Your urine can tell you a lot about your health and your habits. . . . Changes in the smell and color of your urine are typically harmless, but sometimes they can indicate a medical problem. Normal, healthy urine is usually mildly yellow with a slight odor.
Urine can range in odor:
- Forty percent of people can smell a change in urine after they eat asparagus, sometimes called “asparagus pee.”
- Dehydration can produce an ammonia like odor
- A urinary tract infection can produce sweet-smelling urine. (3)
- Fruity-smelling urine can be a sign of type 2 diabetes.
- Foul-smelling urine can indicate a sexually transmitted infection. (4)
Urine can also vary in color:
- Clear urine is a sign of good hydration and potential overhydration.
- Pale yellow urine is an indicator of good hydration.
- Dark yellow urine is a sign to drink more fluids.
- Amber-colored urine can indicate dehydration.
- Orange urine can be caused by various foods or medications or be a sign of potential liver problems.
- Pink or red urine can be caused by foods or medications or it can also be a sign of blood in the urine.
- Blue or green urine can be caused by medications or food dyes, but it can be a sign of bacteria or the rare condition known as blue diaper syndrome, too.
- Dark-brown urine can be a sign of liver or kidney problems.
- White urine can occur when your body contains excess calcium or phosphate, or it may indicate a urinary tract infection.