by Fern Shaw | Jan 25, 2017 | Water, water cooler
The winter weather is upon us, bringing with it time to bundle up, exercise less and usually eat less greens, and more of the comfort food … or so we’d think.
But, resorting to more hibernation type habits isn’t really the way to go (One of my personal mantras is ‘shoulda been a bear’ – as I believe hibernating for 8 months of the year is a sound idea). There are loads of options we can take in the winter months that actually aren’t that difficult to follow and can keep as summer lean in the process.
Keep exercising
I’m not suggesting that you swim the Channel or go running in minus ten degree weather, but if you attend a gym or health fitness club, keep up with it. In cold months, your own exertions will keep you nice and toasty while exercising, instead of trying to continuously cool down when you’re exercising in the summer months. Just remember to keep hydrated. You can become just as dehydrated in winter as you can in the summer. Drink water, lots of it.
If you don’t have access to a fitness club, exercise at home – there is tons of information on YouTube; on social media or on the internet in general that can give you adequate instruction on exercise regimes you can follow to keep toned up.
Bulk up with rich healthy food
Again, the instinct (which is hard wired into our genetic code) is to eat rich, fatty foods in winter so we can bulk up and insulate ourselves. The thing is, we’re not seals and we don’t live in the Arctic (even if some days if may feel like it). There are loads of options to eat hearty warming food without packing on the weight.
The food in season right now is plentiful and it makes good sense, because if you eat with the seasons, it keeps your spend on food down, as in-season food is more readily available.
There’s such a huge range food that’s available this Autumn, you’ll be spoilt for choice:
Fruit- Pears; apples, cranberries; elderberries and quinces are all in season now.
Vegetables – Artichoke, beetroot; butternut squash; celeriac; celery; chicory; chillies; horseradish; leeks; marrow; parsnips; pumpkin; shallots; swede; sweetcorn and tomatoes.
Herbs and nuts – Almonds; brazil nuts; chestnuts; chives; hazelnuts; rosemary; sage; sorrel and walnuts.
For the meat eaters – Beef; duck; lamb; rabbit; turkey and venison.
Fish – Clams; cod; dover sole; haddock; halibut; hake; lobster; mackerel and plaice.
Finally, in the food annals – don’t forget about good old porridge: Oats provide soluble fibre called beta-glucan which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. The fibre in oats makes it a slow-releasing carbohydrate which keeps blood sugars steady so should stop you reaching for a high-fat snack. If you are not a fan of porridge, add oats to smoothies, mueslis or yogurts, to bread or fish.
Don’t stop drinking your water!
Throughout all of this, keeping up with exercising; eating the right food, the most important winter months regime is to keep up with drinking water – if you’re averse to cold water, then drink warm water. If you’re drinking from your water cooler in the work place and the water’s a bit chilly, then adjust the thermostat.
Not only does water fill you up and make you less inclined to eat too much, but often when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually dehydrated, so drinking enough water is a win-win all round.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 25, 2017 | water cooler
There’s so much literature out there about water coolers. Water cooler jokes; euphemisms; there’s even an expression where gathering at a water cooler station means the same as you being able to take a break, as in, ”I’ll meet you at the water cooler in 10”. Although this usually means you’ll be replenishing your water, it also means that you’ll be taking a break, perhaps catching up with workmates; sharing ideas; telling the latest (clean, we hope) joke. For all we know, somewhere out in the big, wide world, there’s a guru meditating next to a water cooler, waiting to spread their wisdom and philosophy to whoever draws near to top up their water.
Not that taking a break in your work day is something negative, or an indication that you’re counter-productive.
There have been numerous studies where the results indicate that taking a break at work; similar to taking a power nap; actually make you indeed, more productive, not less.
Further to this, if you use your water cooler station not just to take a break, but to also replenish your water cup or bottle, not only are you helping your brain a breather to re-boot, but the chances of increasing your productivity are higher, as the more hydrated you are, the better your concentration, memory retention and general well-being.
So, which are you? Are you the pile-driver workaholic who roars through the day barely lifting your head to acknowledge others? Or, are you more of the sensible, know-that-taking-a-break-is-good-for-you ilk?
Whatever your at-work-method is, if you don’t currently have a water cooler in your work space, if you consider the benefits, perhaps it’s time to make the call. To us at AquAid, that is. We have a wide range of water cooler and water products to suit your requirements and we’d be pleased to assist.
To call us at AquAid: 0800 772 3003
To e-mail us: Click here
If you’d like to browse our range of water coolers: Click here
To follow us on social media: Twitter and Facebook
by Fern Shaw | Jan 23, 2017 | Water Boilers, water cooler
We Britons are big on weather – it’s the go to topic of discussion irrespective of whether we’re chatting with colleagues around the
water cooler or family or friends, and it’s the safety topic when you’re chatting to strangers or people you’ve just met.
Discussing the weather isn’t just exclusively a British thing though – it’s pretty much a global go to safe topic around the world. If you’re a southern hemisphere dweller, you’ll invariably be moaning about the heat at the same time that the northern hemispherers will be complaining about the icy winds, the piles of snow, but wherever you reside, there’ll be a whole lot of weather talk going on.
Thing is though, often the weather isn’t really topical, it’s actually quite dull “Here, mate, seen the weather – 1 degree difference between yesterday and today – isn’t that something?” Well, actually, no … it isn’t.
But, whatever our opinion about the topic of weather, there’s no denying it has a huge impact on our behavioural patterns; moods; what we eat; our travel patterns; clothing and what we drink.
F’r instance, in the summer months, we’re constantly on the lookout for the perfectly chilled water (perfectly understandable), but come the winter months, like now, with all the snow and brrr, there’s nothing better than a cuppa to stave off the chill, so you’re more likely to be on the lookout for a water boiler that can provide you with a constant hot water supply throughout the day.
Either way, even if you’re freezing your tootsies off trudging through the snow and all you can think about is a piping hot drink when you get inside, it’s worth keeping in mind that you’re just as likely to become dehydrated in winter as you are in summer, so by all means, drink those hot drinks, but balance out each hot drink with a drink of cold water and keep yourself fighting fit and healthy come rain, snow or shine.
by Fern Shaw | Jan 23, 2017 | water cooler, Water Coolers
We don’t believe so. There are a multitude of water cooler suppliers in the UK, but there is only one AquAid. What sets AquAid apart are the integral inclusions that we provide with each water cooler purchase. These aren’t add-ons – although we offer those too – these are inclusions that we and many satisfied customers believe to be what makes AquAid a cut above.
So you have now had your brand spanking new water cooler installed and your first question is:
We have a bottle-fed water cooler – how often will I get a water delivery?
You’re automatically placed onto our fortnightly delivery round, which means that we will deliver to you on the same day every 2 weeks. This way we both can determine the quantity of water that you require to keep you hydrated during the two weeks.
But what if I run out of water?
AquAid offers all our customers a free of charge 24hour emergency service should you run out of water. We know the importance of keeping hydrated and will always do our best to avoid situations that will leave you without any drinking water.
How often will my water cooler be serviced and do I have to call to book the service?
As per the EDWCA guidelines, we sanitise all mains fed water coolers every 6 months and bottle fed water coolers will be serviced every 3 months. The service will be carried out by our very experienced service technicians and should take no longer than 20 minutes of your time. You do not need to remind us to service your machine. Our systems automatically let us know as and when your machines are due for their service.
Hmm, fair enough … but I’m a little concerned about how this bottled water is getting to us in terms of your carbon footprint. Is my AquAid local?
It most definitely is – AquAid have 29 distribution points across the UK, which means that your water cooler; water and water cups deliveries; as well as your water cooler maintenance and servicing all originates from your local AquAid branch.
Now, the biggie – what else makes AquAid stand apart from other water cooler suppliers?
Since the inception of AquAid almost 2 decades ago – we believed and continue to believe that donating to charities that provide sustainable solutions for those less fortunate is vitally important to a successful business. AquAid are very proud of our association with the charities that we work with. With every bottle of water that we supply a 30p donation is made to The Africa Trust along with a £20 donation when a Mains Fed Water Cooler is installed. Christian Aid also receives a 10p donation with every bottle of water that we supply. To date we have donated in excess of 10 million pounds.
If you would like to enquire about our water coolers, products and services, we’d welcome hearing from you.
To call us at AquAid: 0800 772 3003
To e-mail us: Click here
If you’d like to browse our range of water coolers: Click here
To follow us on social media: Twitter and Facebook
by Fern Shaw | Jan 23, 2017 | Water Boilers, water cooler, Water Coolers
There’s been some rather soggy weather in England this week – bit rude I’d say – it’s only October.
While you’re keeping warm indoors and contemplating life, the weather in general and how soaked you’ll get outdoors if you make a dash for it, here are a few thoughts that may make you beam with British pride; warm you up and intrigue your grey matter.
It was recently the 385th anniversary of tea in the UK.
They say that a cuppa cures all ills and they’re not far wrong – whether you’re using your hot water boiler or combination AquAid chiller/boiler in the office, or school or at home – or boiling water with the kettle at home – there’s very little that can’t be cured by the brew.
But a few years away from our four hundredth year of drinking tea, our knowledge may not be as encyclopaedic as we’d like to think it is! In celebration of this anniversary, a few facts and myth busters that may amuse or interest you:
How many cups a day?
More than 165,000,000 cups are being drunk in the UK every single day of the year.
Brits didn’t invent the tea bag
The tea bag was invented by a nation that is more associated with coffee – America.
Although there are some records of loose-leaf bags being used in ancient China, the first labour-saving teabag was created by US tea merchant Thomas Sullivan.
Tea breaks were invented by modern office workers
Tea breaks are actually a tradition which has been around for about two hundred years. Initially when workers commenced their day at around 5 or 6am, employers allowed a break in the morning when food and tea were served. Some employers repeated the break in the afternoon as well, according to The UK Tea and Infusions Association.
Between 1741 and 1820 industrialists, landowners and clerics tried to put a stop to the tea break maintaining that tea drinking and rest made working people slothful. Modern thinking couldn’t be further away from this – regular tea breaks can play a vital part in the day to help maintain a positive attitude towards work and a very necessary fluid intake.
And the best news of all;
Tea doesn’t go off
Take note though, if you leave your tea for a time, those little leaves won’t be as fresh after six months. The flavour may not suffer, but the brew will lose its antioxidants. The best way to preserve the efficacy of the antioxidants is by storing your tea in a sealed container in a dark, cool place.
If this weather keeps up, proper tea storage certainly won’t be hard.
If you’d like know more about AquAid water coolers and water boiler products, specials and our life saving charity partnerships, please * e-mail or ☏ us on 0800 772 3003. We’d be delighted to assist you.
