[Ragib_Zaman]

The thirst mechanism becomes less reliable with age, so older people may find those products beneficial. But yes, for most healthy young to middle aged people, "drink when you're thirsty" is generally fine. Maybe with the added subpoint that if your urine is often colored, try to drink a little more.

[runeks]

> Maybe with the added subpoint that if your urine is often colored, try to drink a little more.

Honest question: why? Are there studies that point to coloured urine as the cause of disease?

It's clear to me that coloured urine is associated with disease (since the body excretes waste products via urine), but not that it can be the cause of it.

[forgotmypw17]

I think it's just an indicator of more concentration of non-water things, correlated with not drinking a lot of water, and slower urine production.

[forgotmypw17]

Yes, it is important to pay attention to urine, and poop too.

[zrobotics]

This will sound wierd, but I knew a rancher who could diagnose a calf (correctly, confirmed by a vet) based on those two things. Ironically, he had been developing diabetes, which had he been paying as close attention to waste products he might have caught sooner.

PSA: Look before you flush, it's actually not a bad way to gauge general health.

[forgotmypw17]

Maybe a little weird, but certainly not surprising to me.

It's the closest you can get non-invasively to looking inside yourself.

[eecc]

Can I get weirder? What lab assessment material should I procure - as a consumer - to evaluate the most significant characteristics of my wastes?

[forgotmypw17]

Your nose and eyes is sufficient lab equipment.