Final answer:
The color of urine indicates hydration levels, with darker urine suggesting more dehydration. This color change is largely due to reduced water content in urine when the body is conserving water due to low hydration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The darker the color of urine, the more dehydrated the individual is. When a person consumes a lot of water, the blood will have a higher concentration of water, leading to the pituitary gland releasing a lower amount of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH). Consequently, the kidneys reabsorb less water and produce large volumes of urine that is typically pale in color.
Dehydration causes the body to try and conserve water, resulting in the production of urine that is darker in color. The color of urine is primarily determined by the presence of urochrome, a breakdown product of red blood cell destruction. Therefore, a darker urine color signals less water content in the urine, indicative of dehydration or other conditions affecting hydration status.