Urine color is a factor that many of us flush away without a second thought, but it can actually be a very important indicator of your urinary health. While normal, healthy urine will vary in shade, changes in color should be noted and in some instances reported to your urologist.
Healthy urine can vary all the way from almost clear to a golden color, although if your urine is always a strong yellow you are very likely dehydrated and should drink more water. Completely clear urine can also be caused by some medications, but it is not the color to aim for when trying to find your ideal hydration level. A pale yellow is generally considered ideal by most urologists.
Colors for concern are shades of amber, pink, red, orange, blue, green, brown or black. Ambers and oranges are often signs of severe dehydration, severe enough that sometimes drinking water isn’t enough. Blues, greens and occasionally brighter oranges are most likely caused by medications, but if you aren’t taking any at the moment you should contact your urologist immediately because they can be signs of rare conditions.
