Urine Colors That Reveal Important Things About Your Health

Abnormal Urine Colors

Sometimes your urine will take a dive completely off the light yellow to amber gold color chart. If this is the case, here are several possible urine colors you might be seeing and what they mean:

-Green or blue urine: this is typically caused by something you ingested. Certain foods and beverages and medications have the ability to make your urine these colors, especially if they contain a blue dye. Asparagus has not only been known to make your urine appear greener, it can also affect your urine’s odor.

-Red or pink urine: certain foods that are naturally red can cause these color changes in your urine. Laxatives and some prescription drugs can also be the cause of red urine. In some cases, blood in your urine stream can be a sign of a medical condition like an enlarged prostate, bladder stones or even kidney cancer.

-Murky urine: this can be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones. For men, semen left in the urinary tract can also cause urine to be cloudy or murky.

-Orange urine: blackberries, beets, rhubarb and certain medications with dyes can cause this. Medical issues that can cause orange urine include jaundice and dehydration.

-Foamy urine: this doesn’t affect the color or your urine. Instead, it accompanies urine at certain times, which may be cause for alarm. Excessive foam in your urine is typically a sign of ingesting too much protein.

 Seeking Medical Attention

Often times, a drastic change in urine color is caused by something you ingested. Take note of any color changes, and record when and how often they occur. If you can rule out food or medication as possible causes for your change in urine color, you should contact your physician. Also think about any other possible symptoms you may be experiencing that are related to a major health issue:

-Are you urinating more frequently than usual?

-Is urination painful for you?

-Are you having trouble urinating? Has urinating become more infrequent than usual?

-Are you urinating only small amounts at a time?

-Do you wake up frequently at night to urinate?

-Are you producing more urine than usual?

-Are you leaking or dribbling urine uncontrollably?

While it is best not to panic at the first signs of abnormal urine color, you should not ignore it either. Consult a physician to ensure you aren’t suffering from something serious. If a change in urine color is accompanied by any of the above symptoms, notify your doctor immediately.