We pee an average of 1 to 1.5 Litres (2 to 3 pints) of urine each day, but other than a cursory glance at its concentration, most of us don't pay too much attention to what comes out. Which means we could be missing some important insight into what's going on in our bodies, as the latest episode of AsapSCIENCE explains.
So what kind of information can your pee reveal about your health? Urine is liquid waste that's been filtered out of our bloodstreams by our kidneys. And while we all know that dehydration makes our pee darker, looking more closely at its hue can also provide insight into on our diet and lifestyles.
For example, brown urine can be a sign of eating too much rhubarb or aloe vera, or it could be caused by antibiotic-use or even a liver disorder or kidney disease. Whereas blue urine in children is most likely caused by an inherited disorder known as familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, which results in excess calcium in the blood.
Green-tinged urine can be triggered by new medications and green food dyes, and isn't always cause for alarm (particularly after St Patrick's Day). But if your urine is red it could be a sign of urine in the blood, which may warrant further examination by a doctor.
So what colour should your pee ideally be? Watch the episode above to find out how dark is too dark, and why clear isn't always the best option. Just don't forget to check the bowl next time you go to the bathroom… for science.