# asparagus and the kidneys... (TMI?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898 "2002-03-24T21:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/1 "2002-03-24T21:18:49Z")
OK, I just ate asparagus for the first time last year. It took me a few times to associate the asparagus with somewhat different urination experiences… more frequent and much more smelly. So… what the heck? What is that all about? Anything I should know about? ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/2 "2002-03-24T21:33:28Z")
more frequent? i dunno. but smelly? mos def. oddly enough, i get the same smell from eating super golden crisps. i am almost positive that this has been covered before. i’ll be right back. jb ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/3 "2002-03-24T21:35:42Z")
Cecil has this one covered. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_383.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_383.html) ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/4 "2002-03-24T21:38:39Z")
For the record, asparagus does have a mild diuretic, which is why you tend to want to go more often. Robin, who loves asparagus, with or without hollandaise 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/5 "2002-03-24T21:40:43Z")
damn you bibliophage! i turned my back for a second… jb ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/6 "2002-03-24T21:49:31Z")
There have been [Other Threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=11670&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending) about Cece’s column. Would it surprise you to know that some people eat asparagus and DON"T produce smelly urine? Would it surprise you to know that some people produce smelly urine after eating asparagus but DON"T have the ability to smell it? I hope to write a thread/article about this. Just trying to find the time. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/7 "2002-03-24T22:09:22Z")
I believe that it is only some people who can detect the smell. It’s not that only some people produce the smell. I contend, without much empirical evidence, that if you served everybody in your home asparagus and had them all pee and then had everyone come in after that person peed to take a whiff, my theory would be proved. However, my dinner guests refuse to go along with such a plan. It’s all in the name of science. :o ---
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/8 "2002-03-24T22:09:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*Would it surprise you to know that some people eat asparagus and DON"T produce smelly urine? > > Would it surprise you to know that some people produce smelly urine after eating asparagus but DON"T have the ability to smell it?\*\* I’m just moderately grateful that the responses haven’t been saying that I was just weird. ---
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asparagus-and-the-kidneys-tmi/99898/9 "2002-03-24T22:18:21Z")
I can smell it!;j