Can Coffee Change The Color Of Your Urine?
The answer is probably not. According to Dr. de Souza, drinking a moderate amount of coffee or tea may result in a lighter shade of urine color, but this won’t be drastic enough for it to be a cause for concern. Furthermore, it’s important to note that caffeine in general probably won’t make your urine any darker or lighter either.
In conclusion, unless you’re consuming an unusually large amount of caffeinated drinks or tea, there is no need to worry about the color of your urine changing due to your caffeine intake. However, if your doctor suspects otherwise then they might advise on something different.
Cloudy Urine Causes
Cloudy urine can be caused by a variety of things, but it is usually nothing to be overly concerned about. However, it is important to take note if you notice any other changes or symptoms that accompany the change in your urine color.
Coffee itself does not directly affect the color of your urine, however, dehydration caused by drinking too much coffee may contribute to your darker urine color. Additionally, some medications can cause changes in urine color. Below we have listed some of the main causes of cloudy urine color:
1. Dehydration
Dehydration is a common problem that can cause dark urine. This happens when there’s not enough water in the body, and it can lead to dry mouth, lips, and throat, dizziness or weakness, trouble swallowing dry food, and constipation. Children, older adults, and those living with illnesses like cancer are more prone to severe dehydration.
Treating dehydration is easy; just drink more clear fluids like water and herbal tea. However, if you experience any of these signs of serious dehydration it’s important to seek medical advice: weak or absent pulse, low blood pressure, very dry mouth & tongue, little or no urine, and lethargy.
2. Medication, Food, And Drinks
Did you know that certain medications, food, and drinks can cause a change in normal urine color? Beets, rhubarb, and blackberries are all known to produce red or dark brown/tea-like colored urine. Certain medications such as senna, thioridazine, and chlorpromazine can also turn your pee red.
When it comes to orange urine, this might be caused by medications like rifampin, phenazopyridine, and warfarin. cimetidine, promethazine, Amitriptyline, and indomethacin can create blue or green urine while taking certain drugs like primaquine, chloroquine, metronidazole, or nitrofurantoin may turn your pee tea-colored or dark brown.
3. Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a condition where the body mistakenly destroys too many red blood cells. It can be caused by genetic blood disorders, such as sickle thalassemia or cell disease, certain medications, and even blood transfusions.
Symptoms of this type of anemia include dizziness, an enlarged spleen or liver, fatigue, paleness in the skin, a headache, jaundice, and heart palpitations. More severe cases may also cause chills, back or abdominal pain, and fever. In some rare cases, it can also lead to shock. If left untreated it could result in complications.
4. UTI
Women are more likely than men to experience urinary tract infections, also known as bladder infections or cystitis. These occur when bacteria travel up the urethra and into the bladder. Common UTI symptoms include frequent urges to urinate, urine that is cloudy, dark brown or tea-colored urine, pressure or pain in the abdomen, and burning or pain while urinating. In some cases, blood may even be detected in the urine.
To avoid UTIs, it’s best to practice proper hygiene and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. If you observe any of the above symptoms following the consumption of caffeinated coffee – like dark brown urine – this could be a sign of a UTI.
Because of this, and many other reasons, it’s important to visit a doctor if anything related to your urinary habits is out of the ordinary.
5. Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an illness that affects the liver, due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It’s a serious condition that can cause damage to your liver if not treated. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they are infected until liver damage has already been done as there are few symptoms during the early stages.
Dark bloody urine is one of those symptoms and is one of the tell-tale signs of HCV. Individuals at risk for hepatitis C include those who received a blood transfusion or organ transplant prior to July 1992, people who used clotting products made
Foods And Drinks That Can Contribute To Cloudy Urine
Certain foods can make the color of urine cloudy, such as:
1. Milk & Dairy Products
Milk and dairy products are a common cause of urine cloudiness for some, due to the high phosphorus via urine content. Phosphorus is essential for optimal bone health, but when consumed in large amounts, it can be released into the urine and make it murky.
When someone has cloudy urine that is high in phosphorus though, it could be an indication of kidney damage or kidney disorders, high vitamin D levels, or too much parathyroid hormone in the body – all of which should be checked out by a doctor if you believe this applies to you.
2. Meat
Meat, especially poultry and beef, is high in phosphorus which can cause cloudy urine excretion when consumed in large quantities. While having cloudy pee from eating too much meat is uncommon, processed or cured meats such as salami, sausage, bacon, and pepperoni may be high in salt. This can increase thirst and lead to dehydration, which then may cause your urine to become darker and cloudier.
3. Seafood
Seafood can definitely cause cloudy urine if consumed in excess. This is because some types of seafood, such as anchovies, shellfish, and sardines, are high in purines which the body converts into uric acid. When these foods are eaten in large amounts they can lead to hyperuricosuria and the urine may appear cloudy.
Despite this effect, seafood still has a lot of amazing benefits since it’s rich in lean protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids which help prevent inflammation and provide heart health benefits. Thus for most people having a moderate amount of seafood should be perfectly fine.
4. Sugary Foods & Drinks
High sugar intake can contribute to cloudy urine dark color due to the body’s metabolism of fructose. When you eat too much fructose, it causes your body to produce excess uric acid, which then ends up in your pee and gives it a cloudy appearance.
Fructose is commonly found in drinks such as sweetened beverages and sodas, packaged desserts and candy, salad dressings and condiments, certain granola bars, and some crackers and bread.
5. Salty Foods
Salty foods like chips, canned soups, cured and deli meats, and salted popcorn can contribute to cloudy and unusual urine color due to their sodium content. Eating too much salt increases the amount of pressure on your kidneys, which can ultimately lead to dark, cloudy urine.
Additionally, the other unhealthy ingredients contained in many of these salty foods don’t provide any beneficial nutrients. Therefore, it is best to keep your salt intake between 2,300 mg per day (or 1 teaspoon) and make sure that you are drinking enough water to stay hydrated.