Your urine can tell you a lot about your lifestyle and how it impacts your health and wellbeing.
Healthy urine should have a yellowish tinge and shouldn’t smell too strong. If you’re eating well, staying hydrated and don’t have any minor bugs or infections, then this is what your urine should look like.
However, if your urine is discoloured or gives off a stronger odour than usual, these may be signs of an underlying health issue that needs addressing. Many things can affect the colour of your urine and are nothing to worry too much about. Urine is a natural fluid that your body produces as blood passes through the kidneys. They flush the excess waste and water out, which is then stored in your bladder as urine until you pass water. About 95% of your urine is water. The rest comprises millions of organic and inorganic compounds, such as sugars, ketones, proteins, sugars, ketones, enzymes, bacteria and other chemicals that your body wants rid of. Usually, the presence of abnormal amounts of these compounds causes visible changes to your urine, which can indicate an underlying problem.
Some of these may be down to your lifestyle or habits. Too much alcohol, caffeine or sugar can affect the colour of your urine. So, too, can medication and certain foods, especially if they contain additives or artificial colouring. Your urine will usually return to normal once your body has flushed these out. However, there are times when unusual urine colours or smells may be a cause for concern. Here are the signs to look out for…
• Smelly Urine
A change to the smell of your urine is typically harmless but can sometimes indicate a health issue. Your urine’s odour can change for several reasons. If you’ve discounted any lifestyle factors, such as anything you’ve consumed or any medication you may be taking, there are a few things to keep an eye on.
Dehydration is the most common cause. It can produce an ammonia-like aroma and can also make your pee appear darker than usual. Sweet-smelling pee could indicate a urinary tract infection, while fruity-smelling urine can be a sign of diabetes. Foul-smelling urine can indicate a sexually transmitted infection, which can also cause discomfort when you’re passing water. And, strange as it sounds, so-called ‘Asparagus Pee’ is actually a thing. Around 40% of people can smell a change in urine after they eat asparagus. Sugar-coated puffed wheat cereal can produce a similar effect.
• Clear Urine
Clear urine usually indicates that you’re drinking too much water. While staying hydrated is a good thing, too much water in your system can strip your body of electrolytes – such as Sodium and Potassium – which play vital roles in your body.
Clear urine can also indicate liver conditions like hepatitis and cirrhosis. If you’re not drinking excessive amounts of water and regularly pass clear urine, you should see a doctor.
• Yellow to Amber Urine
Normal, healthy urine should be straw-like in colour. A natural pigment called urochrome gives your pee its colour. The more water you drink, the more your urochrome becomes diluted and lighter in colour. Conversely, your urochrome levels become more concentrated if you drink less water, so your pee becomes darker. If your pee takes on a neon yellow shade, it’s not usually anything to worry about. It’s probably down to having an excess of B vitamins in your bloodstream.
• Red or Pink Urine
Fruits and vegetables which contain naturally pink or purple pigments, such as beets, blueberries and rhubarb, can give your pee a pinkish or reddish tinge. However, pink or red pee can also indicate blood in your urine due to health issues, including an enlarged prostate, kidney stones or a tumour in your bladder or kidney. If it doesn’t clear up, see your doctor.
• Orange Urine
Orange pee is usually a sign of dehydration and should sort itself out once you drink some water. However, if other symptoms, including light-coloured stools, accompany it, it may mean that bile is getting into your bloodstream because of issues with your liver or digestive system. Jaundice can also cause orange pee.
• Blue or Green Urine
Blue or green pee is usually caused by artificial colourings or dyes in food, certain medications, and those used in medical tests on your kidneys or bladder. Again, if this doesn’t clear up naturally, you should see a doctor, as it could be a bacterial infection.
• Dark Brown Urine
In most cases, urine that’s dark brown is caused by severe dehydration. Headaches, tiredness or dizziness, nausea and pain when passing water are other symptoms to look out for. This usually sorts itself out by drinking plenty of water to rehydrate yourself. However, a medical condition called porphyria can cause a build-up of urochrome, which will turn you’re your pee rusty or dark brown. It can also be an indicator of liver disease caused by bile or blood getting into your urine.
• Cloudy Urine
A build-up of proteins or fatty deposits in your urine can cause it to become cloudy. Long-term, this can indicate some chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s Disease, Diverticulitis, or kidney conditions. Cloudy urine can also be caused by dehydration.
In most cases, abnormal urine colours are a symptom of dehydration or something you ate and are nothing to worry about. However, if your symptoms persist, you should see your doctor to make sure there are no underlying health issues that need addressing. But if you’re worried about your urinary health and want to give it a natural boost, we can help.
Juniper and Parsley Combination is our key system product for the urinary system. It has been expertly created with time-honoured herbs, used for thousands of years to treat problems and infections. This unique combination contains Juniper berries and has been specially formulated for the urinary tract, bladder and kidneys. It’s just one of many natural, nutritional supplements we supply to support better urinary function and health.
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Disclaimer:
Information and other content provided in Lily & Loaf blogs should not be construed as medical advice and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise. If you have any medical concerns, you should consult with your health care provider.
