What Does the Color of Your Urine Say About Your Health?
Urine color can provide clues about your hydration, diet, medications, and sometimes your health. While occasional changes are often harmless, persistent or unusual colors may warrant medical attention.
Clear
What it may mean:
- You’re very well hydrated.
- You may be drinking more water than your body needs.
Pale Yellow to Light Yellow
What it may mean:
- This is generally considered a sign of normal hydration.
Dark Yellow or Amber
What it may mean:
- You may be mildly dehydrated.
- Try drinking more water unless you’ve been told to limit fluids for a medical reason.
Orange
Possible causes:
- Dehydration
- Certain medications or vitamin supplements (especially some B vitamins)
- Less commonly, liver or bile duct problems
If orange urine persists or occurs with pale stools or yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek medical evaluation.
Pink or Red
Possible causes:
- Foods such as beets, blackberries, or rhubarb
- Blood in the urine
- Certain medications
Blood in the urine should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional, even if it goes away.
Brown or Tea-Colored
Possible causes:
- Severe dehydration
- Certain medications
- Liver disease
- Muscle injury that releases muscle proteins into the bloodstream
Persistent brown urine requires prompt medical evaluation.
Blue or Green
Possible causes:
- Some medications
- Food dyes
- Rare inherited conditions
- Certain urinary tract infections
If you haven’t consumed foods or medications known to cause this, contact a healthcare professional.
Cloudy or Milky
Possible causes:
- A urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Kidney stones
