by Fern Shaw | Mar 11, 2013 | Health and Hydration, Water Coolers
Various campaigns and studies to do with schools and drinking water conducted over the last decade or so have produced a mixed bag of results.
One thing is clear though – a hydrated child is a much happier child for a number of reasons. This fact, combined with you, as the parents, leading by example and the schools ensuring that drinking water is readily available makes for a holistic approach to hydration. Here are a few examples of why:
It boosts learning
- The key to boosting the capacity to learn is to keep well hydrated throughout the day.
- When we are thirsty, mental performance including memory, attention and concentration can decrease by about 10 per cent. Pupils concentrate better because they are not distracted by the effects of dehydration such as thirst, tiredness and irritability.
- Children will achieve more when both their health and learning needs are met. Ensuring free access to water and promoting a regular water intake throughout the school day is a vital role for schools in promoting health and providing a healthy learning environment.
It’s healthy!
- Drinking adequate amounts of water regularly throughout the day can protect health and contribute to well-being.
- Drinking adequate amounts of water can help prevent a range of short and long-term health problems from headaches, bladder, kidney and bowel problems to cancer.
- Water has none of the health problems associated with drinks containing sugar, additives, sweeteners, acids or caffeine.
Parents?
- By keeping yourself hydrated, you teach your children good drinking habits. Good for them, good for you.
- By checking that your children’s school has toilets that you would use and that there are sufficient drinking points (not only in the toilets), you’re working your way towards ensuring that your children can easily hydrate.
And for the school?
- As children spend the majority of their day at school, it is very important that the school provides fresh drinking water.
- Various studies have shown that schools that lead by example and encourage their children to keep hydrated show a marked improvement in overall attention given as well as learning capabilities.
- A child who is not irritable because of dehydration means that teachers are able to better teach their pupils.
AquAid have, for many years, been involved in campaigns spearheading the importance of drinking water.
We know it is of vital importance.
To this end, we ensure that we have a wide selection of water coolers that are installed into schools, gyms and learning centres across the country. When we install a water cooler in a school, we have individual water bottles available to encourage the children to fill their water bottles throughout the day.
Our water coolers can either be mains fed for large schools where the water consumption is high, or for schools where there are no water mains close to a particular area, bottled water coolers can be installed and replaced on scheduled intervals.
by Fern Shaw | Feb 27, 2013 | Charity
Always up for keeping people hydrated and being able to have access to clean drinking water globally in far-flung regions,
AquAid, through H2O International SA, a South African water purifier and filter company, has recently become a supporter of a rather marvellous non-profit organisation called the Wishing Well International Foundation.
We’ve achieved this by donating 2 Hydraid® BioSand water filters to those in dire need of clean drinking water. The Hydraid® BioSand filter is effective as it is simple to install, simple to operate and works for all water sources. H2O International SA, who founded the organisation in South Africa, will provide support for deploying the units.
We’re delighted to know that our donation will allow 2 families of four to have safe drinking water for up to 10 years and having clean drinking water, will mean fewer water-borne illnesses, therefore less money spent on medication, which will allow more productivity from the family members, which in turn will translate into a better ability to earn income for the family.
We strongly believe that business is in the best position to shape our children’s future and this is what encouraged us to support both H20 International SA and the WWIF. We believe that together, little by little, we are making a difference.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2013 | Water Coolers
Drinking sufficient water increases employee productivity and employee wellness is an important issue for companies both big and small.
Did you know that employees not performing at their best may be dehydrated? According to health news, scientific evidence between cognitive performance and dehydration is strong and continues to grow. It’s believed that the more hydrated you stay throughout the day the more constructive you are.
There are other benefits to the company and employees alike:
- Improved productivity – A water cooler will constantly supply cooled fresh water – a jug in the fridge has to be constantly refilled from a tap. People have to wait for the kettle to boil.
- Reduced electricity consumption – A water cooler or water boiler means water-on-tap from a central point as opposed to constantly opening and closing the fridge door or repeatedly switching the kettle on.
- Reducing water wastage – There’s always ‘that’ person who will not fully close the tap or who overfills the kettle. A water cooler or boiler eliminates this problem.
- Healthier employees – Having cool, fresh water on ‘tap’ can encourage people to drink water in place of fizzy or energy drinks which can actually lead to dehydration, whereas a hydrated person will be more healthy, happy and more productive.
Install a water cooler for your office to keep employees hydrated. Using a water dispenser keeps employees awake, alert, healthy, and less fatigued. Why not give your employees the opportunity to fill up their water bottle throughout the day. It’s better for them, and as a result, better for you.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2013 | Health and Hydration
Even if you’re making an attempt to stay better hydrated, you may be ingesting dehydrating substances without even realizing it.
Sodium is a big culprit
When you eat salty foods, your cells tell your brain that you’re thirsty. Examples of foods high in salt are fast foods, potato crisps, tinned foods, deli meats and condiments like tomato sauce (ketchup), mustard and salad dressing.
Sugary drinks also contribute
Much like salty foods, sugary drinks also tell your brain that you’re thirsty. Try to avoid these – fizzy, energy and sports drinks as well as over sugared coffees and cocktail drinks.
Instead of eating and drinking these dehydration-inducing foods and beverages, drink more water, and add these top superfoods to your diet for optimal health and antioxidant levels.
Blueberries
Yielding antioxidants, vitamin C and anti-inflammatory properties, a handful of these berries daily in season can do wonders.
Fatty fish
Fatty fish with omega-3s include salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel. Make sure that you only buy fish off the endangered list.
Soy
This does not mean using enough soy sauce to turn your sushi rice another colour. Soy sauce has an high sodium content. Clean and simple soy is recommended. Soy in this category includes tofu, soy milk, and edamame. Edamame, for the curious, are green soybeans boiled or steamed in their pods and it’s very trendy to be seen eating edamame.
Fibre
Some great options for getting more fibre in your body are:
- Beans. Think three-bean salad, bean burritos, chili, soup.
- Whole grains. That means whole-wheat bread, pasta.
- Brown rice. White rice doesn’t offer much fibre.
- Popcorn. It’s a great source of fibre.
- Nuts. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts have more fibre than other nuts.
- Baked potato with skin. It’s the skin that’s important here.
- Berries. All those seeds, plus the skin, give great fibre to any berry.
- Bran cereal. Actually, any cereal that has 5 grams of fibre or more in a serving counts as high fibre.
- Oatmeal. Whether its microwaved or stove-cooked, oatmeal is good fibre.
- Vegetables. The crunchier, the better.
Tea
The antioxidant powers of tea are present in both black and green tea. Try these tips on switching from fizzy drinks to water for the added effect of consuming more tea while you’re drinking less fizz.
Calcium-rich foods
Many health-conscious men and women tend to stay away from dairy products for fear that they contain fat, but calcium is necessary for the body. If you’re scared of the cheese and milk, take a calcium supplement.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 12, 2012 | Water Boilers
Coffee is one of those substances that have both good and bad stories written up about it all the time.
What’s the Good skinny? (No, not a skinny, latte, mocha, silly story).
- Coffee does contain antioxidants. But better to not rely on this as your only source of antioxidants. Antioxidants can be found in other yummy sources like blueberries, cherries, & pomegranates as well as a variety of legumes.
- It may have some protective qualities against a variety of cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.
- The caffeine in it is stimulating and releases dopamine (your body’s ‘happy’ enzyme) … which is the main reason why people drink it.
- Boosts your short term memory.
What’s the Bad skinny?
- Mainly because of its stimulating effects, it has been found to aggravate stress and anxiety.
- Other psychological and physical problems including rapid heart rate, higher pulse and blood pressure, and inability to sleep.
- It is also mildly addictive and withdrawal – depending of course, on how many cups you drink in 12 hours or so, can lead to painful headaches.
What one needs to keep in mind when it comes to consumption of any liquids and foodstuffs, is the age old maxim, ‘Everything in Moderation’.
So, whereas a cup o’ Java to kick start your day (hopefully after you’ve eaten something solid) is a good thing; roaring through your day bolstered up on cream or full milk laden coffees or lattés will completely counteract the wonderful effects of coffee and just turn you into a blob. Remember to always counter your cups of coffee with a glass of water as keeping hydrated is vastly important.
