Urine usually smells mild, but various factors can cause it to have a different odor than usual. A person may be concerned if their urine smells like popcorn. However, this can occur for several reasons, most of which are no cause for concern.
The common causes of urine having a popcorn-like smell include diabetes, pregnancy, and a diet high in protein.
This article discusses some of the reasons why a person’s urine may smell like popcorn and explains when to see a doctor about changes in urine odor.
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People may worry if their urine smells like popcorn, but this is not uncommon, and in most cases, the odor change is temporary. However, if the unusual smell persists, it is worth seeing a doctor to determine the underlying cause.
Urine consists mainly of water. When it looks or smells different than usual, this is due to waste products that come from the body. Therefore, the look and smell of urine can tell doctors a lot about a person’s health.
Common reasons for urine to smell like popcorn include:
Diabetes
People with diabetes may have a very high level of ketones in their bloodstream. When the body excretes these in the urine, they can make the urine smell like popcorn. A high level of ketones in the urine or blood occurs when a person enters ketosis.
The body will produce ketones when it does not have enough sugar or glucose for fuel. This might happen overnight or when a person is fasting.
Having a small number of ketones in the bloodstream is normal, especially for people who exercise a lot or do other activities that encourage the body to burn fat. However, if a person with diabetes does not control their condition, a dangerously high level of ketones can build in their blood.
This life threatening metabolic state is called ketoacidosis, and it requires immediate medical attention. For some people, it is the first sign that they have diabetes.
In most cases, people with ketoacidosis have sweet, strong-smelling urine. Ketoacidosis can develop within 24 hours of having consistently high blood glucose levels, called hyperglycemia.
It is possible to measure urinary ketones using ketone strips, which are available in drugstores or online.
Additional signs and symptoms of ketoacidosis include:
- increased urination
- dehydration
- excessive, unquenchable thirst
- sweet-smelling, or “fruity,” breath
- rapid heartbeat
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- confusion and disorientation
- hyperventilating or Kussmaul breathing, which is deep, labored breathing
- fainting
Ketoacidosis constitutes a medical emergency, so if anyone suspects this condition, they should call the emergency services immediately.
Other than diabetes, the most common causes of ketoacidosis are starvation and chronic, excessive alcohol use.
Eating a lot of protein
Another way to enter ketosis is by eating a lot of protein. When a person eats a lot of protein instead of carbohydrates, their body uses protein and stored fat for energy instead of using carbohydrates as it would usually do.
As a result, the ketone level in the blood will rise. When these ketones leave the body in the urine, the urine may smell sweet or similar to popcorn.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the smell of urine may change for a few reasons, including:
- Altered sense of smell: As a person’s sense of smell changes slightly during pregnancy, everyday scents may smell different than usual.
- Hormonal changes: In the very early stages of pregnancy, increased levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) circulate in the blood, which can cause urine to smell different or more strongly.
- Gestational diabetes: Research suggests that in the United States, about 1 in 13 pregnant people over the age of 20 years develop a form of temporary diabetes known as gestational diabetes. Ketoacidosis is a serious but rare complication in those with gestational diabetes.
Dehydration
When someone is dehydrated, the body excretes less water in the urine. As a result, the urine is more concentrated, darker, and stronger smelling than usual. If the waste products in urine have a popcorn smell, the urine may also smell like popcorn once it is more concentrated.
Aside from strong-smelling urine, additional symptoms of dehydration include:
- exhaustion
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- reduced urination
- a headache
- weakness
People usually do not need to worry if their urine smells a bit different than usual for a day or two.
However, if they notice that their urine smells sweet, resembling the smell of popcorn, for several days, they should speak with a doctor to determine the underlying cause.
In particular, people who have diabetes or are pregnant should talk with a doctor about any changes in the smell of their urine, especially if it is strong and sweet smelling.
Popcorn-scented urine typically occurs as a result of dietary factors or dehydration and is no cause for concern.
However, if the smell lasts longer than a few days, with diet or fluid intake unlikely to be the cause, it is best to visit a doctor.
Pregnant people and those with diabetes or other symptoms of diabetes should speak with a doctor if they notice the smell. In these circumstances, popcorn-scented urine may be a sign of a serious medical issue.
Have you ever sat down on the toilet to relieve yourself and thought, Yuck, what's that smell? Maybe you assumed the stench was the faint yet unpleasant odor that lingers in office bathrooms...but then you realized it wasn't that at all. It was actually your own urine.
Yep, urine can be smelly—for a number of reasons. Many of them are harmless, but in some cases, smelly urine can be a sign that something more serious is going on. We asked a doctor to explain what causes smelly urine and what you can do about it. Hint: The five cups of coffee you had this morning aren't doing your pee any favors.
Not drinking enough H2O is the top cause of smelly urine, Sonia Dutta, MD, urogynecologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Illinois, tells Health. Urine is a combination of water and waste products, Dr. Dutta explains. "So when you're dehydrated, your urine has less water in relation to waste products, which can make you have smelly urine," she says.
You can check the color of your urine to confirm whether you're dehydrated. If it's amber- or honey-colored, or even a dark orange, you probably need to up your water intake. But if it's a pale straw or transparent yellow color, you're well hydrated, which means your urine could be smelly for another reason.
Asparagus is notorious for making urine smelly. But if this veggie doesn't give your pee a funky odor, that's normal, too.Dr. Dutta says everyone digests food differently, and some can get away with eating asparagus without any change in their urine. "It's most likely because their body doesn't have the enzyme they need to break it down completely," she explains. But others do have the enzyme, and when those people digest asparagus, "their bodies make something called a sulfur metabolite, which can make the urine have a sulfur or ammonia smell."
Other foods, like Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, curry, salmon, and alcohol, can have a similar effect. Dr. Dutta suggests drinking plenty of water when eating foods that you know make your pee; it'll dilute your urine so the stench isn't so noticeable.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your coffee habit could be making your pee stink. Coffee metabolites, or the byproducts that come from coffee when it's broken down in your body, can make urine smell, Dr. Dutta says. (Like we said before, this isn't the case for everyone. So if you've never noticed an odor after your morning cup of joe, you're probably in the clear.)
Coffee is also a diuretic, meaning it makes you have to pee a lot, flushing your body of extra fluid and sodium. Diuretics can cause dehydration, so on top of the smell from those coffee metabolites, your pee may also have a stench because it's more concentrated than usual. Pro tip: Drink a tall glass of agua before your morning brew to fend off dehydration.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria get into your urinary system through the urethra and then begin to multiply in the bladder. Bacteria, of course, can make your pee smell bad. But Dr. Dutta says if you have a UTI, you'll probably have more symptoms than just smelly urine. The same bacteria can also make you have to go more frequently, give you a burning sensation when peeing, and even turn your urine cloudy or even bloody.
Yeast are microorganisms that naturally live in various parts of the body, including the vagina. But when yeast grow out of control, they can trigger an infection. Yeast infections occur in the vagina, but because the urethra is so close to the vaginal opening, your urine may pick up a scent from the neighboring infection, Dr. Dutta says. Like a UTI, a yeast infection usually comes with other symptoms, like itching, redness, swelling of the vagina and vulva, and thick white discharge.
"Some STIs may cause urethritis, or inflammation of the urethra," Dr. Dutta says. "Anything that causes inflammation or irritation can potentially be associated with bacteria or pus or bleeding, which can change the smell of the urine." Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and gonorrhea are the STIs that most commonly cause urethritis. But even if an STI doesn't cause urethritis, urine could still pick up a smell from irritation in the vagina, she adds.
Think you might have an STI? See your doctor ASAP. They'll help you determine the best option for treatment.
Anyone who's had a kidney stone knows how painful they can be. Kidney stones develop when salt and other minerals found in urine stick together and form into hard stone-like deposits. They can be as small as sand-like grains or as large as full-on chunks of gravel. "Kidney stones can collect bacteria and lead to infection or sometimes bleeding," Dr. Dutta says. "That can then change what the urine smells like."
Other symptoms of kidney stones include back, side, or groin pain; nausea or vomiting; frequent urination; blood in urine; pain with urination; and fever. "Kidney stones are never, ever going to just be smelly urine," she adds. "There will be other symptoms, as well." Stones typically pass in the urine without any need for treatment. But seek medical attention if you have severe pain, vomiting, bleeding, or signs of infection.
People who have undiagnosed diabetes are "spilling out sugar into their urine," Dr. Dutta says. That's because they can't process sugar the way most people can, meaning they have excess glucose in the blood, which the body tries to get rid of through the urine. "When you have that extra sugar in your urine, it's going to give it a sweet, fruity smell," she explains. People with uncontrolled diabetes will likely also have increased pee urgency or frequency, as the sugar irritates the bladder. See your doctor ASAP if you think you might have diabetes.
Dr. Dutta says many people notice their urine smells different after taking vitamins—same way some people detect a different urine odor after eating certain foods. But there's nothing to worry about if you conclude a vitamin is making your pee rank. "Vitamins tend to be a little bit in excess of what your body truly needs, so you'll often end up peeing some of that out," she says.
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