Tips for Healthy Living

We’ve partnered with Dr. Doug Husbands of Holistic Health Bay Area to bring you a new set of Tips for Healthy Living. Dr. Husbands is a functional medicine doctor, clinical nutritionist, anti-aging health practitioner and doctor of chiropractic. I appreciate that he encourages visiting the doctor to focus on staying healthy instead of only visiting when you’re sick.– Carmelo Sigona

Why Does Asparagus Cause That…Smell?

By Dr. Douglas Husbands

Well, some of the healthy components of asparagus are sulfur-containing compounds. Sulfur is an important component in detoxification in the body, particularly phase II detoxification (see phase details). The metabolic byproducts of toxins in the body bound to the sulfur compounds in the asparagus are released into the urine. The two primary sulfur metabolites responsible for the pungent urine smell are methanethiol (also known as methyl mercapten) and dimethyl sulfide. These compounds are in higher amounts in young asparagus.

Detoxification is also an effective way to jump-start your weight loss. I recommend that people do a detoxification program once or twice each year. You can read more about this effect here.

So the next time you have asparagus and are bothered by the pungent pee, just remember that it’s good for your health!

About Dr. Doug:
Dr. Douglas Husbands is a Functional Medicine Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist, Anti-Aging Health Practitioner, and Doctor of Chiropractic. As a health advocate and coach, he is dedicated to achieving optimal health through resolving the underlying disease processes through diet, nutrition and lifestyle modification. To contact Dr. Doug, call 650-394-7470 or visit http://www.HolisticHealthBayArea.com

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