Many people who work in offices will find that they occasionally experience niggling health concerns.

These can range from headaches and aching limbs to sore joints, dry eyes and even skin complaints. But before you go to the pharmacy or doctor, consider the role that adequate hydration plays in your health.

Our bodies are made up of 70% water, which means that every time we head to the water coolers for a top-up at work, we are making a powerful move to support our health and well-being.

We lose water in everything we do, be it exercising or even just breathing.

For that reason, we need to take steps to stay hydrated throughout the day, ideally by drinking around eight glasses of water.

You don’t need to drink cold water either.

Hot drinks from the hot water dispenser at work are equally good for your health, particularly if you opt for non-caffeine based drinks such as herbal teas and fruit teas.

Failing that, Indian health systems make incredible spiced Chai blends using turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, pepper and more. If you feel brave, why not experiment with a blend of your own.

You can ‘eat’ more water too if you opt for greater amounts of vegetables, fruits, soups, blended drinks and the like.

Not only will you increase the amount of water that you take in, but you’ll also increase your intake of vitamins and minerals, which will further boost your health.

Fruit and vegetables are essential for good health overall, and can help protect against a wide range of diseases and illnesses.

Not only will your health start to improve, but your mood will too, as water plays a vital role in influencing our overall well-being.

You should also notice brighter eyes and clearer skin, further motivating you to continue your good work!

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

If you buy expensive beauty creams and cosmetics regularly in a bid to keep your skin and appearance looking as youthful as possible, then you might be interested to know that there is a far cheaper and more accessible ingredient that is proven to keep you looking young and fresh: water!

Water is the main ingredient of any preparation that you buy commercially, and it is water in our skin’s cells that keep them looking naturally plump and youthful.

As we get older, it becomes more difficult for our skin to retain water and we tend to lead lifestyles that damage this important organ, engaging in activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking, spending time in traffic or polluted environments, eating a poor diet, not sleeping enough and applying chemicals to our bodies.

The good news is that by simply drinking more water we can rapidly change how we look.

External application can be beneficial, but water consumption is the most important aspect, so enjoy eight glasses of water a day from the water coolers in the office, or try herbal teas or fruit blends by using the water boiler.

Forget caffeine and sugar, which both age the skin prematurely.

Externally, try hydrotherapy, such as saunas and warm baths with essential oils.

These natural oils penetrate the skin’s barrier and provide supportive and protective benefits. They are also free from chemicals and additives, which can damage the skin.

As far as possible, use organic products and avoid parabens, mineral oils, petrochemicals and other commercial additives that can stress the skin and age it in the process.

Also increase your filtered water intake by enjoying more fruit and vegetables, ideally between five to eight portions a day with an emphasis on vegetables.

Try fresh smoothies and juices, crisp salads, fresh soups and vegetable-based casseroles. You will soon notice the difference.

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

Most of us are guilty of not drinking enough water.

However, the human body consists of 70% water and this vital ingredient lies at the heart of every chemical reaction within the body.

Incredibly, many of the everyday ailments that we experience, including tension headaches, sore joints, poor digestion and skin complaints, can be greatly eased by increasing water intake.

Health experts recommend around eight glasses a day and more if we are physically active.

But if drinking eight glasses of cold, plain water from the office water coolers feel a little much, what are the alternatives?

Well, there are plenty of options to choose from that support health and avoid sugar and caffeine.

These two ingredients are essential to avoid if you want to maintain good health.

Cooler water will offer minimal health benefits if infused with sugary syrups, chemicals and additives.

Unfortunately this is exactly what most commercial drinks, including sports and energy drinks, are filled with.

Hot drinks filled with caffeine can overstress the body, and tend to contain fatty and sugary additives such as flavoured syrups, cream and sprinkles.

For those who like hot drinks, herbal teas are a great choice and provide good health benefits.

Try peppermint or spearmint for digestion, ginger, cinnamon or Chai blends for warming, chamomile for soothing, green tea for increased metabolism, stronger teeth and antioxidant powers and nettle for iron.

There are also chicory based drinks that provide a great alternative to coffee, but without the damaging caffeine effects.

Most herbal and fruit teas are also calorie free.

For cold drinks, experiment with low or no sugar cordials, fruit juice tops or even just plain water with ice and lemon.

A sprig of mint and an attractive glass can also transform a basic glass of water into something more exotic.

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

Staff well-being is a hot topic and something that all employers must think about.

The benefits of looking after your staff are numerous, ranging from better attendance and attrition to improved performance, better motivation and higher levels of productivity.

It needn’t be an expensive activity, either.

Here are some of our top tips.

Staff health

A healthy workforce tends to have fewer cases of sickness-related absences and it should also be more motivated, energised and productive.

You can increase energy levels by installing good-quality lighting and maximising the amount of natural light that circulates the workspace, ensuring that nobody is being blinded by direct sunlight!

Also install plenty of mains-fed water coolers around the office so that staff can keep themselves hydrated by filling up their cups every now and then.

Why not encourage healthy initiatives such as walking groups at lunch, fruit boxes and other such schemes?

Why not introduce inter-team health competitions to see how many steps members of staff can collectively log on pedometers at lunch, with healthy prizes for the winners?

You could even set a room aside at lunch for a yoga teacher to come in and lead a class.

Why not set up an employee well-being forum to allow staff to engage in a ‘healthy office’ initiative and come up with ideas for improving their working surroundings?

The possibilities are almost endless.

Office design

Install hot water boilers and mains-fed water coolers in the staff breakout areas and kitchens, and provide plenty of mugs, cups and packets of herbal tea.

Paint the office in bright, inspiring shades, such as green, yellow, cream and blue.

Remove clutter and implement a clean desk policy.

Also try adding office plants around the space to increase oxygen, improve motivation and remove pollution in the air.

Plants have a wonderfully calming effect on the working environment and have been proven to support the overall working atmosphere in a positive way.

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

So you know that you need to drink more water to stay healthy, whilst keeping yourself active and feeling good, but how can you incorporate more water into your diet?

Well, the interesting thing is that you can actually ‘eat’ water as well as drink it, so the pressure isn’t on you to get your target eight glasses a day from the office water coolers, or bottled water dispensers.

Eating your water basically means increasing your intake of fresh foods.

All food comprises a large proportion of water; even dense, protein-rich foods, such as meat are up to 70 per cent water!

But vegetables and fruit are around 90% water and contain plenty of vitamins, minerals and fibre too.

If you increase your intake of fruit and vegetables, you’ll automatically increase your water intake, and start to really notice the effects.

Fruit and vegetables are unique in that they have a large selection of nutrients in them, which will restore and support your body’s natural system.

The fibre will help your digestive system, the vitamins will help your body’s natural processes and the pure, filtered water will help to hydrate you, leading to better health, glowing skin and plenty more energy.

Try eating fruit for breakfast with some natural yoghurt, or sprinkling berries over your cereal.

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a great choice too, especially when mixed with a little fresh water to reduce the sugary effect on your teeth.

Try vegetable soups for lunch and a big vegetable salad for dinner; choose from an assortment of vegetables, and experiment with different flavours.

For drinks, you should find that you feel increasingly well and hydrated anyway, but opt for plain water with a squeeze of lemon, or natural herbal teas for additional health benefits and a great taste.

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

The spring season is perfect for returning to fitness. And getting fit is the fastest way to start feeling and looking good for the warmer months ahead!

You’ll find that the knock-on effects are incredible; everything from better sleep and clearer skin to calmer moods and greater positivity can be experienced as the effects of those endorphins start to kick in.

However, it’s important to remember to stay hydrated when you do start working out.

One common mistake that new exercisers make is to opt for sugary sports drinks when they start going to the gym – the types of drinks that are typically sold in the gym vending machines no less!

But ironically, these sugary formulations will simply undo your hard work, as they are packed with sugars, ’empty’ calories and (more often than not) additives and chemicals.

All you need to stay hydrated is basic water.

Fill up in the office using bottled water coolers and carry a reusable plastic workout bottle or drink dispenser with you so that you can have the odd sip during your workout.

You’ll also find bottled water coolers in gym and leisure centre receptions.

Remember that your body simply needs this water to operate effectively.

If you drink expensive sports drinks, you will simply be taking in sugar, which your body will use for fuel instead of your stored fat. This is why commercial sports drinks can actually hamper your attempts to lose weight and tone up.

The sugary content is also bad for your teeth.

Remember that you can make your own sports drinks. All you need is some fruit juice diluted with water and a pinch of sugar and salt to replace nutrients lost after long, high-intensity periods of exercise.

Good luck with your healthy new regime. You should start to see results after six weeks of healthy eating and exercise.

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