by Fern Shaw | May 27, 2012
Are you dehydrated?
A massive 96% of UK office workers are reported to be dehydrated. A mere 2% drop in hydration can lead to a 20% drop in concentration.
Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining your physical and mental well being. A simple way of determining your hydration status is by looking at the colour of your urine and comparing it with the colour chart on the left.
When you are drinking enough water your body is in balance and your urine will be a pale straw yellow colour (hydrated).
When you have not drank enough water your kidneys try to save as much water as they can and cause your urine to be darker in colour (Dehydrated).
Below are just some of the effects of dehydration:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Painful urination
Thankfully, regaining hydration is simple. One or two cups of water will quickly give the body the water it needs and help you maintain a healthy and active life.
Why not download our PDF and enable yourself to put a chart up in your toilets to help your staff stay hydrated – Download the pdf here.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 6, 2024 | Water Coolers, water dispenser
As we turn the page and see #BookLoversDay is coming up and with it the increased beat of the bibliophile’s heart, we wondered whether drinking water regularly benefits our ability to read better.
As it happens, while there isn’t direct scientific research linking water consumption solely to improved reading comprehension, the overall benefits of hydration on cognitive function strongly suggest a positive correlation. So, while drinking water won’t magically transform you into a book loving reader, it certainly contributes to creating an optimal environment for concentration and learning.
- Enhanced memory. Water plays a crucial role in brain function. Proper hydration supports overall brain function, including memory. By staying hydrated, you might find it easier to remember details and comprehend the material.
- Improved focus and concentration. Staying hydrated helps keep your mind sharp and focused, allowing you to better focus on and absorb information from the text.
- Less eye strain. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable and make reading difficult. Drinking water helps maintain overall bodily hydration, which can contribute to healthier eyes.
- Reduced fatigue. By drinking water often, you’re less likely to experience fatigue while reading, allowing for a more productive and enjoyable reading session.
So, next time you’re diving into a good book, make sure your water bottle is topped up or you can make a beeline to your water dispenser to replenish your glass of water.
Good hydration habits aside, if you’re not a fan of books and/or reading and still aren’t convinced, here’s a few facts collated by WinCalendar that may change your mind:
- Reading is a terrific way to relax and unwind. A study by the University of Sussex revealed that just six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by 68%.
- A study by the Yale University School of Public Health found that book readers live an average of nearly two years longer than non-readers.
- The British Library in London is one of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of over 170 million items spanning 3,000 years of human history.
- According to a survey by the Reading Agency, around 36% of adults in the UK read for at least 30 minutes per day, with most people (48%) preferring to read physical books rather than digital formats.
Happy Book Lovers Day!
by Fern Shaw | Jul 23, 2024 | water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
As things heat up across the UK, so does the demand for chilled, refreshing drinking water.
At AquAid, where we’ve been in the business of providing a range of high quality water coolers and water, both spring and bottled at source, for over twenty years, we understand this more than most. That’s why it’s important to us to be able to ensure that we’re able to offer the very best in both water dispensers and bottled water.
But we’re not just about the provision on water coolers. We also firmly believe that providing water to those who may not necessarily have access to water as we do is vital.
If we struggle with keeping hydrated in this heat, take a minute and imagine what it would be like experiencing hot weather but not having access, not only to drinking water, but any water, at all. Sadly, this is a reality for millions of people around the globe, in many developing countries.
Then to this scary scenario add if you want water, you need to walk to find it. And not just down to the corner caf, but a few miles away. If you’re lucky enough to find a water source, you can’t just buy a bottle of water (or any liquid for that matter); you must fill the bucket you brought with you and walk back home, carrying the now full bucket.
The water that you’ve just fetched is most likely not safe to drink and may be so full of bacteria, that even while trying to hydrate yourself, you may very well be making yourself ill without even realising it.
This is the day-to-day existence for many communities throughout the Third World and in the summer months, lack of potable water is amplified by the heat.
That’s just one of the reasons, since our rather humble beginnings in 1998, that we chose to work with sustainable charities like The Africa Trust and Christian Aid. Using donations from AquAid, both charities work tirelessly implementing sustainable water projects for communities in need.
So, although we’re always tooting our own horn about being one of the top water dispenser providers in the U.K. we also (truly) believe in helping others less fortunate to help themselves. So, while we have you to thank, most valued customer, for your support and through your purchases making it possible for others to help themselves; isn’t it rather nice to know that when you’re sipping cool spring or bottled at source water from one of our water coolers, there’s another water well or water project being installed in Africa, bringing clean drinking water to yet another community in need?
We think so. Good on yer. Toot toot!
by Fern Shaw | Jul 8, 2024 | Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
I know I’m always blathering on about drink water, keep hydrated, drink water, hydration, drink water, but honest-to-goodness, when you do the type of research that I do, trust me, there are monster-sized reasons for this advice.
But, to switch things up a little, I’m going to reverse the blather and look at it from another perspective.
Not Drinking Water Means:
- A mere two percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic maths and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
- Even mild dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism by as much as three percent.
- Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue.
- A mere two percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic maths and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
- Preliminary research has shown that up to eighty percent of people suffering from back and joint pain could have these pains significantly reduced by drinking between eight to ten glasses of water a day.
- Our digestive systems need a good amount of water to digest food properly. Not drinking water leads to too much stomach acidity and constipation.
- By not drinking water, the thirst mechanism becomes so weak it is often mistaken for hunger. We all know where that leads.
As evidence of the disservice we do to ourselves by not drinking sufficient water continues to mount up and with refreshing drinking water available to us at the turn of a tap or a press of a button gives me reason enough to become a little bit of a water warrior (I was going to say an H2O agony aunt, but that’s just rather unappealing).
You get the gist. Topping up, refilling and replenishing your water bottle or glass is the simplest and most effective manner in which to reduce daytime fatigue, false hunger pangs all while increasing our metabolism rate and our ability to focus.
by Fern Shaw | Jun 26, 2024 | mains fed water cooler, Water, water cooler, Water Coolers
Not all of us have the wherewithal, location or access to be able to cool off as is indicated in the above image. There is however, an easy and simple solution to help you keep your cool when the temperatures soar. You guessed it – drink water more. Here are six reasons why:
Regulates Body Temperature. Our bodies rely on sweat to cool down and sweat is mostly water. When it’s hot, we sweat more, so we need to drink more fluids to replace the water we’re losing. Dehydration can lead to heatstroke, a serious condition that can be fatal.
Boosts Energy Levels. Even mild dehydration can sap your energy levels. When you’re dehydrated, your blood volume decreases, making your heart work harder to pump blood throughout your body. This can lead to fatigue, headaches and dizziness.
Improves Physical Performance. If you’re planning on spending any time outdoors in the heat, whether it’s for work or play, staying hydrated is essential. Dehydration can impair your physical performance and make it harder to exercise.
Improves Mood. Dehydration can also affect your mood. Studies have shown that dehydration can lead to irritability, anxiety and difficulty concentrating.
Sharpens Mentality. Dehydration can also affect your cognitive function. When you’re dehydrated, you may have trouble concentrating, focusing and making decisions.
Keeps Your Skin Healthy. Dehydration can make your skin look dry, dull, and wrinkled. Drinking plenty of water helps to keep your skin hydrated and plump.
If you need a simple and efficient solution which will help make sure that you and everyone in your organisation, site, university, college or school are able to maintain great hydration habits, chat to us at AquAid: 0800 772 3003.
With our wide range of bottled and mainsfed water coolers, and our scheduled and next day bottled water deliveries as part of our service, we have you (water) coolered.
