Your tongue won’t lie! Know what its colour can say about your health

Do you make a habit of checking the colour of your tongue? If not, it may be time you start doing so, because it says a lot about your health. Our tongue doesn’t always remain pink in colour. You can notice some slight changes to the colour of your tongue when you are suffering from a health problem.

If you don’t believe this, check the colour of your tongue if you catch a fever or suffer from stomach problems. If you have been to a doctor for a regular health check up, you will remember the moment they tell you to put out your tongue while they examine it with a flashlight. They do it because it has been a traditional practice among the doctors to determine the general health of their patients by examining their tongues.

You need to worry about these colour changes if they persist for more than a couple of days. Pooja Luthra, a naturopathy scholar, shared a reel through her Instagram account, where she can be seen talking about the various colors of tongue and what they say about our health.

What does the colour of your tongue say about your health?

1. Pink

Pink, with a slight white coating, is the natural colour of your tongue. It means that you are completely healthy and your body is functioning in a normal way. A healthy tongue will have small fleshy bumps here and there which will give your tongue a coarse texture.

2. Yellow

A yellow tongue is often associated with stomach problems. If you have digestive or gastric issues your tongue will be yellowish in color. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine also claims that a yellow tongue can be a sign of Type 2 diabetes. A yellow tongue can also be a side effect of having jaundice or can also be because of poor oral hygiene which has led to accumulation of bacteria on your tongue.

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3. White or grey

Our tongues usually have a white coating but if it seems whiter than usual with some grey areas, it may be a sign of yeast infection in your body. White patches on the tongue can also be observed if you are suffering from leukoplakia which often results from smoking or due to consumption of other tobacco products.

4. Purple

Your tongue turns purple when there is a poor circulation of blood in your body. Improper blood circulation can be caused because of various lung or heart related issues. If you are suffering from a heart condition then you will observe a purple tongue for a long period of time.

5. Red

A bright red tongue is usually swollen and bumpy and is termed as “strawberry tongue” by the doctors. It often indicates blood disorders or heart issues. It can also be an indication of vitamin B deficiency or scarlet fever.