Many people believe that pink urine after eating beets is normal. Others are of the opinion that urine should not change color after taking such a vegetable, and this condition indicates a violation of the functioning of the body. So there must be pink urine after beets, is this normal? Let's try to figure it out.
Properties of urine
If a person cares about his he alth, then he should also know the main characteristics of urine inherent in a he althy body:
- Quantity. The volume of fluid released per day should be approximately 1.5 liters. If the daily discharge is much more or less than normal, then it is likely that some kind of disturbance occurs in the body. We can talk about serious diseases if urine is excreted less than 50 ml per day or it is completely absent. In this case, immediate treatment is required.
- Transparency. If the body is functioning normally, then the urine is transparent. A slight turbidity is usually indicative ofthat the person is not drinking enough water. When the water balance is restored, the urine becomes transparent again. But if there is a strong turbidity and foaming of the discharge, then you should consult a doctor, because this may indicate the development of the disease.
- Density. Usually, glucose and other substances that enter the urine through intravenous injections contribute to the compaction of urinary secretions. A decrease in density occurs with renal diabetes or renal tubular pathology.
- Smell. Urine smells quite specific, but not sharp. If any pathological condition develops, then the smell changes its qualitative characteristics. For example, in diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis), urine begins to smell like ammonia.
- Color. In a he althy person, urine may have a pale yellow or straw color. In addition, the color of the discharge can change throughout the day due to the consumption of various foods or liquids.
The most common example of how food can change the color of urine is the redness of urine after beetroot dishes. Is this considered a natural process or does it indicate the presence of a possible pathology? Let's try to figure it out.
Reasons for color change
Should I start worrying if my urine turns pink after eating beets? Parents are especially worried about this if such a phenomenon is observed in a child. According to most people, this is the norm, because beets are famous for their strong coloring enzyme. To in thismake sure you can pick up this vegetable and peel it - your hands instantly turn pink, like the water in which it was boiled. Since urine is usually pink after beets, it is not recommended to use such a product before taking tests.
According to some doctors, the body should absorb the coloring pigment, and not remove it. According to them, the pink color of urine after eating beets may indicate the following diseases:
- dysbacteriosis;
- lack of iron in the human body;
- various gastrointestinal problems.
Only a doctor can determine if there are abnormalities in the functioning of the body and because of this, whether urine turns pink.
When is pink urine after eating beets normal?
If the urine is pink after beetroot, is it normal or not? The answer to this question can be found at home:
- it is necessary to collect urine in a container;
- add a small amount of baking soda to it and stir;
- pour some vinegar into the solution.
If the pink color disappeared, and then after a while appeared again, then we can safely say that the beets are to blame for its occurrence. But such an experiment is not 100% accurate, so if there is a suspicion of a malfunction in the body, it is best to visit a doctor.
Many are concerned about the question: how many days is pink urineafter beets? Usually this color lasts a day or two, but if it lasts much longer, then the reason is not in this vegetable.
Other reasons
Sometimes urine turns pink due to the following problems in the body:
- intoxication or poisoning of the body with lead or mercury;
- bleeding in the soil (indicated by worm-like clots);
- kidney stones;
- injury in the lumbar region;
- taking certain medications such as diuretics and painkillers;
- bladder inflammation;
- blood clotting disorder;
- urinary tract infections;
- glomerulonephritis;
- malignant tumors.
What should I pay attention to?
Most doctors still agree with this opinion that urine is usually pink after beets. But in some situations it indicates a problem, especially if you have the following symptoms:
- frequent urination that gradually gets worse;
- chills and sweats;
- fever;
- pain in the lower back and abdomen;
- strong smell of urine, its cloudiness.
Pink urine in women after beets, as well as in men, is considered normal only when a person has eaten this vegetable before urination and the liquid is clear. Its turbidity indicates pathology.
Diagnosis
If your urine has been pink for several days after beetroot, you should visitdoctor. To establish the reason why the urine is of this color, it is necessary to undergo a set of diagnostic measures, including:
- passing a general urine test, which will help identify an infectious or inflammatory disease in the internal organs, as well as other pathologies;
- taking a biochemical and general blood test to determine the level of hemoglobin and the number of red blood cells in a unit of blood;
- ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, if there is a suspicion of diseases of the urinary system or kidneys;
- Performing other diagnostic tests.
Based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes the necessary therapy.
Treatment
If, as a result of the diagnostic measures taken, it was found that urine is pink after beetroot due to a lack of hemoglobin, then the doctor prescribes preparations containing iron: Hemohelper, Aktiferrin, Fenyuls, Ferlatum.
Most often, urine stains due to infectious diseases of the kidneys, the treatment of which involves the use of complex therapy, consisting of taking anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs. The patient is prescribed the following medicines:
- "Urolesan" - helps not only to treat kidney diseases, but also removes stones from them, while providing analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
- "Phytolysin" - the drug has diuretic, bactericidal and analgesic properties. It is prescribed for urolithiasis and pyelonephritis in acute and chronic form.
- "Furagin" is a remedy for the treatment of diseases of the urinary system, which has an antibacterial and antimicrobial effect.
Conclusion
Thus, if your urine is pink or red after beets, it may not be so harmless. This condition is characteristic of many fairly serious diseases. Therefore, if there is even the slightest doubt that the urine has become stained as a result of any pathological process occurring in the body, then you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
