Reeking of Amonia

[UpNorth]

Yesterday I went out for a long run (about 1 hour 45 minutes long). It was hot and I was sweating bullets (but hydrating well). When I hopped into the shower after the run I noticed I reeked of amonia. It was hard to breath. It took a good 5 minutes of scrubbing with soap to clear the air.

My question is: What is causing that smell? I don't get it when I lift, only on these long endurance efforts. Is it something in my diet? Anyone else suffer from this?

[Irishdazza]

I get it when I sweat a lot...pretty much any cardio or intense weights.

Here's why...
http://health.howstuffworks.com/sweat.htm

[UpNorth]

Excellent, thanks!

Sweat itself has no odor, but when bacteria on the skin and hair metabolize the proteins and fatty acids, they produce an unpleasant odor.

This seems to be the key right here. Unless you're at an activity for a significant length of time the bacteria wouldn't have enough time to produce enough waste (and resulting odor) from the metobolic process to really stink you up.

[BamaDave]

I found this Q&A on Runner's World. If you Google - ammonia odor sweat running - you'll see that this question comes up a lot among runners. In a nutshell, make sure you're getting adequate carbs to fuel your runs and bring sports drink on your long runs...

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=2029

Q+A: Why this strong smell of ammonia?
By Jane NewmanQ My sweat smells strongly of ammonia after a run. Is this normal?
A Don't be too alarmed: the smell of ammonia in sweat is common among runners. Ammonia comes from the breakdown of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) within the body. It is made up of nitrogen and hydrogen. The hydrogen atoms are converted to glucose and used as fuel. The nitrogen is a waste product that needs to be excreted by the body, and is processed in the kidneys to form urea that is excreted in urine. If there is too much nitrogen for your kidneys to deal with, it will be excreted as ammonia in your sweat.
One factor to consider is water intake. If you are consuming adequate fluid, the ammonia will be diluted - a decrease in the concentration will result in a less potent smell of ammonia. One way to be sure you are drinking enough fluids is to ensure your urine is clear.
Many people mistakenly believe ammonia sweat means that their protein intake is not high enough. The body will only utilise protein for energy when it does not have a sufficient supply of fats and carbohydrates. Muscles can use glucose and fat for energy, but the brain requires glucose. Since there is no direct metabolic pathway from fat to glucose when there is insufficient carbohydrate, your body will use amino acids. Therefore, if your sweat smells of ammonia don't compensate by adding more protein (amino acids) to your diet, instead fuel your muscles and brain with what it prefers as an energy supply: carbohydrates. So, although protein is important in the diet, don't go overboard. The recommended daily amount of protein is 15 per cent of your total calorie intake.
If you find the smell of ammonia persists try having a low glycaemic index carbohydrate, such as an apple, before your run and during prolonged exercise drink sports drinks to fuel your body and prevent amino acids being burned as energy. Don't forget the body needs carbohydrate to burn fat so don't think that providing some carbs before running is going to eliminate the fat burning process.
—Jane Newman, Sports Physiotherapist and Ultra Runner

[Irishdazza]

Nice one Bama! So I need to carb up huh? Fair enough.

[RobLL]

I suspect a real expert will respond, but those who lo carb successfully come to assume they will be ammonia-y. I think it comes from burning fat. Rob

[UpNorth]

Thanks Dave. That makes sense, and the other Google responses were pretty much the same. I'm going to have to start buying up those gel packs to carry along since I'm already guzzling 32 oz of Gatorade from my Fuel Belt during my runs. That, or maybe I should start stashing bottles along my route.

Rob -- I can't imagine that smell would come from just burning fat as a fuel source. If that were the case those ketosis fans would simply reek all of the time and no one would be following a diet that did that to you! Although maybe they do smell of ammonia all of the time... I honestly don't really know.

[Diamond]

I found whenever I do longterm cardio (in my case, martial arts) I reek alot more than weightlifting as well.

As for the ketosis stuff, when i was on atkins, I did smell pretty bad the first few weeks, but in order for my body to be in ketosis, which I did test for, I had to eat next to no carbs, not just low carbing it, but like 10-30 carbs a day. I kept that up for about a month, and the first two weeks of that, I did very much smell sometimes, it was never very strong, but i got a few comments.

[RobLL]

Hi Up North - While I can count on that amm. smell when I work out hard, I have not ever noticed it from regular sweat, like when I am gardening, even fairly heavy gardening. But almost always if I go over 45 minuters it is strong ammonia, lesser so at the 30 minute mark. Rob

[Bill2380]

I'll second Dave's answer on this one. My high school wrestling partner reeked of amomia after a 2 hour practice wearing a plastic sauna suit. It was especially noticable as he got closer to weight by temporarily cutting his fluid intake. Ahhh memories of the 70's, when sex was safe and sports were dangerous.

[UpNorth]

I thought I'd report back here with the results of adding carbs during the long run. I added 2 GU packs to my run today, taking one 1/3 of the way into my run and the other after 2/3. I would have to say they made a huge difference in my performance and I did not end up reeking of ammonia this time around. To be fair the weather is much cooler today than it was last week so I'm sure that helped as well but I felt much better for the entire run and my recovery was excellent so they are going to be standard issue for my longest runs from now on.