Asparagus isn’t the only thing that can change the smell of your pee. Have you ever sat down on the toilet to relieve yourself and thought, Yuck, w hat’s that smell? Maybe you assumed the stench was the faint yet unpleasant odor that lingers in office bathrooms It was actually your own urine. Yep, urine can be smelly—for a number of reasons. Many of them are harmless, but in some cases, smelly urine can be a sign that something more serious is going on. We asked a doctor to explain what causes smelly urine and what you can do about it. Hint: The five cups of coffee you had this morning aren’t doing your pee any favors.
But how should it smell? Unless, that is, you notice something suspect wafting up from the bowl. Here, the top reasons your pee might reek, and medical advice from doctors about whether or not you need to make an appointment. Notice that your urine smells like ammonia? Just as not taking in enough H20 can leave your pee extra yellow, it can also make it extra smelly, too. When your body breaks down the protein you eat, a colorless compound called urea is formed, which is excreted through your urine, says urologist Mehran Movassaghi, M. Related: Are You Overhydrated? A simple fix? Drink more water.
Everybody knows that onions and garlic cause bad breath — but did you know that some foods can make you stink all over? Body odor and diet are inextricably linked. Cruciferous Vegetables — Plants in the genus Brassica contain sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs. When you eat foods that are rich in sulfur, the potent odor can permeate your being — and drive people away. This includes most cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, bok choy, collard greens, turnips, and everyone’s favorite green veggie: kale. Just parboil them in water with a little sea salt before you eat them to reduce the smelly effects. Rub some crushed garlic on the bottom of your foot.