Why does asparagus make your pee smell and garlic give you bad breath? How food affects your body revealed
Chemistry teacher Andy Brunning reveals the science behind our reactions to what we eat
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EVER wondered why baked beans make you windy? Or why garlic gives you bad breath?
Naturally, It’s all down to science.
Now chemistry teacher Andy Brunning has now written a book to explain the common reactions to our favourite foods.
In Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell the Cambridge-based author goes into the science of food and its effect of our bodies.
He revealed a few of the culinary curiosities to the .
Why does asparagus make your pee smell?
When it is eaten, asparagus breaks down into asparagusic acid, which has been shown to modify your urine’s aroma to give it that sweet-smelling edge.
Why does garlic give you bad breath?
When you consume a garlic clove, it releases an enzyme called allyl methyl sulfide, which contributes to garlic’s aroma and its “garlic breath effect” that can last up to 24 hours.
Brunning recommends lemon juice, which neutralizes the odor-causing enzymes, to fend off stink.
Why do beans make you pass gas?
“It’s well known that eating even a small portion of beans can have gassy consequences,” Brunning says.
The reason why is a compound called raffinose, which is difficult to digest, causing bloat and gas.
Brunning suggests soaking beans before cooking to make them easier to digest.
Why does orange juice taste bitter after you brush teeth?
Sodium lauryl sulfate — a compound found in everything from toothpaste to shower gel — suppresses the receptors in your mouth that help you taste sweetness, which makes acidic fruits like oranges extra bitter when you eat them.
To avoid this reaction, wait 30 minutes before you gulp down your juice after your morning routine.
Do bananas help other fruits ripen quicker?
Yes — due to a hormone called ethylene, which triggers and accelerates ripening enzymes in nearby fruits.
So the next time you want to speed up the ripening of a hard avocado, stick it in a plastic bag with the yellow fruit.
Does eating turkey make you sleepy?
Ever felt a case of food coma after gorging on a Thanksgiving feast? You’re not alone.
Consuming tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, salmon and cheddar cheese, produces the brain chemical melatonin, which makes you tired.
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Why do people hate Brussels sprouts?
“Much like black liquorice, they seem to conjure up a ‘love it or hate it’ sentiment,” Brunning says. Brussels sprouts contain glucosinolates, a chemical compound that’s found in cruciferous greens, such as cabbage and cauliflower. When cooked, they release another compound — propylthiouracil — that tastes bitter to about 70 percent of people. “The longer you cook these veggies, the more bitter they taste,” Brunning says.
is out now on Ulysses Press.