by Fern Shaw | Feb 7, 2019 | Water Coolers
Unless a coconut cracked you on the head while you were walking underneath a coconut tree and this caused memory loss for a period, I’m quite positive that you’re aware of how most of the world has become all things coconut. There are more coconut derivatives than one can, well…. hurl a coconut at … think coconut meat, oil and water as just a few examples of this rather glorious tropical fruit.
While we batten down the hatches this rather snowy winter we look to water rich food or beverages that are good for us and is a worthy addition to our regular habit of drinking water.
The emphasis on ‘regular’ is important as studies show that when it’s colder we are less inclined to display signs of thirst despite the fact that dehydration can be just as prevalent in winter as it is in summer.
We took to Google to establish the nutritional properties of coconut water and were quite surprised at the results:
The nutritional breakdown for one cup of unsweetened coconut water is:
- Kilojoules: 184
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrate: 10.4 g
- Sugar: 9.6 g
Some points in coconut water’s favour: It has some important nutrients like potassium (404 mg per cup, almost as much as what you’ll find in a banana), vitamin C (24 mg, around 30 percent of your recommended daily value), and magnesium (15 mg, roughly 5 percent of your daily recommended intake).
The downside: that sugar content. Even though this is unsweetened water, and these are natural sugars, 9.6 grams is over a third of the recommended daily maximum amount of sugar.
Whilst coconut meat also provides a wide range of nutrients, it has a calorie count of 354 per 100g and sugar 6g.
Conclusion: While there are definite nutritional and dietary advantages to eating coconut (put that Bounty Bar down!) and quaffing coconut water, drinking water is still the simplest and most direct route to maintaining good hydration. Speak to us at AquAid – we’ll be happy to help facilitate this through the provision of a wide range of high quality water coolers and dispensers. Sadly, we don’t currently offer coconut tree shaped water coolers – we’ll need to leave achieving that tropical island feel up to you.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2019 | water cooler, Water Coolers
We’re not referring to being in hot water, mind, rather we’re referring to how drinking hot water (and most derivatives thereof) in cold weather boosts our sense of well-being, makes us happy and unbelievably is good for our health too.
Mind how you go. As with anything that you ingest or consume that purports to be healthy, there’s usually a proviso. Of course there is. That’s why we’re not suggesting that you can drink as many of those marshmallow topped, cream laden hot chocolates as you like and still be in the peak of health, but we are stating that by drinking hot water drinks (not just hot water) you will achieve more than just one goal – you’ll warm yourself up, increasing your body temperature; you’ll feel comforted which increases your sense of well-being and if you’re drinking the right hot drinks, you’ll keep yourself hydrated, which means you’re maintaining your good health.
Don’t be fooled. Unless you were hibernating for the last few decades, you should no doubt be aware (by now) that sugar-free doesn’t equal better health. In fact, the ‘cheat sweeteners’ can be as bad for your waistline if not worse than could good old granulated sugar. If it tastes oddly synthetic, chances are it usually is.
What’s left, then? Quite a bit actually. Here are a few ideas to keep your precious little self hydrated, your tummy warm; and you fighting fit this winter:
- Install either a hot and cold water cooler or a hot water boiler at your premises. Visit it, often.
- Once you’ve installed your hot water maker, speak to those around you – ask them what hot water drinks they enjoy which don’t pack on the pounds.
- Go exploring. Virtually of course. As an example, you’ll find quite a few hot water drinks tips at the AquAid Water Coolers blog There’s plenty to choose from which will hopefully to inspire your hot water drinks journey.
However you choose to warm up this winter, we wish you happy hydration health.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 28, 2019 | instant tap, Water Boilers, Water Coolers
Sneaky because maintaining good hydration habits in winter can be just that: studies show that we can be up to 40% less thirsty in winter.
Dehydration is less noticeable in winter: During the summer in the UK, it’s far easier to equate how thirsty we are with how dehydrated we may be. Hot weather tends to make us sweat more, making dehydration much more noticeable. However, in winter, thirst isn’t as immediately apparent and perspiration turns to water vapour very quickly. As an example, when you step outside from a warm environment into a cold one and you can see your breath – that’s water vapour, which means you’re dehydrating.
Staying hydrated in winter helps us stay warm: Our bodies use water to help maintain our core body temperature. Dehydration can cause our core body temperatures can drop. Therefore the benefits of staying hydrated in winter are twofold: we stay hydrated and we keep warm when it’s cold outside.
… And gives your immune system a welcome boost: Our instinct in winter is to hibernate, especially indoors. Modern life, however, makes this untenable: we’re in and out of doors on a daily basis and the radical changes in temperature can easily and negatively affect our immune system as our systems fight to bring our body to the right temperature. That’s why it’s important to make sure we don’t decrease our water intake during winter. A good hydration habit is one of the simplest and best ways to keep the immune system boosted and ready to battle common winter illnesses like colds and flu. Whether you’re at home or at work, installing a water cooler will help you to easily keep up your water consumption, with refreshing drinking water available at the touch of a button.
Weight maintenance and loss: The cold weather can often lead us to exercise less and eat more. Weight gain because of this is often further exacerbated by not staying hydrated through winter. Maintaining hydration enables our bodies to be more efficient at breaking down fats and converting them to energy.
A few tips to maintain proper hydration during winter:
- Keep water in your line of sight – keep a water bottle on your desk or put a glass next to the kitchen sink to remind you keep drinking. Remember too, AquAid have a range of desktop and counter top water coolers making them the best reminder there is.
- Set yourself a reminder – An alert on your phone can remind yourself to top up your water bottle.
- Eat water rich foods – soups, salads or fruit as mentioned in our series on water rich fruit.
- Plump up your plain H2O – Adding a slice or wedge of lemon, lime or even cucumber gives your water an extra refreshing burst of flavour.
At AquAid Water Coolers, we provide a wide range of water dispensers to a broad and diverse set of customers from small, medium and large businesses through to medical facilities, universities, colleges and schools.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the provision of the right water coolers, water boilers, Instant Taps and water fountains to more than 33,000 customers, you can be assured that we will have the right water cooler to help keep you properly hydrated, whatever the time of year. Speak to us, we’ll be happy to help.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 16, 2019 | Water Coolers
By all accounts the winter weather has been
behaving itself so far. Not that we
haven’t had cold weather. There are
still a few chilly months to get through before the temperatures begin climbing
to a more appealing level and where we won’t need a few layers of insulation.
External heating helps obviously, but
there’s a pretty simple and cost effective manner in which to warm yourself internally
and that’s to drink hot
water. It really is that simple + the benefits are many! We’ll be
illustrating these benefits across a two part series, of which this is the
first.
Drinking
hot water relieves nasal congestion – The warmth of hot water creates steam. Inhaling steam rising off your hot water drink
can help loosen clogged sinuses and even relieve a sinus headache.
Since you have mucous membranes throughout
your neck and upper torso, drinking hot water can help warm that area and
soothe a sore throat caused by mucous build-up.
Aids digestion – drinking
hot water both soothes and activates your digestive tract. Water is, after
all, the lubricant that keeps your digestion going. As the water moves through
your stomach and intestines, digestive organs are better hydrated and able to
eliminate waste.
Enhances blood circulation and promote a
healthy nervous system which is important for proper muscle and nerve activity. In addition, it
keeps your nervous system healthy by breaking down the fat deposits around it.
Helps
relieve constipation – drinking hot water helps your intestines to contract. When that
happens, old waste trapped in your intestines is able to pass out of your body.
Drinking hot water regularly helps keep you, well, regular. But drinking it
occasionally when you’re constipated isn’t a bad idea either.
Body detoxification – hot water is fantastic for
helping your body to detox. When you drink hot water, your body
temperature begins to rise, which results in sweat. You want this to happen
because it helps to release toxins from your body and cleanse it properly.
Should you decide that drinking hot water
is the way to go during the colder weather, it’s always good to remember to pay attention to how hot your glass or mug
of hot water is. If you’re a bit scatter-brained, then rather wait until
your hot water has cooled a bit and if drinking hot water just isn’t your first
choice, try adding a slice of lemon or lime, just to give your hot water drink
that tasty citrus twist.
Like the idea of having hot drinking water
readily available? Then speak to us at AquAid. We have a wide range of
hot and cold water
coolers and water
boilers tailor-made to suit your water consumption requirements.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 9, 2019 | Water Boilers, Water Coolers
Firstly, our very best wishes to all of you from all of us here at AquAid Water Coolers for this New Year of two oh one nine.
One of those wishes is that you, unlike me, don’t go through most of January scratching out ‘8’ on the date every time you write it.
I’ve noticed that resolutions for a new year don’t seem to be as prevalent or popular as they may have been in the previous decade of the 21st Century – not sure what that’s about – but I, for one, am frankly quite grateful – the reality being how many of us are there that actually get past Day 2 of our intended ‘good behaviour’ and then end up feeling awful about the lapsed resolutions?
If, however, you are one of those amazing souls who make resolutions and sticks to them past Week One, more power to you – you’re an example to us all.
Whichever category you fall into, there is one resolution I encourage you to implement and stick with. If you’re sceptical here are just a few good reasons why:
The health benefits are numerous.
Minimum effort equals great reward.
Increased concentration and productivity at work or at leisure.
Reduces lethargy, tiredness and dehydration.
Boosts the immune system.
It may seem like all these benefits from one source aren’t feasible, but I assure you, they are. This is a New Year’s resolution of the simplest sort – and the great reveal is:
Drink your water.
If you’re unsure about how much water you should be drinking, you can refer to our handy drinking water chart.
If you’re in need of a water delivery system, whether you’re at home, work or for your school, speak to us at AquAid – we have a wide range of high-quality water coolers, dispensers and boilers.
Here’s to a guilt-free, easy resolution 2019 – cheers!
by Fern Shaw | Oct 24, 2018 | water cooler, Water Coolers
While it may not be the most common phrase one might be used to seeing and the association isn’t immediately clear, the fact is that good hydration habits make a significant positive impact on our ability to breathe well. And as we are all acutely aware, breath is life!
Water and your respiratory system: Research has shown that dehydration vastly affects all of the systems in your body including your respiratory system. Drinking water helps to thin the mucus lining your airways and lungs. Dehydration can cause that mucus to thicken and get sticky, which slows down overall respiration and makes you more susceptible to illness, allergies and other respiratory problems.
The Lungs: The airways and lungs are coated with clear secretions that promote proper respiration. When you are water deficient, the linings of the sinuses and airways become dry and prone to irritation. When the airways become too dry, the risk of breathing problems, or breathing related problems increases.
Dehydration can cause breathing problems: Water is used in the nasal passages, bronchial tubes, and lungs and to keep them moist. But when you breathe out, moisture from these tissues is expelled and every breath in brings in drying air. Under hydrated conditions water is rapidly replaced.
Dehydration can trigger allergies
Allergies are caused by a histamine reaction in the body. If you are allergic to pollen, your body views pollen as a danger and overreacts, causing your immune system to produce histamines to fight the irritants.
Histamines also have other functions, including regulating the body’s water supply. A 1995 Dutch study confirmed that dehydration triggers histamine production as a defensive mechanism to preserve water remaining in the body as well as to prevent future loss. When we are dehydrated, histamine production increases and can cause us to have the symptoms of seasonal allergies such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. This accelerated histamine production to compensate for the body’s lack of water is easily avoided by simply drinking more.
These examples make it easier to understand why maintaining your water intake is of such vital importance. Which is why using your water cooler to fill your water bottle should be part of your daily routine: whether you’re at home, away, at work or exercising. Breath is life, so water + breath equates to an easier and healthier life.
