What the colour of your pee says about your health…from GREEN to amber (and when you’re dehydrated)
NEXT time you go to the loo, it's a good idea to take a peek at your pee.
It may seem gross but the colour, and even smell, of your wee can tell you a lot about your health.
As a general rule it should be pale straw in colour - that indicates you are well hydrated and healthy.
But if it's a dark yellow, with a strong smell, it's a clear indication you are dehydrated - something that's highly likely as the UK heatwave continues - and temperatures reach 30C.
The Sun nutritionist Amanda Ursell said: "If it's pale and clear that's good.
"If it's dark orange and whiffy, you need to drink more."
Brits welcomed the hottest day of the year for the fourth day in a row yesterday.
The mercury soared to a record-breaking 32.6C - smashing Wednesday's high of 31.9C.
Here's what the colour of your wee could mean...and when to see a GP.
1. Pale straw
This is the optimum colour - not too light and not too dark.
If your wee is this colour you are drinking enough water and your kidneys are functioning well.
The golden straw colour of your pee is caused by a pigment your body makes called urochrome, which make up part of the waste products in your wee.
2. Dark yellow/amber
If your wee is a dark colour it indicates you aren't drinking enough water - you're dehydrated.
Dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches and nausea and can have more serious health consequences for the very young and elderly.
The affects can be both physical, resulting in lethargy, and mental, causing lack of concentration.
Your body needs water to maintain healthy function in your organs, so be sure to drink your eight glasses a day.
Drinking plenty of water will also help your skin and hair glow, so what are you waiting for?
If you are drinking plenty of water but your wee is still really dark, it could be a sign of kidney or liver problems so book an appointment with your GP.
3. Green
It can be pretty alarming to look into the toilet bowl and see green pee.
In most cases this can be caused by your diet.
If you are eating plenty of fresh green vegetables (well done you!) then your wee might be green.
Eating foods with artificial green food colouring can also do this.
In other, more rare cases, it may be down to a genetic condition called familial hypercalcemia which causes abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood.
It can make your we appear green/blue.
Urinary tract infections may also cause your wee to look green.
If you have symptoms like pain, a frequent need to wee, aching in your pelvis you should see a GP.
4. Red
You'd be forgiven for panicking if you saw red wee, but relax, it's not always a sign of something serious.
As with green wee, this is most likely caused by foods you are eating.
Think berries, beetroot, rhubarb, red food dye - anything that has a lot of red coloured pigments.
Some medications can also caused your wee to look red or pink, so check with your doctor if you are taking any medication.
MORE ON TOILET HEALTH
Urinary tract infections (UTI) can also be a culprit here - if they get really bad you may notice some blood mixed in with you pee which turns it red/pink.
If you have a UTI you will also experience a frequent need to be, a burning sensation when you do and pain in the pelvic area.
You should see a GP if the symptoms persist.
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