Q: Is there a supplement I can take to combat the ammonia-like smell that I emit while training and after? It’s really noticeable to friends and family. I feel like a pariah at social gatherings, because often, it happens residually, long after I’m done training and showered. If I sweat at all after that, it still come out. What’s it from anyhow, and how can I stop it?

A: Ammonia smell is urea being emitted from your body. The largest organ of exit and elimination from your body is your skin, remember, so all of the toxins that you emit during perspiration and at rest usually originate from this exit organ. Remember, too, that when you work out, you are boosting your metabolic functions and causing a constant cycle of waste and regeneration of cells. So that means that you are continually going to secrete toxins that are now outside of cells –fat, muscle cells, and cells wasted from organs and their functions. Some say that if you are dieting low carb, or have not gotten enough carbs, you’ll emit that smell, but that’s not exactly accurate. Actually a ketone smell is sweeter, or more like nail polish remover.

Ammonia smell is the breakdown of protein. Sometimes I have been in the house and smell it and it’s completely unassociated with training. That is a bad sign and usually means I have skipped meals and am going into some kind of metabolic wasting. Typically, the body turns to burning proteins as a secondary source of energy when other sources are not given, which leads to a build up and excretion of nitrogen by-products, including ammonia. Drink water to flush the excess nitrogen. Then you can set out about the business of figuring out how to avoid your body using protein (it’s own muscle) for fuel. Eat more frequently and in smaller meals. A little GU or Gatorade is a good idea during workouts, in small swigs, and you’ll find that that problem disappears.