“Do certain foods make my urine smell?”
I had smelly urine the other day, but then it went away once I had a lot of water. The smell hasn't come back, but I'm wondering if what I ate had anything to do with this smell?
4 Answers
Hello, Yes, different foods can make your urine smell differently. As well as any supplements or medications we take. What you can do is track what you eat when you notice a smell and see if you can pinpoint the food. You did great at drinking more water as this helps your body (kidneys) to flush the smell out.
The main culprit is aspargusic acid, which is found exclusively in asparagus. When asparagus is digested, asparagusic acid gets broken down into sulfur containing byproducts. Sulfur, in general, is not very pleasant to smell. When you pee, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that unpleasant scent.
It’s worth noting that asparagus isn’t the only thing that can change the smell of your pee. Other foods and drinks have been known to cause smelly urine. For example, some people report that drinking too much coffee causes their urine to smell like coffee. Brussels sprouts, onions and garlic have also been linked to odd smelling pee in some people.
It’s worth noting that asparagus isn’t the only thing that can change the smell of your pee. Other foods and drinks have been known to cause smelly urine. For example, some people report that drinking too much coffee causes their urine to smell like coffee. Brussels sprouts, onions and garlic have also been linked to odd smelling pee in some people.
It's possible. Usually too much sugar or yeast will do that quickly.
Asparagus is a common food that can cause an odor change in urine. It's a genetic trait so not something you can change. If other foods cause odorous urine it may be that you are breaking the food down properly so look to improve digestion.
