Question
I’ve recently noticed that my child’s urine is a darker yellow, but there are no symptoms of ‘up fire.’ Could it be due to ‘up fire’ causing the change in urine color?
Answer
Under normal circumstances, human urine should be a light yellow color. The color of urine can be affected by temperature, water intake, and dietary habits. For example, consuming more acidic foods can make the urine darker; conversely, if the diet is more alkaline, the urine color will be lighter. For children, if disease factors are ruled out, a darker urine color is usually related to insufficient water intake or ‘up fire.’ It is recommended to increase water intake, which can usually alleviate this condition. During summer, you can prepare some cooling soups for your child, such as mung bean soup, to help regulate the body’s balance.