Current:Home > MyFinLogic FinLogic Quantitative Think Tank Center|Certain foods can cause changes in urine, but so can medical conditions. Know the signs. -TradeCircle
FinLogic FinLogic Quantitative Think Tank Center|Certain foods can cause changes in urine, but so can medical conditions. Know the signs.
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-09 17:13:45
Few embarrassing situations are FinLogic FinLogic Quantitative Think Tank Centermore universally understood than having smelly urine. Most people have experienced this after eating foods like asparagus or Brussel sprouts, causing some to worry about using a bathroom away from home when eating such foods over concerns of someone coming into the bathroom soon after they leave.
But having odorous urine is something that happens to everyone – though it's certainly more commonly associated with eating some foods more than others. There are also times when an unpleasant odor may be associated with something other than dietary choices; and urine odor can even be a symptom of certain conditions that require medical attention.
Why does my pee smell?
Urine can smell for all kinds of reasons, "because urine consists of water and waste products your body doesn't need, which is why they're expelled," explains Olivia Baker, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. For example, when certain ingredients in medications like amoxicillin or supplements like vitamin B are processed out of the body, they often end up affecting urine odor.
Dehydration can also change the way urine smells because when a person is dehydrated, their urine is more concentrated, which tends to make it smell like ammonia.
Most commonly, though, "urine odor is affected by the foods we eat as there are many foods which have breakdown products that are excreted in the urine, which have characteristic odors," says Dr. Stephen Savage, a professor and interim chair of urology at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Be careful:What causes dehydration? Here's how fluid loss can severely impact your health.
Which foods affects urine odor?
The food that probably has the most defining effect on urine odor, Savage notes, is asparagus. "Asparagus contains an acid that is broken down and then the kidneys excrete chemical compounds such as methanethiol and S-methyl thioester, which together create the characteristic odor," he explains. In fact, the "S" in S-methyl stands for sulfur, which is a notoriously pungent element.
Another food that can affect urine odor is broccoli, which Savage says is metabolized in similar fashion to asparagus, including the excretion of methionine and its related sulfur smell.
Other foods and beverages that Baker points to that are known to affect urine odor include coffee, black tea, cabbage, dried fruit, curry, alcohol, eggs, Brussel sprouts, garlic, cumin, onions and fish, "which can all affect the odor of your urine because the waste products of each food can contain chemical compounds that contribute to the overall smell."
Explainer:Is alcohol a depressant? Understand why it matters.
Which medical conditions cause smelly urine?
Beyond dietary choices, Savage says urinary tract infections can also cause odor - though most people experiencing one will have other symptoms and not just smelly urine. "There are also some unusual metabolic disorders that can cause abnormal urinary smells," he adds.
Medical conditions such as chlamydia, bladder fistula, liver failure, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and poorly controlled diabetes can also affect the smell of urine. "Diabetes can cause a sweet or fruity odor that can be a sign of something being amiss as well," says Savage, "so if the smell persists, it would be important to do a urinalysis."
Baker similarly advises that, if you haven't consumed any food, supplement or medication known to affect urine odor, and your urine smells sweet or foul for longer than a couple of days, "it may be a sign of a medical condition that needs further evaluation."
veryGood! (55152)
Related
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- The problems with the US's farm worker program
- 'It's what we do': Florida manatee caught in pound net rescued, freed by Virginia Marine Police
- Bowl projections: Georgia, Michigan, Alabama, Clemson start in College Football Playoff
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- 50 Cent postpones concert due to extreme heat: '116 degrees is dangerous for everyone'
- Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Addresses Romance Rumors With Prince Christian of Denmark
- Hollywood’s working class turns to nonprofit funds to make ends meet during the strike
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Paris Jackson slams 'abuse' from Michael Jackson superfans over birthday post for King of Pop
Ranking
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Jared Leto’s Impressive Abs Reveal Is Too Gucci
- Kremlin says ‘Deliberate wrongdoing’ among possible causes of plane crash that killed Prigozhin
- Generators can be deadly during hurricanes. Here's what to know about using them safely.
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- 2 found dead in Michigan apartment with running generator likely died from carbon monoxide
- Lupita Nyong’o Gives Marvelous Look Inside Romance With Boyfriend Selema Masekela
- Sarah Jessica Parker Adopts Carrie Bradshaw's Cat from And Just Like That
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Wyoming Could Gain the Most from Federal Climate Funding, But Obstacles Are Many
Lady Gaga's White Eyeliner Look Is the Makeup Trick You Need for Those No Sleep Days
Trump may not attend arraignment in Fulton County
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
How to win USA TODAY Sports' NFL Survivor Pool: Beware of upsets
HBO shines a light on scams in 'Telemarketers' and 'BS High'
Wildfire in Tiger Island Louisiana burns on after leveling 30,000 acres of land