Urine is a liquid that is excreted from the body through the urethra. It consists of nitrogen-rich by-products such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine, that should be removed from the bloodstream. The water-soluble chemicals found in urine originates from the kidneys, which would then flow through the ureters before being contained in the urinary bladder and expelled through the urethra.
What is a healthy urine color?
Urine color is a good determinant of certain health problems. According to mayoclinic.org, urine can show if the body is dehydrated, have a rare blood disorder, or have a liver problem, among others.
A normal and healthy urine color usually has a color ranging from pale yellow to deep amber. The healthier you are, or the more water you drink, the less the color of your urine become concentrated.
What it means when urine color is yellow
When your urine is yellow, it just means that your body is well hydrated. When the urobilin, which is a pigment urochrome that causes the color of the urine, is diluted with water, the concentration of the urine decreases. This means, that the more you drink water, the more your urine will turn yellow.
However, there are factors that can affect the color of your urine even if you are well hydrated. According to mayoclinic.org, some of the factors that can affect urine color include diet, medications, exercise, medical conditions, and pregnancy.
What is a urine foam?
Due to different factors, the consistency and color of your urine may change. For example, WebMD says your urine may turn colorless if you drink too much water or are taking diuretics. Meanwhile, it can turn brown if you are severely dehydrated or have a liver problem.
In some cases, unusual urine colors may show up which includes:
*Pink - which is caused by food such as berries, beets, and rhubarb.
*Red - which may be caused by medications such as antibiotics and phenazopyridine
*Orange - which is caused by high doses of vitamin B2
*Blue/Green - which is caused by allergy and asthma medications
Urine may also change its consistency and turn foamy and frothy which may be a sign of protein nutrients in your urine that could lead to kidney problems.
If you are seeing unusual color or consistency in your urine, you should immediately consult your doctor to check for underlying health problems.
What is the normal pre-pregnancy urine color?
Ideally, all people should have a pale yellow urine color if they are properly hydrated, not eating foods that can affect urine color, not taking certain medications, and have no underlying health condition; and this includes pregnant women.
However, in some cases, dark urine may show up in people either pregnant or not pregnant. A dark color simply means that the body is dehydrated. If you are pregnant and are drinking enough water but is still expelling dark urine, it just means that you need to drink more water as pregnant women need more fluid intake as compared to pre-pregnancy days.
What is the normal number of urine?
According to healthline.com, a healthy person should expel urine for about four to ten times a day. However, it does not mean that the number of times you go to the bathroom should be the same every day.
Depending on some factors such as age, fluid intake, medical conditions, medications, and bladder size, your urine can vary from day to day. Furthermore, if you are pregnant, you may find yourself urinating more due to bladder pressure from your growing baby.
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