Drinking pee to improve health is an ancient practice – but the risks outweigh the evidence

Dipa Kamdar

doi:10.64628/AB.hmjhgvapx

Drinking pee to improve health is an ancient practice – but the risks outweigh the evidence

Dipa Kamdar

Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care & Education

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

TV star Ben Grylls says he does it for survival – and teaches his reality show contestants to do the same. Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Márquez practised this therapy to train for his 2009 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr (he lost). Former Indian prime minister Morarji Desai claimed a daily glass of the stuff was a remedy for many diseases and contributed to his longevity.
What is the therapy these celebrities practice? Urophagia, also known as urine therapy, is the practice of drinking urine.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publisher	The Conversation Trust (UK) Limited
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.64628/AB.hmjhgvapx
Publication status	Published - 7 Apr 2025

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10.64628/AB.hmjhgvapxLicence: CC BY-ND

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abstract = "TV star Ben Grylls says he does it for survival – and teaches his reality show contestants to do the same. Mexican boxer Juan Manuel M{\'a}rquez practised this therapy to train for his 2009 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr (he lost). Former Indian prime minister Morarji Desai claimed a daily glass of the stuff was a remedy for many diseases and contributed to his longevity. What is the therapy these celebrities practice? Urophagia, also known as urine therapy, is the practice of drinking urine. ",

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Drinking pee to improve health is an ancient practice – but the risks outweigh the evidence

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