By Marion Ali, Assistant Editor
Doctors depend on scientific urine tests to determine what is wrong with a person’s urinary tract or bladder, while natural healers examine its appearance and smell to detect a problem.
Urine is germ-free when it is inside the bladder. But on its way out of the body through the urethra, it gets exposed to bacteria. This is one reason why it is not advisable to taste urine, as some are curious to do, since it puts you at risk of a bacterial or sexually transmitted infection.
WebMD reports that asparagus can make urine smell foul because of how the body breaks it down. It can smell sulfur-like, which is a putrid smell. Several things we consume are responsible for the way urine smells, and looks sometimes. Depending on what those are, it can smell anywhere from fishy to sweet.
Normally, eight glasses of water daily will keep you hydrated and help to rid the body of harmful toxins, but once your pee is light yellow or almost clear, it is an indication that you’re drinking enough water. Drinking too much water, however, can result in frequent trips to the bathroom. And when your urine looks dark, it usually means your body needs more water.
If you’re a woman, unless you’re on your period, you’ve eaten beets or blackberries, if your urine is red or pink, it can mean that there is blood is present in your urine, which is an indication of infection, bladder cancer, kidney stone, kidney disease, or internal injury. Seeking medical advice is advised.
Recent studies have shown that some cranberry supplements may help prevent bladder infections because they contain proanthocyanidins which prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. The amount of this active ingredient differs from brand to brand. Some of them do not contain sufficient amounts to be effective on the bladder.
Some people can sleep throughout the night without having to urinate, but having to get up once to pee is not abnormal, the website reports. Consuming caffeinated drinks or alcohol or too much liquid just before bedtime can cause that to happen as well. Having to get up often during the night to urine can be caused by a number of things, including: some medications; diabetes; or kidney, heart, prostate, or other health issues.
Waiting too long to urine can raise the risk of developing bladder infections and other urinary tract infections, especially for women. Using panty liners or pads everyday, and wiping from back to front can also lead to infection because it that practice can transfer bacteria from the anus to the urinary tract. Urinating after intercourse can help clear bacteria from the urinary tract.
Women get more urinary tract infections (UTIs) than men, because their shorter urethras allow for bacteria to reach the bladder easier. But when men get UTI’s, they are at a greater risk of getting repeat infections because bacteria can harbour deep inside prostate tissue.
