It’s Finally Pumpkin Season, and there’s Plenty of Reasons to Celebrate this Halloween! - October 2018

Pumpkin season is upon us – and they aren’t just for carving! Get creative with your pumpkins this year and explore the benefits of both eating and drinking these autumnal treats.

From sweet dishes to savoury, from hot spiced latte’s to vitalising juice drinks, pumpkins are nutritious, low in calories, and perhaps more versatile than you may first think. Here are a few reasons why pumpkins could benefit your health this season!

-Pumpkins are an immunity booster! – They contain antioxidants that can strengthen the immune system, help with joint health, organ health and even stress relief!

-Pumpkins keep you fuller for longer – Pumpkins are a great source of fibre that can keep you fuller between meals, and keep food cravings at bay! Fibre also helps to wash away toxins and keeps your body running smoothly.

- Pumpkins can help eye health – Pumpkins are full of vitamin A that is essential to eye health, helping the retina absorb and process light.

-Pumpkins seeds are jam packed with nutrients and health benefits – Pumpkin seeds are high in protein and plant based fatty acids, which help regulate cholesterol levels, protect against arthritis, promote healthy skin, and improve brain function – try them as a healthy snack alternative!

Whether you’re planning to head out into the county’s bars and clubs this Halloween, or staying at home in the warm, getting creative with pumpkins this season may provide some distinct health benefits, and even help with those horrid hangovers!

Just remember,

Drink responsibly, and keep a good night GOOD.

Five Ways To Liven Up Your Water Drinking Experience!! - September 2018

Let’s face it, water isn’t the most exciting beverage, and making sure you drink enough can be a real chore. If you know you need to be drinking more water, but aren’t crazy about the taste (or lack thereof), check out these simple tips to liven up your water drinking experience.

·    Add Fresh Fruit.

Lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers and mint are perhaps the most well-known ways to add flavour to water, but be creative and experiment! Try adding strawberries, kiwis, and blueberries to create a natural alternative to plain drinking water.

·    Make Tea.

Although herbal, fruit, green, white and red teas are widely considered to be better for you than black teas for their little to no caffeine content, drinking tea adds flavour and interest to your water without adding any calories to your drink. Have some fun picking the ones you like, and if you’re interested in pursuing more exotic flavours, start researching the vast array of speciality teas from across the globe.

·    Go Bubbly!

No, we are not suggesting you replace water with prosecco or champagne! Instead, try carbonated water if plain water isn’t appealing enough. Carbonated water can also come in lots of natural flavourings with no added sweeteners, providing a great alternative to drinking soft drinks, without the added sugars and additives!

·    Get Creative with Ice

While many people agree that iced water tastes far nicer than water at room temperature, flavouring your ice cubes may make it even more appealing! Try adding some of the fruit or herb suggestions above to your ice cube tray along with water and freeze. Try adding frozen cubes of tea, coffee, fruit juice, or even pomegranate seeds to your water to impart flavour as well as colour.

·    Add some Fruit Juice

Fruit Juice by itself can contain high levels of sugar, but adding a small amount to a glass or pitcher of water can bring your water to life. Try and go for natural juices with no added sugars, and remember, juices will often contain vitamins and antioxidants that can benefit your health too – just be cautious of your sugar intake!   

The Benefits of Drinking Water while Working Out!! - August 2018

  

 Roughly 60% of the human body is made up of water, and most of us underestimate just how much we need to be drinking, especially when it comes to exercise. Replenishing your water levels during exercise serves to:

·       Reduce fatigue. – Fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration. A loss of just 1-2% of your body weight in water is enough to cause your bodily functions to slow down, making you feel lethargic and tired.

·       Lubricate your joints – Water acts like a shock absorber, providing a cushion like protection to your joints and spinal cord. Drinking water during exercise can actually help protect your joints from serious damage.

·       Maintain/increase metabolic function. – During exercise, water helps transport the carbohydrates and proteins that the body needs for consistent energy throughout the bloodstream. If the body loses too much water, metabolic function will also plunge.

·       Promote circulation. – Water helps maintain circulation in the body. The level of oxygen in the bloodstream remains more stable when the system is well-hydrated. Additionally, when the body has an adequate store of oxygen, it will more readily burn fat, increasing one’s energy levels.

·       Eliminate toxins. – Water also functions to remove the toxins from the body, especially in the digestive tract. Restoring the water lost during exercise is particularly important to reduce an interruption in the elimination of toxins from the body.

So next time you decide to exercise, spare a thought for the absolute importance of staying hydrated, and the positive effect it can have on your work out!

IT'S OFFICIAL!! – England comes to terms with its newly inherited tropical climate!! - July 2018

If you haven’t already discussed it a thousand times over with work colleagues, friends and family, England is experiencing one of its hottest spells on record, with this week’s temperatures set to challenge its all-time high of 38.5C!!

Whilst moans can be heard across the country about the outright atrocity of having to spend sunny days in offices and teaching rooms, staying hydrated in the heatwave isn’t usually at the forefront of our conversations – but it should be!

According to the NHS choices website, the average person should drink around 1.2 litres of water daily (six to eight glasses) but adds – ‘In hotter climates, the body needs more than this’ - So the chances are, you haven’t adjusted to our newly inherited tropical English climate!

‘So’, you ask, ‘how can I tell if my body is dehydrated?’ Well – headaches, tiredness, cramps, a dry mouth and lips could all be dehydration indicators – but there is a simpler solution – check your wee!

But hold on just a minute! – Before you take the advice of this article and reach for an alcoholic beverage to quench your thirst in this glorious sunshine, take note! – Although technically alcoholic drinks contain water, they’re also diuretics, and make you lose water from your body as urine. You can get dehydrated if you drink too much alcohol, so be sure to drink water or other soft drinks if you decide to drink an alcoholic beverage, and remember to always drink responsibly!

‘INT Water Brilliant!!’

 

To paraphrase a famous 90s milk advert ‘INT Water brilliant!’ – Water Angels certainly thinks so!

We all know that we are meant to drink water but why? What makes it so brilliant and why is it so important to us?  

 

Here are some of Water Angels’ favourite reasons:

 

It helps keep us healthy – studies have shown that drinking plenty of water instead of sugary drinks can cut the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease dramatically. Water helps to flush out toxins from your body through sweat and urination, which helps reduce the risk of urinary infections. It also helps to remove fat from your body, raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

 

It help keeps our skin clear – we often forget that our skin is the largest organ in the body and around 70% of it is made up from water, therefore it is essential we keep it well hydrated, especially if we want to keep it looking fresh and youthful.

 

A natural fatigue buster – this might sound crazy but studies have shown that drinking water helps you concentrate, stay focused and provides a natural energy boost, increasing brain cell activity so much so that students who drank water before and during an exam did 10% better than their classmates.

 

Saves money – one of the greatest things about water is that in most cases it is free; we can fill a bottle up at home and take it with us when we are out and about allowing us to keep hydrated all through the day. When out enjoying a meal with friends or a night on the town remember to ask for your free tap water; it will keep you hydrated and spread out the alcohol intake.

 

But how much should we be drinking? This is a much debated question but general guidance is that we should drink around 6 – 8 glasses of water a day; however, this varies significantly depending on what your activity level, age, health etc. all are. A really good indicator as to whether you are drinking enough water is looking at the colour of your wee; if it is the colour of a golden straw bale or darker then you need to drink more!

 

 

The Water Angel Checklist to a Great Night Out

Before you hit the town, make sure you run through the Water Angel night out checklist to make sure you always keep a good night good, from beginning to end - even keeping at bay that pesky hangover! 

1. Eat a proper meal - Eating is not cheating!!

Fill up on a proper meal before you start drinking to line your stomach and help soak up the alcohol. Eating before drinking can slow the absorption of alcohol by the body and boost your energy levels. Focus on healthy fats and sources of protein.

2. Don’t peak too early

There’s nothing worse than getting all hyped up for a great night out, only to not even make it into the club because you’re too drunk. Don’t spoil your night by peaking too early, take it slow and steady. Remember - have a glass of water in between your alcoholic drinks it really will stop you from peaking too early!

3. Plan your travel and stay safe

It’s all well and good dancing and having fun with your friends, but when you find yourself outside the club at 3am in the freezing cold, you’ll be grateful for an easy, pre-planned journey home. Book a taxi in advance or know your bus / train times, and write them in your phone if you tend to forget!Try to make travel arrangements with friends that way you won't be left by yourself and you might even save some money - if spreading the cost of a taxi!

 
4. Have emergency money

We must stress, emergency money is not for extra drinks…it’s for emergencies. Missed your taxi? Can’t find the bus stop? Have some cash tucked away in your purse ready for these kinds of situations. It’s always good to carry some extra money with you on a night out.

5. Stay hydrated

Between every alcoholic drink, have a glass of water too. This will help keep your hangover at bay and mean you can keep dancing all night long. Drink plenty of water before you go to bed and keep a glass next to your bed ready to rehydrate in the morning.

Remember your Water Angel and keep a good night good!!!