Hydrate yourself with lemon water

When it comes to lemon water there are a lot of 'mays' associated with its health benefits. Drinking a glass every morning may help you lose weight; the citric acid in lemon water may help prevent kidney stones and a mouthful may freshen your breath. All of these may well be true, but one thing is guaranteed – adding fresh lemon juice to a bottle of water makes it considerably more exciting to drink and with it comes the benefits of complete hydration.

Living in the desert, we've all probably experienced acute dehydration – that need for a drink after a stroll to the shops, or coming back from a day at the beach. However, chronic dehydration is a more serious condition and most of us aren't drinking as much water as we should. The human body is made up of 60% water and not replenishing lost fluids can lead to muscle fatigue, dizziness, headaches and even skin conditions.

Doctors recommend drinking around 2-litres of water a day, which is easily achievable, but not entirely desirable. Yes, you can buy flavoured water, but this often comes with added sugar, and this is where a fresh lemon comes in.

Cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice into a large bottle of water and you have an instant, delicious thirst quencher. Lemon water tastes great and is super easy to drink, (especially when it's chilled) allowing you to achieve your daily recommendation of H2O with ease. For extra taste and texture, make sure to leave in the pulp, which also happens to be a good source of dietary fibre.

Not only does lemon water refresh and hydrate, but it's also a good source of vitamin C. The juice of one lemon contains 19 milligrams of beneficial ascorbic acid, along with several enzymes that support the immune system – hugely important during the current pandemic.

So, don't just start your morning with a lemon water, carry on sipping it throughout the day until bedtime. The physical and mental health benefits are measurable. Try drinking 2-litres of lemon water a day for a week: you'll be surprised by how alive and refreshed you'll feel.