FitSugar

You Asked: How Many Times Should I Pee Each Day?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear FitSugar,

I know I'm supposed to stay hydrated and drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water a day, but if I do, I end up peeing at least once every hour or more. Is this normal? How many times should I be going to the bathroom?

- Powder Room Patty

Yup, totally normal - I also go to the restroom a lot during the day. There is no real set number of times that you should be running to the loo, because it totally depends on your fluid intake. You drink water to replenish the water that gets lost through perspiration, excretion, and other bodily functions, and you don't necessarily need to be downing eight glasses of water each day. The amount depends on your lifestyle, whether you exercise a lot, or if you live in a warm climate. Check out Fit's Calculator to figure out how much water you should be drinking each day.

There's another way to find out if you're getting enough water. To find out what it is just read more.

You can also figure out if you're getting enough water by checking the color of your urine. It should be clear or close to it. If it is, then you're doing a great job of keeping yourself hydrated. If it's closer to neon yellow, then add a glass or two of water to your diet. If your pee is clear and you're running to the lady's room more often than you'd like (which it sounds like you are), then cut back on your water consumption by a cup or two.

Source

Why the Long Line at Women's Restrooms?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Have you noticed that the lines for women's public bathrooms are always longer than men's? Is it because we check our hair and makeup? Is it the sitting down thing? Or maybe it's because we actually WASH our hands when we're done? Sorry guys, I am just trying to figure this out.

Those may seem like fairly reasonable explanations, but the truth is, women's bladders are physically smaller than men's. Nothing exotic in the reason, but size does matter. Smaller bladders fill up more quickly, so we have to empty them more often than men do.

Well, with all that said, it looks like women's restrooms need to have more toilets to solve the ever-annoying problem of waiting in long lines.

My Pee is Red!!!

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Relax - Don't call 911 just yet. Think back. Have you eaten beets recently? Well, that'll do it.

When some people eat beets, it turns their pee and poop red. Only 14% of the population experience this.
Beeturia is the real name for this phenomenon, and it may be genetic. Eating beets while eating a lot of other oxalic acid containing foods such as spinach, rhubarb, or chocolate has been said to cause the red urine as well.

The majority of the time however, red pee after eating beets is a sign that your body needs a little more iron in your diet.

Fit's Tips: Other signs of an iron deficiency are heart palpitations, pale gums, and feeling tired all of the time. You can go to your doctor and get a simple test to find out for sure. Once you start adding more iron back into your diet, you'll be feeling more energetic. And when you eat beets again, you won't be scared by what you see after going to the bathroom.

Do You Pee in the Shower?

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Kelly Clarkson has been busting beauty myths for a while, and now she's speaking out about some hygiene habits.

In the latest issue of Blender, Kelly says that she pees in the shower and that "anybody who says they don’t is lying." This may sound a little crazy, but I have friends who were in the Navy, and they were told that peeing in the shower helps prevent athlete's foot. So what about you . . .

Source

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:05:00 -0800

How much water am I supposed to drink in a day? I've heard 8 glasses, 6 glasses, 10 glasses - but how do I know what's right for my own body?

Take the pee test. Sounds classy, I know. But it can be quite informative.

After you pee in the toilet, take a look. Really. I'm serious. What color do you see? Is it dark yellow, light yellow, or does it look clear?

The color of pee is caused by bile, the chemical your liver produces to break up fat. When our bodies break down bile, the pigment urochrome turns pee yellow. The lighter the color, the more it's watered down.

Here's the deal. If you are drinking enough water for your body, your urine will be as clear as water. If your pee is - then you passed the test.

Also, your water needs can change from day to day, so monitor it by checking your pee. If it's clear, you're all good. You can also check out Fit's Calculator to see how much water you should be drinking daily.

Do You Pee in the Pool?

FitSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

The Memorial Day weekend means pools across the country will be opening for the Summer. In light of the start of swim season, a bit of news caught my eye - in a recent survey, one in five Americans admitted to peeing in the pool. Wow! A while back a Kelly Clarkson quote prompted me to ask you all about peeing in the shower. Now I am curious about this issue, because I am incredulous about these statistics.

Source

You Asked: Too Many Trips to the Ladies Room?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:00:20 -0700

Dear Fit,
I drink tons of water, and probably go through four 32-ounce Nalgene bottles within the eight hours I am at the office, so I assume that's the reason. I'm wondering if this is bad for me? I go to the "ladies" at least once an hour to pee, and the guys in my office think it's way too often.
- Fearful of Over Watering

Women have smaller bladders than men, so that's why we tend to visit the ladies room more often. Is it possible to have to go too often? To find out keep reading

You Asked: I "Go" To the Bathroom Every Few Days - Is This Normal?

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Dear Fit,

I only go to the bathroom every two or three days (I'm not talking about peeing), and it's been like this for a couple years. A good friend of mine says that I should be going every day. Is that true? Is not going once a day normal, or is my bathroom schedule harming my body?

- Possible Potty Problem Pam

This is a great question since many women wonder about their regularity. To hear what I have to say read more.

Let me start off by saying that what's normal for one person may be considered constipation for someone else. Some people go to the bathroom three times a day, while others only go as often as you do. Only going a few times a week is no cause for concern unless:

Constipation is a new problem for you.
You've noticed blood in your stool.
You're losing weight even though you're not dieting.
You strain or have severe pains when you do go to the bathroom.
Your stools are hard and dry.
You have constipation that alternates with diarrhea.
You have fewer than three bowel movements a week.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should call your doctor. I don't want to alarm you, but chronic constipation can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome or possibly cancer.

Fit's Tips: To prevent constipation in the first place, drink more water, exercise regularly (that helps to get things moving inside), and increase the fiber in your diet. A woman should be getting between 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day, so that should help you go more often.

Source

6 Strategies For Better Sleep

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0700

Economic woes, daylight savings, work stress, family frenzies - there's no shortage of factors capable of interrupting our sleep time. Thankfully, there's also no shortage of strategies to help you rest easier. Here are six of my favorite surprising tactics that may help you get more shuteye.

Get outside. Being in the daylight helps regulate your body's circadian rhythms, even if it's just for 30 minutes a day.
Stop drinking water and booze a few hours before bedtime. Both will most likely make you wake up and have to pee, while alcohol can interfere with sleep and hunger patterns.
Cut out the carbs. Avoid eating carb-heavy foods at least two hours before bed or more. According to Jillian Michaels in her new book, your ghrelin (hunger hormone) needs to be high in order to slip into deep sleep, but since carbs lower your ghrelin, they may stave off slumber.

For the remaining three, read more.

Shut off exercise before shuteye. Physical activity can promote deeper sleep, but make sure to wrap it up at least five hours before bedtime.
Eat sleepy foods. Some foods may actually aid restful sleep, including milk, tuna, avocados, almonds, oats, and many more!
Set a stopping point for coffee. Caffeine in the mornings is fine and, depending on the person, early afternoon coffees are OK, too. But definitely try to steer clear of coffee within eight hours of bedtime.

Source

DrSugar Answers: Smelly Urine?

DrSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0800

DrSugar is in the house and he's answering your health questions.

Dear DrSugar,
This is a little embarrassing and a little weird, but my pee doesn't smell like normal these days. It has smelled off for about a week. It smells bad and it doesn’t seem to matter what I eat. Trust me, I haven't eaten any asparagus in months. Maybe you know what causes this and am wondering if it is serious. I can't for the life of me figure it out! Any information would be helpful
-Distressed in the Loo

To see if DrSugar feels this is a symptom of something serious, read more

Smelly urine can be related to certain foods or medications, but it can also be a sign of certain diseases. The most common cause of foul smelling urine is a urinary tract infection (UTI). Sometimes the odorous urine precedes other common symptoms of a UTI such as: burning with urination, frequent urination, lower abdominal pain, and fevers. If the foul smell persists, a urinary tract infection can be easily diagnosed with a urinalysis test at your doctor’s office. A previous FitSugar post outlines some easy ways to prevent urinary tract infections, including drinking cranberry juice, wiping properly, and voiding your bladder after sex.

Other diseases can cause urine to smell abnormal. For example, sweet smelling urine can be a sign of diabetes. Other signs of diabetes include: increased frequency of urination, increased thirst, and fatigue. Severe dehydration and low carb diets are associated with an ammonia like scent in urine. Asparagus is by far the most common food-related cause of abnormal smelling urine, but you haven't been eating that so it cannot be the culprit. Other foods have been associated with abnormal urine odor, but nothing as consistent as asparagus. If the smell does not resolve soon, it would be a good idea to see your doctor for a urinalysis test, which can detect both diabetes and a urinary tract infection. Good luck.

Have a question for DrSugar? Send it by private messaging me here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.