by Fern Shaw | Dec 6, 2012 | Charity
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity ~ King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The end of the year is drawing closer and there is so much thought given to the peace, joy and season of giving that is Christmas.
So, while most of us are feeling all warm and fuzzy about giving, let’s spare a thought about how one can truly be charitable this festive season (and beyond).
By you drinking water.
Yep, before you think we’ve lost our marbles, it really can be as simple as that. Keeping yourself hydrated can actually ‘give’ to others. Give safe, clean, drinking water. Which can mean a child out there in desperate need of your charity, doesn’t have to die from dehydration or contaminated water.
Which means being able to keep the children hydrated, so that they can :-
- Concentrate when they go to school.
- So that they can learn.
- So that they can educate others on the importance of having clean water to drink.
We at AquAid founded The Africa Trust. With a donation for each water cooler sold, this money goes towards building another Elephant Pump in a rural community in the Third World. A charity that truly gives. (And keeps on giving).
Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy? Of course it does!
A very Merry Christmas to you.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 28, 2012 | Health and Hydration
Water helps keep you hydrated, which is important because every single cell in your body needs it in order to absorb nutrients and expel waste products. But what are some of the less well known benefits of drinking water?
1. Drinking Water Is Good For Your Skin
Water naturally moisturizes skin and ensures proper cellular formation underneath layers of skin to give it a healthy, glowing appearance. If you don’t drink enough water, you’ll suffer from dry skin, and you’ll be likely to use more creams and lotions to moisturize which will only relieve the dryness temporarily.
2. Drinking Water Helps You Lose Weight
One of the benefits of drinking water is that it helps you lose weight as water suppresses your appetite, so you don’t eat as much. Drinking plenty of water also prevents fluid retention, because your body won’t try to retain water if it’s getting enough. Drinking water also helps your body burn stored fat. If you’re not drinking enough water, your liver will be forced to help your kidneys detoxify your body. When you drink plenty of water, your kidneys don’t need any extra help, so your liver will be able to metabolize stored fat more efficiently.
3. Drinking Water Helps You Build Muscle
Another benefit of drinking water is that it makes your muscles stronger. That’s because water carries oxygen to the cells of your body, including those of your muscles. Drinking plenty of water enables your muscles to work harder and longer before they feel tired thereby allowing for better muscle building.
4. Drinking Water Makes You Smarter
Drinking water can increase your cognitive function. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen in order to function at optimum levels. Drinking plenty of water ensures that your brain gets all the oxygen it needs. Drinking eight to ten cups of water per day can improve your levels of cognitive performance by as much as 30%! Do be careful though, to not drink too much water, as this can be damaging.
5. Drinking Water Can Prevent and Alleviate Headaches
A little known fact is that one of the main causes of the ‘tension’ headache is due to not drinking enough water. If you are prone to headaches – especially due to stress or being in a hot environment – make sure that you are drinking sufficient water. A good indicator is usually the colour of your urine. Urine darker than a pale yellow means that you are dehydrated.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 19, 2012 | Water Coolers
Having a water cooler in your office or home is fast becoming the norm. For many, the fact that it produces water is good enough, but why not get the most out of your water cooler and ensure that your money spent is money well spent. Here are 5 water cooler essentials that will turn your water cooler into a welcome addition.
Location.
Your water cooler should be seen by all as a reminder to keep hydrated. Ensure that it is in an area that is walked past regularly. The water cooler offers a place for social interaction which allows staff members a respite from sitting at their desks all day long. A quick 3 minute break and a refreshing drink can do wonders to one’s concentration levels and keeps an employee working at an optimal level.
Maintenance.
Water coolers are a convenient way to offer clean filtered water in offices, gyms, homes etc. It is important to keep your water cooler clean and prevent germs and unwanted growths from occurring in these moist environments. Having your machine sanitized on a regular basis by trained professionals is paramount to ensuring that your machine performs at its very best. Keeping you water cooler clean will ensure all those that benefit from it will be free from germs and dangerous bacteria.
Accessories.
We all love a bit of accessorizing so why not do the same for your water cooler. Liven up your dispenser by attaching optics that holds natural flavours. We are all aware of the benefits of drinking water but some may require encouragement by enhancing the flavour of the water. The water cooler is a great place to put your notice board or advertisements.
Essentials.
There is no point having a machine that dispensers water but offers no way of drinking it. Make sure you have cups within arm’s reach of your dispenser.
Supply.
Having a water cooler with no water is a bit like having champagne without bubbles. Having a reliable supplier that that offers dedicated service means you, as a customer, will stay happy and satisfied at all times.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 16, 2012 | Health and Hydration
The importance of drinking water cannot be underestimated. Water helps the body to perform many of the functions it needs to thrive. Without water a person’s body will literally begin to shut down. Thus, it is very important for people to obtain the proper amount of water each day to ensure healthy body function. An inadequate amount of water intake will lead to your body becoming dehydrated and this is very well known, but have you ever stop to consider the effects that this has on your body?
Dehydration can be broken down into three different levels depending on the severity of the situation and the effects of your body will vary accordingly as well.
Mild dehydration
- Your urine will become concentrated and turn an amber colour due to your kidneys conserving water.
- Constipation and/or bloating may be noticed.
- Dry skin, mucous membranes, and lips.
Moderate dehydration
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness / vertigo / lightheaded.
- Problems concentrating.
- Major reduction in urine production.
- Headache.
- Cold hands and fee
Severe dehydration
- Weak irregular heart beat (often racing) and low blood pressure
- Rapid breathing
- Failure of body’s heat regulation systems (sweating, for example)
- Confusion
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Seizures
- Coma and death
by Fern Shaw | Nov 8, 2012 | Health and Hydration
As strange as it might sound, toddlers need to drink as much water each day as an adult does.
Toddlers between that age of one and three need to drink around 1.3L of water each day. If you actually look at the body weight of the average toddler and the amount of water they need to drink compared to an adult, then they need more than an adult.
The reason why drinking so much water is important to a toddler, is because they are growing so rapidly at that age. Their bodies need water to transport all the nutrients and supplement their muscles and cells need for all the growth taking place. Water makes up the majority of the mass of our bodies and it is important for proper brain development and mental growth. If you teach your child to drink water at an early age, you will be able to get them to drink water more regularly for the rest of their lives, without having to struggle to compete with soft drinks.
It is therefore important that parents, teachers and child minders make sure that these little ones get sufficient water each day. Many day care centres and schools are installing water coolers into their facilities to ensure that their children and staff can stay hydrated at all times.
With winter just around the corner, it is important to remember that your toddler has sufficient water intake during the colder days as well. Young children are at the highest risk of dehydration due to their small size. Even the slightest percentage of fluid loss can lead to dehydration. Encourage children to carry a water bottle with them, even from a young age. Make it a game to see if they can drink all their water each day and reward them when they do. This will teach them the importance of water and the value of it. Tests have proven that children who are correctly hydrated will have better mental and physical performance than children who do not stay properly hydrated.
Teach your child to enjoy drinking water from a young age and you can aid in their health for years to come.
