>Urine frequency or color has nothing to do with hydration or kidney function.
That is not strictly true. They should have said "don't base your water intake on urine/urination".
Decreased urine volume and abnormally dark urine are both signs of dehydration (early and later stages respectively). They are also both associated with decreased kidney function. But a symptom alone never makes a diagnosis.
In other words, you can't assume you are dehydrated/your kidneys aren't working right based on those signs by themselves. As more an more signs/symptoms become apparent (esp. neuro/GI) then dehydration is likely.
That is not strictly true. They should have said "don't base your water intake on urine/urination".
Decreased urine volume and abnormally dark urine are both signs of dehydration (early and later stages respectively). They are also both associated with decreased kidney function. But a symptom alone never makes a diagnosis.
In other words, you can't assume you are dehydrated/your kidneys aren't working right based on those signs by themselves. As more an more signs/symptoms become apparent (esp. neuro/GI) then dehydration is likely.