Have you ever got this strange feeling that something isn’t quite right in your body? Maybe you notice that your urine smells smoky, and you don’t seem to be eating enough. Perhaps you’re having weird cravings and find yourself constantly thinking about food, even though you’ve been working out regularly.
So, why does urine smells smoky?
Urine has a very distinctive odor. This odor comes from different sources, including bacteria, medications, infections, and even food. However, if you notice a strong chemical scent in your urine, it could mean something serious.
We all experience these symptoms at times. But if you want to figure out what’s wrong, continue reading this article to know the reasons.
Table of Content
Urine Smells Smoky – Causes and Symptoms
Your diet can be the first reason behind this problem. So, check your diet first. Also, a lack of water or other fluids can cause your urine to smell bad.
Again, if you have any health issues related to the heart and kidney, you may also notice an abnormal odor in your urine.
Take a look at the culprits behind your smoky smelling urine:
Dehydration
When you drink less than your recommended amount of water each day, your kidneys won’t work properly. The waste products produced by your liver will then accumulate in your blood. They will eventually end up in your urine.
Kidney Problems
Kidneys filter toxins from the blood before they pass into your bladder. When this process fails, the toxins remain in your bloodstream and eventually turn into a concentrated form in your urine.
So, the urine may smell smoky. Other kidney problems like kidney stones and kidney damage may also result in this sort of smell.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where sugar levels become too high in your bloodstream. To deal with this problem, your pancreas produces insulin. Insulin assists in moving sugar out of the blood and into your cells. Hence, they can use energy.
Medication Side Effects
Some medication side effects can make your urine smell like smoke. For example, antihistamines, antidepressants, and some painkillers can affect how you smell.
Cancer
Cancerous tumors produce lots of chemicals that stick around in your urine for days or weeks after you stop taking the medicine. You might also notice a stronger smell in your urine when you eat foods containing nitrates
Infection
An infection can lead to a bad smell in your urine. For example, urinary tract infections can cause a burning sensation during urination and smell smoky. Similarly, skin infections can result in a stinky smell in your urine.
UTI can also cause foul-smelling urine. If you are suspecting a UTI, consult a doctor immediately.
You might also notice a strange smell when you urinate. It could be due to certain foods, such as onions, garlic, coffee, alcohol, or nicotine.
Other conditions
- Bladder stones
- Chronic diarrhea
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart disease
How Can You Tell If Your Urine Smells Bad?
You can look for some criteria of the urine to determine whether your urine is smelly. These are just simple and general tips, so they won’t help you diagnose a particular condition.
Take a look at them:
Color
If you notice that urine color is dark yellow or brownish-orange, this could mean too much iron in your system.
However, if your urine is a clear or pale yellow, then this could indicate that you don’t have enough iron in your body. In addition, if your urine is light yellow, it could mean that you have a high level of bilirubin.
Consistency
Your urine should never be thick or extremely thin. If your urine is thinner than usual, this could signify dehydration.
However, if your urine seems thicker than normal, this could be because you have increased protein in your blood.
Smell
As mentioned earlier, if your urine smells like chemicals, this could mean a problem with your kidneys.
However, if you notice a sweet smell in your urine, then this could mean there could well be an overgrowth of yeast in the digestive system.
If your urine smells like spoiled milk or rotten eggs, this could indicate a bacterial infection.
Other Signs
Other symptoms can include painful urination, frequent urge to urinate, and difficulty passing urine.
Consider visiting a doctor if any of the symptoms are visible.
Treatment of Smoky Smell Urine
Smoky smell urine isn’t just unpleasant. It can also lead to embarrassing situations. Following treatment options can help you with treating smoky smell urine.
So, take a quick look at them:
Foods that Help in Treating Smoky Smell Urine
There are certain foods that may help with your smoky urine. Here’s a list of them:
Foods Rich in Fibre
Fiber increases stool bulkiness and helps control bowel movements.
Eat fruits and vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and berries.
Cooked Egg Whites
Cook an egg white until it becomes frothy. Strain the liquid and add it to two cups of warm water.
Mix well and drink this mixture three times a day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar works great as a treatment for a smoky smell. Take 2 liters of warm water and mix four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into it. Drinking this might help in improving the smell.
Drink this solution twice a day.
Garlic
Garlic works as a natural remedy for smoky smell urine too. Crush a clove of garlic and boil it in 1 cup of water.
When the garlic is cooked, strain the water and drink it.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another great home remedy for smoky smell urination. Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice into 3/4 cup of warm water.
This mixture will help flush out toxins from your urinary tract.
Honey
Honey is considered to be a natural antibacterial agent. It’s effective against many kinds of bacteria including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
So, if you’re looking for a natural way to treat a smoky smell, you can try using honey.
Just place a teaspoonful of honey on a cotton ball and apply it directly onto your groin area.
Leave it on overnight before washing it off in the morning.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a popular food that is often recommended to those suffering from infections in the digestive system. So, it can also be useful for removing the smoky smells.
Use Herbal Remedies
Herbal teas have been used for centuries to help people who suffer from smelly urine.
You can find some of these herbs at local pharmacies.
They include chamomile tea, which contains anti-inflammatory properties. It also reduces stress levels. Chamomile tea has the ability to relieve a smoky smell from urine and constipation.
You can also use peppermint oil to ease stomachaches.
Others
Other than the foods mentioned above, some other remedies may also help you. A quick glance at them might rescue you from this problem:
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking lots of fluids helps flush out toxins from your body.
By drinking about eight glasses of fluid every day, you can prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated.
Take a Daily Probiotic
Probiotics improve your immune system by helping your body fight off infections.
You might consider taking a probiotic supplement once a day. But definitely consult a doctor before using them.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain health problems. It slowly starts causing damage to your body. Therefore, drink no more than one glass of wine per day.
Use Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is believed to be very beneficial for treating various health conditions. This gel is made up of 90% water and 10% aloe vera extract.
It is commonly used to heal wounds.
Therefore, you can use it to treat smoky smell urine by placing a piece of aloe vera gel over your genitals.
Leave it on overnight before washing it off in the morning. Repeat this process every other day.
There are remedies that can help you remove smoky smell urine.
Tips to Avoid Smoky Urine
Here are some extra tips that will help you to stay away from smoky smelling urine:
- Eat fruit instead of drinking sugary drinks. The fruit has natural sugars and nutrients that keep your metabolism active.
- Cut down on smoking. Smoking causes toxins to build up in your lungs, which leads to coughing and phlegm.
- Reduce your intake of salty food. Salted meats, pickles, and processed cheese can all cause your urine to smell like smoke.
- Don’t take long trips if you’re planning to go away on holiday. Traveling to warm climates increases your chances of getting sick.
FAQs
Why does my pee have a weird smell?
Answer: Some people say that their pee smells bad because they haven’t had a bowel movement in a while. It means that they’ve been accumulating toxins inside their bodies.
It also means that their bowels aren’t working properly. As a result, these toxins are being released into the bloodstream. It causes the body to release them through other bodily processes, including
Why does my urine smell like fried chicken?
Answer: According to one person, his urine smelled like a fried chicken after eating some spicy food. According to him, the smell became worse over time. He said that it disappeared when he stopped eating spicy foods.
How long does the urine odor last?
Answer: The urine odor lasts anywhere from two days to a week. That depends on how frequently you go to the bathroom. If you don’t flush the toilet often, the odor will linger longer.
Why does my urine smell like fried chicken?
Answer: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by bacteria. Not all types of UTIs produce a funky smell. Most UTIs do not cause a strong enough smell to be noticeable. However, if your urine smells like burnt toast, then you might have a UTI.
Why does my urine smell like rotten meat?
Answer: If your urine smells like rotting meat, you should see a doctor immediately. Sometimes, people who have kidney stones develop a condition called cystitis. Cystitis produces a similar smell.
Takeaways
To sum up, Urine can smell smoky because of various reasons. You shouldn’t worry too much about this problem. It could be a predisposing infection.
Urine smells are eliminated by changing your diet or taking certain medications. If you want to remove the odor from your urine permanently, then consult a doctor.
