We all smell after a big workout and there are plenty of variations of workout smells in any training room, but have you ever wondered why we sometimes smell like ammonia (a smell only our Pets will love)? And particularly from prolonged cardiovascular exercise?
Well to answer that question, first we need a science lesson. Ammonia consists of one nitrogen atom bound to three hydrogen atoms. Our bodies use macronutrients and the only ones that contain Nitrogen are amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Our bodies use amino acids everyday for energy, but to do this it takes the nitrogen atom from the molecule and what is left behind is further converted into glucose and used as fuel by the body.
I can hear you asking already, well what about the nitrogen?? Well our bodies are in a constant state of catabolism (muscle breakdown) and anabolism (muscle growth).
To grow muscle ideally we should have a positive nitrogen balance which means more enters the body than leaves. Any excess nitrogen is processed by our kidneys and forms urea which is a carbon-dioxide molecule bound to hydrogen and nitrogen which is then dispersed through urine.
However, what happens to the nitrogen if your kidneys can’t process it? It will fall back to its de-toxifying failsafe – sweat – which will have the powerful smell of ammonia.
So what does this all really mean?? The main culprit is often a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Secondly you probably need more water which will help to dilute the odour as it is after all the transport mechanism. This is only going to happen if excessive amounts of amino acids are being used for energy. So the common mistake is for people to think their muscles are going catabolic and destroying themselves hence the smell, which is incorrect. All that is happening is the body is using amino acids instead of carbohydrates. So in fact your carbohydrate intake needs to rise and if you ingest a small amount of carbohydrates with your meals, the ammonia smell should disappear.