Urine is a waste that is produced by the kidneys. The kidneys filter about 200 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine. Not only do the kidneys filter the waste, they reabsorb the important elements and get rid of the wastes and extra fluid. The colour of the urine can be an indicator of your lifestyle and well-being,
The colour of the urine can depend on many things, like what you have eaten, the medication you might be on and how dehydrated you are.
What is usually said is that the urine of an individual who is well hydrated and healthy should be clear. I beg to differ. What I say is that the urine of an individual who is well hydrated and healthy should be clear and bright fluorescent yellow.
It needs to be clear because that indicates that you are hydrated. Once it gets dark yellow or orange, that indicates you are dehydrated. When you are dehydrated, urine becomes more concentrated as the body tries to hold onto as much water as it can.
The bright fluorescent yellow color would partly come from the pigment called urochrome or urobilin and partly from riboflavin. Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is one of the B vitamins. B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins, which means that what your body doesn’t use is excreted in your urine. It also means that you need to ingest B vitamins daily as they are not stored in your body.
So why is B Complex important?
B Complex is vital for proper bodily function, as it helps maintain the body’s ability to metabolize nutrients. There are eight essential B vitamins, and they work best when they work together. The typical North American diet doesn’t provide enough whole grains, leafy green vegetables, or fish needed to provide adequate B vitamin intakes, so it is important to supplement.
B vitamins are nicknamed “happy vitamins” or “stress vitamins” and are used daily to feed the central nervous system, manufacture hormones and regulate homocysteine levels in the blood.
B Complex helps convert our food into fuel, allowing us to stay energized throughout the day. B complex vitamins can help with a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, heart disease and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In addition, some people take B Complex to increase energy, enhance mood, improve memory, boost skin and hair health and stimulate the immune system.
As for myself, I use my urine as an indication of whether I have enough B Complex in me. When my urine pales out, I take more B Complex. I want clear and bright fluorescent yellow urine all day.
I often hear this question. If I see this clear and bright fluorescent yellow, am I not just peeing it out and wasting my money? The answer is that only the excess is peed out. The B2 is nature’s way of letting you know if you have adequate amounts of B Complex. Your need for this water-soluble vitamin differs each day, so the urine is a great indicator of whether you have enough that day. You want evidence 24 hours a day that your level of B Complex is 100% to maintain proper balance in all the above functions. Even a slight deficiency will create problems.
So, here’s to your urine being clear and bright fluorescent yellow. Drink your water and take B Complex.
To your good health,
Charlene
