Scientists Say Medieval Beliefs About Urine May Contain Drops of Truth

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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/10/scientists-say-medieval-beliefs-in-urine-may-contain-drops-of-truth.aspx?source=nl Scientists Say Medieval Beliefs About Urine May Contain Drops of Truth Medieval physicians believed

that they could diagnose disease by holding up a flask of the patient’s urine to the light and squinting at it. Now, scientists at Imperial College London believe they could have been on to something.Researchers have completed the first worldwide study of the metabolites (breakdown products) that are found in urine, reflecting the diet, inheritance and the lifestyle of the people from whom it came. They call such studies “metabolomics.” The team believes that the research may provide the basis for a “metabolome-wide association” approach to help to understand interactions between lifestyles, environment and genes and how they determine diseases.For instance, the team has identified metabolites that are linked to high blood pressure, and others that are found in people with lower blood pressure who drink less and eat more fiber. Sources: Times Online April 21, 2008 Nature April 20, 2008 Dr. Mercola's Comments: Your urine holds many clues about your health, which is why physicians in ancient times studied its color, smell and taste as a way to diagnose disease.What exactly is your urine? It’s a byproduct of blood filtration from your kidneys. A pigment called urochrome, which results from the breakdown of hemoglobin, a

protein in your red blood cells, is what makes it yellow.At the most basic level, the color of your urine can tell you two things: 1. If you have an infection2. If you’re dehydratedIdeally, your urine should be light yellow, so for the former, cloudy urine is often a sign of an infection (or kidney stones), while dark yellow urine is a sign that you need to drink more water. What else can the color of your urine tell you? Red or Pink Urine: This could be caused by blood in your urine (due to urinary tract infections, enlarged kidney stones or even strenuous exercise), medications or eating lots of blackberries, beets or rhubarb. Orange Urine: If

your urine is orange, you may be very dehydrated. This can also be caused by medications or eating lots of carrots. Fluorescent Yellow Urine: This happens when you take B vitamins. Blue or Green Urine: This can be caused by a rare condition that causes high levels of calcium. It can also result from eating a lot of asparagus or taking certain medications. Additionally, if you have ever eaten asparagus you will also know it imparts a very characteristic odor to your urine. Brown Urine: Medications and some liver disorders can turn your urine tea-colored, as can eating a lot of fava beans, rhubarb or aloe.Urine that is sweet-smelling is also a sign that you may have diabetes, as the sugary smell may be coming from a high concentration of blood sugar in your urine.Ultimately, paying attention to the simple clues your body gives you -- and that includes the things your body excretes -- is

something everyone should do. Related Articles: Looking at the Color Of Your Urine Can Diagnosis an Infection or If You're Dehydrated Diet Help for Urinary Tract Infections You Want Urine, Feces and Pus In Your Beef?