Do you eat asparagus? I discovered a delicious new way of preparing it! So delicious but then Im stinky and wanted to know why. It appears that I am in the 25% of the population so Im hoping today that those around me are in the other 75%. Hee-hee. Check this out: By Carolyn ONeil, MS, RD WebMD the Magazine - Feature In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask our experts to answer readers questions about a wide range of topics. In our July-August 2010 issue, we turned to WebMDs Nutrition Expert, Carolyn ONeil, MS, RD, to learn just why asparagus makes our urine and often our body odor smell, well, different. Q: Ive noticed that when I eat asparagus, my urine and my body odor have a funny smell. Is that normal? A: Its totally normal. In fact, the effect of asparagus on urine odor has been observed for centuries. French novelist Marcel Proust famously wrote in 1913 that asparagus transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume. And one British mens club is said to have put up a sign reading, During the asparagus season, members are requested not to relieve themselves in the hat stand. Depending on which study you read, between 22% and 50% of the population report having pungent pee and even body odor after eating asparagus. But that doesnt mean only some peoples bodies generate that smell. Researchers believe that, during digestion, the vegetables sulfurous amino acids break down into smelly chemical components in all people. And because those components are volatile, meaning airborne, the odor wafts upward as the urine leaves the body and can be detected as soon as 15 minutes after you eat this spring delicacy. But only about one-quarter of the population appears to have the special gene that allows them to smell those compounds. So the issue isnt whether or not your pee and/or body odor are smelly; its whether youre able to smell it. If you smell a funny fragrance in your urine after you eat asparagus, youre not only normal, you have a good nose. Go ahead and eat the asparagus. It is a very high fiber, low calorie, vitamin packed and delicious vegetable.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:56:10 +0000
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