What You Should Know: The Color of Your Urine Determines Your Kidney Health

What It Means: Possible infections, medication effects, or genetic disorders.
Explanation: Blue or green urine is rare but can occur due to certain medications, dyes used in medical tests, or bacterial infections like Pseudomonas that cause green urine. A rare genetic condition called familial hypercalcemia (or “blue diaper syndrome”) can also cause blue-tinged urine.
Caution: If you notice blue or green urine without an obvious dietary or medication-related cause, seek medical advice. Although rare, infections or genetic conditions could be the underlying cause.

9. Cloudy or Murky

What It Means: Possible urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones, or dehydration.
Explanation: Cloudy urine often indicates an infection, particularly UTIs, where bacteria or white blood cells can cause a cloudy appearance. High levels of certain minerals or crystals in the urine, which can lead to kidney stones, can also cause cloudiness.
Caution: Cloudy urine accompanied by a foul odor, burning sensation, pain, or frequent urge to urinate is often a sign of a UTI, which should be treated promptly to prevent infection from reaching the kidneys.

Additional Tips for Monitoring Urine Color and Kidney Health