If you were asked, “what does your urine color say about your health” what would you say? 

“Nothing”?

If yes, you’d be terribly wrong. Research has more than proven that the color of your pee says something about your health. But it’s understandable that nearly everyone takes this for granted.

As funny as it sounds, it’s important to stay conscious of your pee. 

Urine Colors & Their Meanings

The standard yellow color of your pee is attributed to a chemical called urochrome, a resulting product of protein metabolism. And while this chemical doesn’t exhaust in your body, why does your urine change colors?

Researchers have shown that your pee color will look different due to a few factors like your medications, diet, health & hydration. 

However your pee looks now, here’s a scientific attempt at helping you understand…

Clear

Clear urine indicates that you’re ingesting sufficient liquids, so you’re well hydrated. This is a good thing, you see, but your pee must not be clear every time you let it out. This may suggest that you’re excessively hydrated, and this will lead to electrolyte imbalance. So, if your urine has never looked different from clear, start taking less water.

Yellow

The acceptable color of urine is a light yellow & possibly a deep amber. I already mentioned that this is because of urochrome, a yellow pigment deposited by the body upon hemoglobin breakdown. Do you remember that hemoglobin transmits oxygen to the red blood cells? 

The extreme of yellow in a person’s pee indicates their urochrome levels 

Brown

If your pee looks brown, it’s almost always a symptom of dehydration. Brown to dark pee can also be caused by some drugs or by allowing bile buildup in the body — an indicator of liver problems. Drink more water & if there are no changes, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Cloudy

Cloudy pee is a typical symptom of urinary tract infection, particularly if the per smells foul as well. Cloudy pee is also a sign of specific diseases (say diabetes), heart disease & kidney complications. STDs like chlamydia & gonorrhea can also lead to cloudy urine. 

If you pee cloudy urine every day, consult your healthcare provider. 

Red

Red is mostly caused by the consumption of foods possessing deep pigments, like blueberries & beets. So, if you notice redness to your pee for the first time, you may have to consider the foods you’ve recently eaten.

However, if your urine color is repeatedly red or pink, you are advised to contact your doctor about possible health conditions like complications in the bladder, kidneys & prostate. 

Conclusion: What Does Your Urine Color Say About Your Health?

Urine color, as nonsensical as it appears, is crucial to your knowledge of your health. The body is a complex network of systems, after all. Let’s hear from you: what does your urine color say about your health recently?