You can tell a lot about your health by simply scrutinising your next piddle! So, how healthy is your pee? According to experts, your urine colour or odour is largely determined by what – and how many – liquids you drink.
Gulping gallons to get “hydrated”? Not so fast, says dietician Sarah Batchelor. “Eight glasses per day is an arbitrary number and everybody has individual requirements,” she says. But, urine quality is determined not just by what you put in, but also by what’s already there.
Check below to see where you stand. See any weird changes? Check in with the doc, like now. So, take this 10-second test to find out how healthy your pee really is…
What does clear urine indicate?
If your pee is colourless, you might be overjoyed and think you’ve drank the right amount of water. You’d be wrong. “The hydration level is full to the max, and intake is just excessive. It also leads to overworking of the kidneys,” says Betchelor. It could also lead to dangerously low sodium levels. Stop drinking water unless you are thirsty.
Why is it bright, lumo yellow?
Taken any multivitamins? “Urine is usually bright lumo yellow due to the vitamin B in the vitamins,” says Batchelor. When you take a vitamin or supplement, the body processes the contents and anything left unused exits stage left via your pee. Vitamin B2 in particular can tinge your urine to a lumo yellow.
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If your urine is pale yellow, is everything ok?
Sigh of relief: if your urine is slightly yellow but otherwise clear, you are hydrated and healthy. You’re A-okay! Keep drinking, but only when you’re thirsty.
What does dark yellow urine mean?
A sign of dehydration. Time to get sipping. However, if your urine is more of a light orange colour, it could be an excess of carrots or even vitamin C, which can add this colour.
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What does pink urine mean?
Unless you’ve eaten some beetroot, blackberries or something with red dye, pink urine could indicate blood. This may be serious; get it checked out at a doctor ASAP. Reddish urine could also indicate a UTI, kidney stones or even lead or mercury poisoning.
Is frothy urine normal?
“This can be an indication of kidney problems,” says Batchelor. Frothy urine could indicate a high protein content, which would create the unusual texture. See your doc, ASAP.
What does cloudy urine mean?
According to Harvard Health Publishing, milky-white urine comes about when white blood cells are released to respond to an immune issue. In this case, you could be dealing with a UTI.
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What about urine odour?
Foods can affect your urine’s odour, such as coffee, cabbage, onion and pineapple. However, a change in your pee’s odour can also indicate a health issue. Sweet-smelling pee could indicate diabetes; a musty smell could signal a metabolic disorder, according to Cleaveland Clinic.
