I have to say that I started to get a little concerned with this because of the frequency of the smell. The first source it uses during exercise is carbohydrates that are in the form of glucose in the blood and glycogen found in the muscle and liver. This process creates urea, which can then be expelled through your urine. 6 Things Your Sweat Can Tell You About Your Health. Now, I have noticed the aroma during running workouts or races but never thought that much about it. To balance that out, your body makes more ammonia. The main cause of this acidic odor is Nitrogen. It really wasn’t until last year that I started to notice almost every time I got in the shower after a ride I could smell ammonia. Why Do I Sweat So Much When I Work Out? Jeff, Very good, I have read that and just add that I only smell it after 6 miles usually cause that’s my hour or more, very good info. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. I’ve always had this smell but mostly after a really fast run before breakfast. He felt much better during and after his ride even with doing 6 miles more than last week. If your urine smells like ammonia while on keto, it’s not a bad thing. That is the answer. It seems to happen to more than just cyclist. When your sweat smells like ammonia it's time for you to cut back on protein before a workout. advertisements are served by third party advertising companies. I asked my husband to smell me, and nothing. Once I started being concerned with the odor I asked my wife if she could smell it. When sweaty runners are milling around together after a hard summer workout or race, you I have my bike computer set to alert me every ten minute to remind me to drink. Im just curious...once in a while immediately following a good workout I get the sensation of smelling ammonia??!! The smell is common, for example, amongst marathon runners, who are engaging in continuous cardiovascular exercise for hours at a time. This increase the ammonia levels in your muscles and the ammonia is then picked up … Also, a comment on the T1 diabetes (I have T1) – I don’t think it’s too much to worry about – most people can tell when they are having a low blood sugar. (I ate calamari recently and it brought on a very strong ammonia smell and then eventually even started tasting like it, to the point that I had to stop eating it as it was making me feel very sick). I would notice the smell after sweating a lot. Once you hit the wall or “Bonk” you are usually done! This may not be news to some but for me it is more detailed knowledge about what I enjoy doing… exercising and staying healthy. The most important cause of the acidic smell is Nitrogen. Give the Smell A … For some reason, that smell is most distinctive after a very, long, hot run or a difficult, long race. It’s just in my nose–and overwhelming! However, if sweat from your appocrine glands in areas like your armpits or groin comes into contact with bacteria on your skin, odor can develop as bacteria processes substances released with your sweat according to Mayo Clinic. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Anyways she could not smell it? When too much nitrogen is present in your system, your body depends on the kidneys to process the excess nitrogen. Usually the smell is only present when there is the carb deficit. And once the smell had gone, say 15 minutes later, there was no trace of ammonia smell on my sweaty clothes. diagnosis or treatment. An ammonia odor during exercise is related to the breakdown of amino acids and may indicate a need for more carbohydrates. I work out regularly4-6 times a week, run 2-3 miles a day and perform my normal activities. 3. Learn how your comment data is processed. Acidic Smell After Cardio Exercise | … . People tend to think that these energy sources are turned off and on like a light switch, either all or none and only one switch can be on at a time. The fact that ammonia is produced on every run doesn’t mean the smell is noticeable afterward. More recently, increases in blood ammonia levels have been reported in rats after swimming and in humans after arm work, maximal cycle ergometry, and treadmill exercise. I sweat a lot . Obviously, when you are training, being aware of this can be of use as well. When I get home I jump right into the shower because I am hot and sweaty! To ensure you are not using protein as your primary energy source, eat a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats. What some people are probably concerned about to do with that, is that when you have T1 diabetes you can go into what’s called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), where there’s excess ketones in the body to the point that it begins to alter pH, and this can potentially put someone in a coma, or even be fatal. It should not be Ammonia Smell After Workout Many individuals have felt ammonia odor during exercise that can be just like a strange odor during sweat evaporation. Aubrey Bailey is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with an additional degree in psychology and board certification in hand therapy. There is so much to say about this subject that I can’t go into it all. You don’t have anything to worry about if you don’t have liver damage. Ammonia Smell Smelling ammonia usually happens towards the end of a long or challenging workout and is a strong indicator that you have been burning protein as fuel. Ammonia is toxic, so the body reverts to the more primitive removal system through sweat. Ammonia is an NH3 chemical structure made out of Nitrogen and three bronchial molecules. This energy source is found in the muscles. I have noticed the ammonia smell often after sweating profusely. Copyright Policy Sweating works through evaporative cooling. I get that smell after doing a 5 mile run – I didn’t think I was doing it anaerobically though, although I do tend to try and push it a bit towards the end. used as a substitute for professional medical advice, I am not a doctor and have no medical background, nor am I a scientist or dietitian. Ew! If you are getting dehydrated the concentrations of either of these processes I have talked about can be perceived sooner and stronger. This phantom smell was driving me crazy!, so I did a little investigation. i worked our real hard for 75 minutes and i started the smell of ammonia and first i though it was the treadmill. These beverages are uniquely detailed to enable your body to utilize the best possible fills. Sweat also creates odor based off of a wide range of variables from what you eat to the presence of bacteria on your skin. Our bodies are amazing and one of the amazing things is the ability to regulate itself. Small changes in your diet can help. Though hardcore keto bros may argue this is a sign of ketosis, meaning your body is burning fat and protein instead of carbs, most medical professionals advise people who smell like ammonia after working out to hydrate and eat a few carbs (even if you’re on a low-carb diet). Chris Sherwood is a professional journalist who after years in the health administration field and writing health and wellness articles turned towards organic sustainable gardening and food education. The most common smells of sweat that people experience will include salty sweat smell, vinegar smelling sweat, fruity sweat, bleach sweat, and even ammonia … As I’m putting my thoughts together it seems clear to me that when I notice the smell the most is when I ride routes by my house. Also, I think the smell is associated with ketones – a byproduct of fat metabolism. No kidding, I smelled this most Saturdays for the course of a decade and I assumed my wife was cleaning the shower while I was on my long run. Great article. Typically, ammonia (very bad in large amounts) would be converted into urea (less bad in large amounts) and safely expelled through urine. Try to keep your blood sugar level raised during exercise by eating something, like a banana, powerbars (also known as high energy bar) or directly dextrose. Your sweat will smell sweeter. As the sweat evaporates off the body, heat escapes as well, and is moved away from the body by the air current, resulting in a marked cooling of your internal temperature. Protein Power copyright 1996, Michael R. Eades, M.D. Why do I smell ammonia after working out? (That’s another subject for another time) Or if you are on a starvation diet and losing a lot of weight in a short period of time your body is producing more ketone than normal and you may smell[iv] “the smell… “. I didn’t get too far into why but it has something to do with low liver glycogen stores and blood sugar levels. The smell that an individual’s sweat takes on after it is released from the body will contain clues as to the health of a person, particularly. The test was a total of 30 minute with a 30 minute warm up. I started riding a Peloton and I would smell ammonia after 45 min rides, and especially in the shower. [iii] Acetone has the chemical make-up of a solvent (CH3)2CO, so as you breath this out you may have a “cleaner” smell as well. Copyright © Another possible cause of this smell is a high concentration of acetones in the system. Some other things that may be contributors to the “smell” are dehydration. The ammonia smell is typically a signal that your body is breaking down amino acids (ie. It fits. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web site-many of the Ammonia is one form that ready-to-go waste can take. The smell of ammonia during hard work is typically associated with the breakdown of muscle during workouts that are extremely difficult and insufficiently fuelled.