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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Lifestyle
David Kent

The seven urine colours and which ones mean you could be seriously ill

According to experts, you should be drinking at least two litres of water a day to keep things healthy and flowing in your body.

One of the key processes that doing so will assist is excretion - otherwise known as using the toilet.

Things can get a bit difficult if you don't get a sufficient amount of water, especially when urinating.

Generally, you'll see one or two colours of urine, but there are others that should be causing some concern.

A number of experts have weighed in on when you should panic if you start seeing these colours.

Clear

If your urine is clear, then things are mostly fine.

It could mean that you're drinking a little too much water, meaning your body is being sapped of electrolytes.

HealthLine say that "Urine that occasionally looks clear is no reason to panic, but urine that’s always clear could indicate that you need to cut back on how much water you’re drinking.

"Clear urine can also indicate liver problems like cirrhosis and viral hepatitis. If you are not consuming large amounts of water and have ongoing clear urine, you should see your doctor."

Yellowish to amber

This is the most 'common' of the colours you'll see when you visit the bathroom and it's generally a good sign.

That's all down to the urochrome pigment, which is the natural colour of your urine.

The more water you drink, the more diluted it becomes.

The less you drink, the darker it'll be.

Kidney problems could cause different colour urine (Getty)

Red to pink

Urine may look red or pink if you eat fruits with naturally deep pink or magenta pigments, like beetroot, rhubarb or blueberries.

But there could be a serious issue if you haven't eaten any of those.

If your urine is red, there is a high chance that there'll be blood in it.

That might point to a number of issues, such as:

  • enlarged prostate
  • kidney stones
  • tumours in the bladder and kidney

You should contact a doctor if you are concerned.

Orange

Orange urine means you are likely dehydrated.

There's also the possibility that bile has seeped into your bloodstream, or that you've contracted adult-onset jaundice.

Drink some water, and if the pee is still orange, then seek medical attention.

Blue or green

This should cause concern.

HealthLine say: "The pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial infection can cause your urine to turn blue, green, or even indigo purple. In general, blue urine is rare and most likely connected to something in your diet."

Dark brown

If you see dark brown urine being emitted, then try and pump the water in to you.

If that doesn't clear it up a little, seek a doctor immediately.

The experts say: "A condition called porphyria can cause a buildup of the natural chemicals in your bloodstream and cause rusty or brown urine. Dark brown urine can also be an indicator of liver disease, as it can be caused by bile getting into your urine."

Cloudy

Cloudy urine may mean you have a urinary tract infection (UTI) - especially if there's a bit of pain involved.

It can also be a symptom of some chronic diseases and kidney conditions like diverticulitis or Crohn's disease.

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