Ways with Water – Debunking Spring Equinox Myths

Ways with Water – Debunking Spring Equinox Myths

It seems as it was just yesterday that we were all in the icy grip of winter and then lo and behold, we’re in our second month of Spring – not even time to catch our collective breath as we watch the seasons rollercoaster past.

Now that we’re in this burgeoning season, we thought we’d have a look at dispelling a few myths about the Spring Equinox. According to an article in the Farmers’ Almanac:

Myth:  You Won’t Have A Noontime Shadow
Reality:
 Technically, this myth is somewhat true. However, conditions have to be incredibly precise for this to happen. It’s all about being the right place at the right time. Since the Sun is always at an angle to you, you always cast a shadow. In order not to cast a shadow, the Sun needs to be directly overhead. Because the Sun is situated over the equator at the equinox, you’d have to be standing at the equator precisely at noon on the day of the equinox for this to happen.

 

Myth: The Equinox Is A Day-Long Event

Reality: An equinox doesn’t take all day – it’s only a moment in time! The true equinox an exact moment in which the Sun passes over the equator—blink and you’ll miss it.

Myth: The Spring Equinox Can Alter Your Mood
Reality:
 This is another one of those myths based partly in truth. In actuality, the Sun moving across the equator has no real effect on emotions. But, seasonal changes can and often do play a big part in moods. So while the moment of the vernal equinox itself isn’t responsible for changes in your emotions, it’s likely that around this time of year you’re experiencing at least a little bit of spring fever, or leftover effects of the winter’s shorter days.

The equinox’s significance centres on the Sun’s position relative to the equator. It’s the astronomical start of spring, which means longer days for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

Speaking of mood and now we’re perking up due to the current season; let’s look at one of the simplest and easiest routes to improving your mood and outlook. That is to keep you properly hydrated.

Speak to us at AquAid for all your water requirements (we have something for all seasons). We offer a range of hydration stations, be those water dispensers for the little ‘uns at schools, or for drinking water at work, whether in warehouses, building sites, medical facilities, events, theatres or the hospitality industry – the list goes on.

Drinking Water on Stage – Encore!

Drinking Water on Stage – Encore!

Needing to drink water often is something that affects us all. None more so than when performing on stage. This is something we commonly see, particularly with stand-up comedians.

The performer invariably keeps a bottle of water with them onstage from which they often sip. Being funny and getting laughs can be mouth drying, itchy throat, and perspiration drenching work, as many comedians can attest.

The same can be said for all thespians who tread the boards performing for an audience. And we imagine this was no different over 2,000 years ago when the first theatre appeared in Ancient Greece.

It isn’t only the performers who need to ensure they constantly hydrate though. Putting on any production is thirsty work! Theatre is the sum of many parts: stagehands, stage and set design, building, costume design, sound and lighting technicians, narrators, stand-ins, ushers, ticket sales – all play an important role in making sure that the performance works!

At AquAid, we are very proud to be associated with provision of cool, refreshing drinking water dispensed from our bottled and mains water coolers for the duration of countless productions across the UK – from small community playhouses to grand theatre and every type of event in-between.

It’s with this in mind that we wish all those involved in this incredible profession, who have delighted, shocked, inspired and enthralled with their craft, a wonderful #WorldTheatreDay! Encore!

Spring Water

Spring Water

Are we getting a little ahead of ourselves? Of course we are. Why? Because we can.

If you’re wondering what we’re referring to, we’re talking about March 1st being the first day of spring. March first isn’t actually the first day of spring, that’s on 20 March. However, most meteorologists recognize March 1 as the first day of meteorological spring. With a nod of approval from such auspicious quarters, we’re going with it.

The icy grip of winter seemed so recent when lo and behold, the crocuses peeked their beautiful heads out of the soil and officially announced it’s spring.

Whatever way we approach this change of season, keeping fit and perhaps shedding some of our bear type hibernation weight becomes somewhat of a priority. This means (hopefully), that one’s water intake will increase too. To make your water intake more fab and fun, try a different approach to ensure good hydration habits

If drinking water all day is what bores you, try treating it as a meal or, better yet, three meals. Drink water to a comfortable fullness 3 times a day. On colder days, it might be less, on warmer days, more. Comfortable fullness should be enough to stay hydrated. This will lower the amount of calories you eat for roughly an hour afterward. 

Simply change the way you drink water – out of a glass instead of a bottle, for example. Alternatively, drink it at a different temperature. If you change the temperature, you can change the experience and that can be enough to alter your water intake. Remember, cold water takes longer to drink. If you want to down it faster – to get your water intake over with – drink it at room temperature instead of icy cold.

Whether commuting, exercising, being sedentary, working, relaxing or socialising – in fact, pretty much every -ing, keep hydrated this spring – it can only be good for you.

Remember also to speak to us at AquAid for all your water requirements (we have something for all seasons). We offer a range of water dispensers: high volume watercoolers for children and staff at schools as well as a range of low, medium and high volume mainsfed or bottlefed watercoolers for use on building sites, at events and in warehouses, workspaces and offices nationwide.

Wake Up, Get Up, Water Up and Go!

Wake Up, Get Up, Water Up and Go!

Feeling lethargic when Nature is urging us to hibernate during the winter months is nothing new. What can be new and life changing (for the better) is how you counter that lethargy.

One of the simplest methods to counteract constant tiredness and feeling lethargic and having these impact on the rest of your day is to drink water as soon as you wake up.

Drinking water first thing in the morning:

Jump-starts your metabolism. The food we consume on a daily basis is metabolised and transported by way of water throughout the body. Having a sufficient amount of water in your system helps fire up your metabolism; it can also help with not eating too much. When we’re not adequately hydrated, we often mistake thirst for hunger, which can lead us to eat more.*

Helps fuel your brain. When it comes to daily productivity, hydration is crucial. The human brain consists of 73% water, so staying hydrated is especially essential for maintaining optimal brain activity. It is, of course, a daylong process, but starting with a glass of water right away is a step in the right direction.

The mornings set the tone for the rest of your day. If you feel sluggish, it will reflect in your morning activities/workouts, productivity at work, in fact, any daytime routine.*

Immediately helps rehydrate the body.  Sleeping for hours is a long time to go without any water consumption. Drinking at least a glass (or two) of water right when you wake up is a good way to quickly rehydrate your body. So before you reach for that cuppa or coffee, rather refresh with water and kick start your day in the right manner.*

Increases your level of alertness. One of the biggest indicators of lethargy or low energy is that you are dehydrated. Because water aids in both body regulation and brain function, it is also closely related to balancing out our moods.

After a long period without anything to eat or drink, the first thing you consume in the morning can be a shock to the body. If that first thing is water, it will get the body working and can boost your alertness and low energy levels.*

Remember AquAid for all your water cooler and fresh drinking water requirements. With our decades of experience, you can rely on our expert knowledge to guide you in which of our high-quality range of water dispensers is the perfect install for your hydration needs.

 sources: *from an article at Business Insider speaking to Nutritionist Rania Batayneh

Winter, Water … Fruit(y) Hydration

Winter, Water … Fruit(y) Hydration

Chances are when the chill sets in we look to hydration being more hot water drinks than remarkably water rich winter friendly fruit like pears, clementines and even date plums.

Drinking enough water to maintain sufficient hydration when the weather is cold can be difficult. There’s also a tendency to drink high-sugar content hot water drinks such as hot chocolate instead of plain, heated water. Which is why considering healthier high water content alternates may often be overlooked, which is a pity , as water rich winter fruit offers far more than just contributing towards a good daily water intake.

Pears, all varieties, are a great source of vitamins C and K. With water content upwards of 80%, you couldn’t ask for a better fruit to contribute towards health and hydration during cooler weather. They are perfect to throw into a lunch bag, can be eaten whole and leave very little waste*. You can even poach, steam, or roast them for use as a healthier dessert option.

A mixture of a mandarin orange and a sweet orange*, Clementine’s are available all year long and are excellent sources of vitamin C. They are also a source of vitamin B6, Calcium and Magnesium and with an 87% water content, this delicious, juicy segmented fruit are the perfect energy boosting fruit for winter snacking.

Date Plums. These small yellow plums are packed with fibre, vitamins A and C, and they contain no cholesterol. They can help to boost your immune system in peak flu season, and perhaps best of all, they taste great*.

As we head into the colder months, it’s understandable that we may veer away from topping up our water from the water cooler as much as we do when it’s warmer.  But this is a mistake – our bodies still need to hydrate irrespective of the weather.  What may be worth considering is to ramp up your daily water intake with high water content, vitamin rich fruit.

 

*source: Garden Centre Shopping