by Fern Shaw | Jan 8, 2025 | Water Boilers, water cooler, Water Coolers
We often mistakenly assume that keeping hydrated during winter is less important than in summer. This is not the case.
In winter, to keep warm, we rely on using heaters, hairdryers and hats (yep, hats) which quite literally suck the moisture and oils right out of our bodies, skin and hair. When we’re outside, low humidity and gusty winds don’t help much either.
Never fear though, as there are quite a few things you can incorporate into your daily routine that will snap you back into being bright eyed, clear skinned and bushy tailed – so to speak:
Use a humectant on your hair
Each week, condition with a treatment containing a *humectant like glycerine that attracts and locks in moisture, and in turn restores shine. If the humectant is water based, that’s the sort of thing to look for.
*Humectants are ingredients in products that draw moisture in.
Body scrubs and oils
Frigid temperatures and dry indoor heat cause water to evaporate from your skin because there’s more moisture in it than in the air. Bundling up doesn’t help matters – all those layers keep skin from breathing. There are ways to reduce these issues though. Once a week, exfoliate with a body scrub to help slough off dead cells that make skin look dull. You’ll also find that giving your skin a brisk scrub will warm you right up too. If you have sensitive or delicate skin, use a gentle method when exfoliating or scrubbing. When skin is freshly exfoliated, lotion and oil are better absorbed. To maintain hydration, smooth on moisturiser after bathing or showering.
Warm up your morning commute
Take a cosy tumbler of tea with you when you leave the house for the day. Not only will it keep you warm and hydrated, but it’ll do a body good – black tea may even prevent your body from absorbing fat from food.
‘Eat’ your water
Fruit and veg are packed with water, that high water content adds volume and keeps you satisfied without the calories. Soups are also a great way to sneak in some extra water. For a constant supply of piping hot water, day and night, speak to AquAid, whatever your hot & cold-water coolers and hot water boiler requirements.
Being fussy can help
A lot of us just don’t like drinking water, period. Try adopting a different approach. For example, if you don’t like drinking chilled water, try drinking your water at room temperature. If you’re into branded gear, use your favourite cartoon character branded water bottle to drink from if it makes your happy. Figure out what appeals to you. And since your ability to recognise your thirst may worsen as you age, today, as we plunge into the New Year, is a good a time as any to start getting into the keeping hydrated habit.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 27, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Winter is almost upon us, bringing with it time to bundle up, exercise less and usually eat less greens and more of the comfort food … or so we’d think.
But resorting to more hibernation type habits isn’t really the way to go (One of my personal mantras is ‘shoulda been a bear’ – as I believe hibernating for 8 months of the year is a sound idea). There are loads of options we can take in the winter months that aren’t that difficult to follow and can keep us as summer lean in the process.
Keep exercising
I’m not suggesting you swim the Channel or go running in minus ten-degree weather, but if you attend a gym or health fitness club, keep up with it. In cold months, your own exertions will keep you nice and toasty while exercising, instead of trying to continuously cool down when you’re exercising in the summer months. Just remember to keep hydrated. You can become just as dehydrated in winter as you can in the summer.
Drink water, lots of it.
If you don’t have access to a fitness club, exercise at home – there is tons of information on YouTube; on social media or on the internet in general, that can give you adequate instruction on exercise regimes you can follow to keep toned up.
Bulk up with rich, healthy food
Again, the instinct (which is hard wired into our genetic code) is to eat rich, fatty foods in winter so we can bulk up and insulate ourselves. Thing is, we’re not seals and we don’t live in the Arctic (even if some days if may feel like it). There are loads of options to eat hearty-warming food without packing on the weight.
It makes good sense to eat with the seasons. Food in season right now is plentiful which will keep your spend on food down, as in-season food is more readily available.
There’s such a vast range of seasonal food that’s available now, you’ll be spoilt for choice:
Fruit – Pears; apples, cranberries; elderberries and quinces are all in season now.
Vegetables – Artichoke, beetroot; butternut squash; celeriac; celery; chicory; chillies; horseradish; leeks; marrow; parsnips; pumpkin; shallots; swede; sweetcorn and tomatoes.
Herbs and nuts – Almonds; brazil nuts; chestnuts; chives; hazelnuts; rosemary; sage; sorrel and walnuts.
For the meat eaters – Beef; duck; lamb; rabbit; turkey and venison.
Fish – Clams; cod; dover sole; haddock; halibut; hake; lobster; mackerel and plaice.
Finally, in the food annals – don’t forget about good old porridge: Oats provide soluble fibre called beta-glucan which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. The fibre in oats makes it a slow-releasing carbohydrate which keeps blood sugars steady so should stop you reaching for a high-fat snack. If you are not a fan of porridge, add oats to smoothies, mueslis, or yogurts, to bread or fish.
Don’t stop drinking your water!
Throughout all of this, keeping up with exercising; eating the right food, the most important winter months regime is to keep up with drinking water – if you’re averse to cold water, then drink warm water.
If you’re dispensing water from your AquAid water cooler in the work place, office, store, shop, retail space, school, college or university, you’ll be spoilt for choice depending on which of our wide range you have installed. We supply high quality machines that dispense ambient temperature, hot, cool, or chilled water at the wave of your hand/at the touch of a button.
Not only does water fill you up and make you less inclined to eat too much, but often when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually dehydrated, so drinking enough water is a win-win all round.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 5, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the heart and soul of your organisation. It’s about understanding your impact on communities and the environment and taking proactive steps to meet or exceed ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations.
AquAid is committed to responsible business practices and inspiring others to make a difference. We believe that sharing responsibility is an integral part of daily work and that making a positive impact complements commercial success.
A core part of AquAid’s mission is providing sustainable solutions to poverty and emergency relief. Through partnerships with the AquAid-founded Africa Trust and our 25-year collaboration with Christian Aid, we’ve helped countless communities and you can too.
By choosing AquAid as your water cooler supplier, you’re not just getting a quality product and exceptional service; you’re also playing a vital role in bringing hope to those who need it most and breaking the cycle of poverty. As our founder, Paul Searle, once stated, “A great partnership involves business, charity, and community working together.”
When you involve your employees in this partnership, it doesn’t just inspire them but also fosters a sense of belonging within your company. It helps create a healthier working environment, boosts employee satisfaction, loyalty and develops a positive and sustainable social contribution policy. Your CSR decisions will also give your organisation a competitive edge and enhance your credibility.
Simply choosing AquAid as your water cooler supplier can make a significant impact on your company’s CSR efforts. By switching to AquAid, you’re making a difference that will last a lifetime.
To date, with the help of our partners, AquAid has donated over £22 million to charity, benefiting countless families and communities across Africa.
by Fern Shaw | Oct 30, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Contrary to popular opinion, the origins of observing Halloween aren’t American – but those of ancient Celts throughout Britain, Ireland and northern France.
With the Romans invading Britain around 43AD, it is believed that they added their rituals of the period with those of the Celtic traditions, one of these being the current Halloween tradition of ‘bobbing’ for apples. The Roman goddess of fruit and trees was known as Pomona – her symbol being that of the apple.
Moving forward a few decades brought the Christian observances, those closest to Halloween being All Hallows’ Day, also known as All Saints Day. All Hallows Day was originally celebrated on the 13th of May, however, it is believed that this was moved to 01 November, as an attempt to replace or assimilate the Celtic Samhain festival with a related but church approved celebration.
Whatever the observance, there’s no doubt that to many, Halloween is a wonderful, fun-filled acknowledgement of winter drawing close.
Throughout Britain Halloween has traditionally been celebrated by children’s games such as bobbing for apples in containers full of water, telling ghost stories and the carving of faces into hollowed-out vegetables such as swedes and turnips. Unlike the majority of Halloween traditions originating from Britain, it is in fact, the pumpkin as the carve vegetable of choice that has come from the United States. However this change occurred, it’s a prudent choice, as we imagine it’s far easier to carve a pumpkin than it is a swede or turnip.
However you choose to celebrate Halloween, we would suggest that you reserve the water from your water cooler to rather quench your thirst or to wash down all the Halloween ‘candy’, instead of filling up containers to bob for apples.
That said, here at AquAid, we wish you all a Happy Halloween and more treats than tricks.
by Fern Shaw | Oct 7, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
World Teachers’ Day is dedicated to celebrating the invaluable contributions of teachers to our society. Their role extends far beyond the classroom – shaping minds, nurturing potential and inspiring generations to come.
Why are Teachers so Important?
Foundational Knowledge: Teachers are the architects of young minds. They impart essential knowledge, skills and values that form the foundation for a child’s future.
Nurturing Growth: Beyond academics, teachers create a supportive environment that fosters personal and social development. They encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity.
Adapting to Change: In an ever-evolving world, teachers must continuously adapt their teaching methods to meet the needs of diverse learners and embrace new technologies.
Inspiration and Motivation: Teachers have the power to inspire students to reach their full potential. By fostering a love for learning and encouraging curiosity, they help students develop a lifelong passion for knowledge.
At AquAid we provide water dispensers to educational facilities from pre-schools, primary & high schools, academies through to colleges and universities across the UK. We hope you will join us as we express our appreciation and gratitude for everything that teachers do!
by Fern Shaw | Sep 19, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers
As a nation used to hard work, Britons may perceive that a bit of shuteye amounts to laziness or a way not to get work done properly, so the thought of power naps may seem a little disingenuous/counterintuitive.
Which is why it may come as a surprise that power naps are indeed a thing and if performed correctly, they can greatly benefit one’s well-being all while boosting flagging energy.
As we’ve learnt, drinking water = power (or energy) but who would’ve thought that short naps too = power.
Although power naps are commonplace in some cultures – Japanese workers take an afternoon nap known as ‘hirune’ – many companies worldwide such as Procter & Gamble, PwC and Nike, have made this part of their work culture too.
Are their health benefits to napping?
Regular naps are good for the long-term health of our brain, research shows.
Habitual napping may help keep our brains bigger for longer and boost its overall health, according to a 2023 study by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of the Republic in Uruguay.
There are also short-term health benefits associated with napping. Short naps lasting five to 15 minutes can immediately improve how well we perform mentally. This mental stimulus can last up to three hours after we wake up.*
How long should you nap for?
According to Kevin Morgan, professor of psychology and a sleep expert at the University of Loughborough in the UK, “Timing is key for the perfect power nap. If you are going to have a nap, make sure you do it in the mid-afternoon and don’t allow it to go on for longer than 20 minutes. Your body is going to be more accommodating of daytime sleep between 2pm and 4pm as this is when there is a dip in the circadian rhythm and our body temperature drops.”*
As always, water first.
Even if you don’t ascribe to taking a power nap while at work, always remember that drinking water throughout the day, taking a short break to refill your water bottle or water glass from your workplace water cooler, is a guaranteed way to boost flagging energy.
*source: from an article by Isabelle Gerretsen at the BBC
