Don’t dismiss pee as just a way for your body to excrete excess water and salts. It can actually tell you a lot of important things. The next time you go to the toilet, pay attention to the colour of your pee because it could be an indicator of your current state of health. Here’s a handy visual guide to help you interpret what’s going on inside your body:
Clear pee should be a sign of health but sometimes, it means that you’re over-hydrated and have been drinking too much water. Cut back a little bit and you should see an improvement.
If your pee looks like the colour of hay or pale ale, then well done you! Light yellow pee is a sign that your body is properly hydrated, and that you’ve been regularly drinking an adequate amount of water. (For adults, that’s typically 6 to 8 glasses a day.)
If you have Day-Glo yellow pee, it could mean that you’re taking too many supplements. People who pad up their diets with vitamins like C and B will find that their pee often changes colour because excess vitamins found in supplements are often excreted by the body.
Amber or honey coloured pee is usually a sign of dehydration. Your body is signalling that it needs more water so taking in more liquids will quickly and painlessly solve this common problem.
Pee usually turns orange when there are excess salts that the body is working hard to get rid of. This could be because you ate lots of high-sodium foods or you’ve been out drinking all night. In rare cases, orange pee could be a sign of a liver or bile duct condition.
Pee that has a blue or green tint could be caused by something you ate. Eating asparagus, for example, can make your pee look greener and give it a pungent smell. Certain drinks can also make your pee blue because of the dyes that it contains.
Did you eat blueberries or beets recently? If no, then pink or reddish pee could be a sign of blood in your urine. It could be a urinary tract infection, or in extreme cases, bladder stones or even kidney cancer. It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor if you are unsure.
Bottom line: Don’t be shy about taking a look in the loo the next you do a number 2. If you experience drastic changes in the colour of your pee or if a colour change persists, please seek medical attention immediately.