Knowing the Causes of Thick Colored Urine During Fasting and How to Overcome It

Illustration of concentrated urine during fasting (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Urine that is thick during fasting often makes people worry, especially when undergoing Ramadan fasting which is similar to intermittent fasting. Is this normal, or a sign that the body is lacking fluids?

Intermittent fasting is usually aimed at health or weight loss. Meanwhile, Ramadan fasting is a mandatory worship for Muslims which is carried out from dawn to dusk.

Although different in purpose, the pattern of the two is the same, namely the body does not receive calorie intake for several hours. This is where various benefits and side effects can appear.

Dilansir VOI dari laman Healthline, berikut beberapa fakta menarik terkait puasa dan pengaruhnya pada tubuh yang perlu Anda ketahui:

Health Benefits of Fasting

A number of studies have linked intermittent fasting with several health benefits. Interestingly, some of these benefits can also be felt during Ramadan fasting if the eating pattern is maintained. Some of these benefits include:

Potential weight loss Increased insulin sensitivity Better blood sugar control Lower blood pressure Lower risk factors for heart disease Reduced oxidative stress

Simply put, when the body does not get food intake, it starts to use energy reserves. Fat is burned and metabolism adapts. However, these benefits do not happen automatically. The eating pattern during Iftar and Sahur remains the key.

Why is the urine thick when fasting?

Concentrated urine during fasting occurs because the body experiences a decrease in fluid intake for several hours, namely from dawn to dusk.

You need to know, when fasting the body does not drink at all, so the body begins to use the remaining fluid reserves to maintain vital organ functions.

When the fluid in the body is reduced, the kidneys will work harder to save water, by producing less urine but more concentrated.

Well, this thick color is caused by the concentration of metabolic waste substances, such as urea and mineral salts that increase because the water as a solvent is reduced. In addition, there are several additional factors that aggravate this condition, including:

Hot weather and high physical activity, which make the body lose a lot of fluid through sweat. Drinking less water during sahur and breaking the fast, so that daily fluid needs are not met. Excessive consumption of caffeine (coffee or tea) during sahur, which is diuretic and makes the body lose fluid faster. Lack of intake of fruits and vegetables containing natural water.

Also read the article discussing the Important Nutrition during Fasting that Must Be Considered

In general, urine that is light yellow to medium is still considered normal during fasting. However, if the color changes to dark yellow to dark brown, be alert because it can be a sign of moderate to severe dehydration.

This condition can be avoided by ensuring a sufficient drinking pattern at the time of sahur and breaking the fast, for example, with the 2-4-2 rule: two glasses at iftar, four glasses at night, and two glasses at sahur.

Ramadan fasting and intermittent fasting have similarities in eating patterns. Both can provide health benefits, but also have the potential to cause side effects.

Including urine that is thick when fasting, which is often a sign of the body's lack of fluid. Pay attention to drinking during sahur and breaking the fast so that this condition does not continue.