Urination is an everyday occurrence and a sudden change in that simple act can be jarring. But it may sometimes not be as serious as you believe. There are foods that change urine color, while other sources can also alter your urine in other aspects, all without being a threat to your health.
There are, however, some indications that it may be time to seek medical attention, especially when changes in your urine aren’t the only symptoms you’re experiencing.
To know more about what is and isn’t something to worry about when it comes to urine changes, read on ahead.
Peeing and its Importance
Urinating fulfills an integral role of expelling waste that would normally be harmful if left in the body.
Ammonia, a toxic waste material produced after amino acids are broken down in the body, is reduced to the less dangerous substance known as urea which eventually mixes with water in the body to form the urine we expel every day.
The composition of urine is mostly water and urea. But smaller amounts of other components can be found as well, including remnants of meals, medications, and bacteria.
Because of the contents found in your urine, and how the urea production process passes through key organs such as the liver, kidneys, and bladder, a lot of information about your health can be obtained from analyzing urine, via urinalysis.
Changes that Can Occur in Urine
Your urine can undergo more than just a change in color, depending on what’s causing the change; odor and consistency of your pee can also be altered,
Urine color, in particular, is affected by the amount of liquid in the body and ranges from clear, yellowish to dark amber.
These alterations may only last for a short period of time and not be a cause for any concern.
How much water you drink, or any medication ingested, may result in changes in your urine’s color, consistency, and odor.
There are also certain foods that change urine color without any harmful implications.
Foods That Change Urine Color and Other Causes
To avoid any unnecessary scares or anxiety when answering the call of nature and seeing a color you’ve yet to ever pee, take note of the following foods that can change urine to colors other than the typical yellow:
- Beets, fava beans, rhubarb, and blackberries may induce a reddish or dark brown color
- Carrots may induce a light orange color
- Strong coloring agents in some foods may also change the color of your urine accordingly
- Asparagus has also been noted to give urine a more distinct odor of ammonia.
Medication that may also alter your urine’s color includes stomach acid counters (induces a blue tinge), chemotherapy drugs (an orange tinge), and certain drugs used for urinary tract infection and bladder problems (an orange tinge as well).
Vitamins C and B have been found to induce orange and greenish hues, respectively.
When Things May Be Serious
Although your diet and medication regiment may cause harmless color changes, there are certain indicators that signal a more serious, underlying condition that must be assessed by a medical professional.
- Red urine may be due to the inclusion of blood caused by an infection, kidney stones, or even bladder cancer
- A lighter red shade may be induced by poison from lead or mercury
- Dark brown urine may be caused by problems with your liver
- Glomerulonephritis or kidney inflammation would cause tea-colored urine
- Aside from food and medication, orange urine may also be due to liver or bile duct issues
- Urinary tract infection may also induce a green tint or cloudy urine
Symptoms that typically accompany serious underlying conditions include an increased urination frequency, painful urination, and middle back pain.
If you experience any of these more dangerous changes or additional symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.
Learn more about other Urological Issues here.
