Why does your sweat sometimes smell like ammonia?

ammonia sweat
These runners at the starting line my notice an industrial scent by the finish.
David Madison/Photodisc/Getty Images

The human body relies on a balanced intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to function properly. If the scales shift too far off the mark in a particular dietary direction, signs of improper nutrition can crop up -- and sweat that smells like ammonia is one of those. Luckily, if exercise leaves you smelling somewhere between industrial strength cleaner and fresh cat urine, there's a pretty easy fix.

Carbohydrates are the powerhouses of energy production in the body, and fats work as their supercharged backups. Proteins are also incredibly important for proper bodily function -- including kicking in some extra juice if needed -- but it's best if they're mainly left to cover their other responsibilities. Some examples of proteins' many roles include forming structural components like collagen and connective tissue, inducing muscle movement, regulating bodily mechanisms and transporting substances about the body. It's enough to keep any amino acid busy.

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A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is generally what leads to sweat stinking of ammonia. Basically, it works like this. When someone with this sort of diet begins to exercise, his or her body is quickly forced to turn to proteins for the necessary energy. To do this, amino acids are broken down into various components, parts of which are converted into glucose. Other elements that come out of the process are waste products, and if the body can't handle everything being sent its way, the leftovers are excreted out through the skin. Ammonia is one form that ready-to-go waste can take.

Typically, ammonia (very bad in large amounts) would be converted into urea (less bad in large amounts) and safely expelled through urine. Too much ammonia, and the body falls back on its old detoxifying fail-safe: sweat. And stinky sweat at that. Otherwise, an overload of ammonia can impair neurological functions and cause muscle fatigue.

If cutting the protein and upping the carbs doesn't completely do the trick, try drinking more water. Water will dilute the ammonia, as well as make it easier to excrete. Keep in mind too -- if an ammonia aroma is emanating from the mouth, is unrelated to sweating and exercise or is accompanied by other severe symptoms, it could be a sign of something serious like severe liver disease or impending kidney failure. A doctor should be consulted ASAP.

If you're looking to run a marathon or engage in some other exhaustive athletic activity, it might be difficult to avoid smelling like ammonia when you cross the finish line, since prolonged and draining exercise make the body particularly susceptible. But hey, you just ran a marathon, right? Don't worry if you smell a little funky afterward -- it'll pass.

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Ammonia Sweat FAQ

Why does my sweat smell like ammonia?
A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is generally what causes sweat to smell of ammonia.
How do I get rid of sweat that smells like ammonia?
Cut your protein intake a bit and up your carbs. If that doesn't completely solve the issue, try drinking more water, which will dilute the ammonia.
Why do I smell ammonia?
It depends on where the smell is coming from. If it's coming from your sweat, your body simply has a build of ammonia that it's trying to expel. However, if the smell of ammonia is coming from the mouth, is unrelated to sweating, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it could be a sign of something serious like severe liver disease or impending kidney failure. If that's the case, seek medical help right away.
Can the keto diet make me smell like ammonia?
The diet can make your sweat and breath smell, but few people describe the smell as ammonia-like. When the body is in ketosis, it produces chemicals called ketones that exit the body via your breath and sweat. One of these ketones is acetone, which is often perceived as sweet or fruity, but can also carry a vinegar-like smell. In general though, there's limited data about the way this diet affects BO.
Why does my sweat smell like ammonia when I sleep?
It's difficult to say exactly why this happens in a specific case, so if it persists you may want to discuss it with your doctor. However, fluctuations in hormone levels due to puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can all cause odor changes that come through in sweat. These are conditions that are often accompanied by night sweats, which is why you may wake up smelling.

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

  • "Ammonia." WebMD. Jan. 2, 2009. (9/15/2009) http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/ammonia
  • "Breath with ammonia odor [Uremic fetor]." WrongDiagnosis.com. (9/15/2009) http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/symptoms/bad_breath/book-causes-8d.htm
  • "Healthy diet: End the guesswork with these nutrition guidelines." Mayo Clinic. (9/15/2009) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/NU00200
  • Hinton, Pat. "Sweat smells like ammonia." CyclingNews.com. (9/15/2009) http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2005/letters09-05#Sweat
  • Likness, Jeremy. "What is that ammonia smell?" BodyBuilding.com. (9/14/2009) http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ammonia.htm
  • Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. "Interpreting signs and symptoms." 2008. (9/15/2009) http://books.google.com/books?id=PcARTQwHLpIC&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=uremic+ammonia+smell&source=bl&ots=M848AmG0Zs&sig=CBjcrVNFxw_J86rWRS6wu2KFXV4&hl=en&ei=M7WvSve7EI38tgfNuYGSCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=uremic%20ammonia%20smell&f=false
  • "Macronutrients: the Importance of Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat." McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. March 26, 2008. (9/15/2009) http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/Handouts/macronutrients.htm
  • Maharam, Lewis. "Why does my sweat smell like ammonia?" Runner's World. May 21, 2008. (9/14/2009) http://runningdoctor.runnersworld.com/2008/05/why-does-my-swe.html
  • Newman, Jane. "Q+A: Why this strong smell of ammonia?" Runner's World General. (9/15/2009) http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=2029
  • "New target for removing unwanted ammonia from the body." The Medical News. April 2, 2007. (9/15/2009) http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/04/02/22823.aspx
  • "The Meaning of Sweat." Columbia University. May 3, 2002. (9/14/2009) http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2139.html
  • Tortora, Gerard and Grabowski, Sandra. "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology." John Wiley and Sons. 2000. (9/15/2009)

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