The urine It is made up of water, mineral salts and other substances such as urea or uric acid. Its origin is in the blood that transports to the kidneys the substances that the body must eliminate.
For this reason, its function is essential and its appearance, color, transparency, its quantity or its smell can provide us with a lot of information about our state of health.
As the specialists explain, normal urine should have a hue between light yellow and dark amber. This color is the result of “a nitrogenous substance that constitutes the pigment that gives urine yellow and is called urochrome, and urobilin, a product of bilirubin metabolism that is produced by degradation of hemoglobin.”
Substances that can change the color of urine
There are many substances that can alter the color of our urine. Both pigments and some food components can do this. And not only the color, but also the smell.
Color, like other aspects of urine, can be very helpful in determining health status.
Some drugs also alter the color, and for this reason it is recommended that in the event of any alteration we wait 24 hours to see if it is corrected.
If this does not happen, and symptoms such as pain or fever appear, or that the urine is red or dark brown, you should consult a specialist as it may indicate a disease.
What does the color tell us?
Color, like other aspects of urine, can be very helpful in determining the state of health. Therefore it is important not to overlook it, and maintain healthy habits.
The specialists explain that “the color of the urine can present a wide chromatic variety that would go from yellow or orange to red, blue, green, dark brown or cloudy white”.
But what does it mean that the urine acquires these colors? The experts from the Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya clarify this.
- light yellow urine. We have already seen that it is the normal and habitual color of urine. In the event that we drink more water, the hue will be lighter. If the hydration is lower, “urobilin is more concentrated and darker.”
Despite the fact that this color is considered normal, experts warn that “if the urine is very clear and we have not drunk much, it could indicate diabetes.”
- orange urine. Eating carrots or beets can cause the skin to turn orange. In the event that we have not taken these foods and the urine is of this tone, we could be facing “some liver or bile duct problem”. So it’s best to see a doctor.
- Blue or green urine. Although it may sound strange, it happens if we eat asparagus or foods with colorings of these tones. On the other hand, pseudomonas bacteria that cause urine infections can lead to green urine. Hereditary benign hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood) or “blue diaper syndrome” presents the urine in that tone.
- Brown urine. The foods implicated in this urine color are beans, broad beans, or some medications. As for interpreting it as a symptom, it may be because the patient is dehydrated or has liver problems.
- Pink or reddish urine. Blueberries, beets, or any red food will cause urine to turn red. It also occurs when intense physical exercise is performed. If none of these factors is present, reddish urine “indicates the presence of blood in the urine, which may be due to an infection, a kidney stone, bladder or urinary tract tumors,” the experts explain. If the urine is red, it is recommended to consult the urologist immediately.
Other changes in urine
- Urine with a strong odor. It is well known that after eating asparagus our urine smells stronger. It also happens with coffee. In addition, urine infections can also produce a strong odor.
- Cloudy or opaque urine. Kidney stones or urinary tract infections cause these changes in the urine. “It is often accompanied by a strong odor and the desire to urinate often. This occurs in urinary infections.”
- foamy urine Excess protein in the urine can cause this effect. In any case, the specialists point out that “proteinuria must always be studied, because if it is not due to an excess of protein in the diet, it may indicate a kidney problem.”