Your pee color can tell you a lot about your current state of health. Youāre probably not spending a lot of time thinking about it, because itās a common and natural daily activity. Itās just something you gotta doā especially if you drink a lot of water! But even though it sounds kind of icky, you should be keeping tabs on how your pee looks.
Thatās becauseā just like with your poopā your pee can create a very detailed reflection of your health and habits. And itās not just your pee color eitherā thereās more to your urine than you may think.
Your peeā or urineā is the excess water, electrolytes, and waste that is removed from your body. Urine is produced when your kidneys filter out that extra water and waste out of your blood and prepare it to leave your body through your urethra.
The average adult bladder holds about 16 ounces of liquidā but you normally feel the urge to empty it at around 8 ounces.
Your urine is also the earliest indicator that you could be pregnant. Thatās because a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is present in the urine of pregnant women. This is what traditional pregnancy tests check for because itās not immediately obvious that hCG is present by color or smell alone.
Normal urinary frequency can vary from person to person. But for most people, theyāll pee anywhere between 4 and 10 times a dayā 6 to 7 times is most typical though.
How often you pee depends on a few different factors, such as:
And while there is no true ānormalā when it comes to how much you pee each day, itās important to understand what your normal is. Because if youāre peeing more than your normal amount, then that can be a sign of another problem.
You can pee too often beyond your normal amount. Overactive bladder (OAB) is a sudden, frequent urge to urinate that affects your day-to-day life. You may also need to pee a lot at nightā this is called nocturia.
Signs of an overactive bladder include:
If you feel like you need to go too often, contact your doctor or your primary care provider. They can help you figure out what may be causing your overactive bladder and help you get the right treatment so you can get back to living your life the way you should.
So now you may be wonderingā what does healthy, normal urine look like?
When youāre healthy and well-hydrated, your pee will either be a pale yellow color or completely clear. Clear urine is a sign that your urine is diluted with more fluidā this is a good thing, Beauty!
On the other hand, more concentrated urine is a sign that youāre dehydrated and need to get more fluids. Dark urine can also be a sign of kidney problems.
Normal urine color can vary from day to day, but as long as it stays within a certain healthy color and shade range, youāll know that you and your urine are both healthy! Check out my infographic below to learn more.
Click to enlarge.
Not only can your urine color indicate your hydration status, but it may also be your biggest clue when something is wrong. But thereās a lot more to your pee than just the colorā Its shade and pH are super important too.
You already know that pale yellow or clear urine are the signs that youāre healthy and properly hydratedā so what do other pee colors mean?
A good rule of thumb is that if you see a sudden color change or change in odor to your urine, call your doctor immediately. Rememberā while itās normal for your urine to change a little day by day, itās not normal for it to change drastically in a short time.
If you own a pool or do a lot of gardening, then you know what pH isā and how important it is to keep a balanced pH level in your pool water or soil. Itās the same with your body and your urine.
pHā short for potential of hydrogenā measures how acidic or alkaline water is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14ā 0 is the most acidic, 14 is the most alkaline, and 7 is considered neutral. Excessively acidic/alkaline urine can also be a sign of health problems.
And while you probably wonāt be using a pH test to test your pee like you would soil or pool water, a tell-tale sign that your pH is off-balance is a burning sensation while you urinate. This is not normal, and you should always see your doctor if you feel a burning sensation while you pee.
We all know about urineās very distinctive smell. This is also normalā to a certain extent. Urine is made mostly of water, so it always has a slight smell. It wonāt have as much of an odor if itās more diluted, but more concentrated urine will have a more pronounced odor.
Different food, medication, supplements and even medical conditions can change how your pee smells. In fact, anyone who enjoys asparagus may know this all too well!
However, particularly smelly urine can be a sign of health problems. For example:
Thereās a reason your doctor asks for a urine sample when you go in for a check-up. Itās because your pee is one of the biggest reflections of your overall health. If something doesnāt look right there, then thereās something else amiss.
Pee is never something you want to ask or talk about often, but knowing what to look for can make staying healthy that much easier. This includes your pee color, the shade, and even the smell.
And rememberā urinating is a natural process that everyone does. So youāre in good company.
