{"id":16043,"date":"2022-07-08T15:00:23","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T20:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=16043"},"modified":"2025-03-24T16:30:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T21:30:34","slug":"what-color-should-your-urine-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-color-should-your-urine-be\/","title":{"rendered":"What color should your urine be?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your urine\u2019s got a message for you.<\/p>\n

Urine is a part of daily life. Because it\u2019s so routine, we probably don\u2019t pay too much attention to what comes out when we empty our bladders. But urine color can actually communicate messages to us about our bodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine color can tell you a lot about what is going on in your body,\u201d said Alyssa Smolen, an advanced practice registered nurse<\/a> at OSF HealthCare.<\/p>\n

Urine can range anywhere from clear to light yellow to dark yellow to amber or brown. It can even show up orange, red or green.<\/p>\n

Healthy urine color<\/h2>\n

Urine is made by the kidneys when they filter extra water and waste from the blood. The extra waste and water go from the blood to the kidneys, down two tubes called ureters, all the way to the bladder. The bladder holds the urine until we release it.<\/p>\n

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What does your urine say?
Download<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cNormal urine is pale yellow to amber in color and is clear. Darker urine is often a sign of dehydration. If you notice that your urine is darker than normal and you have no other symptoms, try drinking some more water and see if this helps your urine return to a lighter color,\u201d Alyssa said.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re drinking enough water, your urine should be the right shade of yellow. An average adult should drink 12 8-ounce glasses<\/a> of water every day.<\/p>\n

When urine changes color<\/h2>\n

If your urine changes color, that\u2019s when it\u2019s time to pay attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrine color can change due to hydration status, medications, foods or dyes, infection or changes in liver or kidney function,\u201d Alyssa said.<\/p>\n

The more unusual colors \u2013 like bright highlighter yellow, orange, brown, green or blue \u2013 are likely caused by medications, changes in diet or food dyes.<\/p>\n

Even vigorous exercise can cause urine to change<\/a> to a pink, red or tea-colored hue. This is because exercise can cause blood to mix with urine. It\u2019s usually nothing to worry about, so long as your urine is back to a pale yellow or amber color within a day. If the color change lasts longer than a day, reach out to your health care provider<\/a> to get it checked out. They\u2019ll likely take a urine sample to test.<\/p>\n

Urine may also come out pink or red because of a urinary tract infection (UTI)<\/a> or kidney stones.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you notice your urine is a different color than normal, I recommend thinking about anything that may have changed in the last day or two,\u201d Alyssa said.<\/p>\n

She suggests asking yourself questions like,<\/p>\n

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Time to talk to a provider?<\/p>\n

Know what questions to ask<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n