Sweat that smells like ammonia usually means your body is breaking down protein for energy and releasing extra nitrogen waste (ammonia) through your sweat instead of fully processing it in the liver and kidneys. It’s often harmless, but it can also flag diet, hydration, or (rarely) medical issues.

Quick Scoop

Why it happens:

  • Your body burns amino acids (from protein) when carbs are low or during intense exercise, creating ammonia as a by‑product.
  • If ammonia builds up faster than your liver and kidneys can convert it to urea and clear it, some spills into sweat, giving that sharp, cleaning‑product‑like smell.

Main causes

1. Diet and fuel use

  • High‑protein, low‑carb diets (keto, body‑building plans, lots of shakes/meat) push your body to use amino acids for energy, raising ammonia production.
  • Low glycogen stores from long‑duration or very intense workouts can also force protein breakdown, especially if you haven’t eaten enough carbs beforehand.

2. Exercise intensity

  • Hard or prolonged training increases protein catabolism, which can temporarily spike ammonia in sweat and blood.
  • Many people notice the smell right after a tough session, then it fades once recovery starts.

3. Dehydration

  • When you’re low on fluids , sweat becomes more concentrated, so any ammonia present smells stronger.
  • Chronic dehydration can also slow kidney clearance of nitrogen wastes, indirectly contributing to the odor.

4. Underlying health issues (less common)

  • Kidney disease can impair urea/ammonia clearance, sometimes causing ammonia‑like odors in sweat or breath.
  • Liver dysfunction can reduce the liver’s ability to convert ammonia to urea, leading to buildup.
  • Metabolic conditions or severe malnutrition can also alter how your body handles nitrogen.

What you can do

Lifestyle and diet tweaks

  • Balance macros: Add more complex carbs (oats, rice, potatoes, fruit) around workouts so your body burns glucose instead of protein.
  • Moderate protein: Unless medically advised, avoid extreme high‑protein intakes; aim for about 1.2–2.2 g protein per kg body weight depending on activity level.
  • Hydrate well: Aim for enough water that your urine is pale yellow; more if you sweat heavily or live in a hot climate.
  • Time your meals: Eat a carb‑rich snack or meal 1–3 hours before intense exercise to top up glycogen.

Exercise and hygiene

  • Adjust intensity/duration: If the smell appears only after very hard sessions, consider shorter, slightly less intense workouts and build up gradually.
  • Shower promptly: Washing sweat off quickly reduces bacterial breakdown on the skin, which can worsen body odor overall.
  • Use antiperspirant/deodorant: A good antiperspirant can cut sweat volume; a strong deodorant can mask or neutralize odors.

When to see a doctor

See a clinician if:

  • The ammonia smell is constant , even at rest and with normal diet.
  • You have fatigue, nausea, swelling, shortness of breath, confusion, or changes in urine (foamy, dark, or very infrequent).
  • You’re on a very restrictive diet , have lost weight rapidly, or have a known kidney or liver condition.

In those cases, a doctor can check kidney function, liver enzymes, and electrolytes and rule out more serious metabolic issues.

Quick‑reference table

Cause| What’s happening| What to try
---|---|---
High‑protein, low‑carb diet| Body burns amino acids → more ammonia| Add more carbs around workouts; moderate protein intake 135
Intense/long exercise| Extra protein breakdown during effort| Lower intensity slightly; fuel with carbs before training 1410
Dehydration| Sweat more concentrated → stronger odor| Drink more water; check urine color 357
Kidney or liver issues| Poor ammonia clearance| See a doctor for blood/urine tests 29

If you tell a bit more (diet type, workout routine, any other symptoms), a more tailored “this‑specific‑situation” explanation is possible. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.