Imagine consuming a cupful or glassful of your urine every day, first thing in the morning. Well, some famous celebrities, and influencers are swearing by the health benefits of a wee bit of pee. However, medical experts warn against this health fad because it could introduce harmful bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances into the bloodstream.
As per medical experts, there is no scientific evidence to prove that drinking urine has therapeutic benefits. Dr Sashi Kiran, a senior nephrologist from Yashoda Hospital says, “Though urine is mostly water, it also has other pathogens like bacteria, toxins, traces of medicines that one takes etc. Drinking it back exposes oneself to these toxins and bacteria. It can also cause electrolyte imbalance and dehydration.”
Pee-ka-bo time
While most people will find the idea of drinking urine gross, some actors like Paresh Rawal and Aashiqui-fame Anu Aggarwal are advocating urophagia much to the chagrin of medical experts. Recently, Rawal told a media channel that following the advice of Bollywood’s late action-director Veeru Devgan, he had started drinking his own urine. Once Rawal had been admitted to a hospital due to an injury. “Veeru Devgan told me to drink my urine first thing in the morning. He said: ‘all fighters do this, and that you will never face any problems if you do it,’” Rawal was quoted by the channel and went on to add, “I sipped it like beer and later, my X-ray reports showed an impressive healing which surprised even the doctors.” Anu Aggarwal told a Bollywood news platform that she has drunk her urine too and called it ‘amrit.’ “People don’t know about it. Drinking urine is a process which is called the ‘Amaroli mudra’ of Hath Yog. I have myself taken it. In this, the whole urine is not drunk, just a part. It is an anti-aging process and protects from wrinkles,” she said.
(UN)HEALTHY TREND
Cautioning the public about Rawal’s statements, liver specialist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips (aka The Liver Doc) on the social media platform X posted: “Please don’t drink your urine (or others) because a Bollywood actor says so.
There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that drinking urine provides any health benefits. In fact, consuming urine can be harmful, potentially introducing bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances into the bloodstream. Your kidneys work very hard to remove toxic stuff out of your body through urine. Don’t insult it by putting it back in.” The doctor further stated: “Urine is not sterile. It is a potent combination of salts and chemicals that your body is attempting to remove. These chemicals can cause significant health problems if you consume them.”
PIDDLE TIPPLE
From Madonna to Morarji Desai (former Indian PM), TV host Bear Grylls and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez to name a few, have enjoyed a “wee tipple” and sung praises of its health benefits. The reasons range from healing injuries, longevity, anti-aging, boosting immunity and overall health etc.
In 1978, the late Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai (1896-1995), during an interview with American journalist Daniel Rather, revealed that he drank his own urine to stay healthy and to live long. The phrase “Morarji Cola” became a hit in political and social circles. Pop icon Madonna and Bear Grylls have also spoken about drinking their “pee.” In fact, Grylls has also encouraged other participants to do the same in his survivalist TV shows.
Expert Speak
Explaining about urophagia, Dr Sashi Kiran says that if urine is drunk without distilling and processing it, it can indirectly cause dehydration instead of hydrating the body. This is because raw urine contains urea, which has diuretic properties and can increase urine output in people. He says, “So, if anyone is stuck in a desert or in a place of water scarcity, they can further get dehydrated by frequent urination. In some cases, drinking urine is also indicative of certain mental health issues including obsessive compulsive disorder
or those stemming from excessive stress and behavioural problems.”
Moreover, one should remember that even if urine is used in certain alternative therapies and in Space Station, it is not used in its toxic raw form, but is processed.
Dr Sashi Kiran says, “Also, in certain cosmetics, urea might be used from various sources of ammonia and not necessarily from urine.” Therefore, one should not blindly follow health advice that some celebs and influencers dole out on social media.
“Please don’t drink your urine (or others) because a Bollywood actor says so. There is no scientific evidence to support the idea. In fact, consuming urine can be harmful, potentially introducing bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances into the bloodstream. Your kidneys work very hard to remove toxic stuff out of your body through urine. Don’t insult it by putting it back in.”
Dr Cyriac Abby Philips (aka The Liver Doc) on the social media platform X
Urine is not sterile. It is a potent combination of salts and chemicals that your body is attempting to remove. These chemicals can cause significant health problems if you consume them.
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