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why does my sweat smell like Ammonia?

speed

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is there a certain cause, or is this normal, maybe need more water, more or less of something?
 
From what I understand, it is very common for sweat to smell like ammonia when in ketosis. Have you been following a very low-carb, high fat diet lately? That could be the case. Ketogenic diets are also known to cause some crazy halitosis in some people!:eek:
 
Last edited:
no tren, but i am in ketosis ,so i guess thats it ,but ive never noticed it before or maybe just not as strong, do any of yall now the science behind it, maybe a stupid qauestion, but is it actaully ammonia or just a similiar scent and from where and why?
 
Ammonia is the byproduct of protein being used by your body, not good.
 
vein5 said:
Ammonia is the byproduct of protein being used by your body, not good.
And not necessarily bad either. As most things it depends. If you weren't actively trying to be in ketosis, yes it could be bad, but your body is burning amino acids for energy in the absence of carbohydrates. Urea overload, in your case is probably fine. Shower accordingly and stay hydrated.

Basic idea is your body is cleaving nitrogen from the AA's due to insufficient glucose, your kidneys are overloaded and aren't processing the amount and the nitrogen is excreted in your sweat. End result, you smell like shit. You should probably be able to "taste" and smell this as well as if it's emanating from within.

Now, if after you're done with your ketosis run and you ingest adequate carbs before a workout and you still have this ammonia smell it's time to see a doc.
 
Yes your body is burning protein and the ammonia smell is the by product. In usual circumstances this is not wanted or good. It can be indicative of catabolism, due to the breakdown of proteins in your system. You really do not want your body relying on protein for its' fuel. Fat would be the prefered source. I would look at adding some good fats into your diet and see if you can turn it around.
 
Yes your body is burning protein and the ammonia smell is the by product. In usual circumstances this is not wanted or good. It can be indicative of catabolism, due to the breakdown of proteins in your system. You really do not want your body relying on protein for its' fuel. Fat would be the prefered source. I would look at adding some good fats into your diet and see if you can turn it around.

Good fats might not be the best choice to add in this particular case. Good fats burn slower. Add a little saturated fat like eggs yolks or coconut oil. They provide better engery. I say that assuming you have good fats in your diet already.

Right now I'm experimenting with carbs. But for the last 10-12 years I loved the smell of ammonia in my sweat. To me it always meant 8-9% bodyfat achieved with no cardio at all.
 
ut oh...

i'm NOT in ketosis, and my sweat smells like ammonia... should i be worried?

on the other hand, i noticed this around the same time i switched my PWO protein shake to PRE-workout instead...

..maybe just an overabundance of protein in my body? (hopefully):(
 
oh i forgot to mention i am in the 3rd month cycle of accutane, any relation?
 
Don't stress yourself out over it, increase your water intake and it will help. Increasing glutamine intake should help some too. The main thing is to stay hydrated and getting in enough fluids:)

BMJ
 
this sums it up,


A reader asked me to address the issue of "ammonia smell" when working out. Many of us have experienced this - especially during prolonged cardiovascular exercise. Your sweat has an acrid, ammonia-like smell. Obviously, no one wants to smell like a walking ammonia factory, so understanding how to avoid this smell would be useful. Some people are worried that the smell means that their body is "breaking down protein" - which is a major concern for anyone trying to build muscle!

What Is Ammonia?

The chemical make-up of ammonia is NH3. This means that there is one Nitrogen atom bound to three Hydrogen atoms. Ammonia can be a weak acid or a weak base, depending on what type of chemical it is suspended in. Ammonia has a strong, pungent odor that is easily recognizable in cleaning products, cat urine, and, for some people, sweat!

The key to ammonia in urine and sweat is the nitrogen. The only macronutrient in your body that contains nitrogen is amino acids, the building blocks of protein. In fact, many bodybuilders are always seeking a "positive nitrogen balance" meaning that less nitrogen leaves their body than enters their body. Since nitrogen is in every amino acid, and amino acids are the building blocks of muscle, someone in positive nitrogen balance is more than likely gaining muscle mass.

Your body uses amino acids for energy every day. There is no way to avoid this. Your body constantly goes into catabolic (tissue breakdown) and anabolic (tissue building) phases. When you accumulate mass (lean or fat), your anabolic phases exceed your catabolic phases, but you still experience both phases. When your body uses an amino acid for energy, it must convert the amino acid to a useable form of energy.

It does this by stripping the nitrogen atom off of the molecule. The skeleton molecule that is left behind is then further converted into glucose and used as fuel. In order to get rid of the excess nitrogen, your body typically processes the nitrogen in your kidneys and forms urea, CO(NH2)2 - basically, a carbon dioxide molecule bound to nitrogen and hydrogen. Urea is then excreted in the urine. If your kidneys cannot handle the load of nitrogen, then the nitrogen will be excreted as ammonia in your sweat.

One other factor to consider is water intake. The methods used for getting rid of excess ammonia, such as urine and sweat, all require water as a transport mechanism. If you are not getting adequate fluid, then the solution (ammonia + water) will not be diluted. Therefore, water plays a definite role. If you are not drinking enough fluids to have at least one or two clear urinations every day, you should drink more.

Based on this explanation, it is clear that your sweat will smell like ammonia only if an excessive amount of amino acids are being used for energy, or you are not receiving adequate water. This helps us find a solution to the problem.

Doesn't That Mean My Protein Intake Is Inadequate?

Many people mistakenly believe that ammonia sweat means that their protein intake is not high enough. The body will only utilize protein for energy when it does not have a sufficient supply of fats and carbohydrates. Muscles can use glucose and fat for energy, but your brain requires glucose. Since there is no direct metabolic pathway from fat to glucose, your body will use amino acids instead. If your protein intake is high, there is a chance that the amino acids that supply energy will come from ingested food and not your hard-earned muscle tissue - but why take that chance?

Let's look at an oil lamp. If you fill that lamp with Citronella oil, it will have a distinct odor when you light it. To eliminate that odor, do you add more Citronella? No! That's just fanning the flames. You'd use a different type of oil instead. The same goes for the ammonia smell - this is just the smell of amino acids being "burned" in your body. You don't solve that by adding more amino acids. Instead, you need to supply the fuel that your body prefers - the fuel that can be easily broken down to glucose in order to supply energy to your muscles and your brain - carbohydrates!

The key to avoiding that ammonia smell is to ingest sufficient carbohydrates. If you eat an ample amount of carbohydrate with every meal, then you should have plenty to fuel your exercise activity. Even people who work out on an empty stomach should have some glucose in their bloodstream upon rising - unless they subscribe to the myth that cutting out carbohydrates before bed helps you lose fat. If you find that the ammonia smell persists (even when you consume carbohydrate with every meal), try having a low glycemic carbohydrate before you workout.

A little oatmeal, a small apple, or even a piece of sprouted grain bread can provide the fuel that your body needs. Remember, your body requires fuel to burn fat! So don't think that providing some carbs before cardio is going to eliminate the fat burning process. In fact, most of my clients who consume a light meal before working out report that their energy levels go through the roof, and they have an incredible workout. If adding 80 calories in the form of a slice of sprouted grain bread kicks your energy levels into high gear and helps you burn 100 more calories during exercise (while sparing your muscles from being used as fuel), there is no reason to worry about dropping fat!

Learning Your Body

Your body can only process a certain amount of food at each meal. Therefore, it may not be possible to avoid that ammonia smell during prolonged activities. The smell is common, for example, amongst marathon runners, who are engaging in continuous cardiovascular exercise for hours at a time. In that situation, it is advisable to consume "sports drinks" or other sources of energy during the activity to fuel your body (and especially your brain) and prevent your amino acids from being burned for energy.

The next time you smell ammonia, don't worry. It doesn't mean that your muscle tissue being broken down, and it doesn't mean that you're doomed to stink for the rest of eternity. Consume a nutritious meal immediately after exercising - a balance of lean protein and whole, unprocessed carbohydrates - and then increase your carbohydrate intake throughout the day, or add a small "snack" prior to your next workout. An apple a day can help keep the ammonia smell away!
 
um...

Muscles can use glucose and fat for energy, but your brain requires glucose. Since there is no direct metabolic pathway from fat to glucose, your body will use amino acids instead. If your protein intake is high, there is a chance that the amino acids that supply energy will come from ingested food and not your hard-earned muscle tissue - but why take that chance?


the amino acids that are converted to glucose are no more of a direct conversion to glucose then the glycerol backbone of a triglyceride converting to a glucose molecule via liver. Both are in a indirect process of converting a that substrate into a glucose molecule, neither are direct, both take energy to do so. Also the human CNS can use Ketones as energy if glucose isnt present. BCAA's and glutamine can be utilized for glucose conversion. Add this pre, post-cardio, and throughout day of dieting to diminish the Ammonia smell.
 
the amino acids that are converted to glucose are no more of a direct conversion to glucose then the glycerol backbone of a triglyceride converting to a glucose molecule via liver. Both are in a indirect process of converting a that substrate into a glucose molecule, neither are direct, both take energy to do so. Also the human CNS can use Ketones as energy if glucose isnt present. BCAA's and glutamine can be utilized for glucose conversion. Add this pre, post-cardio, and throughout day of dieting to diminish the Ammonia smell.

Adding aminos will get rid of the smell? I noticed the smell specifically when i ADDED a protein shake pre workout.... :confused:
 
glad someone asked that question, it always happens to me when i am cutting for a show, it gets really noticeable the last 4 weeks.
 
ok...

Adding aminos will get rid of the smell? I noticed the smell specifically when i ADDED a protein shake pre workout.... :confused:



Well so do I, every morning during cardio more often in am before I eat. How many grams of L-Glutamine do you take before cardio? BCAA's not just a protein shake? Take 10-15 grams before you do cardio, and some BCAA's also, drop the protein shake. And then administer throughout the day with meals, pre trainin, post training on top of your protein shakes.
 

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