Human urine has been a useful tool of diagnosis since the earliest days of medicine. The color, density, and smell of urine can reveal much about the state of our health. Here, for starters, are some of the things you can tell from the hue of your liquid excreta.

Discolored urine is often caused by medications, certain foods or food dyes. In some cases, though, changes in urine color may be caused by certain health issues.

Dark brown or tea-colored urine

Food. Eating large amounts of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe can cause dark brown urine.

Medications. A number of drugs can darken urine, including the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine, the antibiotics metronidazole and nitrofurantoin, laxatives containing cascara or senna, and methocarbamol — a muscle relaxant.

Medical conditions. Some liver and kidney disorders can turn urine dark brown, as can some urinary tract infections.
Cloudy or murky urine

Urinary tract infections and kidney stones can cause urine to appear cloudy or murky.

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