by Fern Shaw | Jun 28, 2019 | mains fed water cooler
When the temperatures soar within a short time frame, it’s easy to forget something as simple as adjusting our water consumption to counteract what are most likely increased dehydration levels.
A thought that may help one adjust as the heat increases is to keep in mind that water not only makes up a significant percentage of every single bodily organ but each of our organs requires adequate water to function well.
Which is why, here at AquAid Water Coolers, we continue to encourage the implementation of good daily hydration habits, whatever the weather and wherever the location.
One of the simplest methods to ensure that you’re drinking enough water is to install a water cooler at your premises whether that’s in an office; building site; festival; concert hall; sporting or social event; hotel; medical facility; childcare facility; school; college or university.
If you would like to ensure that everyone in your organisation has easy access to refreshing drinking water, irrespective of the weather, contact us at AquAid. We supply a wide range of high quality Bottled and Mains-Fed water coolers and we have, for over two decades helped our more than 33,000 customers keep hydrated through the delivery of bespoke water supply solutions , tailor-made to meet the requirements of any organisation, be they small, medium or large.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Jun 19, 2019 | water cooler
The University of Warwick led a study to determine whether happy employees work harder, and as it turns out they do – in fact, they’re 12% more productive.
The study included four different experiments with more than 700 participants. During the experiments participants were shown either a comedy clip or treated to free chocolates, fruit and drinks; while others were questioned about recent family tragedies, to assess whether lower levels of happiness were later on associated with lower levels of productivity.
One of the researchers, Dr Sgroi, added: ‘The driving force seems to be that happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality.’
So what does this have to do with a water cooler you might ask?
Well, if we know that happier employees work harder and are more productive, then it stands to reason that we’ll want to encourage happiness wherever we can! And one of the things conducive to happiness is a healthy body, and one of the factors contributing to that, is ensuring we remain properly hydrated – ergo, regular visits to the office water cooler.
Many companies provide additional perks like gym memberships and healthcare plans, but if you’re not a Google or an Apple, your budget will probably not run that high, so here are 5 suggestions that any business can implement which will help make your office a happier (and therefore more productive) place to work:
- Build respect and trust
- Have a positive office culture
- Acknowledge, recognise and reward employees who work hard
- Encourage growth and creativity, and
- Ensure open communication at all times.
Many of us spend more time at work than we do at home, so aim to make your office a happy place to work and you’ll end up with happier, more engaged, and more productive employees!
by Fern Shaw | Jun 6, 2019 | water cooler
It could, according to a new study. The research results indicate that it could be down to simply not having drunk enough water the day before.*
Reasons for sleepless nights vary and are often linked to underlying psychological issues, but the new study published in the journal SLEEP, involved more than 20,000 adults in the US and China, all of whom had their sleeping habits and urine samples analysed.
The authors concluded that the links between sleep quality and hydration are down to a hormone in the body called vasopressin.
“Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle,” explains lead author Asher Rosinger, who is an assistant professor at Penn State.
“So, if you’re waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body’s hydration. If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status. This study suggests that if you’re not getting enough sleep, and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water.”
Although maintaining proper hydration habits should be relatively simple, another survey, carried out on 2,000 people revealed that half of Britons have no idea how much water they should be drinking daily, while a third admitted they fail to keep themselves properly hydrated and don’t drink water unless it’s mixed with something else.
Although opinions vary on how much water should be drunk each day, it seems that increasing one’s water consumption can only help pave the way to a better night’s sleep.
Which is yet another reason to make sure you visit your water cooler regularly during the day, keeping yourself properly hydrated and well prepped for a good night’s rest.
*excerpts from an article in The Independent
by Belinda Ollewagen | Jun 3, 2019 | water cooler, water dispenser
We all know water is essential for our bodies to function and perform optimally, but we sometimes forget the exact ways in which water works its magic in each and every cell, each and ever day. As a reminder, courtesy of the European Hydration Institute, here are some of the remarkable benefits of good hydration and why you should make a point of stopping at the office water cooler more often.
Brain
Adequate hydration is important for proper functioning of the brain. When we are well hydrated, brain cells are better supplied with fresh, oxygen-laden blood, and the brain remains alert. Mild dehydration, a 1% to 2% loss in body weight, can impair the ability to concentrate. Loss of more than 2% body weight due to dehydration can affect the brain’s processing abilities and impair short-term memory.
Cells
Hydration in the body is important for transporting carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients and oxygen to the cells. The cells then produce energy for the body to function. Furthermore, hydration facilitates disposal of the waste products of metabolism, enabling the right cellular chemical function.
Digestive Tract
Hydration plays an important role in the digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract. Water is required to dissolve nutrients so that they may be absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to the cells. Insufficient hydration will slow the digestive process and chronic poor hydration can lead to constipation.
Heart
Fluids are important for healthy heart function and the correct regulation of water balance is essential to keep blood pressure within the healthy range. Dehydration decreases cardiac output which may lead to increases in heart rate and a fall in blood pressure. The circulatory system delivers a constant supply of oxygen to the brain, muscles and to all other tissues.
Kidneys
An adequate water intake is essential to keep the kidneys working well, helping them to remove waste products and excess nutrients mainly via urine. The kidneys regulate the body’s water levels by increasing or decreasing the flow of urine. The kidneys also work to control normal levels of sodium and other electrolytes. A well-hydrated healthy person’s kidneys filter approximately 180 litres of water each day: clearly most of this has to be reabsorbed to prevent excessive losses from the body.
Temperature
The body water has an important role as a thermoregulator, regulating the overall body temperature by helping dissipate heat. If the body becomes too hot, water is lost through sweat and the evaporation of this sweat from the skin surface removes heat from the body. Sweating is the most effective way that the body prevents itself from overheating.
Muscles and Joints
Water acts as a lubricant for muscles and joints; it helps cushion joints and keeps muscles working properly. Muscles and joints, in addition to the bones, are necessary for us to stand, sit, move and carry out all daily activities. Approximately 70 to 75 percent of the muscle is made up of water. Maintaining the right water balance is essential for optimum muscle function.
Indisputable is that proper hydration is essential to the physiological well-being and subsequent performance of us all. By making regular trips to the water dispenser and by increasing our water intake we improve our general health and well-being, and at the end of the day, that trumps all else – as Mahatma Gandhi said ‘it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver’.
by Belinda Ollewagen | Jun 3, 2019 | water dispenser
Our bodies use and lose water every day, and our ability to regulate that water balance is crucial to our existence. Water is lost through breathing; through urine and faeces excretion; and through perspiration and sweating – if we don’t replenish the water that is lost and right the balance, we would cease to exist, which is why it’s so important to constantly visit the office water dispenser and monitor how much we drink, both during the work day and topping up after hours. Many factors, including lifestyle and the environment, affect the level of water loss, but on average, the average sedentary adult in a mild environment will lose around 2.6 litres of water per day.
But here’s the interesting part, this amount increases as we grow older and our body’s natural trigger to replenish what we lose – thirst – also deteriorates with age. In a study about the physiological changes for those over 50, the importance of maintaining the correct water balance as we age is discussed:
During ageing, the decline in lean body mass is accompanied by a decrease in the water content of the organism. This decrease in water can be up to 4 L of total body water for men and 6 L for women (from the age 20 to 80) … In addition, the lack of sensation of thirst and the fact that people forget to drink due to reduced cognitive and visual functions at greater age can induce total water imbalance … A poor supply of water is associated with infections, decreased endurance, a risk of heat exhaustion, mental confusion, lassitude, muscular weakness or even death. Notably, a reduced water supply negatively influences the electrolyte balance leading to cardiovascular and hypertension disturbances as well as impaired kidney performance.
The fact that more water is lost and that the body’s natural thirst trigger deteriorates after the age of 50, is particularly pertinent when one considers that the employment of workers over the age of 50 has grown significantly over the past decades – the employment rate for people aged 50 to 64 has grown from 55.4% to 69.6% over the past 30 years.
While ensuring we remain properly hydrated during the day is important for everyone, it is particularly important as we grow older, so if your office needs a better water solution that’s tailored to your specific water requirements, then give AquAid a call on 0800 772 3003 – exceptional service and premium water dispensers at affordable prices.
Sources
Nature – International Journal of Science (https://www.nature.com/articles/1601895)
Springer Link (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11556-010-0058-5)
Department for Work and Pensions (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/568240/employment-stats-workers-aged-50-and-over-1984-2015.pdf)
