Water for Health

Citation

(2006), "Water for Health", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 36 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2006.01736cab.005

Water for Health

Water for Health

Water in Ask about Medicines Week 7-11 November 2005

Water UK is pleased to endorse Ask About Medicines Week for a second year. This independent campaign to increase people's involvement in decisions about their medicines use, came about through the unique coalition of the Task Force on Medicines Partnership, the Promoting Excellence in Consumer Medicines Information Working Group and the charity Developing Patient Partnerships. Drinking water is a natural fit, as good hydration can often get overlooked as a way of protecting the body against many ailments that would otherwise need medical intervention. Drinking enough water can prevent headaches, constipation, urinary infections and incontinence, reduce kidney stones and reduce risks of heart disease. Maintaining good hydration can help prevent falls, fainting, dizziness and tiredness. It can help in the management of diabetes and protect the body against certain chronic diseases, like breast cancer, cancer of the bowel, prostate cancer and urinary tract cancer. For more information visit www.water.org.uk/home/water-for-health/news-viewpoint/medicines

Water at CIEH Nutrition Conference, 5 December 2005

Alliance members, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, have built the work of the Water for Health Alliance directly in to their “improving diet and nutrition from national issues to local interventions” Conference on 5 December at thevRoyal Overseas League in London. The Conference looked at evidence based approaches to intervention planning, with a keynote address from Dame Deirdre Hutton of the Food Standards Agency and presentations from Jeff French, the new Director of the National Social Marketing Strategy, Dr Alan Maryon Davies of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, the Department of Health, Water UK, City Councils and Universities. For more information visit http://www.cieh.org/events/2005_improving_diet.htm

Cool Schools spoke at “Future Europeans” Conference 9-10 November 2005

Yorkshire Water present their innovative Cool Schools hydration campaign to a major international conference on the health and well-being of children and young people in Europe, which was held in Brussels during 9-10 November 2005. The event, run by ever helpful Water for Health supporters the EPHA, brought together 200 local and regional authorities, practitioners, NGOs and policy-makers from across Europe and will feed into key EU initiatives such as a Communication on implementation of children's rights, the YOUTH PACT, a Communication on the health of young people and other EU activities that impact on children. The aim of the conference was to explore how children and young people can be adequately supported and protected within the EU framework and to share examples of good practice in working with and empowering young people. For more information visit http://children.epha.org/

School hydration at NGC Parliamentary reception

Water for Health Alliance members the National Governors Council built the water for schools agenda directly in to their Parliamentary reception at the House of Commons recently. NGC announced they will be working in more detail on this area throughout 2005 and 2006, developing the Water for Health Alliance relationship on policy matters and the visibility of the Yorkshire Water “Cool Schools” promotion to raise awareness at school level. Since the introduction of Local Management of Schools, governing bodies have been given a wide range of duties and responsibilities. These include setting staffing levels, appointing head teachers, setting and agreeing the school budget, ensuring that a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered, as well as monitoring health and safety and the management of premises. The reception raised issues such as fresh chilled water being available to children, improved toilet provision and water sprinklers being fitted in new built schools. The event generated great interest and, through the efforts of the NGC Chief Executive, provided Water UK with the platform to discuss, and provide input to, the Building Schools for the Future agenda directly with the Director for Schools and Leisure. For more information visit www.ngc.org.uk

Water in Schools, an important time to have your say

After many years of Alliance members work to improve water in the schools, the DfES has now issued its consultation and the final report of the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP), which makes recommendations for new nutritional standards for school lunches in England; and a range of supporting measures. The panel has done a great job getting the remit extended to cover the whole school day and to include drinking water and drinks and not just “food” or lunch food. Recommendation 7 covers water and advises that “There should be easy access to free, fresh, chilled drinking water throughout the school day”. It is vital that Alliance members now reply to the consultation and support the DfES recommendation. Unless the positive changes for water are endorsed, there is a risk that no major changes will take place and facilities will not be improved. With water now so widely accepted across the UK, it is also important that this now becomes a standard part of Ofsted inspections. See the consultation at (Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food - Recommendations for the Development and Implementation of Revised School Lunch Standards) http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations

Mayo Clinic - Water is crucial to your health

The Mayo Clinic advises that water is crucial to your health and that every system in your body depends on water. They debate how much water you should drink each day and say it is a simple question with no easy answer. Just as you are unique, so are your water needs. And how much water you need depends on many factors, including your health status, how active you are and where you live. They advise that the average urine output for adults is 1.5 litres a day. You lose close to an additional litre of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. An approach to water intake is the “8 × 8 rule” should drink eight ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 litres). The rule could also be stated, “drink eight ounce glasses of fluid a day”, as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though this approach is not supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink. Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume three litres (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 litres (about nine cups) of total beverages a day. These guidelines are based on national food surveys that assessed people's average fluid intakes. For more information visit www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/NU/00283.html

Developing Patient Partnership, new workplace campaign promotes water

Water for Health Alliance members the DPP have launched a campaign to focus on obesity and the workplace. Using an attractive credit card sized fold out leaflet, it contains key messages to encourage employees to get active and eat healthily. Included is a specific section on drinking water, which highlights the health benefits of hydration in a work context and includes tips for drinking more water in general. Sample copies are available to alliance members. See more information and the fold out credit card at www.dpp.org.uk/health.asp?subsection = 3Dmemall&cmp = 3Dcmp00058

Westminster Diet and Health Forum Parliamentary Reception, 15 November 2005

7pm-9pm at the House of Commons - Water UK attended the Westminster Diet and Health Forum to promote and discuss the Water for Health Alliance work with the events supporting MP's and Peers. An impartial and cross-party organisation, the Forum has enjoyed considerable support from within Parliament and government. It organises senior level seminars and other meetings on public policy in diet and health. The Forum has no policy agenda of its own. Invitations to this reception are being issued to Members of both Houses of Parliament who take a special interest in diet and health policy, including the new Parliamentary intake. For more information visit www.dietandhealthforum.co.uk

Drink water for the perfect six pack

Men's Health Magazine (October 2005 edition) have advised on a 30 day plan for the perfect six pack. Tip No. 3 says “Get Guzzling - This one's almost too easy, but drinking plenty of water not only helps you burn fat, but also builds more muscle”. “All creatine (protein supplement) does is force fluid in to the muscle”, says Carter Hayes, a performance enhancement specialist for the US National Academy of Sports Medicine, “Your body will do that itself if there's enough water available”. Your muscles need water to work at peak efficiency and it pays to plan ahead - by the time your brain tells you that you are thirsty, your body's fluids are depleted. Start drinking water at least 15 minutes before your workout. The rule of thumb is to drink 230 ml of water for every 20 minutes of exercise.

World Health Organization, “Water is an important nutrient”

Following last months feature on the WHO report, Alliance members have asked for the link, so that the nutritional aspect of drinking water can be developed in campaigns. For more information visit www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/diseases/WSH03.02.pdf

MP tests water provision in Care Homes

Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow has asked the following Parliamentary Question on water provision for older people in care: To “ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that free, fresh, chilled drinking water is available to all care home residents throughout the day as part of the Department's review of national minimum standards”. The response advises that “The issue of availability of fresh drinking water for care home residents has been raised as part of the review and is currently being considered. A full public consultation on the proposed changes to the national minimum standards and accompanying regulations will take place next year”. In July 2005 Paul Burstow became the Liberal Democrat's spokesman for London and in the same month was appointed to the Commons Health Committee. He is co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ageing and Older People and Primary Care and Public Health, Vice Chair of the APPGs on Disability, Local Government, Social Care and MS and Secretary of the APPGs on Carers and Skin. For more information visit/www.paulburstow.com/

Hydration best practice toolkit almost ready for launch

Following the efforts of many stakeholders to supply information to this collaborative project, the hydration best practice toolkit for older people in care is now completed and is intended to be available for release in the next 4-5 weeks. The fact sheet based folder and its supporting web site carries practical advice on the health benefits of improving hydration, its economic viability, practical menu planning, tips on helping residents to consume more and tick box type audits of care home facilities. The work is in coordination with the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Contact nellins@water.org.uk for more information.

Is it time for passengers to receive free bottled water on airliners?

Thanks to Alliance members for the news that the Environmental Protection Agency has reached settlements with 11 major domestic airlines and 13 smaller airlines to ensure the safety of the drinking water used by their passengers and crew. The settling airlines have agreed to routinely monitor the quality of water on their airplanes. The action came after an EPA investigation of 327 US and foreign planes at 19 airports in 2004 found total coliform contamination in the drinking water in 15 per cent of aircraft. The settlements require the airlines to regularly monitor aircraft water systems; notify EPA and the public when tests reveal contamination; and regularly disinfect aircraft water systems and water transfer equipment. Suitably named Ben Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for the Office of Water, insisted: “The water passengers drink on a plane should be as safe as the water they drink at home. The settlements announced today show that it is time to fine-tune and upgrade EPA's water regulations to specifically address airplanes.” For more information visit http://www.epa.gov/airlinewater

European Health and Consumer Programme, UK Consultation now out

Following the report last month that the European Commission has released the plans for its proposed new joint Health and Consumer protection programme (January 2007 to December 2013), we now see that this has become a UK consultation. Click here to view (UK consultation on European Commission proposal for a programme of community action in the field of health and consumer protection 2007-2013. For more information visit www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations

The Commission argues for a joint approach on health and consumer protection because these policy areas share similar objectives and types of activities. The Health part of the programme would have five key objectives, all of which direct have potential to directly relate to the aims of the Water for Health Alliance. They are (1) to protect citizens against health threats, (2) to promote policies that lead to a healthier way of life, (3) to contribute to reducing the incidence of major diseases in the EU, (4) to contribute to the development of more effective and efficient health systems and (5) to support the objectives above by providing health information and analysis.

Water for the prophylactic treatment of headache: a pilot trial

Dehydration is commonly believed to result in headache, but the effectiveness of increasing the water intake in patients who frequently suffer from headaches has not been studied thus far. In a pilot study, we examined the possible effects and feasibility of increased water intake in headache patients. Eighteen headache patients (all had migraine, two also had tension-type headache) were randomly allocated to placebo medication, or the advice to additionally drink 1.5 L of water per day, for a period of 12 weeks. Effect measurements consisted of a 2 weeks headache diary and the migraine specific quality of life (MSQOL) questionnaire. The advice to increase the daily fluid intake by 1.5 L increased the fluid intake in the intervention group by approximately 1 l. This reduced the total hours of headache in 2 weeks by 21 hours (95 per cent CI: 48-5). Mean headache intensity decreased by 13 mm (95 per cent CI: 32-5) on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The effects on MSQOL, number of headache episodes, and medication seemed to be small. The data of the present study suggest a reduction in the total number of hours and intensity of headache episodes after increased water intake. The results seem to justify larger scaled research on the effectiveness of increased water intake in headache patients. See Spigta, M.G., Kuijpera, E.C., van Schaycka, C.P., Troostb, J., Knipschilda, P.G., Linssena, V.M. and Knottnerusa, J.A. (2005), European Journal of Neurology, Vol. 12 No. 9, pp. 715.

Severn Trent show health power of water at Human Resources Forum

Severn Trent Water explained the importance of hydration in the workplace at the Water UK Human Resources Forum looking at work life balance and employee wellbeing. Presented by Dr Peter Mills, the Chief Health Officer of Vie Life and Paul Stephenson, HR Director at Severn Trent, they looked at the business case for corporate health programmes, reviewed Vie life and Harvard Medical School Research exploring the link between health and productivity, and looked directly at Severn Trent's own work with its staff. As part of the initiative, all Severn Trent employees were issued with their own sports type water bottles and then given supporting health advice through their internal communication magazines and web sites. For more information visit www.stwater.co.uk/

Bottled water caution, Zam Zam and Volvic

The Food Standards Agency warned consumers to be aware of the fraudulent sale of Zam Zam water that may contain high levels of arsenic. The Agency announced that it has written to all Heads of Environmental Departments and Directors of Trading Standards asking local authorities to take appropriate enforcement action where the fraudulent sale of Zam Zam water is suspected. Zam Zam water, which is sacred to Muslims, comes from a specific source in Saudi Arabia and cannot legally be exported from the country for commercial sale. Meanwhile, Dr Mark Viant, an environmental technologist at the University of Birmingham, has given cautious warning about the effects of a toxic chemical found in two bottles of Volvic mineral water. On opening one of the two bottles of water a customer found a strong chemical flavour and promptly spat the water out. However the customer told the Food Standards Agency who reportedly explained to her that it was outside their jurisdiction as water is not food. A surprising comment is given that FSA are the regulators for bottled water.

A chemical analysis commissioned by the BBC suggested the contaminant was a chemical called naphthalene. The company has confirmed that it is an isolated incident and no other complaints have been received from the same batch of product.The statement went on: “Initial research suggests that the naphthalene could have penetrated the plastic after it left the factory at some point in delivery or storage. That has happened in past cases the company has experienced”.

Meet your water needs through food (in addition to water)

The Mayo Clinic has given advice that getting enough water each day may not be as hard as had been previously thought. Food and complex beverages, in addition to drinking water, can contribute toward your daily water intake. The clinic has produced a suggested table of menu's to demonstrate their theory and more research is encouraged to develop the evidence base. For more information visit www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00286/FORCESSL = 3Dfalse&

Spirit Health Club shows the way

Thanks to long standing alliance supporter Michael Rouse for news of the water movement at the Spirit Health Club, Holiday Inn, Oxford. They encourage their health club customers to drink water advising that

1. 1.

   one glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs,

2. 2.

   lack of water will trigger daytime fatigue,

3. 3.

   research has indicated that 8-10 glasses of water a day can significantly ease back pain for up to 80 per cent of sufferers,

4. 4.

   drinking five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45 per cent, reduces the risk of breast cancer by 79 and 50 per cent less likely to develop bladder cancer and finally

5. 5.

   A mere 2 per cent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic maths and difficulty in focusing on the computer screen and/or printed page.

Contact the Spirit Health Club, Holiday Inn, Oxford on 01865 888444.

Hospital Caterers Association join Alliance the HCA

This is a national organisation with branches in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland concentrating on the promotion and improvement of the standards of catering in hospitals and healthcare establishments in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and elsewhere; the education and training of persons in health care catering services, and the provision and improvement of the professional interests and status of those engaged in health care catering services. The HCA say that “Promoting the consumption of fresh water, and recognising the health benefits that positive hydration can bring is fundamental to our approach to good nutrition and wellbeing in hospitals - for the patients, for visitors and for the staff.” For information visit www.hospitalcaterers.org

Action on Elder Abuse join the Alliance

This organisation operates across the United Kingdom, aiming to prevent the abuse of older people by raising awareness; encouraging education; promoting research; and collecting and disseminating information. It does this through providing up to date information for its members; running high profile conferences on elder abuse and related issues; giving presentations to a wide range of organisations; producing leaflets, resource materials and reports for practitioners and the public; and acting as a resource for television, radio and the press. AEA have long campaigned for prevention of dehydration in the care setting, and have recognised the potential for reduction of pressure sores, falls, confusion, constipation and other conditions through simple good hydration practice. For information visit www.elderabuse.org.uk

Hydration Best Practice Toolkit launched for Care Homes

The hydration best practice toolkit was launched at the end of November to the care industry, Government and regulators. Copies have gone to care media, national media, related Alliance members and CSCI, while copies were immediately requested by individual care homes. Typical of the feedback from people requesting the kit was a specialist dietician who advised that they would welcome “any further documents which support the use/benefits of water in the diet....we work with clients suffering with Mental Health Difficulties and poor fluid intake is very common”. The full information and the toolkit can be downloaded at http://www.water.org.uk/home/water-for-health/older-people

Wheelchair access water coolers

Thanks to The Point magazine for the useful news that a water cooler company in Essex is distributing wheelchair access main fed water coolers which are suitable for the hospital and commercial environments. Shaped like an upside down “L” it allows the user to get slightly underneath the unit, and has a high rate of flow to allow vessels to be filled quickly. Hughes Water Coolers MD says “This model started out in the United States after much pressure by disability groups and the Vietnam Lobby for better access for wheelchair users”. The company is hoping they can be a standard fitment on PFI hospitals where their design can be incorporated right from the start.

Tap Water at CIEH National Nutrition Debate

Thanks to an invitation by Alliance members the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Water UK present a paper entitled “Water for Health - An important Nutrient for the Body, Critical for Life” at their conference on diet and nutrition in London on 5th December 2005. For information visit www.cieh.org/events/2005_improving_diet.htm

New customer representative body backs water for public health

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), which has just published its outline work programme for the next three years, has identified five customer challenges for the water industry to meet which includes safe, clean drinking water - a high quality product, good for health, and water on tap 365 days a year - a reliable, continuous supply. CC Water is led by Dame Yve Buckland who has substantial experience in the fields of public health. She was a member of the Modernisation Action Team on Health Inequalities set up by the Secretary of State for Health to feed into the NHS Plan 2000, and went on to become a member of the National Task Force on Inequalities and Public Health. For information visit www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/Content/navigation-watervoice-homepage

Royal Society of Medicine

Sir John Lilleyman, the President of the RSM has advised Water UK that he will be passing details of the Alliance work to their Food and Health Forum and “taking soundings” from the relevant sections of the Society. He advises that collaboration with the Alliance “sounds, of course, of some interest to us”. Sir John has recently taken great strides to increase the voice of the RSM in core public health matters. For information visit www.rsm.ac.uk

Royal College of Nursing

Water UK have approached the Royal College of Nursing to encourage liaison over the development of hydration best practice within their professional and policy development. RCN have also been asked to work with the Alliance to improve staff hydration, patient hydration at ward level and aid the development of hospital nutrition standards. With the latest arrival of the Hospital Caterers Association to the Alliance and the existing membership of WRVS and UNISON we believe the dehydration issue in hospitals could be rapidly improved.

A tenth of schools without drinking water in London!

This is a headline from a study for the “The Londoner” magazine in an article from its November edition. The article takes information from the draft of the “London Food Strategy” which blames increasing use of vending machines for the loss of fountains and other water facilities. Londoners are being asked for their comments on this and the rest of the food strategy at www.lda.gov.uk/londonfood

Focus on water as nutrition in “Cook School”

Active Alliance members Focus on Food, have continued to ensure that water is positioned as a vital part of nutrition and a wholesome diet by including a special feature on water in their latest Cook School magazine. Developed alongside Water UK and Yorkshire Water, the high quality glossy magazine talks about the values of water and then breaks down the process by which it is brought to the tap at a quality level that can be trusted, and that is one of the highest in the world. Cook School is available to all schools across the UK. For information visit www.designdimension.org

Scottish Water take “on tap” to the next level

“Scottish water on tap” is the national campaign run by the public water company in Scotland. Whilst in the throws of a massive regulatory determination for their future, Scottish Water have managed to produce the second phase of their campaign on hydration that stretches across the community and works directly alongside the health objectives of the Scottish Executive Government. Beautiful posters on hydration provide positive images of age groups beyond the primary schools, and ensure that water is considered in secondary schools, the workplace, gyms and for older people. For information visit www.scottishwater.co.uk

Northumbrian Water is the original refreshment

Northumbrian Water have taken their Water for Health work beyond the schools with a strategy to promote drinking water to all ages. The common theme throughout their campaign is that “Water is good for you” and you are encouraged to “Let water flow in to your life”. This wide reaching community health promotion has been developed so that there is a strand for schools (chill out), families (growing things need water), older people (water for the young at heart) and business (chill out-working people need watering). Northumbrian Water will present the strategy to members at the January Water for Health Alliance Meeting in London. For information visit www.nwl.co.uk

Water in the Prisons

Water UK, Thames Water, Northumbrian Water and Yorkshire Water continue to make progress in improving hydration in prisons by working closely with Prison Governors and Health Coordinators. Meanwhile a Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institution has become one of the first in the country to join a Healthy Schools Scheme, in an initiative to improve wellbeing. The secure college has recently signed up to the Lancashire Healthy Schools Programme and will be sharing good practice in health issues with more than 500 schools throughout the county. As part of the prison's education system, juvenile trainees and young offenders take part in life skills training, covering topics such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, parenting, sex education and healthy eating.

The hidden salt in bottled water

The Daily Express has reported that bottled water contains hidden salt and has worrying levels of sodium described as “the most worrying element of flavouring”. The article advises that “Most bottled water only lists the sodium content in milligrams per litre, with shoppers having to do a complicated calculation to find the amount of salt. You need to multiply milligrams by 2.5 to discover the quantity of salt”. They continue “One make, trendy French water Badoit, has 12 percent of the salt an adult should consume in a day if the recommended 2 litres are drunk” (Editors note - Badoit comes from a granite area and its mineral content is dictated by this geology). Officials from Buckinghamshire County Council's trading standards department commissioned tests on 59 shop bought, branded, bottled waters and found that Badoit contains the equivalent of 0.38 g of salt per litre, with “relatively high” levels of sodium in varieties of Asda, Budgen's and co-op water. Tests on tap water found generally low sodium levels. David Pickering of Buckinghamshire trading standards is quoted as saying “There is a perception that mineral water is healthy, but our research shows it pays to read the label carefully”. Daily Express, 15 October 2005, Graham Hiscott, Consumer Editor.

Baroness Miller responds to “sweeping” Briffa claims

Thanks to the Alliance member who sent in the response by Baroness Sue Miller of the Liberal Democrats to a recent article by Dr John Briffa in the Observer Food Monthly. Baroness Miller advises “...Nigel Slater's shopping basket starts with a big bottle of Evian. This basket's contents set “a fine example” says Dr John Briffa, who tells us that drinking lots of water is good for your health, but tap water is linked to a higher risk of cancer. This is astonishingly broad and sweeping claim of the sort one would expect from the marketing departments of bottled water manufacturers”. Observer Letter, Page 18, September 2005.

CIWEM see tap as sustainable

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management has released a new paper from its water quality experts which raises serious questions about the quality, labelling, advertising and environmental cost of bottled water. Nick Reeves, Executive Director of the CIWEM summarised the findings: “Branding and bottling of water where there already exists a wholesome and safe supply of mains drinking water cannot be seen as a sustainable use of natural resources, and adds to the overall levels of waste and pollution to be managed in modern society.” “Bottled water marketing has driven a public perception of such products as purer or healthier than water from the tap. Such perceptions are unfounded and can lead to undesirable consequences: for example, the high mineral content of some bottled waters makes them unsuitable for feeding babies and young children. For information visit www.ciwem.org/policy/policies/bottled_water.asp

Water cooler heaven at the 2006 trade fair

Thanks to the EPDWA for the news that with fresh chilled water now starting to appear in guidance for schools and care homes, all the latest water coolers will be on show at the 6th European Point of Use Drinking Water Trade Fair which takes place on 23 and 24 May at the Paris Expo Espace Grande Arche. The event will include a conference and workshop sessions. For information visit www.zenithinternational.com

MP's questions help drive the Water for Health work

In an effort to understand more on the country's current water consumption levels, Norman Baker MP has asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was supplied by water companies to consumers in the last year and what percentage of tap water supplied is estimated to be used for drinking purposes. In the response, the Minister advised that the estimated proportion of water used for drinking purposes, which includes water use within cooking and for food preparation, is 7 per cent of the 150 litres used by each person each day (that is 10.5 litres and is unlikely). Water UK are assisting in revisiting the debate and are suggesting Government health departments should know, as indeed they should with the other nutrients.

Decaffeinated Coffee an unhealthy fluid option?

In an article by Health Editor Jeremy Lawrence in the Independent (17 November 2005), we are advised that decaffeinated coffee may be worse for drinkers than the caffeine laden kind. In the first randomised study of the two types of coffee, researchers found that decaffeinated raises the levels of fats and “bad” cholesterol in the blood more than caffeinated blends. The finding was presented to a meeting of the American Heart Association after a study of 187 people by the Fuqua Heart Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

International Therapist Magazine use Alliance resource

In their skin and nutrition section, International Therapist Magazine has run a feature on water explaining how “the skin works as a water reservoir for the body and its fluid content determines its elasticity”. The article goes on to credit to Water UK web resource “Ask About” and gives advice on consuming 1 to 2 litres of water a day and that this should exclude caffeinated drinks and alcohol. For information visit www.fht.org.uk

Jacob Jensen Design and the Temple of Enki

Famous for their design of watches, Bang and Olufson music centres, furniture and telephones, exclusive Danish design company Jacob Jensen Design is at the cutting edge of water coolers from 1 November 2005. Conceived and designed “as a tribute to the vitalizing effects of water” the coolers are named “Enki” after the God of water in the old Mesopotamia and the largest temple in the area. JJD advise that “The water cooler has been designed from the same idea as the Temple of Enki; The wish of giving water (in) as beautiful and inviting settings as possible and to honour the element that brings energy to man before he faces new challenges - no matter if it is at the office today or at sea in the Mesopotamia of that time” (www.wodor.com).

Can reverse rhythm turbulence transform bonded oxygen in sluggish tap water?

Two German companies have joined together to make a “new point of use water dispenser”. While the unit is initially filled with tap water, it manages to address “the problem of energy loss in water due to pressure applied to it when transferred through pipes”. Pressed water apparently results in water clusters instead of “individual H20 molecules”. The result? Apparently lower energy levels in water. Fortunately by an “ultra-colloidisation process” and the use of “intensive, reverse rhythm turbulence” the unit “transforms sluggish clusters of typical tap water into very small, highly active, energy releasing structures” addresses the problem of energy loss in water due to pressure applied to it.

Water for Health Alliance Advanced Information

Launch of Hydration Best Practice Toolkit for Older People in Care Through the Water for Health Alliance initiative and the accompanying policy work, it had become clear that older people in care needed to have improved access to fresh water throughout their day, and practical advice on the health benefits of good hydration.

Many older people were simply not drinking adequate amounts of fresh water to protect their health, and mild dehydration was seen as a serious issue.

Alliance members and supporters have therefore led the development of a Hydration Best Practice Toolkit which has been created in partnership with the care sector, alongside selected water companies, and with the full cooperation of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. The resource consists of a toolkit of simple check lists and advice, supported by an internet area containing extra information such as care home surveys, research, third party supporting statements and practical guidance from health professionals.

Hard copies of the toolkit went out to care managers, care caterers and other service providers from 30 November 2005, with the message of water for healthy ageing promoted through the Water for Health Alliance, its supporters, the water sector, the care media and the primary stakeholders for older people.

Everything can be downloaded via www.waterforhealth.org.uk or directly at www.water.org.uk/home/water-for-health/older-people

Nick Ellins, Policy and Planning Advisor, www.water.org.uk