millimolar (mM) (8). 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. Urine Trouble If You Eat Asparagus | IU Health 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. Despite its unfavorable odor after you eat it, its still recommended to keep enjoying asparagus so you can reap all of its health benefits. Asparagus Pee Ultimately, going on the keto diet is entirely your choice, and you should see how your mind and body feel after you start to help you gauge whether it's a way of eating that works for you. Asparagus consumption provides a distinct odor to urine. 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. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Here are 12 fast foods you can eat on a low carb diet. You could just be super sensitive to scents. . 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. It monitors acetone, one of the three main ketones in your blood during ketosis (3). When your body reaches ketosis on a ketogenic diet, it uses ketones as an alternative energy source. Sometimes 2 days. 10 Signs and Symptoms That You're in Ketosis - Healthline It could, for example, be caused by urinary tract infection. Weird Reasons Your Pee Smells Funny | Reader's Digest Canada The rest are unaware of the smell. 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.. If the stinky scent bothers you, tell your doctor about it. However, long-term keto dieters often report increased focus and energy (14, 15). Dont miss the 13 sexual health tips your urologist wants you to know. 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. But tbh, that's probably not what's going on here, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, a minimally invasive gynecologist in Dallas and founder of Her Viewpoint. You know eating asparagus makes your pee smell weird. (Also, definitely don't douche. When enzymes in the human digestive tract break down the asparagusic acid thats naturally present in the vegetable, these volatile compounds are created. The human nose has about 10 million olfactory receptors that determine how you perceive smells.