What Your Urine Color Secretly Reveals About Your Health

Urination is an important aspect of human health, and it's dependent on a working urinary tract to help get rid of excess fluids and waste products. According to the Cleveland Clinic, healthy urine consists of 91% to 96% water. Excess electrolytes, sodium, uric acid, and urea make up the remainder. Since the kidneys are responsible for producing urine as a way to get rid of waste and extra fluids from the blood, urination is also an important way the body can regulate blood volume and pressure. A healthcare provider might order a urinalysis on a routine basis or in the case of a suspected medical issue, but the color of your urine can also offer insights into your overall health. Urine colors go beyond the normal shades of yellow, with white, red, brown, and even blue or green all possibilities.

First, you might wonder what healthy urine looks like. If you're getting the correct water intake and there are no underlying health issues, your urine should normally be light yellow in color, similar to that of straw. The yellow in urine is actually attributed to a chemical called urobilin, which is a byproduct of metabolized proteins from the liver, a vital human organ. Healthy yellow urine should also not have bubbles or foam, or have a cloudy appearance, as these can indicate issues with the kidneys or urinary tract.

Urine color may vary in yellowish shades based on current hydration levels, which can fluctuate day to day (and even throughout the day). While water is important for all living organisms, balance is key to your health. Drinking water also dillutes the natural pigmentation of urobilin. As a rule of thumb, dark yellow urine indicates you're not getting enough water. This can also be amber or honey-like in color. Urine that is clear or without any coloration at all is still normal, but it also means you might be drinking too much water. Neon yellow is another shade of yellow some people might see in urine. This bright yellow color usually indicates excess B vitamin intake from supplements.

Unless there are other urine abnormalities present, both clear and dark yellow-colored urine can usually be fixed with altering your water intake. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult needs between 11.5 and 15.5 cups of fluids per day, which includes water and other liquids you might drink. The exact amount a person needs ultimately depends on how much fluids they lose per day, body type, and external conditions such as the weather. For example, you'll likely need more water on days you exercise, as well as during the hot summer months when you lose more sweat. Keeping tabs on the yellow hue of your urine can tell you whether you're getting enough fluids.

While urine is normally a pale shade of yellow, it's possible for urine to not be yellow at all. Different colors are associated with a variety of underlying causes. First, urine that is so dark that it's trending more brown than deep yellow can be caused by several worrying factors, including severe dehydration. Persistently brown urine that doesn't resolve with drinking more water could indicate something more worrisome, such as liver problems.

Other possible colors that can show up in your urine include red, orange, or even green and blue. These hues can be diet-induced (even from nutritious vegetables), or they might indicate health issues that warrant investigation. For example, pinkish or red urine can be a result of eating something with a lot of red pigmentation, but it can also indicate the presence of blood. Possible causes of blood in the urine include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, diseases, or even certain cancers. White (not clear) urine is also linked with UTIs.

Temporary orange-colored urine can be related to supplements, medications, or dehydration, but chronic cases may be linked with issues with your liver or bile ducts. While less common, green or blue urine can be caused by dyes in medicines or foods. In babies, blue urine may be a sign of high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia) linked to a rare genetic disorder called Drummond's syndrome. As a rule of thumb, any unexplained color of urine that doesn't resolve with drinking more or less water ought to be checked out by a medical professional.