What’s the colour of normal urine?
In this article we will describe what colour should urine be.
So. What colour should urine be?
The yellow colour of urine comes from a pigment called urochrome, which is produced during the breakdown of haemoglobin.
Urine is usually pale straw or transparent yellow, but its colour can change depending on what you eat and drink.
For example, the colour of urine can indicate hydration levels. Pale yellow suggests proper hydration, while dark yellow/amber/brown can indicate dehydration.
Red or pink urine can be caused by blood or eating certain foods like beetroots
Cloudy or smelly urine can suggest a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Blood in the urine can be macroscopic (that you can see) or microscopic (that you cannot).
The former should always be reported to a doctor and investigated (it can indicate a cancer of the kidney, ureter or bladder; or prostate in a man). Some cases of the latter should be investigated.
Although 10% of the normal population have microscopic haematuria – i.e in most people, it is not a disease.
