by Fern Shaw | Feb 25, 2019 | water cooler
Here at AquAid Water Coolers, we’re always on the lookout for helpful health tips drawn from nature that can accompany your drinking water. We’ve referenced mint before on a few occasions – once in 2015 and again in 2017 and last year – but we’ve never really looked at the herb itself. Turns out, this fresh smelling little wonder packs a power punch of health, has many varieties and is used across all spectrums, from medicinal to culinary.
With more species than one can hiccup at (mint is a great digestive aid) it has been around for centuries. Spearmint, penny royal (toxic to humans), wild mint, apple mint and chocolate mint (yum) are just a few of more than a hundred varieties.
Health Benefits
Prevent Respiratory Disorders: Research led by Professor Ron Eccles at the University of Wales, UK, states that menthol, present in mint, helps in relieving nasal congestion. The strong aroma of this herb is also very effective in clearing up congestion of the throat, bronchi, and lungs, which give relief from respiratory disorders that often result from asthma and common colds.
Digestive Aid: Mint is a great appetiser or a palate cleanser. The aroma of the herb helps activate the salivary glands in your mouth as well as the glands which secrete the digestive enzymes, thereby facilitating digestion. It also soothes the stomach in case of indigestion or inflammation. It is a potent remedy for relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A study conducted in 2013 reveals that the menthol present in mint has the ability to relieve diarrhoea. Also, for those that travel long distances via plane or boat, menthol oil derived from mint sweets can be very soothing for nausea and related motion sickness.
Oral Care: According to research, mint has germicidal qualities and it quickly freshens breath. It also adds to oral health by inhibiting harmful bacterial growth inside the mouth and by cleaning the tongue and teeth.
In modern times, for the same reason, menthol is one of the most common elements in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other dental hygiene products. Of course, the easiest way to get these results is to simply chew on the leaves.
Prevent Memory Loss: A study was conducted by Dr. A. P. Allen and Dr. A. P. Smith from Cardiff University, on the effect of chewing gum on stress, alertness, and cognition. It found that people who frequently used chewing gum, in which the major active ingredient is mint, had higher levels of memory retention and mental alertness than those who did not.
Reduce Depression & Fatigue: Mint is a natural stimulant and the smell alone can be enough to charge your energy and get your brain functioning at a higher level again. done in 2014 has shown that mint and its essential oil can help combat feeling sluggish, anxious, depressed or exhausted. It can be ingested, applied topically in a salve form or inhaled as a vapour.
Need access to a constant supply of cool or hot drinking water for your mint leaf water or mint tea?
Install a water cooler from AquAid– possibly the simplest solution to keep you hydrated, refreshed and feeling invigorated too.
*excerpts from an article at Organic Facts
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 18, 2019 | Hot Water Taps, water cooler, Water Coolers
Okay, so a waterfall and a water cooler don’t have much in common, other than both being a source of water of course, but have you ever (just as you do with water coolers) lumped waterfalls into one giant group thinking they’re all exactly the same thing? Well that’s completely untrue, there’s a whole subset of waterfall that you might not even have been aware of. So, if you want to know the difference between a cataract and a multi-step waterfall, read on for more of what makes each waterfall unique, thanks to our wonderful, all-knowing friend Wikipedia.
Plunge waterfalls drop vertically, losing contact with bedrock – an example is the Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Horsetail waterfalls on the other hand, maintain some contact with bedrock – Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park, California is one such horsetail.
Cataract waterfalls are the largest and most powerful – an example is Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Multi-step waterfalls are a sequence of waterfalls each with their own plunge pool – not common, one such example is the Ouzoud Waterfalls, northeast of Marrakech in Morocco.
Block waterfalls descend from a wide stream or river – the most famous is Niagara Falls which straddles the border between Canada and the US.
Cascade waterfalls flow over a series of rock steps – probably the best-know cascade is the Dunn’s River Falls near Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
Tiered waterfalls descend in a sequence of steps or falls – Yosemite Falls in California’s Yosemite National Park is a prime example.
So there you have it, an overview of the different types of waterfalls. And if you want to know more about the different types of water cooler or hot water taps available for your office – because there really are a wide variety of high-quality water solutions to choose from – then be sure to give AquAid a call today, they are the UK’s leading water cooler supplier and pride themselves on offering premium water coolers at affordable prices!
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 18, 2019 | instant tap, water cooler
We’re all in need of a good laugh sometimes, and there’s never a better time to share a good joke or chuckle than when we’re gathered around the office water cooler or waiting in line to use the instant taps in our breakout area for that much needed cup of coffee.
When they say ‘laughter is the best medicine’ – they actually mean it. ‘Study after study has pointed to the health benefits of laughter: Research from Loma Linda University showed that laughing improved the memory of adults in their 60s and 70s; University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers found that hilarious movies improved the function of blood vessels and increased blood flow in a group of 20 thirty-somethings. And other research has shown that laughing can improve immunity, help regulate blood sugar levels, and improve sleep.’
Laughter definitely lifts our spirits and whatever makes us positive, generally also makes us more productive, so the next time you’re at the water cooler grabbing your glass of water or busy with your caffeine fix, here are 5 of our favourite, safe-for-work, delightfully silly jokes to bring a little joy into everyone’s day.
- Yesterday I saw a guy spill all his Scrabble letters on the road. I asked him, ‘What’s the word on the street?’
- What’s the best thing about Switzerland? I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.
- Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There’s no menu: You get what you deserve.
- A man tells his doctor, ‘Doc, help me. I’m addicted to Twitter!’ The doctor replies, ‘Sorry, I don’t follow you …’
- A German walks into a bar and asks for a martini. The bartender asks, ‘dry?’ The German replies, ‘nein, just one.’
Okay, so they’re definitely not going to win any awards, but I’ll bet they brought a goofy smile to your face none the less, which is another interesting fact about laughter – it’s contagious. ‘When you see people laughing, you just can’t help but smile, right? That’s because your brain makes it nearly impossible not to. That’s the result of research from the lab of Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist at University College London. When she monitored subjects’ brains while she played laughing sounds, she found that the premotor cortical region of the brain, which prepares the muscles in the face to move, was activated.’
So go ahead and share silly, funny moments – make that office water cooler chat a positive experience for everyone and spread the joy!
Source: Reader’s Digest
by Fern Shaw | Feb 18, 2019 | mains fed water cooler, water cooler, water cooler
You may be aware that AquAid has, since their inception some 21 years ago, donated in excess of £14 million to charity. This extraordinary achievement is due to their commitment to ensure that, since their first day of operations, a portion of their sales is donated to charity.
Charities where the principle focus is the implementation of sustainable water projects across the globe and from AquAid’s perspective, specifically throughout Africa, where a large percentage of the world’s poorest people reside.
What you may not be aware of is that for every bottle of water purchased and for each Mains Fed Water Cooler installed, a donation is made to the charities that AquAid has supported since 1998.
The charities AquAid support:
Christian Aid – AquAid have to date donated over £3 million to this charity, resulting in sustainable water projects throughout Africa aiding more than 338,000 people.
The Africa Trust – AquAid began this charity in 2010: 19 years later, over £6 million in donations has meant more than 1.2 million people have gained access to clean drinking water through the implementation of sustainable water projects such as the Elephant Pump.
What can you do?
If you’re considering installing a water cooler, we recommend AquAid. Not only will your organisation benefit by having constant access to refreshing drinking water readily available, but for each sip you take, you’ll be making a positive change in other’s lives by enabling their access to clean drinking water.
The possibilities are truly endless. Contact AquAid today.
by Fern Shaw | Feb 12, 2019 | water cooler
Tough question, this one. Slightly risqué too, we know. But at AquAid we’re a pretty determined and well-rounded (mentally, that is) bunch, so we believe we can tackle this question with aplomb.
The answer is: drinking water is most definitely romantic! Stealing from The Bard, let’s count the ways:
- When you’re parched, whether from a marathon think tank talk at work, from exercise or simply because you lapsed with your hydration, there’s nothing nicer than the feeling of satisfaction you experience when you slake your thirst.
- A feeling of satisfaction can help with releasing endorphins. Water stimulates the flow of nutrients and hormones that release those feel-good endorphins you need to feel happy. Drinking more water will satisfy your thirst and health.
- When you up your drinking water habit and put dehydration behind you, not only do you feel better, but you look better. Drinking enough water isn’t just a health benefit: it plumps up your skin, makes your hair glossy, keeps your eyes clear and bright and generally makes you look and feel more youthful.
The points above are perhaps something to consider this romantic month of February. If you have an intended in mind and would like to be murmuring sweet nothings to them come Valentine’s Day, what could be better than to present yourself at your most appealing – clear eyed, hydrated and healthy. A clear pathway to feeling more romantically inclined.
And the best bit is: even if you don’t have romance in mind, installing a water cooler still remains a very good idea, precisely because it will give you an uninterrupted supply of cool, clear, refreshing drinking water 24/7/365, enabling you and your co-workers, (whether they’re love bugs or not) to not only perform at your best, but look your best too.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Feb 11, 2019 | instant tap, water cooler, water dispenser
The weather is still pretty grim and as much as frequent visits to your office’s instant taps or water cooler might help you stay hydrated, it can be a little challenging to keep drinking that much liquid during the cold winter months; so another option is to up your intake of water-rich fruit and vegetables!
Not only does certain produce help with water intake, but fruit and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories, and they’re an important source of many nutrients including potassium, fiber, folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. These nutrients help our bodies maintain healthy blood pressure, reduce blood cholesterol levels, regulate our bowel movements, aid healthy fetal development in women, and protect against various infections – the benefits are endless. For all this, in addition to aiding hydration, it’s easy to see why we should include more of this food type in our diets.
So, if you’re struggling to drink those eight glasses of water each day from the water cooler, consider eating more of the following – in order of highest water content:
FRUIT
Watermelon holds the highest percentage of water at 92%, followed by Strawberries 92%, Grapefruit 91%, Cantaloupe 90%, Peach 88%, Raspberries 87%, Pineapple 87%, Cranberries 87%, Orange 87%, Apricot 86%, Blueberries 85%, Plum 85%, Pear 84%, Apple 84%, Cherries 81%, Grapes 81% and Banana 74%.
VEGETABLES
Cucumber holds the highest percentage of water at 96%, Lettuce (iceberg) 96%, Zucchini 95%, Celery 95%, Radish 95%, Tomato (red) 94%, Cabbage (green) 93%, Tomato (green) 93%, Cabbage (red) 92%, Cauliflower 92%, Peppers (sweet) 92%, Spinach 92%, Eggplant 92%, Broccoli 91%, Carrots 87%, Peas (green) 79% and Potato (white) 79%.
Whether it’s a fruit salad you bring along to the office, or perhaps a home-made soup, be sure to include more of these in your diet and then you won’t need to visit the water cooler dispenser quite that often in the chilly months.
