Why Asparagus Makes Your Urine Smell
With elegant dishes like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, asparagus gratin, and many others becoming more and more prominent in the food scene, asparagus is one of the most sought-after vegetables. But although it tastes delicious, many people will notice that just a few hours after eating asparagus, their urine takes on a powerful, distinct and foul odor. But why does this happen, and why only with asparagus?
What causes the smell?
Asparagus contains a chemical called asparagusic acid, found only in—you guessed it—asparagus. When your body digests asparagusic acid, it breaks this chemical down into several sulfur-containing compounds. However, other foods—like hard boiled eggs and garlic—also contain similar sulfur compounds, so scientists aren’t 100% sure what causes asparagusic acid specifically to produce such a pungent odor.
How quickly does the smell appear?
Some people can detect the distinctive smell in as short as 30 minutes.
How much asparagus do I need to eat to smell it?
A person only needs to eat a few (in some cases, as few as five) spears of asparagus for the odor to arise.
How long does the smell last?
The offending odor will generally disappear within 12 hours.
Does the smell happen to everyone?
Some people don’t smell anything different after eating asparagus. In fact, up to 40% of the population doesn’t experience this odor at all!
This isn't because their bodies don’t produce the odor, though. Studies have found that while their bodies still produces the chemicals in the same way, there are certain genetic differences that make them unable to smell the odor.
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