Pee is your body’s filtered liquid waste. And, it can tell you a lot about your health—including your hydration levels and whether you might have an infection or other health problem. So, it’s important to take a peek in the toilet before you flush to check out the color of your urine.
“Monitoring urine color is an effective way to monitor your hydration status,” says Dr. Perrin Downing, MD, a urogynecologist at Axia Women’s Health in Allentown, Pennsylvania. “Ideally, your urine should be a light yellow, like lemonade.”
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But things can change from time to time based on your diet and how much water you’re drinking, and that’s completely normal, she explains. If your pee is too clear, like water, you may be over-hydrated; if it’s darker, like apple juice, you could be dehydrated.
Usually, slight color changes aren’t much to worry about. But, if you notice anything drastic about your pee, and the changes persist, talk to your doctor, says Dr. Aldene Zeno, MD, an OB/GYN and urogynecologist and founder of Essense Health and Urogynecology in Glendale, California.
That’s why paying attention to your pee is so important. It’s the only way to know what’s normal for you and to recognize changes. Here’s what color your pee should be, important color changes to take note of, and when to worry.
What Color Should Your Pee Be?
“There isn’t one single normal urine color,” explains Dr. Katie Murray, DO, chief of urology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Urine typically ranges from clear to yellow to a tea color.
But, she adds, “It’s very common for urine to deviate between lighter and darker colors both throughout the day and day to day.”
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Certain factors can influence the color of your pee. For example, eating beets might turn it red, and excess B-12 or other B vitamins could make it bright yellow to green, Dr. Zeno says. Medications can cause urine color changes, too—for instance, pyridium and rifampin may make urine appear red to bright orange, hyoscyamine blue causes blue urine and fluorescein turns it bright green.
“Once these foods or medications are completely metabolized, the urine should return to yellow,” Dr. Zeno says.
The Pee Color That You Should Worry About
There are times when you should be worried about the color of your pee—such as when it’s pink, red or brown. That’s especially true if you haven’t recently eaten beets, blueberries or rhubarb, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
These color changes can signal blood in your urine, also known as hematuria, Dr. Murray says. Several things can cause it, including a urinary tract infection, kidney stones or other bladder or kidney irritation.
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“However, in some cases, blood in the urine is a sign of cancer in the kidneys or the bladder, which is, of course, something we do not want to miss,” she adds.
Most of the time, blood in your urine turns pee light pink, which usually isn’t an emergency but something to get checked out. However, the darker the bloody urine is, the more you should be concerned, especially when your pee becomes the color of red wine or ketchup, Dr. Murray explains.
“Active bleeding from the urinary tract, though rare, can lead to large blood clots that can make urinating difficult, and the goal is to catch the bleeding before that point,” she says.
If your urine remains dark, like cola, it could suggest dehydration. However, if the color doesn’t lighten after rehydrating, you may have a health condition, like kidney or liver disease, so see your doctor, Dr. Downing says. When you notice sediment in your urine, it could be related to kidney stones, Dr. Zeno adds.
Other Color Changes to Note
Beyond red, pink or brown pee, there are a few other color changes to pay attention to, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Pee that’s blue or green may be alarming. But it’s likely the result of eating dyed foods or taking certain medications. Bacteria from a UTI or the rare disease hypercalcemia could also turn your pee blue or green.
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If your pee is orange, it may be just that you’re not drinking enough water or consuming orange-dyed foods or drinks. But it could also signal a liver or bile duct condition. Drink a bit more water if you notice these color changes, but, if they don’t clear up, see your doctor.
What Does Cloudy Pee Mean?
Cloudy urine is a typical sign of a UTI, especially if it’s accompanied by an increased urgency and frequency to pee or burning when you urinate, Dr. Downing says.
UTIs often resolve on their own with hydration, she says. You can also take an over-the-counter bladder pain relief medication to help with discomfort. But see your doctor if symptoms persist or you develop a fever or back pain.
A UTI isn’t the only condition that can cause cloudy pee, though. Dr. Zeno says it could happen with kidney stones, bladder cancer or sexually transmitted infections.
“It is always important to see a doctor to establish a diagnosis prior to treating cloudy urine,” she says.
When to See a Doctor About Pee-Color Changes
Urine color should typically fall on the yellow spectrum, Dr. Zeno says. Temporary changes are usually related to something you ate or drank or your hydration levels and probably aren’t a cause for concern.
But if the color changes stick around, get checked out by your doctor, she urges.
A doctor will discuss your symptoms and possibly take a urine sample for a urinalysis to see if there’s something out of the ordinary, according to the Cleveland Clinic. They might also do a blood test to check for kidney or liver problems.
“If you are worried about your urine color, especially if it seems unusual for you, it is never wrong to consult a doctor,” Dr. Downing says.
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