Asparagus and Mercaptan

"What is that smell???" That's the question you ask yourself sometimes after relieving yourself following ingestion of a large meal involving asparagus.

It is a real issue. And a real problem for our time.

It's not a real problem necessarily and I am not quite sure that it's a real issue. And, strangely, I'm not sure of the origin of my fascination with this vegetable's effect on my circulatory and excretory system.

According to wikipedia, the all-knowing source, asparagus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 100-150 cm tall, which grows stout, much-branched feathery foliage. Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10" in 24 hours. If allowed to grow, the plant apparently produces a "fruit" in the form of a small red berry. Asparagus is apparently eaten with eggs in China and with beef in the UK. In the U.S., it's often happily eaten with ribs and twice-baked potatoes.

Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, and dietary fiber. "White" asparagus is grown by denying the plants light and increasing the amount of ultraviolet light the plants are exposed to. "Purple" asparagus has high sugar and low fiber content. (As far as I know, I have never had white or purple asparagus. Perhaps someday. Hope springs eternal.)

But, perhaps the most interesting phenomenon is the effect of aspargus on certain peep's urine. Asparagus apparently contains a sulfur compound called "mercaptan." This chemical is also contained in rotten eggs, onions, garlic and in skunk secretions. When your digestive track breaks down the mercaptan, it gives rise to this funny scented substance. The process can occur within 15-30 mintues of eating asparagus!

Such odors are not the fate of all. Your genetic makeup may determine whether you are able to break down the chemical. Some people have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan into its more pungent parts, and others do not.

So, I consider myself lucky. I have the gene. And it's a strong gene.