Workers productivity
The British Summer is likely to see a reduction in productivity – not because people are on holiday, but because workers simply aren’t drinking enough water according to water specialist BWT
The British Summer is likely to see a reduction in productivity – not because people are on holiday, but because workers simply aren’t drinking enough water according to water specialist BWT.
And the impact of not having easy, regular access to drinking water, highlighted in a report by the UK’s Natural Hydration Council*, has sparked an awareness raising campaign by water specialist, BWT.
The company supplies office water coolers with mineralised water and has just launched a range of mineral water jugs which not only remove unwanted heavy metals, but also add ‘top up’ magnesium which plays a vital role in hundreds of bodily functions. These include supporting a healthy immune system and helping memory, both of which are important functions for people at work!
The campaign, as well as drawing the attention of employers and staff to the potential problems of being inadequately hydrated, also offers some simple solutions – including the creation of a range of cordial recipes to make drinking water more appealing for those who like a bit of a kick with their H2O.
Dietitian Dr Sarah Schenker, a well known advocate of the benefits of drinking water for good health, says even during a typically British Summer it’s still easy to become dehydrated.
“As so many of us work at desks in air conditioned offices which have a dehydrating effect, on shop floors or in places where it’s not easy to have access to water literally on tap, we are all in danger of becoming dehydrated. To counter the effects of dehydration either we or our bosses need to ensure water is readily to hand. The effects of dehydration include reduced concentration and decision-making abilities, fatigue and headaches – all of which make us feel worse and of course will have a knock on effect on our ability to perform our jobs properly.
“Drinking small amounts of water at regular intervals can help reduce headaches caused by dehydration. So keeping a jug of water on your desk or a bottle of water with you if you are travelling around and refilling it when possible is a sensible idea.”
The BWT campaign also prompts bosses to provide easy access to drinking water to help protect their ‘bottom line’. And that means either installing workplace water coolers, supplying staff with filter jugs or reminding workers to keep a jug or refillable bottles of water on their desk, possibly jazzed up with cordials, prepared with a water filter jug they have at home.
A survey carried out by BWT, one of the leading suppliers of water coolers and mineralised water in the UK, shows 43% of those working at their desk say they don’t drink enough water while they’re at work because it’s logistically difficult. While the survey was carried out by BWT in Germany, the report’s authors say the figures are likely to be echoed in other North West European countries where working practices are similar.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says women should drink around 1.6 litres of water a day and men 2 litres **, but for people working in certain environments that volume should be increased, says the Natural Hydration Council.
These include air conditioned spaces such as offices, shops, gyms, and airports as air conditioning speeds up moisture evaporation from our skin and lungs, as well as more obvious scenarios such as working in high temperature environments, like kitchens and factories, or doing physically demanding jobs.
To download the water based recipes and for more information visit www.bwt-uk.co.uk
Dr Sarah Schenker’s hydration tips
• Keep a full mineral water jug in the fridge – cool water is irresistible in Summer
• Sip little and often – 50 to 100mls every half hour – it means you won’t need to keep nipping to the loo
• If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated, which could impact on your performance
• It’s easy to confuse mild thirst with mild hunger – so drink plenty at breakfast to avoid unhealthy snacking and end the day with a glass of water
• If your workplace is air conditioned, you will need to drink more water throughout the day as the air you are breathing is dryer than normal
• If your job means you’re on the go, get into the habit of packing a refillable water bottle in your bag
• Remember – our body is on average 65% water and we lose approximately 1 to 1.5 litres slowly throughout the day which is why it a good idea to replace it little and often.
• Ring the changes – you don’t need to ditch the caffeine – teas and coffees count towards your liquid intake too (but try not to exceed four or five cups a day) * Jazz up your water with a cordial or a squeeze of lemon
Cordial ideas
Orange sage water
Steep a thinly sliced orange, four sage leaves and two cinnamon sticks in 1.5 litres of filtered water for 30 minutes.
Strawberry mint water
Steep six thinly sliced strawberries, five slices of root ginger and three mint sprigs in 1.5 litres of filtered water for 10 to 15 minutes
* (caption) Water specialist BWT, whose Mg2+ mineral water jugs add ‘top up’ magnesium, is drawing the attention of staff and employers to the importance of remaining adequately hydrated – even in the typical British Summer!
* (caption) Dietitian Dr Sarah Schenker says being even mildly dehydrated causes headaches, irritability and lack of concentration
