04Jun13

Stay Cool at Work – Tips for a Refreshing Summer

As the temperature rises, it can get a bit hot and stuffy in the office and the team’s performance generally starts to decline as the mercury rises!

 

As an employer, there is plenty that you can do to boost work motivation, energy and performance – by introducing healthy practices into the workplace.

 

For example, why not install new water coolers in a prominent place such as a meeting spot, breakout area or kitchen?

 

There are various types to choose from including bottled water dispenser models, or mains-fed filter models, depending on your needs and budget.

 

Encourage your staff to drink more water – taking time to leave their desks, stretch their legs and re-hydrate.

 

This will boost office health and you should see a reduction in sickness levels if this is incorporated into a wider programme of healthy benefits.

 

You could also install hot water boilers, which instantly provide plenty of water for making rounds of teas.

 

Why not combine these with some herbal tea boxes for a delicious and health-supporting boost, rather than over-ordering on the coffee? Caffeine does provide a short-term boost, but it ultimately leads to fatigue.

 

Other popular employer schemes include introducing a fruit box, rather than focusing on sweets and cakes in the office.

 

The latter are delicious, but they lead to blood sugar highs and lows which have a strong impact on activity and performance in the afternoon, when staff are struggling to stay awake.

 

You could also link up with a local gym for a corporate offer and encourage your staff to benefit from lunchtime exercise sessions.

 

Some companies set up team pedometer challenges to record the most steps with a prize for the winners, whilst others invite yoga teachers or aroma therapists to give motivating lunchtime sessions.

 

These often cost very little, but will provide a real boost to morale and motivation for your teams.

 

  • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

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03Jun13

Don’t Dehydrate in the Sunshine!

Dehydration is a concern in hot weather, and it affects most of us at some point in the summer.

 

The trouble is, it is very easy to miss the fact that you are dehydrated. Symptoms include a headache, irritation, dry skin, lethargy and slight irritation – but these are common symptoms for some office workers anyway!

 

However, if you feel as if you are still hungry after eating a meal or you have a pounding head, the chances are you simply need to visit the office water coolers and top up your jug.

 

Try to visit the kitchen every couple of hours to get a fresh drink – whether from the hot water dispenser or the water cooler. Sip it and you will start to notice a difference in your energy levels and general wellbeing.

 

Try herbal teas, plain water, crushed berries in ice cubes, sugar-free cordial or even an occasional fresh smoothie – as long as you watch those sugars, as they can damage the enamel on your teeth and play havoc with your blood sugar!

 

It is equally important to avoid alcohol in hot weather because it dehydrates you very quickly. Avoid drinking in the sun on holiday, or at least mix your cocktails with regular ‘virgin’ cocktails, fresh juice or water and lemon. This will help your body process the alcohol and sugars and avoid becoming too parched.

 

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables too. They are made almost entirely from water with plenty of vitamins, fibre and minerals added for good benefit.

 

Where possible, avoid sugary drinks which will simply provide unnecessary calories along with additives, flavourings and other chemicals.

 

One of the best drinks for a hot day is also the simplest – cold and filtered fresh water, with ice cubes, and a slice or two of lemon!

 

  • Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

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29May13

Using Water to Boost Sports Performance

One of the first things that new exercisers learn is that water is absolutely integral to their health and performance. Athletes are taught from the very start that even slight dehydration can have a serious impact on results.

 

For this reason, serious sports people will always stay hydrated as they work.

 

Even at rest, our bodies need around 1.5 litres of plain water a day – and this need is driven up rapidly when physical occupations, movement and sports are factored in. It’s vital therefore to make use of gym water dispensers before, during and after exercise!

 

Certain ingredients can be added to basic water to boost performance in specific circumstances and according to training goals, but these are different from sugary sports drinks which simply provide calories and additives!

 

You can extend the power of your basic H2O by making your own isotonic recovery drink with the addition of a pinch of salt and fruit juice or sugar. This will rebalance your electrolytes after long-duration exercise.

 

Or you can provide a protein punch by adding whey protein isolate to your water bottle after strength training.

 

Depending on their objectives and training goals, some athletes also make use of their office water coolers to make a green tea or single high-quality coffee which may improve performance for high-intensity or speed work.

 

There has been some interesting research about the effects of caffeine on fat mobilisation and training performance, but it is important to note that this type of caffeine consumption is being used very specifically in pre-training, at intense levels.

 

But the safest way to stay fit is to avoid caffeine altogether, and concentrate on keeping hydrated with cool, rejuvenating water from the gym water cooler.

 

And you should always avoid caffeine before bed, as it can over-stimulate the body and make high-quality sleep difficult. And without good rest, the body cannot achieve its training goals!

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

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28May13

Stay Cool As The Weather Heats Up!

Next time you walk past the bottled water cooler at work, make sure you stop and fill up a jug!

 

The weather is getting warmer and this means that we all need to focus on hydration.

 

Yes, it has felt as though the cold winter and spring have continued almost indefinitely, but now the sun is out   and this means that our bodies will need an additional hydration boost to function as efficiently as possible.

 

Remember, our bodies are made of around two thirds water, and this balance must be retained for health and vitality.

 

The common wisdom is to drink around eight glasses of water each day, but if you are active or work in a physical job, you may need to increase this amount to ensure that you don’t become dehydrated.

 

This is easy to do and half of the trick lies in getting yourself into the right habits.

 

For example, when you walk to a meeting or to the bathroom, stop en-route and fill up a cup of cold H20 from the nearest bottled water dispenser.

 

Simple water is always a good choice over sugary and chemical-laden concoctions, which stress your body more than they benefit it!

 

These drinks are also notoriously expensive, so you will save a good deal of money if you cut them from your diet and enjoy water instead!

 

Keep topping up during the day and enjoy hot drinks too as you fancy them; herbal teas and green tea are great options, as they are low in caffeine and won’t stress your adrenal system.

 

Having said that, an occasional high-quality coffee is fine as a welcome pick-me-up, and tea is also packed with nutrients and beneficial compounds.

 

So, take the time to enjoy a catch-up, some conversation and some welcome hydration, and drink plenty of water!

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

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24May13

Sports Performance Drinks and Hydration

For most regular exercisers the topic of sports performance drinks is largely irrelevant.

 

The commercial sports and energy drinks that can be bought in any newsagent are usually a concoction of water, sugar and chemicals – including colours, flavourings and other additives.

 

Check out the ingredients next time you are tempted to buy one, and remember that some commercial sports drinks contain as many calories as a chocolate bar!

 

Sports drinks aren’t necessary to fuel your workout and indeed, only very specific isotonic drinks will be required for long-distance, high intensity endurance training.

 

This applies to people entering distance events, training for long periods of time at advanced intensities or competing in athletic endeavours rather than those just keeping fit.

 

If you are training for an event, then congratulations!

 

You’ll be delighted to know that you can save a small fortune by making your own sports energy drinks, using the water dispenser in your gym or office, and a pinch of sugar and salt to refresh your electrolyte balance.

 

Avoid drinking too many sugary drinks before training if your goal is fat loss, as your body will simply use the sugar intake as fuel, rather than burning stored fat.

 

Some sugar or glucose can provide gains for speed training where fat loss isn’t the objective, but use such approaches carefully.

 

Protein shakes can also be mixed with water to build and retain muscle mass after strength training, and hot water dispensers are useful if you add coffee to your pre-workout regime for fat-metabolisation effects and performance gains.

 

Avoid caffeine in the evening and limit yourself to a good quality cup before a hard workout only, as caffeine has mixed effects on the body.

 

It can lead to insomnia, nervousness and adrenal burnout if over-consumed. Try herbal and green teas instead for a myriad of beneficial effects.

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

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20May13

Sports And Rehydration

If you’re committed to getting fitter around work, then you’ll need to factor in adequate hydration alongside your nutrition and exercise.

 

Water is the foundation upon which all of our health is built – and whilst the human body can survive for quite a long time without food, you’ll find yourself severely dehydrated after just three days without water.

 

Not only do we need water to survive – we need it to thrive, and that is particularly the case when we factor in physical exercise.

 

How much do you need?

 

Even in sedentary jobs and at rest, our bodies need around 1.5 litres of water a day, alongside food.

 

This increases drastically in physical occupations or when exercising.

 

You’ll know when you need water, because you’ll feel your energy level drop slightly and feel thirst.

 

This is usually a sign that you are already slightly dehydrated, so avoid getting to this point by filling up on cooler water from the office or gym water coolers.

 

What about water for sports training?

 

Sports drinks are not necessary unless you are training for a marathon or for endurance sports, such as the triathlon – and even then, you can make you own with some basic filtered water, a touch of fruit juice for sugar and a pinch of salt to keep your electrolyte balance in check.

 

Commercial sports drinks quite often provide excess calories in the form of sugar – so you’ll need to burn off your drink before you start burning off the fat!

 

Caffeine is another interesting ingredient for exercise which some sports people use effectively to aid performance, and fat metabolisation before high-intensity exercise.

 

But you should use it rarely and for performance gain only, rather than as an energy crutch.

 

High caffeine drinks can lead to dehydration because they have diuretic qualities.

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

17May13

Looking For A Meeting Venue? Head to the Hot Water Dispenser!

Many organisations struggle to find adequate meeting space, particularly where decent sized rooms are in short supply.

 

But meetings – especially long ones with endless agendas – generally aren’t the best way to get the most from staff.

 

They can drag on for much longer than intended, particularly if some people love to hear the sound of their own voice!

 

Traditional meetings also mean that attendees are sitting down and being sedentary, which is now shown to be hugely detrimental to health and can lead to long term problems with backs, necks and general wellbeing.

 

The important thing is to encourage your staff to be active and alert in the office, and that means providing tools and techniques to encourage these behaviours.

 

So why not encourage health and vitality in your team by having standing meetings instead?

 

These are becoming increasingly popular with forward-thinking businesses who are keen to maximise productivity and minimise wasted time.

 

They boost health, fun and communication and ensure that attendees are awake and engaged!

 

Why not have an informal meeting by the office water coolers, so that you can catch up over a drink and maybe enjoy a snack at the same time?

 

By encouraging your team to drink water you will also be helping their health, concentration and energy levels, as dehydration is one of the most persistent causes of low level health complaints in the office.

 

Many employers find that when they install good quality water coolers and boilers in their office accommodation (along with healthy living and staff engagement policies) attendance and concentration improve, along with measures of productivity and morale!

 

Remember, a healthy workspace is a high-performing workspace, so get on your feet and chat over a sociable drink of water!

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

 

14May13

Ideas for Drinks to Boost Hydration

If, like most of us, you are preparing to be ‘beach ready’ for the summer season, then you will no doubt be looking to increase the amount of water you drink in a bid to stay hydrated, and keep your appetite under control.

 

The fact is, often when we think that we are hungry, we are actually thirsty!

 

Our body’s signals get confused and we automatically head towards a snack.

 

Even calorie dense foods, featuring plenty of fat and protein, are still largely made up of water, so our body does get the hydration kick that it craves, but with calories that might not be necessary!

 

So, if you can stay hydrated with plain water from the office water coolers ideally around eight glasses a day, but more if you are active or work in a physical job then you should find that your food cravings diminish, your health improves.

 

You might also find that your taste buds also ‘refresh’ themselves, so that you no longer crave sugary or sweet foods.

 

Try jazzing up your refreshing treat – from the mains-fed water coolers – with a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.

 

Low sugar cordial works well for a sweet boost when you crave something extra in the afternoon, and lime is also a good choice.

 

For an exotic twist, you could try freezing berries into ice cube trays and then adding these to your drinks for a fruity, vitamin-packed boost.

 

Avoid sugar laden cordials or commercial drinks, which simply provide unnecessary calories, sugars, chemicals and other additives that your body really doesn’t want or need!

 

Such drinks are often rather expensive, so you’ll also be able to save pounds of a different kind if you opt to fill up your glass or jug at the office water facilities, instead of automatically heading out to the nearest takeaway coffee store!

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

 

13May13

Getting More Water into Your Diet

We all know that we need to incorporate more water into our diets, but how can we do this with food?

 

Well, we don’t just get hydrated from the office water coolers – we obtain a large amount of our hydration through the food that we eat.

 

That’s vital to know because our bodies are made up of around 70 per cent H20 – and this balance needs to be maintained to support every aspect of our health, vitality and wellbeing.

 

Water, water everywhere!

 

Even solid foods such as energy-dense protein sources are made up predominantly of water, whilst foods such as fruit and vegetables are almost entirely water, with fibre, vitamins and minerals to boost your health!

 

Start your day right

 

So, to maximise your health, fill up a jug at the beginning of the day, either using the bottled water dispensers in your work kitchen, or by having regular cups of hot herbal tea.

 

Then elect for plenty of water-rich fruits such as melons, citrus fruits, berries, apples, pears and plums.

 

At lunch time, have a healthy salad with plenty of cucumber, tomato and leaves, or opt for vegetable soup on a cold day.

 

Healthy food options

 

Broths, soups, casseroles and even risottos are good water-rich options for dinner and all can be made very healthily.

 

You might also like to experiment with juices and smoothies at home, but avoid overdoing it on these as they are rather high in sugar!

 

If you’re looking for a low calorie drink, then try cold water, ice cubes, mint leaves, fresh lemon and a little honey for a real pick-me-up – or experiment with freshly ground ginger and lemon for an alternative ginger beer!

 

This could work very well with some soda water on a warm evening!

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.

 

10May13

Beauty: It Starts From Within

Splashing out a small fortune on expensive beauty products and noticing very little difference? That is because true beauty starts from within – and involves plenty of water!

 

Our skin is made up of different layers, all of which perform complex processes of cleansing, cooling, protecting and moisturising. Skin is the body’s largest organ and must be carefully maintained and protected to remain strong and healthy, and it requires lots of water to do its job.

 

The majority of commercial products simply affect the outer layer of skin – the epidermis – which is constantly renewing itself to reveal fresh skin.

 

A small number of ingredients, including essential oils, can penetrate the epidermis to reach the renewing dermis below – but most commercial products are primarily oil-based. These hold in water and don’t truly rehydrate.

 

However, drinking more water from the mains-fed water coolers at work could help to plump up and freshen your skin.

 

If you’ve ever woken up with a hangover, you will know how grey, tired and drawn your skin looks – and this is down to dehydration. You don’t need expensive creams to clear up blemishes, plump out skin and remove dark circles from under the eyes – you simply need water.

 

Fill up every morning from the mains fed water coolers at work and sip on a cool glass throughout the day for maximum benefits. You could see your eyes and hair start to shine too as an extra bonus!

 

To give skin a boost, load up on vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables and prioritise high-quality protein sources which repair and rebuild the body. Avoid white grains and processed foods too. And of course, to see real results you need to quit smoking and cut down on alcohol.

 

Latest news from Angel Springs, leading UK supplier of office water dispensers, bottled and mains-fed water coolers and eco boilers.