2006-06-14 11:09:32 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
About half of the population will notice this odor after eating asparagus because of the sulfur-containing amino acids which break down after ingestion (see details below).
The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board at www.asparagus.org considers asparagus to be one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables, supplying significant nutrients and fiber for a healthy diet. For asparagus nutrition information, see www.asparagus.org
DETAILS: Why eating asparagus causes one's urine to have a strong, unique odor
As archived in the Boston Globe at www.boston.com, below are more details about why asparagus causes urine to have a unique odor:
Asparagus is filled with sulfur-containing amino acids that break down during digestion into six sulfur-containing compounds. These can impart a unique smell to urine as they are excreted. "It's the same sulfur group that makes skunks smell," said Barbara Hodges, a dietician with Boston University's nutrition clinic, the Evans Nutrition Group.
Scientists remain divided on why people have different urinary responses to eating asparagus. One camp thinks only about half of the population have a gene enabling us to break down the sulfurous amino acids in asparagus into their smellier components. Others think that everyone digests asparagus the same way, but only about half of us have a gene that enables us to smell the specific compounds formed in the digestion of asparagus.
"There's something of a dispute," said Dr. David Stollar, chairman of biochemistry at Tufts University Medical School.
The unusual smells are nothing to worry about, though. According to the Dictionary of Medical Syndromes, which includes an entry on the urinary excretion of odoriferous components of asparagus: "The syndrome does not have any pathological significance."
2006-06-14 11:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by catsplayyy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea, but I've noticed the same thing. Oh well, I'm still going to eat asparagus because I love it.
2006-06-14 18:13:30 · answer #2 · answered by sparkie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey urine sniffer, listen to what cattsplayyy had to say!
2006-06-14 18:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by broncosfan1730 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
weird this is so true tho...coffee gives me the same really strong smelling urine....
2006-06-15 00:21:02 · answer #4 · answered by Metal Baby 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you been sniffing urine ewwww
2006-06-14 18:13:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this a professional question?
2006-06-14 21:12:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it likes it that way.
2006-06-14 18:13:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know! same thing with coffee!!
2006-06-21 11:35:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dunno. but you are right! Happens every time. I love it anyway!
2006-06-14 18:12:49 · answer #9 · answered by educated guess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋