Are you taking the piss?!

Hydration is key in both a healthy body and performance with exercise. 

Water is not the only key to hydration. Hydration is all about the balance of salts and sugars in the body. We need various salts and sugars to maintain adequate function of the entire body. The body is the greatest conductor of energy and water, with the correct balance of salts and sugars, is how it is transferred and allows everything to operate. Check out this article here for more details.

We all need different amounts of water depending on how our body operates, what physical activity we do, how well our body is functioning and how good old genetics have decided to make us. So I can not sit here and tell you the exact amount you should drink everyday. 

The guideline of 8 glasses a day is a good one but like I always say we are all different so there is no one rule for us all.

A good marker to check your hydration is your urine. Yes it's true, you have got to start looking at your pee!

Check out this chart above. Compare it to your pee and see where you rank. 

(Disclaimer: Lifestyle Jeanie will not accept any loss or damages to your phone as you hold up this chart while peering into the bowl!)

If at any point throughout the day your urine goes to colours 4-8 then it is time to start downing the fluids. Water ideally. I typically drink 3.5 - 5 Litres of water a day. 5 litres on the days when I'm exercising and sweating. This does not include teas. 

As I eat clean I actually get very little salt intake from food and so add Pink Himalayan Crystal salt to my food once or twice a day. This salt has approximately 84 minerals and vitamins, key to good body function. Check out my post on this salt here. This combined with adequate water intake will hopefully lead to optimum hydration.

If you aren't used to drinking a lot of water don't drink too much too soon. Start by first of all measuring the amount you are drinking and try to increase it by 500mls at least a day. You'll eventually begin to get really thirsty as the body starts to realise it is now being adequately hydrated and it will begin to look for more. Yes, you will have to go to the toilet more but eventually your bladder will adapt.

I always carry a resuable water bottle with me. Everywhere I go. This is a handy way to ensure you can always have water and you aren't wasting money or damaging the environment with bottled water. I got my bottle here and it was worth every penny. Try and get BPA free plastic or a glass bottle if you are concerned about chemicals leeching into the water.

Keep drinking and keep looking at your pee pee!