Did you know too much exercise can be bad too?
A friend of mine called me last week to raise an alarm about the color of his urine. It was “coke-colored”. Worried because it was the first time it was happening to him. I asked him several questions, but the one that was most significant was that he stopped exercising for the 3 months of the lockdown and then once the gym reopened, he exercised with the same intensity as he did before the lockdown. Second day after resumption at the gym, he noticed the coke-colored urine.
Excessive exercise without proper hydration can cause an imbalance between muscle energy consumption and production and can lead to the release of “myoglobin” from the muscle cells and can be excreted in the urine. When this happens, your urine will appear “coke-colored” and this can lead to Acute Kidney Injury.
Prevention:
1. Ensure proper hydration, before, during and after exercise
2. Start with low intensity workout then gradually increase
3. Reduce intensity of workout during hot periods
PSA: Coke-colored urine is a symptom of some other illnesses. If you ever notice this, visit your doctor immediately.
Have a lovely week ahead and remember to exercise!
Amarachi Ijeoma
