WHAT YOUR URINE SAYS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

Urine isn’t something most
people talk about. We barely
give it more than a passing
glance as it swirls out of sight
down the toilet bowl. Yet
changes in the urine — its
color, odor, and consistency —
can provide important clues
about the status of your body.
Your urine can reveal what
you’ve been eating, how much
you’ve been drinking, and what
diseases you have. Urine
tests have been around for more than 6,000 years and are easy, noninvasive tools for quickly assessing your health status . In your lifetime, your kidneys filter more than one million gallons of water, enough to fill a small lake.
Amazingly, one kidney can handle the task perfectly well. In fact, if you lose a kidney, your remaining kidney can increase in size by 50 percent within
two months, to take over the job of both.
Urine is 95 percent water and five percent urea, uric acid, minerals, salts, enzymes, and various substances that would cause problems if allowed to
accumulate in your body . Normal urine is clear and has a straw yellow.color, caused by a bile pigment called urobilin. Your urine changes color depending on what foods you
eat, what medications and
supplements you take, how much water you drink, how active you are, and the time of the day. But some diseases can also change the color and other characteristics of your urine, so it’s important to be alert and informed.
The Colour of urine and what it says.
*Yellow/Gold- The most typical urine color, it indicates a healthy urinary tract; yellow will
intensify depending on hydration; some B vitamins cause bright yellow.
* Red/Pink -fresh blood in the urine. It is as a result of urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stone, or cancer;
consumption of red foods such as beets, blueberries, red food dyes, rhubarb; iron supplements; Pepto- Bismol, Maalox, and a variety of other drugs.
* White/Colorless -Excessive hydration.
* Orange- Typically a sign of dehydration, showing up earlier than thirst; “holding your bladder” for too long; post-exercise; consuming orange
foods (carrots, squash, or food dyes);liver or pituitary problem.
* Amber-More concentrated than orange so severe dehydration related to intense
exercise or heat; excess caffeine or salt; hematuria; decreased urineproduction (oliguria or anuria); metabolic problem; pituitary problem.
*Brown -Very dense urine concentration,.extreme dehydration; consumption of
fava beans; melanuria (too many
particles in urine); UTI; kidney stone;
kidney tumor or blood clot; glycosuria; renal artery
stenosis; proteinuria; pituitary
problem.Consult your physician if problem persists despite adequate hydration, especially if
accompanied by pale stools or yellow skin oreyes
Black (Rare)- Alkaptonuria, a genetic disorder of phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism marked by accumulation of homogentisic acid in the blood;
poisoning.
Green (Rare)- Unusual UTIs and certain foods (such as asparagus); excessive vitamins.
Consult your doctor especially if you have pain or burning
(dysuria), and/or frequent urination (polyuria), which are
symptoms of UTI.
*Blue (Rare): Artificial colors in foods or drugs; bilirubin; medications such as
methylene blue; unusual UTIs.
*Cloudy- Urinary tract infection, kidney problem, metabolic problem, or lymph fluid in the urine, phosphate crystals,
pituitary problem.
*Foamy -Turbulent urine stream; proteinuria (most common causes are diabetes
and hypertension).
Urine doesn’t typically have a strong smell, but if yours smells pungent (like ammonia), you could have an infection or urinary stones, or you
may simply be dehydrated.
Dehydration causes your urine to be more concentrated and may have a stronger smell than normal, as do high-protein foods like meat and eggs. Menopause, some sexually
transmitted diseases, and certain
metabolic disorders may also increase the ammonia smell.
Urinary frequency is also important.
Peeing six to eight times per day is “average.” You might go more or less often than that, depending on how much water you drink and how active you are. Increased frequency can be
caused by an overactive bladder
(involuntary contractions), caffeine, a urinary tract infection (UTI), interstitial cystitis, benign prostate enlargement, diabetes, or one of a handful of neurological diseases.
It is important to pee when you feel the urge. Delaying urination can cause bladder overdistension — like
overstretching a Rubber band and it doesn’t revert back to its original state
The most important factor in the overall health of your urinary tract is drinking plenty of pure, fresh water every day. Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake, which can irritate the lining of your
bladder and also avoid sugar.

Hope I did justice to the topic.
Please drop your comments and suggestions. I would love to hear from you. Have a wonderful week ahead.

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