Looking after the well-being of employees is on top of the agenda of many organisations nowadays. Aside from providing a safe working environment, company leaders are implementing wellness programs that can help employees become healthier, happier and more productive. One of the most popular methods employed by organisations to ensure excellent workforce well-being is promoting healthy eating by providing fresh fruits in the office.
Instead of cookies, chips, pastries and other junk food, offices are displaying bowls of fresh fruits and other healthy alternatives in their pantries. For the longest time, enterprises have been stuffing their pantries with high calorie, sugary and nutritionally empty food thinking that these items are going to provide employees the energy they need. However, what these food items do is provide a spurt of energy that’s not enough to sustain employees throughout their working hours. Furthermore, a diet high in unhealthy food lead to mood swings, sluggishness and at times, depression.
But why are fruits better alternatives? What are the benefits of having fruits in the office? Listed below are some of the advantages of having bowls of fresh fruits for your employees.
Strengthen the Immune System
Fruits are packed with a lot of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which can help strengthen the immune system. For example, citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, best known in fighting flu. Aiding in the production of white blood cells, vitamins C, A and E help the body fight infections.
Suffice it to say, fruits can help your employees have a stronger immune system and a healthier body. This is can be very beneficial to your company since an unhealthy workforce can result in increased absenteeism and poor performance. In the long run, with sickly employees, business productivity declines and revenue suffers.
Boost Energy
It is not unusual for employees to feel sluggish or tired towards the end of the day. Hence, they need something to help them power through the remaining hours of the work day. The common practice is to turn to coffee and sugary snacks like chocolates to keep them awake and alert.
What many do not realise is that fruits are natural energy boosters as they have sugar in them. What’s more is that energy from fruits do not get quickly depleted compared to that of sugary items like chocolates and pastries. Most importantly, fibre in fruits help keep blood sugar levels stable.
Improve Brain Function
As mentioned above, fruits are very nutritious. Aside from containing nutrients that keep the body healthy, they also have properties that enhance the brain’s performance. For one, certain fruits contain tyrosine. Tyrosine is an amino acid which promotes the production of dopamine. This neurotransmitter can help keep your employees focused, alert and engaged.
There are also fruits like blueberries which contain anthocyanins which aid in keeping the brain alert and enhancing memory. Certain fruits like bananas are packed with glucose, enough to sustain the brain the entire day. These fruits can make the brain stay sharp and perform better.
Increase Employee Productivity
It is undeniable that eating fruits benefit both the body and mind. With healthier bodies, your employees can easily ward off diseases and avoid being absent from work. Meanwhile, with improved brain function, they can also perform their job better.
Suffice it to say, when your employees snack on fruits, their productivity improves. Consequently, a productive workforce is good for your business operations and revenue.
Let us help you reap the benefits of having fruits in the office. Visit our website or call us 01 4624811 to order fresh fruits for your employees.
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Photo by Malte Sörensen 