Quiz: What Does Your Pee Color Mean?

On a scale from crystal clear to deep brown, what does your pee usually look like?Paying attention to the color of your urine and comparing it to acolor chartis a great way to understand how hydrated you are. But sometimes, urine displays unexpected colors or characteristics. What comes out of your body can indicate what’s happening inside.When urine is an unusual color, it can be a sign of something benign, like eating too many licorice candies or beets. It could also signal serious health problems, like an infection or kidney damage.This quiz is only meant to guide you on the first step to determining what your urine is telling you about your health. If you have questions about your pee color or are concerned that it may reflect a deeper health problem, it’s best to call a trusted healthcare provider.Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Pee ColorIn most cases, pee color is a good indicator of whether you are in the optimal zone of hydration or need to increase your water or electrolyte intake.Proper hydration is key to keeping your body functioning well. It keeps your digestive system moving, your brain sharp, your joints lubricated, and your body temperature in check.You’re Probably Better at Hydrating Than You ThinkWhen your urine has an unexpected hue or afunky smell, hydration is probably not the issue. Peeing allows your body to flush out toxins and excess fluids. But when that urine contains certain substances that aren’t supposed to be expelled—like blood, protein, and bile—it could mean that there are issues along the urinary tract or in a different organ system. A healthcare provider may perform a urine analysis and other tests to determine the problem and how to treat it.

On a scale from crystal clear to deep brown, what does your pee usually look like?

Paying attention to the color of your urine and comparing it to acolor chartis a great way to understand how hydrated you are. But sometimes, urine displays unexpected colors or characteristics. What comes out of your body can indicate what’s happening inside.

When urine is an unusual color, it can be a sign of something benign, like eating too many licorice candies or beets. It could also signal serious health problems, like an infection or kidney damage.

This quiz is only meant to guide you on the first step to determining what your urine is telling you about your health. If you have questions about your pee color or are concerned that it may reflect a deeper health problem, it’s best to call a trusted healthcare provider.

Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Pee Color

In most cases, pee color is a good indicator of whether you are in the optimal zone of hydration or need to increase your water or electrolyte intake.

Proper hydration is key to keeping your body functioning well. It keeps your digestive system moving, your brain sharp, your joints lubricated, and your body temperature in check.

You’re Probably Better at Hydrating Than You Think

When your urine has an unexpected hue or afunky smell, hydration is probably not the issue. Peeing allows your body to flush out toxins and excess fluids. But when that urine contains certain substances that aren’t supposed to be expelled—like blood, protein, and bile—it could mean that there are issues along the urinary tract or in a different organ system. A healthcare provider may perform a urine analysis and other tests to determine the problem and how to treat it.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Urology Care Foundation.Can food and drinks really change the color of your urine?National Council on Aging.10 reasons why hydration is important.Simerville JA, Maxted WC, Pahira JJ.Urinalysis: a comprehensive review.Am Fam Physician.2005 Mar 15;71(6):1153-62.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Urology Care Foundation.Can food and drinks really change the color of your urine?National Council on Aging.10 reasons why hydration is important.Simerville JA, Maxted WC, Pahira JJ.Urinalysis: a comprehensive review.Am Fam Physician.2005 Mar 15;71(6):1153-62.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Urology Care Foundation.Can food and drinks really change the color of your urine?National Council on Aging.10 reasons why hydration is important.Simerville JA, Maxted WC, Pahira JJ.Urinalysis: a comprehensive review.Am Fam Physician.2005 Mar 15;71(6):1153-62.

Urology Care Foundation.Can food and drinks really change the color of your urine?

National Council on Aging.10 reasons why hydration is important.

Simerville JA, Maxted WC, Pahira JJ.Urinalysis: a comprehensive review.Am Fam Physician.2005 Mar 15;71(6):1153-62.

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