Urine And Your Health

The Color of Urine

By Judi Ketteler

"Urine is a window into health, disease and diet," says Jeff Schlaudecker, M.D., assistant professor of Family Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Because everything you eat and drink gets filtered through your kidneys, your urine is a reflection of your diet. It can also alert you to other things that might be going on in your body.

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Clear urine

Run-of-the-mill urine is pale yellow and has little odor (with one notable exception -- keep reading). Assuming you don't have any pain with urination, you get an A for bladder health and hydration! Pale, clear-looking urine means that you are adequately hydrated. (Drinking water dilutes the yellowish pigment in urine.)

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Bright-yellow or yellow-orange urine

Neon yellow or orange urine is often a sign of dehydration. If your Mellow Yellow-colored urine is paired with headaches and/or lethargy, it's time to drink some fluid. However, you might be perfectly hydrated, and your urine is simply reflecting that you're taking a multivitamin (B and C are big culprits for bright-yellow urine) -- an effect that should only last a few hours.

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Pink or red urine

Don't freak out if your urine takes on a reddish tinge, Schlaudecker says. Eating blackberries, rhubarb or beets can tint your urine red. Interestingly, if you are anemic, you're more likely to have reddish urine after eating beets, he says. Other culprits: Iron sorbitol (a medication for anemia), ibuprofen or phenazopyridine (a med for urinary tract infections). The Mayo Clinic also reports that Ex-lax and some antipsychotic drugs can cause reddish urine.

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Bloody urine

If your urine is reddish for reasons other than food or medication intake, it might be caused by blood. Still, this could be benign if you've engaged in strenuous exercise (such as distance running), because this often causes bloody urine. But it's best to call your doctor, especially if it lasts more than 24 hours. Schlaudecker says a simple urine test can determine what's going on. Don't panic: Blood in urine is often a sign of infection, he says, which can easily be treated. And if it's something more serious, catching it early is the best protocol.

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Brownish urine

Your urine might look brown if you eat a lot of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other culprits: anti-malaria drugs, nitrofurantoin (taken for UTI infections) or methocarbamol (taken to relax muscles). Brownish urine can also be a sign of a liver disorder, like hepatitis or cirrhosis -- however, there would be other symptoms as well (like a yellowing of the skin).

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Cloudy, whitish urine

Whitish, cloudy urine is often a sign of infection (such as a UTI), Schlaudecker says. Phosphate crystals can also cause white urine (though Schlaudecker admits he's not sure why anyone would be consuming them), as well as the anesthesia medication propofol. Definitely call your doctor if your urine is cloudy and accompanied by pain or burning, or if you have fever or feel the need to urinate more often than usual.

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Smelly urine

If you've been munching on asparagus, don't be surprised if your urine has a sweet, sulfur smell. When you eat asparagus, your body has to break up some volatile organic compounds that are pretty pungent, Schlaudecker says. Interestingly, it's determined genetically: Some people can break these down and some can't, and it's perfectly normal either way. Aside from this one exception, urine shouldn't have much of an odor -- if it does, it might be a sign of a UTI.

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Painful urination

Simply put: If it hurts to pee, something is going on, such as an infection, kidney stones or (for men), a prostate issue. Never be embarrassed to call your doctor about urination problems.


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