Doctor Explains Why Your Pee SHOULD Be Green
In a Nutshell
Green urine is a metabolic signal indicating optimal microbiome function and high-quality grass-fed, grass-finished meat consumption, resulting from the conversion of heme into tetrapyrrole chromophores via microbiota-dependent pathways. This phenomenon requires both premium ruminant meat and a fully optimized gut microbiome, which can take years to develop through consistent carnivore diet and fermented food intake. The speaker positions this as a "bioflex" reward signal confirming efficient nutrient extraction, recommending specific suppliers like Plainview Beef and liver consumption while warning against processed foods and fructose.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Green urine is an anecdotal phenomenon without published studies. The speaker first noticed this coloration years ago, with increasing intensity and signal strength over time. Other people in the speaker's community have also observed this green hue in urine. The phenomenon occurs among people following a carnivore diet combined with fermented and live foods, termed the "living diet."
Two essential elements are required to produce green urine:
- Consumption of high-quality grass-fed, grass-finished meat
- An optimized microbiome
Absence of either element prevents green urine from occurring. The speaker has observed this pattern over 100 times: when switching to grain-fed meat, the green coloration disappears and urine returns to yellow.
Urine color varies from golden yellow to darker yellow, then to fluorescent green. The green coloration results from two distinct pathways:
Carnivore Pathway
Heme present in grass-fed meat converts to biliverdin, then bilirubin, and finally to urinary chromophores through microbiome transformation, producing the green urine.
Plant Pathway
Chlorophylls (tetrapyrroles) convert to pheophytin, chlorophyll metabolites, and plant-derived chromophores, producing a lighter yellowish-green color.
The carnivore pathway produces more intense, darker, and more brilliant green coloration compared to the plant pathway.
Key studies cited include:
- Dostal 2014: demonstrates conversion pathways from heme to biliverdin and bilirubin, producing potent tetrapyrrole chromophores
- Horkstener JXB 2020: covers plant pathway conversions
- Harel and Eggle Public Health Nutrition 2010: establishes that dietary heme is only found in animal products, not plants
Raw grass-fed liver contains higher amounts of preformed biliverdin compared to skeletal muscle.
Carnivores obtain exogenous heme from ruminant meat consumption. Vegans only have endogenous heme produced physiologically, as plants contain no heme iron. This creates a biochemical disadvantage for vegans regarding green urine intensity.
Vegans can produce some green urine through chlorophyll-derived phycobilins from high chlorophyll foods like spinach, chlorella, spirulina, and wheatgrass. Studies supporting this include Tennet 2020, Horstinner 2020, Dastol 2014, Farooqi 2002, Naito and Naito 2008, and Chu 2000.
The microbiome is the rate-limiting step in both carnivore and plant pathways. A healthy, robust, and optimized microbiome is essential for tetrapyrrole chromophore production. Human metabolism is microbiota-dependent.
Optimization timeline varies:
- 20-somethings with less visceral fat history acquire green urine faster
- Middle-aged individuals may require years to optimize their microbiome
Studies cited: Tenet 2020 on microbiota and bilirubin regulation, Naito study on microbiota regulating bilirubin, and Eto et al. Plant Physiology 2019 on microbiota regulating chlorophyll and flavin conversion.
Green urine indicates optimized microbiome efficiency and high nutrient extraction from food, not toxicity. This represents a "bioflex" - the ability to convert brown red meat into green urine through efficient metabolism.
The speaker compares green urine to other biological signals:
- Strong erections from nitric oxide
- Muscle pump during weightlifting from nitric oxide
These signals reinforce healthy behaviors. Green urine serves as a reward signal indicating "you're living well" and encouraging continued consumption of grass-fed, grass-finished beef.
As a retired Army Colonel, the speaker noted that during drug testing days, fellow service members observed the speaker's green urine and commented on its unusual appearance. This occurred while consuming grass-fed, grass-finished beef with an optimized microbiome.
The speaker began eating healthy in 2009, went full carnivore in 2018, and consumed ferments since 2009. Green urine was not observed until approximately 3-4 years ago, demonstrating the extended timeline required for microbiome optimization.
Plainview Beef is recommended as a grass-fed, sprout-finished beef supplier. The speaker has no financial relationship with the company. Using code "Dr. Shawn 25" provides 25% off orders. The speaker confirms getting green urine when consuming their beef.
Liver produces the highest green urine signal due to higher heme content. Grass-fed, grass-finished liver from sources like Thousand Hills and P Moniz is recommended. The speaker eats liver raw and notes reduced green urine when liver is cooked.
Two requirements for green urine:
- Quality of animal consumed (grass-fed, grass-finished)
- Optimized microbiome
Cloudy urine differs from green urine. While cloudy urine can result from natural dietary changes, persistent cloudy urine with fever or chills warrants medical consultation as it may indicate infection.
Urine can develop different odors from various compounds and foods. Asparagus produces a benign odor response.
Extended fasting is recommended for achieving deep ketosis, as it involves zero calories and avoids protein that suppresses autophagy. Videos on extended fasting are available on the speaker's YouTube channel.
Studies show modest statistically significant visceral fat reduction with resistance starch, but effects are relatively small compared to major interventions like cutting processed foods, reducing stress, improving sleep, fasting, and sprinting.
Resistance starch can feed beneficial microbes producing short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, lactate, propionate) but may also feed problematic pathogenic microbes. Some community members experienced bloating, discomfort, and symptoms when trying resistant starch.
Recommendation: Focus on maximum intensity exercise, fasting, eliminating processed foods, and adding fermented foods rather than resistance starch.
Continuous ketosis is not recommended. Natural cycling between glucose and ketone burning is preferred. Nature favors waxing and waning patterns. During fasting periods, become increasingly ketogenic; during feasting periods, exit ketosis.
The ketogenic diet was originally promulgated in the 1920s for seizure management. The Charlie Foundation is recommended as a starting resource. Finding a neurologist familiar with the Charlie Foundation and ketogenic approaches to seizure disorders is advised. A ketogenic diet approach may potentially reduce or eliminate anticonvulsant medication needs, but requires discussion with an experienced neurologist.
Green pee can appear on and off depending on beef quality. Some followers have reported acquiring green pee after going carnivore and adding in ferments. Fermented foods add living microbes to the gut microbiome. Most people have been eating dead food without fermented foods. The living diet has been trademarked and promoted because it is optimal, with numerous clients eating this way.
Processed foods are literally killing people to make a few extra pennies. The recommendation is to cut processed foods and add in fermented foods. This advice applies whether someone is vegan or carnivore. This single change can provide substantial return on health.
Meat eaters, particularly those eating a carnivore diet exclusively with only fermented foods, tend to eliminate visceral fats and fat around the heart and fat in the muscles faster and better than those eating a plant-based diet. Plant-based vegan followers can still eliminate these fats but need to get intelligent about their approach.
When physiology is optimized, muscle glycogen restoration happens very easily. Gluconeogenesis produces glycogen. Glycogen is a carbohydrate stored within meat, so even carnivores consume some carbohydrates when eating meat. Liver can provide up to 60 grams of carbohydrates per serving. Liver also provides other metabolites and postbiotics that help manage physiology when processed through the gut and microbiome.
Patient confidentiality prevents discussion of specific clients. HIPAA guidelines are followed. Some members of the president's cabinet, US senators, and governors are managed as patients, but specific identities cannot be confirmed.
Honey is not recommended because it is a strong carbohydrate containing fructose. Fructose diverts deposition of adiposity from beneficial fat to more deep subcutaneous fat or visceral fat. Fructose glycates tissues 10 to 20 times more than table sugar, causing a caramelization effect on tissues that accelerates aging and disease.
People promoting carnivore and fruit or honey diets show massive veins with a shrink-wrapped appearance. This occurs because fructose consumption causes loss of superficial subcutaneous fat. When people stop fructose consumption, they develop nice thick skin. Thin skin is undesirable. Superficial subcutaneous fat is where adiponectin lives, which is a beneficial molecule.
The promoted approach is to eat fat and protein and fermented foods rather than carbohydrates. The N of 1 study refers to tracking one person's results. MRI scans track epicardial fat around the heart, abdominal fat, and fat filling muscles. Baseline measurements are compared after dietary changes to demonstrate improvement.
Blood studies are dynamic and change from day to day or hour to hour. Few people report that blood tests completely changed their lives. When fat around the heart, abdomen, and muscles is found and removed, life completely changes and reveals the burden of previously undiagnosed disease.
Weekly lives are planned to cover interesting and controversial topics. The website growingbetternotolder.com offers newsletter signup and information about programs. Travel occurs across the country and increasingly worldwide. Alpha Maker is a live program conducted twice a week for one hour with a smaller community for more one-on-one interaction.
Practices are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Naples, Florida, and Scottsdale, Arizona. The website drshaunomera.com provides information for those interested in becoming patients.
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