What can I say? I’ve got it, and I’m proud of it.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, write asparagus on your shopping list right now.
It’s always weird to notice the smell, but it reminds me that I ate something good! There’s not many foods that do that.
It makes me think that it’s too bad that there aren’t more foods that provide evidence of their consumption on their “way out”. After all, most of the time we’re just mindlessly putting food in our mouth holes. Despite putting so much emphasis on getting food that tastes good, we still seem to always be preoccupied while both making our food decisions and while eating… (whether it’s talking to other people, or watching TV, or daydreaming).
In other words, swallowing means “out of sight, out of mind”.
It’s not so obvious what direct effect food has on our body, so when I eat something healthy like asparagus, it kind of gives me a little reminder later.
Wikipedia says that asparagus can effect urine smell as soon as 15-30 minutes! Apparently the vegetable has specific compounds like asparagusic acid, which metabolizes to create the smell of sulfur.
It reminds me of something I heard about regarding the military, and hydration.
Supposedly in their outhouses, they have PEE CHARTS to help them determine their levels of hydration in hot and dry environments. They probably look something like this:
It’s too bad that noticing our waste has such a stigma.
This got me thinking that it would be cool if we had “smart” toilets that told us things, like if we have too much salt in our diet, or not enough iron, or (if you’re a woman) you’re pregnant. Heck, if some little stick you buy at the drug store can detect hormones in urine with 99% accuracy, it should be easy to program an electrical device to detect nutrient levels.
It could talk to us too…
In a robotic voice (male or female, your choice):
EAT MORE BROCCOLI. LESS BEER.
Yeah, yeah… leave me alone! CAN’T I WIZZ IN PEACE???
These are things I think about when I pee.
Weird coincidence, I just got back from the shops with some asparagus! Delicious stuff.
Apparantly only 40% of people experience the stinky wee side-effect. I used to think they somehow digested the asparagus differently however it seems that everyone stinks but only 20% can smell it. The differences seem to be in the nose, not the kidneys.
Makes me wonder whether we taste and smell other things differently too.
Both of those should be 20%, sorry. At least I’m in this illustrious elite who can enjoy the sulphurous aroma of fresh asparagus urine.
All I know is that asparagus is healthy and delicious! When it becomes seasonal locally, I buy so much of it at the farmer’s market! Sooooo tasty. I like to put it on the grill…*drool*
Um, it can also affect the taste of semen (or so I’ve been told)
I love asparagus, my girlfriend, not so much…
Flood, I read that about the fact that only some people can smell it. I didn’t know people’s senses of smell were that different.
Namaste, I like to do them in the oven with a little olive oil, along with some potatoes.
Valis, I wish I hadn’t known that!
I love asparagus too, and yes, I also have noticed the pee smell after. Also, great idea about the “smart toilets.” That would be pretty funny and interesting!
You have some weird thoughts while your peeing :p
The smart toilets are definitely an interesting idea.. maybe you should get out and patent it before someone else steals your idea
Lol, your talking toilet idea is funny. It would be cool though. Sounds pretty simple, and would make people more aware of what’s going through their bodies.
Most people probably don’t really want to know, though.
P.S. I put asparagus on my list!
Bloggy
Check out the Toto Intelligence Toilet II
Leave it to the Japanese.
You know, I had a tiny idea in my head that I had seen one before, somewhere on the internet.
I just read this on a site that I found by searching for “smart toilet”:
I want to try one. How do you dry up? With TP? TP usually disentigrates when it gets wet.
I can’t smell it, but I can tell you it absolutely effects the taste of semen. Yucky!
I don’t think most people would want a toilet that tells them how fat they are and how horrible their eating habits are, which is exactly what the toilet would tell most people, especially here in the US.
If, however, it could be programmed to only comment when weight was reduced (which would require a means of identifying users) that might not be so bad.
User sits on toilet.
Toilet says, “Hey! You’re down another pound and a half this week! You’re also doing a great job getting more fiber!”
User is encouraged to continue with positive changes in lifestyle and diet.
As the father of a toddler I can see where something like this might also have applications for toilet training.
i would FREAK out if i went to use the toilet and a voice out of nowhere told me i was pregnant…
“…god? is that you?”