5 Foods - and 1 Other Surprising Thing - That Will Make Your Pee Turn Colors

Get the Full StoryWhile it's something we don't often consider when eating, some things we eat can lead to a really scary situation when we go to the bathroom - as in our pee may look very different! Some of our favorite foods can turn urine different colors, but fear not,: for the most part, it's nothing to worry about. Keep reading for more insight on what you're seeing in the bathroom.

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Beets

"Beets can produce beeturia, which is when urine becomes tinted pink or red from eating beets or drinking beet juice," says Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, nutrition expert and author of Eating in Color.

Carrots

Carrots can turn urine and your skin orange! It's the vitamin beta carotene in carrots that's responsible for the color change. "Whether you turn a shade of orange or your pee looks orange might depend on how you metabolizes the beta-carotene, which could be different for each of us," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It.

Fava beans

These are among the foods most likely to affect urine color by turning it brownish. "Since beans are such a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they'll sure move you," Taub-Dix says.

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Asparagus

"In addition to the odor that asparagus can cause, eating asparagus can also make your urine turn a greenish color," Largeman-Roth says.

Vitamins

While not a food, it's important to note that your daily vitamin may have an effect on your urine. "Some B vitamins, for example, can turn your urine yellow-green. Also, some medications can alter the color of your urine, so if you're filling a new script, check with your pharmacist ahead of time so you know what to expect. Most people could benefit from a basic multivitamin with reasonable doses to fill in vitamin and mineral gaps so you don't necessarily need to go for megadoses that could come with side effects on the side," Taub-Dix says.

Dehydration

Though this isn't a food, being dehydrated can also have an effect on your urine. "If your urine is a dark yellow, bordering on brownish color, grab a bottle of water ASAP. It could mean that you're dehydrated. Urine should be a pale yellow to almost clear color," Taub-Dix says.

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