Many of us take pride in the fact that we belong to “evolved” society and therefore we may not want to observe the color and smell of our defecated wastes. We may even want to flush it down as fast as we can. But it turns out that the state of our urine can give us a lot of information about our body functioning. So next time, take a few seconds to observe the nature of your pee before pressing that button. Read on to find out what the smell and color of your pee says about your health.
Variations In Smell Of Urine
Strong Smell Of Ammonia In Urine
Ideally urine should not have an odor that’s too strong. A strong odor could indicate a higher concentration of urine which in turn is an indication that your body is dehydrated. In some cases, presence of kidney stones or urinary tract infection could also cause urine to smell of ammonia.
Strange Odor
Urine sometimes may smell different when consuming certain foods. It is known that consumption of asparagus causes this effect. In some rare cases, urine may smell sweet due to the presence of excess glucose in the blood stream.
Variations In Urine Color
Colorless Urine
Colorless urine is your body’s way of telling you that you might be overhydrated. Yes, too much of a good thing can be bad. Being overhydrated could lower the level of sodium and electrolytes in your blood.
Cloudy Urine
Cloudy urine can be an indication of dehydration or excess protein in the urine. In some cases it could also be an indication of urinary tract infection. Some sexually transmitted diseases also tend to make the urine appear cloudy.
Pale Yellow Color
Pale yellow color indicates a healthy level of hydration. Ensure that you increase or decrease water intake according to the increase and decrease in your physical activity.
Dark Yellow
Dark Yellow urine is an indication that you are slightly dehydrated. Increasing your water consumption may help.
Tinge Of Orange
If your urine has a tinge of orange, it’s not always a cause for major concern as it could just be an indication that you eaten a lot of carrots. Orange colored urine could also be an indication of a liver problem. Some medications that you are on could also cause this effect. It is advisable to ask your doctor about it. Although it is also possible for this color to be caused by ingested food dyes.
Tinge Of Pink
Pink urine is not a cause for concern in most cases as they are just a byproduct of eating too many beets, blackberries or blueberries.
Tinge Of Blue
The Blue Diaper Syndrome also known as Drummond’s syndrome and hypercalcemia is characterized by bluish tinge in urine of babies. It is caused due to defective absorption of tryptophans.
Tinge Of Green
Green color of urine is most cases is caused as a result of consuming too much asparagus. It is harmless in most cases but you can consult your doctor to rule out any other causes.
Tinge Of Brown
Brown urine can be caused as a result of ingesting a few food items like fava beans or rhubarb. It is advisable to consult with your doctor as brown urine in some cases can be an indication of melanoma. Copper poisoning is also known to cause brownish colored urine.
Tinge Of Red
Blood in urine may be serious and it’s best you consult your doctor immediately. It could be an indication of kidney stones or even an internal tumor or injury. Mercury poisoning is also known to cause a reddish tinge in urine.
