Healthy office drinks greatly contribute to employees’ energy levels and productivity. They can restore energy in employees who sit at a desk for more than 8 hours a day or have a sedentry lifestyle.
Drinking enough fluid (and not just energy drinks) during work hours is crucial. The healthy drinks that we will discuss in this article, hydrate, energize, and maintain the health of the employees.
According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information in the US, dehydration is a very common reason for people's admission into hospitals. Several studies we came across even report that 75% of American adults are chronically dehydrated. They end up drinking only 2.5 cups of water on average and even less so at work.
This is a serious condition that we aim to prevent in our employees. Therefore, we stock up on the best food and healthy drinks for the office. Read along as we explore together some of the best of them that we offer and other organizations can offer too.
7 Favorite Healthy Drinks We Enjoy in Our Office
"At parties, everyone always thinks I am drinking, but I rarely drink. I live on energy drinks, basically. I love vitamin water."
– Paris Hilton
Explore all human history; we guarantee that whenever humans have sat down to do something worthwhile, they have been sipping some kind of drink. This leads us to the corporate world, where work pressure cooks the stew of stress.
Therefore, here are some health drinks that employers can offer in the workplace.
1. Water
Yes, you read that right: water!
Water is the number one health drink for offices. We keep our purifier tanks and water bottles full all the time. We also ensure our employees are well hydrated with the Water Intake feature of the Vantage Fit application.
Why We Chose It
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Water is crucial for life and proper brain function at work. Our brain is made up of 60% water, so it ultimately boosts productivity.
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Hydration during work hours is paramount. Therefore, the availability of proper drinking water is our priority.
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It also regulates the body temperature during stressful work sessions and aids digestion.
How to offer it
Water can be easily provided by employers in the workplace. It can be made available either in packaged mineral water bottles or through purifiers like we do in our organization.
2. Fruit Juices
Juices are not just for a healthy breakfast. They also make workplaces healthy by efficiently hydrating and rejuvenating employees. That is why we stock up on different fruit juices for our employees.
Why We Chose It
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Besides their hydrating qualities, fruit juices are rich in antioxidants that help the immune system.
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They are a powerhouse of many vitamins and nutrients that employees can get in just a glass.
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They are low-fat, which is perfect for prolonged sitting hours.
How to Offer It
Juices can be a little tricky for employers to offer. If packaged juices are not preferred, employers can collaborate with cafes or restaurants to offer fresh fruit juices.
3. Lemon Water
"The tangy taste of lemon juice reminds me that life's challenges can be refreshing"
Lemon water is a brilliant option for drinks to have during work. It is rich in vitamin C that aids in digestion during the sitting hours. It is also proven to lower high blood pressure.
Why We Chose It
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First, it is one of our favorites because it is refreshing.
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Lemon is rich in potassium, which boosts brain function, improves productivity, and keeps energy levels up.
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Lemon is also well known for keeping the immune system healthy. Therefore, it keeps our employees healthy and less prone to diseases.
How to Offer It
Employers can offer packaged lemon water to save employees’ time in making it in a pantry. Employers can also collaborate with nearby cafes or restaurants to provide lemonades during breaks.
4. Low-Fat Toned Milk
Milk may seem like an unconventional choice for health drinks for the office, but it can benefit employees in many ways.
Why We Chose It
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Toned milk, or milk in general, is rich in calcium and protein. It helps with bone health and reduces the risk of certain diseases.
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It helps with muscle repair in employees who go to the gym before or during working hours.
How to Offer It
Toned milk or milk can be provided through tea and coffee vending machines. These machines offer hot and cold milk at the press of a button. They are convenient as well as cost-efficient for employers.
5. Green Tea
"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on."
– Billy Connolly
Green tea is a perfect healthy drink while working. It has been drunk in Asia for centuries for its antioxidant qualities and health benefits.
According to a report by the US Census Bureau, about 15% of all tea consumed is green tea.
Why We Chose It
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It has a soothing taste that lifts the mood and hydrates the body.
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It has a healthy amount of caffeine and L-theanine that can boost brain function and productivity.
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For employees on a weight loss diet, it can work wonders.
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The soothing taste helps in reducing stress during work.
How to Offer It
Our green tea stock comes in tea bags our employees can help themselves with. Employers can also offer teabags similarly and a hot water system.
6. Coffee
It goes without saying that corporate employees pretty much get through the day because of coffee. It is one of the most drunk beverages in the corporate world.
Why We Chose It
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Coffee's caffeine content boosts concentration and alertness, which increases productivity.
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Coffee has also been proven to lift people's moods, which is important in an office setting.
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Caffeine also helps keep employees' energy up during work hours.
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It is also a great health drink option for employees in a weight loss challenge or diet.
How to Offer It
Coffee is the easiest to provide for workplaces. It can be made available through vending machines or powder or ground beans. Employers can provide different kinds like espresso, cappuccino, latte, and others.
Suggested Read: Offer Coffee at the Workplace and See its Amazing Benefits
7. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a caffeine-free health drink for the office with many benefits. It is also traditionally used at home to cure coughs, colds, and sore throats.
Why We Chose It
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Ginger tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system.
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It is also a great drink for winter at work as it keeps cold and sore throat away.
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Its anti-inflammatory qualities make it one of the best drinks to enjoy.
How to Offer It
We offer ginger tea to our employees in tea bags that they can conveniently have at any time. Employers can offer it to their employees similarly or dispense it through a vending machine.
Drinks We've Chosen to Avoid
Some offices provide certain drinks. While many people enjoy them at work or outside, they do more harm than good.
1. Artificially Sweetened Drinks
To reduce sugar during work (or sitting hours), we avoid artificially sweetened drinks. They also contain high amounts of caffeine, which can make employees hyperactive or anxious.
2. Carbonated Drinks
Carbonated drinks like soda contain carbonic acid, which can worsen employees' acidity during sitting hours. They also contain a lot of added sugar, which leads to unhealthy weight gain.
3. Energy Drinks
Energy drinks have often been claimed to have food additives and artificial flavors. These are benzoic and sorbic acids, which can seriously harm the immune system.
Simple Tips We Recommend for Introducing Healthy Office Drinks
If you are an employer or an HR trying to ensure the wellness of your organization, here are some tips about offering healthy drinks at the workplace.
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Conduct a Health Checkup: Before introducing health drinks to the workplace, conduct a thorough corporate health checkup. This can reveal any allergies or health issues beforehand.
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Survey the Preferences: Surveying your employees' preferences can also give you an insight into what the majority want.
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Raise Awareness: If you are introducing a specific drink in the workplace, inform your employees about its benefits and limitations, if any.
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Control the Caffeine: Coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks do boost employees' energy, wellness, and productivity, but they can also cause anxiety if consumed too much. So, make sure you inform your employees about the adverse effects of excessive caffeine intake.
Summing Up
The above are only a few examples of healthy drinks for the office. There are many others that some organizations may choose to offer. But we should be cautious about every drink, its benefits, and its effects on our bodies. A great way of doing that is by measuring our intake.
Online corporate wellness platforms like Vantage Fit can help you track your beverages. The mobile app flawlessly allows you to add your meals and beverages.
With Vantage Fit, we aim to introduce a trend of corporate wellness that is picking up speed now. It can help employees build better habits, take care of their health, and be rewarded for it every time.
Take your organization's employee wellness up a notch with Vantage Fit's customizable features. Book a demo today and witness the trend!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best drink for work?
The best drink for work has to be water. It hydrates and enhances our cognitive function and productivity.
2. What should you drink for a 12-hour shift?
For a long, 12-hour shift at work, water is the best choice along with moderate amount of coffee or tea for caffeine.
3. What is the healthiest drink for work besides water?
Besides water, we should always consume different fruit juices for effective hydration and nutrition.
4. Are there any tools or apps that can help employees stay hydrated?
Yes, there are applications like Vantage Fit that ensure employees' hydration at work.
References
Vantage Fit - A complete AI-Powered Solution for seamless implementation of your Corporate Wellness Program to nurture a healthy and engaged workforce
