Why does asparagus make your pee smell funny?

[Kobushi]

A quick google search will reveal that there are a few differing opinions on why the yummy vegetable known as asparagus makes urine smell odd. A few chemical names are thrown out there, but nobody really knows for sure. In fact some think the chemical may be a narcotic (one more reason to eat your veggies). There are even arguments over who can and cannot smell the somewhat "burnt-rubberband-mixed-with-electrical-fire" aroma of asparagus pee. But the question that goes as far back as Ben Franklin remains: why does asparagus make my pee smell funny?

[TheMonarch]

Odd. A pee thread. Hmm. Well I dunno what makes it smell funny. But today I was while taking my regular BART ride to school (The ultimate SF transportation method... 'The train', for non-bay area people)... And It was 7:27 (peak hours), and I got inside the train and I was like, hmm, there are empty seats; awesome... And I found out why. There was this bum sitting on one of the seats, who apparently had pissed on himself, It smelled so gross. The car was practically empty, a radii of empty seats around him. EWWW!!! So nasty, I smelled like layers, upon layers of urine accumulated on himself. So disgusting. UGH! One of the worst commutes ever! Well, on one of the stops where security 'checks' the train (Security been hightened due to the london attack), the security gaurd stopped and looked around in disgust, and spotted the bum, took him off the train... Sad, but I'm glad it happened, you had to be there to realize how gross that is. The seat still smelled up the whole car, I'm going to feel very sorry for the unlucky person who sits on it not knowing where the smell came from :(


And that was the highlight of my day... Had to share...

[Deepdale]

But the question that goes as far back as Ben Franklin remains: why does asparagus make my pee smell funny?

Where is a urologist when you really need one? The question may go back to the days of Franklin, but be glad Uncle Ben is not around. He might have listened thoughtfully, removed his glasses and then leaned in closer to say, "Go fly a kite!"

[JW8725]

sick! I can't believe I just read this. Somethings are better kept a secret.

[CorvusCamenarum]

It's a gene that causes the stinky pee. Fortunately not all people have it, as I happen to love asparagus. If only I could get hollandaise sauce to come out right, but it also goes nicely with a cheese sauce.

[swy32x]

Why am I not surprised to read anything here anymore?