Your urine naturally carries a yellow colour, so once you are healthy there will be signs of yellow pigmentation.

Doctors refer to the standard colour of urine as ‘urochrome’, which is a chemical responsible for ensuring there is yellow pigmentation in your pee.

Urine may also come out in other colours, however, there are instances where this can indicate some health issues, which means you may need a visit to the doctor. Your diet, the medication you take and your water intake will determine the appearance of your pee.

Therefore, not only is the smell of your urine important, but the colour is equally important as well.

Let us take a look at the different colours of urine and what they mean.

Cloudy

Cloudy urine may be a sign that you are suffering from a urinary tract infection, a chronic disease or a kidney condition. Cloudy urine is a cause for concern, especially if the cloudiness is accompanied by bubbles or foam. This could indicate pneumaturia, which can be described as a passage of gas in the urine. This can be very serious, so if you are experiencing this, a doctor’s visit is in order.

Dark Brown

Dark brown urine may be an indication that you are suffering from dehydration. This colour may also come as a result of the medication you take or eating certain foods such as aloe vera and blackberries. Porphyria, a group of disorders that cause build up in the body, can also cause your urine to have a dark brown colour. Additionally, liver disease may cause your urine to have a dark brown colour.

Blue or Green

Did you ever think that urine could be blue or green? Well, it can! This rare colour is caused by food coluring or dyes used for medical testing. It can also be caused as a result of bacterial infection which may cause ones urine to even have a purple/indigo colour.

Orange

Like dark brown urine, orange urine may appear as a result of dehydration. Jaundice, a medical condition that causes yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, may also cause orange urine. If you are experiencing orange urine and light coloured stools simultaneously, bile may be seeping into your bloodstream. If this is the case, see your doctor!

Red or Pink

Red or pink urine is generally caused by your diet. There are other occasions where one might produce red or pink urine due to health conditions such as kidney stones, tumors or an enlarged prostate. If you have not had red or pink foods in your diet, but you are producing red or pink urine, speak to your doctor.

Yellowish to Amber

Urine that is either yellowish or amber is described as ‘typical’. Once the yellow becomes darker to the amber shade, you may need to increase your water intake. An excess amount of B-Vitamins may cause your urine to appear neon-yellow.

Clear

Clear urine on occasions, signifies that you are on the right track, as your urine appears this way if you are drinking the daily recommended amount of water. Drinking too much water, however, can take electrolytes from your body. Although clear urine is healthy, if this persists, especially if you are not drinking enough water, it may be due to liver problems. Therefore, you will need to speak with your doctor.

READ: What does your urine say about YOU? (Part 1)