What does it mean when your urine is dark yellow?

Dark yellow urine most commonly means you are dehydrated and need to drink more water. When you don't consume enough fluids, your kidneys conserve water by producing more concentrated urine, which makes it appear darker. It can also result from eating certain foods like beets or asparagus, taking B vitamins or certain medications, or simply being more active and sweating more than usual. In most cases, drinking more water will return your urine to a pale yellow color within a few hours. If your urine appears brown or orange, or if darkening persists despite good hydration, you should see a doctor as it could indicate a liver or kidney issue.