WHAT YOUR URINE COLOUR SAYS

Urine is a waste product made in the kidney as a means of removing unwanted substances from the body. Numerous factors affect the colour of urine, what we eat and drink goes a long way to affect our urine colour. A person that fasts from food and water on a sunny day will have dark yellow urine due to dehydration. The myth that when the urine is yellow indicates malaria is very wrong, the standard colour of urine ranges from colourless to amber to light yellow depending on various factors. Alcohol in the system and when over hydrated especially in cool environments can lead to a very clear urine with high volume. Vegetables can change urine colour. Drugs can change urine colour and odour e.g.Rifampicin can make the urine colour orange in colour. Below are urine colours and what they stand for:

·         Yellow/light orange may be caused by removal of excess B vitamins from the blood

·         Bloody urine is a symptom of wide variety of medical conditions

·         Dark orange to brown urine can be a symptom of jaundice, rhabdomyolysis or Gilbert’s syndrome

·         Black or dark coloured urine may be caused by melanoma

·         Pinkish urine can result from the consumption of beets

·         Greenish urine can result from the consumption of asparagus

·         Reddish or brown urine may be caused by porphyria

·         Blue urine may be caused by the ingestion of methylene blue e.g. in medications

·         Blue urine stains can be caused by blue diaper syndrome

·         Purple urine may be due to purple urine bag syndrome

The odour of normal urine can reflect what has been consumed or specific diseases. Sweet smell is sugar in urine which indicates diabetes. Asparagus, onions, saffron, tuna fish, alcohol, coffee can affect the scent of urine.

The normal urine volume is 1-2 litres per day but this can be affected by some factors. In very hot conditions, the body tends to save more water especially when a lot is lost sweating. If you feel the urge to ease yourself and you engage in an activity that increases sweating without drinking any fluid to replenish that urge will suddenly disappear because the body will make use of all water in the body when necessary. Expect much urine when you take alcohol, in cold weather, in air conditioned vehicles etc. Expect low urine volume in hot weather, when engaging in activities that make you sweat.

Drinking of urine is very wrong even in survival conditions it only makes thirst worse, rather soak a cloth in urine and place it on the head. 

ALCOHOL COULD MAKE YOU LIVE LONGER

Beer, wine, brandy, whisky, and schnapps are all alcoholic drinks or else otherwise stated. Alcohol is a substance that can excite a person or otherwise depending on the quantity consumed. A little quantity can be sexually stimulating and tremendously boost sexual prowess. Excessive intake can cause hangover and mess up the liver.

Researchers have suggested after data analysis that occasional moderate drinking of alcohol could elongate life span. How this happens has not been confirmed but a study of old folks show that, the healthiest set of them consume alcohol.

I have a theory which I came up with while working at the HIV clinic. I realised that almost 75% of our HIV positive clients above 40 years were free from the pangs of diabetes and or hypertension and generally heart diseases. Our counselling pathway was fantastic so the patients always felt at peace. I deduced that because the patients had accepted their condition, their worry tendency chart was close to zero. I also want to apply this to the occasional taking of alcohol which is medically indicated to reduce anxiety.

Occasional drinking at home is the best way to start consuming alcohol, and then let your body teach you how best it can welcome alcohol.

ITS WORSE THAN WEED BUT LEGAL

Devil’s trumpet, that’s the name some people call this plant, some also call it Indian thorn apple. Its scientific name is Datura metel. In my neighbourhood we call it gegemu. This plant is highly intoxicating. It grows freely especially in neighbourhoods with bad drainage system.

Datura is found in Asia, Africa, south and Central America and also in the Caribbean. Many cultures attach this plant to worship of deity. In northern India, smoking this plant is considered pleasurable but eating or drinking its extract is considered dangerous. Yogis and Sadhus smoke this plant in combination with weed, imagine. In the Philippines, the leaves are boiled to make an inebriating soup to be eaten in a communal circle, community highness. In Africa, the seeds are added to locally brewed beer; it is also used to commit crime by poisoning the victim.

Well enough stories, in my psychiatric posting gegemu was tagged “deadly”. To tell you how dangerous it is, when this plant in soaked in a cup and that cup is rinsed off with only water, and then used to take a drink, the person will still experience grave symptoms. Goats or their relatives don’t eat this plant, infact, it has no pest, no insect or consumer. It is not even used on large animals like horses or buffaloes. Please weed this plant away if in your neighbourhood and discard it. Burning could get your community high so don’t do that please. 

THAT NIGERIAN WEED

Cannabis Sativa is the specie of the Nigerian marijuana. It is one of the most euphoric specie of weed. The ability to attain highness with this specie is very high. There is a gist that even the Jamaicans that came to Nigeria, smoked and endorsed it for this high ability. dailysmoker.com described thus “Nigerian’s high is very powerful cerebral, taking you to the land of dreams and illusions. Make sure you have a day off to fully enjoy the pleasure from this dark African lady”.

As much as weed is smoked to get high, it has been found out that it can boost the immune system i.e. protect us from disease but the only way to get this benefit is by smoking. Weed also increases appetite and weight gain.

During my psychiatric posting, I found out that many young men in the wards were weed smokers. If you smoke weed in the countries where it is legal just be careful when you get the Nigerian specie, it could be your last.

6 THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT HONEY

According to national Honey Board “It takes about 60,000 bees, collectively travelling up to 55,000 miles and visiting more than 2 million flowers, to gather enough nectar to make one pound of honey”. Bears and badgers will raid honeycomb not minding the sting from the bee just for a taste of honey. If these lower animals know the value of honey to the extent of going through such pain shouldn’t we be curious? Well I bet you didn’t know these 6 things about honey:

1.       Honey makes excellent cough medicine

2.       Honey can be used to treat wounds (Manuka honey especially, it is used clinically)

3.       Honey diluted with warm water can be applied to the scalp to reduce itching and dandruff

4.       Honey can help boost energy especially sustained energy

5.       Honey can help reduce allergy e.g. cold and catarrh

6.       Honey and any other sweetener should not consumed by diabetic or pre-diabetic folk.

There are various honey products in the market, I cannot “categorically” tell you which is best for what but locally made honey is best. Honey made from domestic flowers is usually lighter but not as nourishing as the dark honey made from wild flowers.

GRIEF OR SADNESS CAN SHUT DOWN YOUR IMMUNITY

There is a new research proving that grief can be a big danger signal for the senior citizens. There is an imbalance in the body which leads to a fall in the immune system. Research has showed that old people experiencing grief have a 21 fold higher chance of a heart attack. The summary is that the immune system weakens and this leads to an array of disease if not checked.

Whatever means should be employed to help keep these oldies from a sedentary life style. Force them to church/mosque and community programs. Let them mix with their peers if they are still alive. Enough of television and radio. Get them into physical activities like laundry and strolling. Engage in outdoor activity instead of getting antidepressants.

EXERCISE WORSENS ORAL HEALTH

You may not believe it but exercise may worsen your oral health. Very active athletes breathe with their mouth which should be okay except that this leads to a dry mouth which allows bacteria thrive. To add to this, drinking of energy drinks which load the mouth with sugar worsens it all and aggravates dental caries.

My advice is that, breathing through the nose is best but it can be pretty difficult, so breath through the mouth but quench your thirst with just water. Dr Mercola recommends coconut water in place of energy drinks; I think athletes should note this.