Poster of the Month, March 2016: Are you really hungry, or just thirsty?

HUNGRY OR THIRSTY?

If you're not sure, try this:
If you feel hungry, drink a large
glass of water then wait 10 minutes

If you feel better, you were just thirsty

If you still feel hungry, have something to eat

Confusing a thirst with hunger can
lead to overeating and weight gain


March's Poster of the Month proposes a simple way to combat overeating and weight gain.

You don't always feel thirsty when you need a drink.

Sometimes your body will tell you you're hungry, when what it really needs is some liquid.

The knee-jerk response to these feelings is to eat something, but this is depriving the body of the fluids it needs. Plus, continually responding in this way over time can lead to weight gain.

Respond to feelings of hunger in a more conscious and mindful way.

The poster recommends drinking a large glass of water when the hunger pangs start, then waiting for ten minutes to see if the pangs subside.

It's a simple test that will help you determine what your body really needs.

Kodiak's innovative posters cover all kinds of health issues, including healthy diet and weight management.

To find out more, please give us a call on 01530 456 000.

Healthy diet: Understanding GDAs

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We now know more about diet and nutrition than ever before yet, as a nation, we are facing an obesity epidemic. 

To cope with rising food prices and longer working hours it seems we are increasingly turning to cheaper convenience foods and pre-prepared ready meals.

The GDA labelling system was introduced in 2007 in a bid to help consumers make more informed choices about the food they buy. The labels show the amount of calories, sugars, fat, saturates and salt in units and as a percentage of a woman's Guideline Daily Amount (GDA). This is because the GDAs for women are lower than for men.

Research shows that the average amount of time a consumer will spend reading a label before putting the item into their trolley is just four seconds. This does not allow much time to fully assess the labels.

Three pieces of advice:

Firstly, consumers should always refer to the GDA label and make sure they know how to read it. No matter what other health claims are on the packaging – for example that the product is 'light' or 'one of your five-a-day' – the GDA label is the one they should rely on.

Secondly, consumers should be aware that many GDA labels do not refer to the contents of a whole pack. For example, the labels on some pizzas show the GDAs for just a one-quarter portion – not the whole thing.

Thirdly, around 80% of our daily salt intake is hidden in processed foods like bread, cereals and canned foods. Too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, so it is very important for consumers to monitor their intake.

So what does all this have to do with your workplace and your employees?

In the short-term, eating healthy foods can boost the immune system. This means your employees are less likely to be ill and less likely to be absent from work.

The foods we eat during the day can also affect our performance at work. For example, foods that are heavy or high in fat can cause drowsiness and slow reaction times. Indeed research shows that drivers are more likely to have accidents after lunch.

In the long term, educating your employees about healthy eating will help them to understand their GDAs and make more informed food choices as a result.

Eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight can also stave off more serious and debilitating conditions, like heart disease and diabetes.

Kodiak's motivational poster programme regularly covers the benefits of good diet and weight control to keep your employees fit and healthy.

Our database has many posters on healthy eating, weight loss, heart health, diabetes and other related issues.

If you would like to find out more about how they can improve health and wellness in your workplace, please contact us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Healthy living: Encouraging a healthier lifestyle

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In 2009 the average UK worker took 6.4 days off work due to sickness. Although this was an improvement against previous years it still amounted to a total of 180 million sick days at a cost of £16.8 billion to the UK economy. (Source)

In a small to medium-sized business, having workers off sick can lead to a drop in productivity and an increase in stress for other workers who have to fill in.

It makes sense, then, that employers should be concerned about the long-term health and wellness of their employees.

One of the best ways to help your employees to take better care of their health is to educate them. I wonder how many of your employees know the risk factors for developing heart disease. How many understand the health implications of binge drinking. Or how many could recognise the early symptoms of diabetes.

Having that knowledge gives your employees the power to take action, to make healthier choices and to improve their lives. It's good for their health and good for your business.

But employee health is not just about the risk of your employees developing serious and debilitating conditions. It's about the smaller things they can do regularly to safeguard their health, like exercising, eating a balanced diet, sleeping well and booking an eye test.

Sensitive issues such as bad breath, personal hygiene and toilet etiquette are also issues in many workplaces, but are often not dealt with because people are too embarrassed to raise them. A simple poster can remind all employees of the acceptable standards without pointing any fingers.

Kodiak's poster programme typically covers two health issues each month. These vary from hard-hitting issues such as smoking, drug use and alchohol abuse; to advice on dealing with stress, shiftwork and allergies.

Because the programme is despatched monthly, we can cover seasonal health issues as they arise. For example, in the winter we look at issues such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, colds and flu. In the summer we cover sun safety and the importance of keeping hydrated.

If you would like to find out more about how Kodiak posters could improve the health of your employees, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.