Dark Urine: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

1. Dehydration: When you're dehydrated, your urine becomes more concentrated and darker in color. Drinking plenty of fluids can help dilute your urine and make it lighter in color.

2. Certain foods and medications: Some foods and medications can also cause your urine to turn dark. For example, beets, blackberries, and rhubarb can all give your urine a reddish or purplish hue. Certain medications, such as antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and some pain relievers, can also darken urine.

3. Medical conditions: In some cases, dark pee can be a sign of a medical condition. For example, dark urine can sometimes indicate liver or kidney problems, diabetes, or a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you have dark pee and you're also experiencing other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or fever, it's important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

4. Exercise: Strenuous exercise can also cause your urine to turn dark. This is because exercise can break down muscle tissue, which releases a substance called myoglobin into the bloodstream. Myoglobin can then be filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine, giving it a dark color.