What should healthy urine look like

But if you are experiencing an unhealthy looking color, make an appointment with your doctor. Our color categories are approximate. Clear or transparent means you are drinking a lot of water. While it is rare to drink too much water, I recommend that if you see this shade, you cut back a bit. Cutting back your fluid intake will also reduce the number of trips to the bathroom. Changes in the consistency of the liquid, including if it is cloudy or foamy, can be a sign of a urinary tract infection , an overabundance of certain minerals, a symptom of a chronic disease or sign of a kidney condition.

In some cases, it is also a sign of dehydration. Another cause could be that you love steak and eat a lot of red meat or are on a ketogenic diet high-fat and low-carb.

When everything is healthy and normal, your urine should be pale yellow to gold. It is helpful to regularly pay attention to your urination to see what your normal color is, so that you can tell when it is different.

Amber urined your bright yellow or neon liquid. Bright yellow urine is harmless, and is just a sign that you are taking more vitamins than your body needs. You may want to check with your doctor on what vitamins your body does not need as much of so you can cut back. If your morning routine includes popping a handful of vitamins and supplements, this could be the culprit behind your bright yellow or neon liquid.

Brown color in urination could mean you have severe dehydration or a liver condition. Brown urine could be misinterpreted as a very dark red, which could be caused by blood. Brown coloration could also be caused by large consumption of fava beans, aloe or rhubarb. Medications that cause your discharge to appear brown include metronidazole treats infections or chloroquine prevent malaria.

Red or pink urine can range in a variety of colors. This may mean you have blood in your urine hematuria or it could be a sign of kidney disease, urinary tracts infection, tumors or a prostate problem. Excessive levels of certain minerals, such as calcium , can cause white urine, as well as too much protein in the urine. Kidney problems and excess protein can also make the urine foamy. Temporary foaminess is usually a result of an unsteady urine flow. If cloudiness in the urine lasts for more than a few days, a doctor should investigate the cause.

Many of the changes in urine color are temporary or reversible following a change in diet or medication. Most changes are harmless. Seek medical help whenever dehydration is caused by illness, or if the person is unable to take in fluids.

This is especially important if there is no explanation for the dehydration, or it is severe. A clear indicator for seeking medical help is red-colored urine. If there is any doubt about the cause of a change in the urine, people should see a doctor. Some conditions that change urine color are rare but serious. A tumor in the urinary tract is one example of a rare cause that needs an urgent diagnosis.

Seeing a doctor is also important if any changes last longer than 2 or 3 days or accompany other symptoms. Dark-colored urine and thirst are classic signs that someone is dehydrated. The simple solution is to drink more. But when dehydration occurs in the…. Foamy urine is a symptom of several medical conditions. Learn about some of the potential causes and treatment options here. Urine can begin to smell like sulfur for many different reasons.

Several causes relate to diet and lifestyle, such as eating certain foods or becoming…. In this article, learn about the possible causes of white particles in urine for both men and women, including UTIs, kidney stones, STIs, yeast….

A urinary tract infection can affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes that link them. Usually caused by bacteria, urinary tract infections are…. Why is my urine bright yellow? Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Causes Colors Other urine changes When to see a doctor Normal urine should be pale yellow. Share on Pinterest An excess of B-vitamins can cause bright yellow urine. The color categories here are approximate, because what looks like red to you might look like orange to someone else.

Despite its alarming appearance, red urine isn't necessarily serious. Red or pink urine can be caused by:. Discolored urine that isn't the result of foods or medications could be caused by a medical condition that affects urine color.

Factors that put you at risk of medical conditions that can affect urine color include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Normal urine color ranges from pale yellow to deep amber — the result of a pigment called urochrome and how diluted or concentrated the urine is.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Female urinary system Open pop-up dialog box Close. Female urinary system Your urinary system — which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — removes waste from your body through urine. Male urinary system Open pop-up dialog box Close. Male urinary system Your urinary system — which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — removes waste from your body through urine.

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