ASPARAGUS and smelly pee...
I stole this info from...Shilpa P. Saxena, M.D. is a Family Practice Physician specializing in Functional Medicine in the Tampa, Florida area. Visit her at www.MyLivingWellness.com
Around our home, it's just not Spring until that tender, sweet vegetable that is asparagus pokes up through the newly warming earth. For some, those delicate tips usher in a season of fresh dining and outdoor grilling, but for others the thought of the dreaded 'asparagus-induced urine odor' forces them to pass on our Spring delight. Why does asparagus cause smelly urine? It's a very common question that has sparked many a wives' tale....so, if you've ever wondered, here's the real story about asparagus and smelly urine.
Asparagus contains a unique acid, appropriately named 'asparagusic acid', found only in this delicious vegetable. When asparagus gets processed for elimination, the asparagusic acid is broken down into 6 different sulfur-containing compounds with varying intensities and types of smells ranging from sweet to pungent. The way these compounds are used by the body dictates the predominant odor that we may experience. This is why some people experience a pungent, ammonia type odor while a small, yet lucky few, enjoy a more perfumed fragrance. It also seems that the younger the asparagus, the more asparagusic acid, and therefore, the more intense the odor.
Recent research has proven that asparagus urine odor is universal among us humans, however, our ability to smell the odor is determined by our genes! Believe it or not, one such study has concluded that only 22% of the population has the gene necessary to smell any of the compounds present in urine. So, if you're one of the lucky 22%, you've identified a very unique talent, albeit it one you may wish to leave off your resume. Either way, asparagus is a great source of iron, folic acid, thiamine (Vitamin B1) and dietary fiber....so eat up and maybe hold your nose!!
I guess you know that this is our table conversation everytime we serve asparagus, which is often because we love it and seem to get it year round here (albeit sometimes expensive). Believe it or not, I almost thought about going to the doctor once...not connecting the asparagus to the unusual odor. Then one day, as we were eating it, one or probably both of the boys mentioned this unusual event. Imagine my relief that all I had to do was stop eating it...but, decided for a few hours and the joy of that green was worth it. I will have to share this with all here.
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