Asparagus makes your wee smell!
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
May 9, 2012 5:36pm CST
This might be TMI, so if you're squeamish about bodily fluids, please look away lol[em]!! Well, a few times (infrequently), I've noticed that my urine smells of rubber. It's really puzzled me as I've haven't eaten anything containing rubber, and haven't had any rubber *cough* 'down there'!
It's happened maybe three or four times in the last few years, but it always shocks me and confuses me as the smell is so strong. In the past I've assumed it was some kind of infection and googled all sorts of things, coming up with nothing.
But it happened just now, and I got lucky googling. I happened to see a poster on a website who said that this happens to him whenever he eats asparagus. Some further searching came up with a whole load of pages about people peeing out rubber-scented urine after eating asparagus. And asparagus is what I had for my supper this evening!
Never has a google search been so successful for me!!! I rarely eat asparagus, and I'm betting that the few times I have, corresponded with the rubber smell. I never thought of making this connection before...
Well, I have learnt something. Maybe you have too. Does this happen to you? If you've had a strange rubber smell going on, maybe I just solved a mystery for you too?!!
1 person likes this
4 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
10 May 12
Apparently, although the sulphurous compounds which produce the smell are produced by almost everyone who eats asparagus, only those with a particular genetic makeup are able to smell it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus#Effects_on_urine
Most people who can smell it - apparently about 22%, though it may vary by race - find the smell unpleasant (the 'rubber' smell you describe is because the various compounds produced contain sulphur which is also used in the production of rubber). Marcel Proust, however, said that it "transformed his chamber pot into a flask of perfume" (but he may have been speaking ironically)!
2 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
10 May 12
Thanks, yes I read this too, as part of my fascinating asparagus/urine investigation, lol!
It made me feel special. :) (Well, kind of!)
It isn't exactly unpleasant I guess, as the smell of rubber doesn't generally offend me. That's interesting about how the same compounds are used to produce rubber, I hadn't read that bit. And Proust, wow! I wonder if he was referring to the rubbery smell, or a different one. Because apparently for some people the smell produced by asparagus is not rubbery, I think people can get other kinds of smells too. I wonder if that's because the actual smell is different or because different people are able to smell it differently... Fascinating stuff!!
It made me feel special. :) (Well, kind of!)
It isn't exactly unpleasant I guess, as the smell of rubber doesn't generally offend me. That's interesting about how the same compounds are used to produce rubber, I hadn't read that bit. And Proust, wow! I wonder if he was referring to the rubbery smell, or a different one. Because apparently for some people the smell produced by asparagus is not rubbery, I think people can get other kinds of smells too. I wonder if that's because the actual smell is different or because different people are able to smell it differently... Fascinating stuff!!
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
10 May 12
Yes, Asparagus makes for some stinky waste. If you happen to have flatulence after eating the Asparagus, you won't be able to stay in the same room with it.
There are a few other foods that cause a terrific smell when they leave the body.
Also, it can be an indication you are not drinking enough water. When properly hydrated, the smell will not be so very strong. It will still smell, but not so much if you have plenty of water or some other beverage that will hydrate your body.
There are a few other foods that cause a terrific smell when they leave the body.
Also, it can be an indication you are not drinking enough water. When properly hydrated, the smell will not be so very strong. It will still smell, but not so much if you have plenty of water or some other beverage that will hydrate your body.1 person likes this
@liquorice (3887)
•
10 May 12
Thanks rosegardens, that's interesting stuff!
And it's true that I'm often not drinking enough water. It's something I'm trying to get better at. Sounds crazy, but I just forget to drink half the time. (Or else I'm drinking tea or coffee, which probably makes hydration a whole lot worse.. 
)
)
@much2say (55901)
• Los Angeles, California
10 May 12
Did it smell like ammonia? I'm not going through WHY I would know this, but I once found out that your pee can smell like ammonia because of high nitrates in whatever you ate. That can include asparagus or eggs. I think I read that it could mean a sign of kidney problems too. And guess what (because my sister just went through this) - let me mention this. If you eat beets, you might think you have blood in your stools - seriously!! She did go to the doctors to make sure - but most likely it WAS the beets.
1 person likes this
@liquorice (3887)
•
10 May 12
Thanks much2say. I'm not sure what ammonia smells like, to me the smell was just like rubber. Interesting that it's the nitrates that make the strange smells. It's always good to know when things could be signs of something more serious, so I will keep an eye on this and make sure it doesn't happen when I haven't been eating asparagus! I'm glad that your sister's ok and it was just the beets. :) It's amazing and surprising what different foods can do...
@liquorice (3887)
•
10 May 12
Well, thanks, I'm glad that you learnt something - especially something so important!! 
It was a successful bit of research, I was very pleased. And if strange things happen to you after eating asparagus, then hopefully you might recall this discussion!
It was a successful bit of research, I was very pleased. And if strange things happen to you after eating asparagus, then hopefully you might recall this discussion!