“Urine” a term that rarely comes up in a normal conversation. A person’s urine says a lot about them. Its color, odor, and consistency are key indicators of a person’s lifestyle and well-being, ranging from what they’ve been eating and drinking to diseases that they may not know they have.
Urine is usually 95% water, with the remaining 5% being a composite brew of ingredients such as urea, creatinine, potassium, sodium, and other dissolved ions, plus other organic and inorganic compounds. Urine is usually yellow in color. The yellow color is usually caused by urobilin, a biochemical waste product produced as a result of the breakdown of old blood cells. The human body makes about two million new red blood cells daily, and it recycles the same number of old ones.
The standard color of urine is commonly referred to by doctors as “Urochrome.” Urine has a natural yellow pigment in it. When one stays hydrated, their urine becomes light-yellow, close to a clear color. If, on the other hand, you get dehydrated, most of the time, you will notice that your urine is either deep amber or light brown depending on the type of food or medication that you take.
Urine Colors
Urine colors usually vary depending on the type of food, medication, or drinks that you take. Most of these colors fall on the spectrum of what the standard urine looks like, but there are instances where unusual urine colors should be a cause of concern:
Clear
Clear urine usually indicates that one is taking more than the daily recommended amount of water. Although it is recommended that you always stay hydrated, drinking too much water can rob you of most of your bodily electrolytes. If your urine is occasionally clear, you have no reason to panic; however, if your urine is always clear, this could indicate that you need to cut back on the amount of water you are drinking.
Even though one should drink water every day, it is also possible to go beyond the recommended amount. If your urine is totally transparent and missing a yellow hue, then you should cut back on the amount of water you are taking in a day. This is because overhydrating dilute your body’s electrolyte content, which can result in water intoxication.
Yellowish to Amber
The standard color of urine usually falls on the range of light yellow to a deeper amber color. The urochrome pigment that is usually in the urine becomes more and more diluted as you drink more water.
Urochrome is usually produced during haemoglobin breakdown – a protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. In most cases, the color of the urine depends on how this pigment is diluted.
When you have a lot of vitamin B in your bloodstream, your urine’s color may be neon yellow.
When your pee looks amber or is a darker shade of blond, it is probably time for you to drink some water. Even though this part of the spectrum is not significantly a dangerous dehydration level, you could easily be headed in that direction.
Transparent
Colorless urine may indicate over-hydration. Even though this may not be as dangerous as dehydration, it can dilute the essential salts, such as electrolytes, resulting in a problematic chemical imbalance in the bloodstream.
Red or Pink
Urine may appear red or pink if you are eating fruits with magenta or deep naturally deep pink colors such as;
- Beans
- Blueberries
- Rhubarb
While red or pink urine might be a result of something that you ate recently and also a result of some health condition causing blood to appear in your urine, a condition referred to as hematuria which may include:
- Kidney stones
- Tumours in the kidney or bladder
- Enlarged prostate
- Orange
Orange urine can be a sign of dehydration. If you are passing urine that is orange together with a light-colored stool, bile might be spilling into your bloodstream due to issues with your liver or bile ducts.
If your urine is either brown or dark orange, it may be time for you to pay attention, as you may be highly dehydrated.
Green or Blue
Blue or green urine is usually a result of food coloring. It can also be caused by dyes that are normally used in medical tests performed on your bladder or kidney.
The coloring can also be caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is a bacterial infection, which can cause the urine to be green, indigo purple or blue. Blue urine is usually very rare and is, in most cases, connected to something that you ate.
Dark Brown
In most cases, dark brown urine usually indicates that you are dehydrated. Dark brown urine can also be a side effect of some medication that you took, including chloroquine (Arelen) or metronidazole (Flagyl).
Some other cause of dark brown urine includes eating large amounts of fava beans, aloe and rhubarb. Also, a condition referred to as porphyriacan cause a accumulation of the natural chemicals in the blood, causing a dark brown or rusty urine. A dark brown urine can also be a symptom of liver disease, as it can be a result of bile spilling into the urine.
Cloudy
Cloudy urine can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection. This can also be a symptom of kidney conditions and chronic diseases. In some instances, cloudy urine can be another sign that your body is dehydrated.
Cloudy urine with bubbles or foam is referred to as pneumaturia, a condition which can be a symptom of a serious health condition including diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease.
When should you go to your doctor?
Several cases may demand you see your doctor immediately, including:
- If your urine is light pink or dark red, or if you can see visible blood in your urine, you should visit your doctor right away. This can be a symptom of a serious health condition that should be diagnosed right away.
- If your urine is yellow in color, you might have a serious health condition, including bladder and kidney disease. Contact your doctor if your urine is orange in color.
- A stream of abnormal colors can also be as a result of something in your diet or medication or a serious medical condition, and you should see your doctor for proper diagnosis.
There are several other reasons why you should see your doctor, including if:
- If you have a fishy or pungent odour
- If you are experiencing abdominal pains
- If you are feeling dizzy or confused
- And if you have a high fever
Download Our Templates
If you are looking for a way to keep track of the color of your urine, then you should definitely download our templates for better assistance. With a clear indication of the color and the potential condition or action that you should take, our templates will help guide you into achieving a healthier urine color.
and Meanings
Frequently Asked Questions
The normal color of urine usually ranges from yellow to deep amber, which is a result of a pigment referred to as urochrome and how concentrated or diluted the urine is. Compounds and pigments in certain foods and medication can lead to change in your urine color. Berries, Flava, and beets are among the foods that are most likely to affect the color of your urine. Most over-the-counter and prescription medications may also give your different urine colors such as red, yellow, blue or green.
When a diabetic person has high blood glucose levels, the color of their urine is usually quite clear. This is because their body is drawing water from its cells in an attempt to save any damage being done to your kidneys from the excess blood glucose that may have spilt into the urine. It is during such times that a diabetic person risks being dehydrated.
The color of your urine is yellow in the morning because of urochromes. Your urine carries urochromes, and when diluted with water, your urine turns light or almost colorless. Morning is when your urine is most concentrated since your body is resting and your water intake is low. If your urine in the morning is pale or straw in color then you could be well hydrated and healthy.
For most people, the number of times they urinate in a day is between 6-7 time in 24 hours. Although this is usually affected by various factors including the weather condition, the amount of water or drinks they take in a day, their health conditions etc.
Conclusion
In most cases, abnormal urine colors are usually as a result of dehydration, something you ate, or a side effect of the medications you are under. Your urine should naturally resume its natural coloring within 2-3 days after you notice any unusual color. If your urine color is brown, blue, pink, red, green or cloudy and doesn’t return to pale straw color, you should make a point of seeing your doctor.
