by Fern Shaw | May 24, 2023 | aquaid, water cooler, water cooler, Water Coolers
This month of Mental Health Awareness, we have looked at how drinking enough water can aid our ability to reduce anxiety and boost our mental wellbeing. In this blog, we focus our attention to the effects dehydration can have on the brain and possible solutions.
*Almost every bodily function relies on water. Because 75% of brain tissue is water, dehydration reduces energy production in the brain and can change brain structure, causing the brain to slow down and not function properly.
At the molecular level, if water levels are too low, our brain cells cannot function properly, with the brain showing signs of working harder to complete tasks.
Our cells recognise a state of dehydration as a threat to survival, leading to a state of anxiety. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger between brain cells) that stabilises our mood and regulates emotions. During dehydration, we struggle to get the chemicals required to produce serotonin into our brain.
Being just half a litre dehydrated may also increase the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with a range of mental disorders, including anxiety.
Drinking water, maintaining good hydration habits is proven one of the simplest methods to counteract low mood, anxiety and other stresses associated with insufficient water intake.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your staff at your establishment or organisation, speak to us at AquAid. From the smallest office space and staff contingent to multinational companies that employ hundreds of staff, AquAid have a drinking water solution tailor-made to suit your requirements.
source* Nikolaij Travica – article at The Conversation
by Fern Shaw | Apr 26, 2023 | water cooler
With the radical changes we have all experienced in the last three years, which have influenced how we live our lives and as we continue on – we ask:
What does a Work / Life Balance mean?
On the surface, the concept of a work/life balance is self-explanatory. There are, however, substantial depths around this balance. The balance has shifted and evolved as times changed. In the 20th Century, workers fought for the right to work an 8-hour day. This brought the first shift in favour of an increase of after work hours. In the dawning of the 21st Century, the balance shifted again, with the advent of the mobile phone and in particular, the Blackberry. It became easier to continue working after hours and adversely harder to disengage when not at work.
There was yet another shift in the 2 000s, especially in the tech industries, where work hours could be brutal but where the workspace changed significantly to create a more holistic work environment.
Work relocation?
With the pandemic, there wasn’t much balance of which to speak – for obvious reasons – however, in itself, this period shifted the balance in another quite drastic direction. Aside from the forced remote work, work was at the home, in the home, with no possibility of separating home/work life. What this did do, though, was have workers create a virtual separation between work and home/life.
Has the Work / Life Balance changed?
Fortunately and unfortunately, it has. For many, there is no balance. Others, there is a balance but this is more forced than chosen. Others still, the balance has shifted due to circumstances and of their choosing.
What remains the same? Does anything?
There is one constant though. Whether you work from an office at home, have returned to an office, never left work due to being an essential worker, the necessity of having access to drinking water is vital. Maintaining good hydration habits have proven to aid one’s well-being, cognition and ability to make better decisions and life choices.
by Fern Shaw | Apr 19, 2023 | water cooler, Water Coolers
It seems as it was just yesterday that we were all in the icy grip of winter and then lo and behold, we’re in our second month of Spring – not even time to catch our collective breath as we watch the seasons rollercoaster past.
Now that we’re in this burgeoning season, we thought we’d have a look at dispelling a few myths about the Spring Equinox. According to an article in the Farmers’ Almanac:
Myth: You Won’t Have A Noontime Shadow
Reality: Technically, this myth is somewhat true. However, conditions have to be incredibly precise for this to happen. It’s all about being the right place at the right time. Since the Sun is always at an angle to you, you always cast a shadow. In order not to cast a shadow, the Sun needs to be directly overhead. Because the Sun is situated over the equator at the equinox, you’d have to be standing at the equator precisely at noon on the day of the equinox for this to happen.
Myth: The Equinox Is A Day-Long Event
Reality: An equinox doesn’t take all day – it’s only a moment in time! The true equinox an exact moment in which the Sun passes over the equator—blink and you’ll miss it.
Myth: The Spring Equinox Can Alter Your Mood
Reality: This is another one of those myths based partly in truth. In actuality, the Sun moving across the equator has no real effect on emotions. But, seasonal changes can and often do play a big part in moods. So while the moment of the vernal equinox itself isn’t responsible for changes in your emotions, it’s likely that around this time of year you’re experiencing at least a little bit of spring fever, or leftover effects of the winter’s shorter days.
The equinox’s significance centres on the Sun’s position relative to the equator. It’s the astronomical start of spring, which means longer days for those of us in the northern hemisphere.
Speaking of mood and now we’re perking up due to the current season; let’s look at one of the simplest and easiest routes to improving your mood and outlook. That is to keep you properly hydrated.
Speak to us at AquAid for all your water requirements (we have something for all seasons). We offer a range of hydration stations, be those water dispensers for the little ‘uns at schools, or for drinking water at work, whether in warehouses, building sites, medical facilities, events, theatres or the hospitality industry – the list goes on.
by Fern Shaw | Mar 13, 2023 | water cooler, Water Coolers
With the onset of and phenomenal expansion and growth of social media, it probably doesn’t come as any surprise that the water cooler – the original real-life social chit-chat gathering station – may have had its amount of drinking water gatherers significantly reduced.
According to Statista, as of January 2023, the most popular social networks worldwide ranked by number of monthly active users are:
Facebook remains the most popular, with 2.9 billion users monthly.
YouTube ranks second, with 2.5 billion monthly users, with WeChat and TikTok ranked fifth and sixth respectively. However, one must take into consideration that it is Meta Platforms that owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with over one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.
Although I am well immersed in the world of social media, these stats did jostle me out of my little neck of the woods comfort zone. Luckily, considering human needs and behaviour, it’s probably unlikely that online digital socialising will ever replace the need to replenish one’s drinking water, all while having an enjoyable catch up with colleagues at the water cooler at work, the office and play.
by Fern Shaw | Feb 6, 2023 | water cooler
Chances are when the chill sets in we look to hydration being more hot water drinks than remarkably water rich winter friendly fruit like pears, clementines and even date plums.
Drinking enough water to maintain sufficient hydration when the weather is cold can be difficult. There’s also a tendency to drink high-sugar content hot water drinks such as hot chocolate instead of plain, heated water. Which is why considering healthier high water content alternates may often be overlooked, which is a pity , as water rich winter fruit offers far more than just contributing towards a good daily water intake.
Pears, all varieties, are a great source of vitamins C and K. With water content upwards of 80%, you couldn’t ask for a better fruit to contribute towards health and hydration during cooler weather. They are perfect to throw into a lunch bag, can be eaten whole and leave very little waste*. You can even poach, steam, or roast them for use as a healthier dessert option.
A mixture of a mandarin orange and a sweet orange*, Clementine’s are available all year long and are excellent sources of vitamin C. They are also a source of vitamin B6, Calcium and Magnesium and with an 87% water content, this delicious, juicy segmented fruit are the perfect energy boosting fruit for winter snacking.
Date Plums. These small yellow plums are packed with fibre, vitamins A and C, and they contain no cholesterol. They can help to boost your immune system in peak flu season, and perhaps best of all, they taste great*.
As we head into the colder months, it’s understandable that we may veer away from topping up our water from the water cooler as much as we do when it’s warmer. But this is a mistake – our bodies still need to hydrate irrespective of the weather. What may be worth considering is to ramp up your daily water intake with high water content, vitamin rich fruit.
*source: Garden Centre Shopping
by Fern Shaw | Jan 24, 2023 | water cooler
Although preferring hot drinks when the weather is cooler is perfectly understandable, these aren’t necessarily the healthiest of hydration options – especially tummy warming, tasty beverages like a mug of rich hot chocolate.
Which is why, when it’s chilly, it may be wise to look at healthier alternatives, which not only help us maintain good hydration but also play a part in boosting our body’s immune systems.
Water, Hot or Cool, is best
Drinking water regularly, throughout the day, remains the simplest route to hydrate your way healthily.
With that established, we move on to a variety of water health cheats that you may not have considered, until now.
Vitamin C boost
Adding the juice of half a lemon to a glass of water as hot as you can drink it every morning is a sure-fire way to help get your system moving.
Add honey to the health mix
Honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent, as well as being a natural sweetener. Adding a spoon to hot lemon water packs a powerful health punch, all in one glass of water.
Tea, of course!
It goes without saying that nothing beats a cuppa, so that we have hot water coolered, however, as green tea packs a higher punch of antioxidants, perhaps it’s time to switch up from black tea to green.
Perhaps keep all or one of the above top of mind when you head to your water cooler to top-up/replenish or dispense your first hot water tipple of the day.
