We had asparagus last night. This morning my pee smelled. Coincidence…no, not exactly. Appearently asparagus contains a sulfur containing compound called mercaptan which is broken down by an enzyme which creates a stinky compound, methanethiol. Which ironically may be a narcotic at high concentrations (don’t worry I didn’t go drinking my pee).
Appearently some people don’t have the enzyme to make the stinky compound and others don’t have the receptor to smell the compound. Lucky me, I got both. How about you?
Note: if you can’t smell it, you’re going to have to find a smelly friend’s pee (you might want to refer to them as a friend who’s pee smells) to figure out if you’re missing the enzyme or the receptor. You could ask them to smell your pee, but I suggest asking for one of their samples so as to not make it awkward 😀
October 18, 2006 at 11:44 am
LOL! thanks for letting me know how NOT to make it awkward!!!!!
October 25, 2006 at 7:45 am
LOL. I too, have stinky asparagus pee (when I eat asparagus, that is.) Can’t believe some are lucky enough not to be able to smell it. Man. I want those genes next time around.
January 19, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I myself enjoy the experience, it doesn’t even take until the next morning – I produce that beautiful scent within minutes of eating a single spear of asparagus.
I’ve started to notice that broccoli has a similar, but different scent.
I always wanted to be a rock star in a band I would call “Asparagus Pee,” but that never worked out, so now it’s just the name of my blog.
May 11, 2007 at 5:35 am
Thanks for answering one of the fundamental questions in the universe (for my kids, anyway).
October 13, 2007 at 10:08 pm
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