Urine Color, Clarity, and Smell – All You Need to Know

You pass urine several times a day, relieving your bladder and getting rid of your body's waste products. The appearance and odor of your urine can give you clues about several health disorders. Urine is produced by the kidneys, which participate in several functions related to excretion and metabolism. Knowing your own urine's normal appearance is important. as it will help you know when something is wrong.

Urine Color

Normal urine is a pale yellow, but the color varies with many factors, including the time of day. The first urine you pass in the morning is usually the most concentrated and is likely to be dark urine. The urine you pass after drinking a lot of liquids will be pale yellow or clear.

Is clear pee bad?

The kidneys vary urine production based on your body's fluid intake. If you don't eat and drink for a long time (such as at night), your kidneys should produce concentrated, dark urine.

If your urine is always colorless, your kidneys may be unable to concentrate the urine. Diabetes insipidus and other conditions that cause your kidneys to produce large volumes of urine (polyuria) could be responsible.

‍

‍

Yellow urine

Deep yellow urine usually indicates you're not drinking enough water. It's a matter of concern if you have diarrhea, vomiting, or another disorder that could dehydrate you. Dark yellow and scanty concentrated urine shows you are significantly dehydrated and need oral or intravenous rehydration therapy.

Bilirubin is a pigment that turns urine yellow. Excessive bilirubin in the blood happens in liver diseases, such as hepatitis, liver duct obstruction, and some metabolic disorders. Learn about Bilirubin in urine in this blog.

Neon yellow urine

If your urine is a bright yellow color, it can be alarming but is usually harmless. The most common reason for neon yellow pee is the vitamin supplements you're eating. Riboflavin, also called vitamin B2, gives urine a neon yellow color. This vitamin is water-soluble, and if you're consuming more than you need, your body flushes it out in the urine.

Red urine

This is the most common abnormal urine color. Your urine may be red during your period because of mixing in of menstrual flow.¹

Other reasons for red urine include:

• Hematuria. The presence of blood in the urine. Hematuria can originate in the kidneys, ureters, or bladder, and can be caused by injury, stones, or other influences.
• Myoglobinuria. This substance is released from injured muscles and gives urine a red color.
• Hemoglobinuria. Hemoglobin is essential; it carries oxygen to every cell of your body. However, it's always inside red blood cells. If red blood cells are being destroyed in the bloodstream, hemoglobin appears in the urine, making it red.
• Porphyria. This is a serious metabolic disorder. It gives urine a red, brown, or yellow color.
• Food and drink. Some food, like beets, and food colors can cause red urine. It only happens when you eat these foods. Though it's harmless, it can be scary.
• Drugs and dyes. Dyes, such as phenolsulfonphthalein, are used for testing kidney function and give a red color to urine. Some drugs like chlorzoxazone, rifampicin, phenolphthalein, and deferoxamine mesylate also give a red color to urine.

‍

Green or blue-green urine

This is often caused by chlorophyll in mouthwashes, but green urine can signify a urinary tract infection with Pseudomonas bacteria. Food additives, dyes, and some medications can also give a green color to your urine. Rarely, green urine may be a sign of an inherited metabolic disorder.

Black or dark brown urine

Urine with blood in it will turn brown if left for a while. Cola-colored urine is seen with the destruction of muscle cells (rhabdomyolysis).

Cloudy urine

Cloudy pee is often caused by the mixing of semen or prostatic fluid but could be a disorder that needs medical attention. It can result from:

• Phosphates and carbonates in the urine
• Leukocytes (white blood cells), generally a sign of urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Bacteria and yeasts (bacterial and fungal UTIs)
• Fats, which can be caused by kidney injuries, or high levels of fats in the blood
• Sperm, when urine gets mixed with semen
• Prostatic fluid

‍