Why Is My Urine Green?

Green pee causes
There are multiple reasons for green urine, such as colored food dye, as a side effect of certain medications and the result of an infection.

Any deviation in normal urine color may seem alarming. Going further, perhaps the most alarming urine color is green. However, do not panic. There are multiple reasons why your urine may look this way.

The causes for green urine can include:

Foods

  • When you eat specific foods, such as asparagus or ones containing food dye, the coloring can end up affecting the shade of your urine, causing it to turn green.

Side effects of certain medications

Infections

  • In more severe cases, urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by bacteria may result in green urine (pigments produced by Pseudomonas bacteria).
  • This is a serious condition and medical intervention is usually recommended.

Medical conditions

Excessive vitamin B

  • B vitamins can also cause the pee to appear green. It might be an excess of vitamin B via supplements or food. Watch out for vitamin B6, especially in your routine diet.

What is a normal, healthy urine color?

There isn’t one perfect urine color that is considered healthy, and what is normal will vary between people, largely depending on when and how much fluids are consumed.

  • Urine is mainly water and contains many chemicals that the body wants to get rid of, including urea. Another of these chemicals is urobilin, which gives urine its yellow color.
  • The more fluid someone consumes, the lighter the urine. So, healthy urine ranges from a very light shade of yellow to a dark yellow or amber color (if the individual is dehydrated).
  • The urine will typically be darker first thing in the morning because the body becomes a little dehydrated overnight.
  • Healthy urine colors are clear to light yellow and yellow to dark yellow. The shade of your urine during a particular bathroom break typically depends on how much water you have been drinking that day.
  • The urine should have a mild smell but not a strong odor unless you are seriously dehydrated or have a medical condition. In some cases, even healthy urine may appear abnormal due to medication or diet.

Can you flush out a UTI with water?

Patients with a urinary tract infection or UTI are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5-2 L) of water per day to help flush the infection out of the urinary system. The best way to get rid of the infection is by drinking liquids.

  • Water is the best option for this because it does not contain anything to irritate the infection.
  • Drinking at least a few glasses of water every day helps flush out any harmful bacteria that could be present in the bladder.
  • Apart from drinking water, patients may also try to include foods, such as fruit, salad or jelly, which contain higher levels of water that may help flush bacteria out of the urinary system.
  • Although a UTI makes it painful to pee, drinking lots of water and peeing frequently will eventually make it less painful and help speed your recovery. Hence, focus on staying super hydrated.
  • If you are dealing with a relatively mild UTI case, chances are it will be cleared within a day or two of water therapy. Besides, you may also opt for other UTI-relieving drinks, such as sugar-free cranberry extract and other vitamin C-rich juices.
  • Drinking a lot of water will help keep unwanted bacteria out of your body. Don’t hold in your urine for long periods. The rule of thumb is to urinate every two to three hours or when you first feel the urge.
  • However, avoid drinks that may irritate your bladder. Avoid drinking beverages that include alcohol or caffeine. Drinks that contain these ingredients can irritate your bladder and trigger frequent urination.

SLIDESHOW

Urinary Incontinence in Women: Types, Causes, and Treatments for Bladder Control See Slideshow
References
Prakash S, Saini S, Mullick P, Pawar M. Green Urine: A Cause for Concern? J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2017;33(1):128-130. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5374818/

Medicines.org. All You Need to Know About Urine! https://www.patientsafetyoxford.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/All-about-urine-leaflet.pdf

WebMD. Remedies for UTI https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/remedies-uti