Getting a whiff of your pee might not be the worst thing in the world. The smell, colour, and consistency of urine can tell you a lot about how healthy your body is, and if you are unknowingly battling any diseasesor infections.
Discover our latest podcast
Next time you step into the loo, watch out for some of these things!
Sweet and fruity
If you’re an adult and you’ve started noticing that your pee smells oddly sweet and fruity, this could be a sign that you have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body cannot regulate blood sugar properly because your insulin, which is supposed to keep it under control, is out of service. Hence, the kidneys begin excreting more sugar than usual, making urine smell strangely sweet.
Immediately book an appointment with a doctor if you have been visiting the bathroom more frequently, and if you’ve been sniffing something sweet before you flush.
Strong and cloudy
Has your pee been smelling intensely foul, and kind of like ammonia?
You could have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Women’s Health spoke to OB-GYN, Dr. Sherry Ross, who explained that when you have abacterial infectionlike a UTI, it’s the bacteria that makes your pee smell strong, and also look cloudy. Every individual has different symptoms when they get a UTI, but smelly pee is definitely one of the first indicators that you’ve been infected. That, and a burning sensation when you go to the loo.
Smelly and dark
But, if you have a case of smelly pee, it’s most likely because you areseverely dehydrated. The colour of your urine will also be able to tell you if you should be increasing your daily water intake. So, have a little peek after you finish doing your business. If your urine is bright yellow, dark orange, or amber-coloured, you definitely need to hydrate your body. Urogynecologist, Dr. Sonia Dutta told Health:
So when you're dehydrated, your urine has less water in relation to waste products, which can make you have smelly urine.
