{"id":159,"date":"2022-07-25T16:25:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T16:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yvonnebishopweston.co.uk\/?p=159"},"modified":"2022-08-25T14:07:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T14:07:24","slug":"is-your-urine-a-normal-colour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yvonnebishopweston.co.uk\/is-your-urine-a-normal-colour\/","title":{"rendered":"Is your urine a normal colour?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ever wondered if your urine colour is normal? \u201cJust like we should use the daily health-check opportunity of looking at our bowel movements<\/a>(opens in new tab), our urine can also give us insight into our health,\u201d says clinical nutritional therapist Yvonne Bishop-Weston, who works with Vitabiotics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you see blood in your urine you should check in with your GP straight away,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cBut also look out for other changes, such as urine which is foamy, dark coloured, cloudy, milky white, smelly or just different to usual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s not all. \u201cIncreased frequency of needing to go for a pee, struggling to go despite drinking enough, or pain, are all symptoms which should be checked out,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cBut small daily changes can also bring messages about our health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking down into the toilet bowl every time you visit the loo can sometimes set off a lot of worry, but odd colours are more normal than you think!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a quick glance at your urine colour could alert you to a health concern. \u201cUrine is a great marker for health and wellbeing,\u201d says Dr Ross Perry, GP and medical director of Cosmedics UK<\/a>(opens in new tab). \u201cIt looks predominantly at your hydration, but can also reveal whether there are any medical conditions, such as diabetes, an infection, kidney disease or even cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The normal colour for wee should be a medium to light, straw-like yellow colour, which means you\u2019re well hydrated. A slightly darker yellow shows you\u2019re healthy, but could probably do with drinking a bit more water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUrine usually has a very mild smell but, if this gets stronger, it could be a sign of a kidney problem, diabetes or a urinary tract infection, but usually it\u2019s due to not drinking enough water,\u201d adds Yvonne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA number of things can change the colour of our urine, including some foods. Beetroot tends to turn it light pink and if you have a large portion of carrots it can be more orange. Colourings in foods, some vitamins and medications can also change the colour of urine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not really. If you are fit and healthy, then your urine colour will probably be pale yellow, but not completely clear. \u201cThe kidneys, which produce urine, are the body\u2019s filtration unit,” says Stuart. \u201cWhen the body is generally healthy urine is pale yellow to gold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you urine has no colour at all, it could be a sign you are drinking too much water. This means you are flushing out the vital vitamins and minerals before your body has had a chance to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking more alcohol than usual? This could be a reason why you are going to the toilet more regularly and your urine is clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it forces water out of the body and makes it more difficult to rehydrate afterwards,\u201d says Dr Rosh, aesthetics practitioner and medical director of Cheshire aesthetics and wellness clinic, KLNIK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt does this by telling the kidneys to make more urine than normal. So, you urinate more. If you are unable to replace these fluids, then this will lead to dehydration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your urine colour is similar to honey, you\u2019re probably not drinking enough water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDarker than usual urine can indicate dehydration, so take the reminder to drink more,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cMany of us get through the day and then realise that other than a coffee or tea we have barely drunk any water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have other symptoms, too. \u201cNot drinking enough can hinder concentration, lead to constipation, increase the chances of urinary tract infections (UTIs), and even reduce energy levels,\u201d says Yvonne. In fact, many women experience headaches from dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news? It can be reversed quickly. \u201cDrink<\/a> more water<\/a> and you should notice a change the next time you pee,\u201d adds Dr Perry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hate the taste of plain water? You\u2019re not alone \u2013 23% of Brits say it tastes \u201cfunny\u201d, found a survey by Britvic and Robinsons<\/a>). \u201cUse a filter,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cThis not only removes heavy metals, which may have negative health repercussions, but also makes it taste better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yvonne also suggests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Artificially or naturally coloured foods and drinks are often the reason for abnormally coloured wee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green:<\/strong> This is usually caused from eating something of the same colour, such as asparagus. But if you haven\u2019t been around any strongly-coloured food, you should contact your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue:<\/strong> This could be a rare genetic disease called blue diaper syndrome, which turns your urine blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pink or red:<\/strong> Eaten beetroot? \u201cThis can turn your urine pink,\u201d says Dr Boleti. \u201cTaking new medication can also turn urine red.\u201d It could be a sign of cystitis, a UTI, kidney infection, a prostate problem (in men) or a tumour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVisit your GP if you notice blood in your urine no matter what. \u201cWhile it\u2019s unlikely to be cancer, your GP can give further tests to rule it out and other serious causes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Orange or neon yellow:<\/strong> If you\u2019ve been taking beta-carotene or vitamin B pills, then that could be the reason why your wee is bright orange or yellow! These are water-soluble vitamins, so they get flushed out of the body when your body has excess vitamins in its system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome supplements can change the colour of your urine, but it\u2019s not harmful,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cFor example, taking a multi-vitamin containing B vitamins can turn urine a bright yellowy green colour, which looks alarming but is simply the excess being excreted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can also mean you\u2019re dehydrated. However, if the colour doesn\u2019t change back when you stop using the supplements or drinking more water, see your GP. \u201cThis may be a sign you have liver problems,\u201d says Stuart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to check out how healthy you are today? Check out this full urine colour chart by the Cleveland Clinic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/U7GocxhYLQEceMHRmrY37d-1280-80.jpg.webp<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Image: The Cleveland Clinic<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you or your little ones are experiencing any of the abnormal colours along with other unusual symptoms, it’s worth checking with a health professional to make sure everything is alright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Think you have an issue? \u201cWhen you see your GP or practice nurse be ready to provide a urine sample so have a drink of water before you leave to ensure you can provide a sample when there,\u201d says Yvonne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA number of potential issues can be detected using a urine dipstick in the consultation. If a UTI is suspected, it\u2019s best for your sample to be sent away to a lab to be cultured. This can pick up things not detected on the dipstick and identify the specific bacteria and treatment needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you have had a change in frequency of how often you need to pass urine, while you wait for your appointment keep a fluid and frequency dairy,\u201d says Yvonne. \u201cBe sure to include how much you drink each day, how often you go during the day and night and if you are if it is a small or longer pee.\u201d Just don’t keep your diary in the bathroom, here’s<\/a>(opens in new tab) why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dark brown or black:<\/strong> If your urine is the colour of dark syrup or brown ale, this could be a symptom of liver disease like hepatitis and cirrhosis. It happens after the build-up of the breakdown of old red blood cells that leaks into urine. So if it persists then it\u2019s best to go and have a chat with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This could also be caused by melanoma skin cancer, but it\u2019s extremely rare. \u201cYou\u2019re normally more likely to spot a melanoma from checking your skin,\u201d says Dr Perry. Contact your GP without delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foamy:<\/strong> This could just be a case of physics! If you urinate very quickly, it can create bubbles in the toilet bowl. However, it could also mean a dietary or kidney problem, so it\u2019s best to contact your doctor if it persists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cloudy:<\/strong> Milky white or cloudy urine? It could reveal an excess of protein in the urine. \u201cThis may be a sign of cystitis, a UTI or a kidney infection,\u201d says Stuart. \u201cIt would usually be accompanied by pain or irritation on passing water.\u201d See your GP as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Milky white urine can be a sign of excess protein in the urine, which can mean your kidneys are having problems filtrating. But if you have a red tinge to your urine, it could due to blood cells entering your urine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in the urine, also known as haematuria,\u201d says Dr Katia Boleti, a consultant medical oncologist who works with Kidney Cancer UK<\/a>(opens in new tab).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis may come and go and it\u2019s worth noting that not everyone with kidney cancer will have haematuria. Sometimes you won\u2019t be able to see it, so any change in the colour of your urine should be checked out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaving said this, it\u2019s important to remember that most people with blood in their urine do not have kidney cancer,\u201d says Dr Boleti. \u201cBlood in the urine is more likely a sign of an infection, kidney stones, prostate problems or sometimes bladder cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your urine colour can tell you a lot, but is your usual colour normal? Here’s everything you need to know…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat does urine colour mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is it good if your urine is clear?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is my urine dark yellow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Strange urine colours that could be normal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Urine colour chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cloudy, dark and foamy urine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What colour is urine when kidneys are failing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n