Drinking hot cocoa could make you smarter — especially if it’s enriched with this
studyfinds.org ^ | 11/24/2020 | Chris Malore
FR Posted on 11/25/2020, 9:48:41 AM by mac_truck
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom — As winter arrives, hot tea and cocoa naturally become popular drink choices with a lot of people. A new study finds drinking cocoa is not just the popular choice, it may also be the “smart” choice as well.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham say consuming flavanol-rich products, such as cocoa, increases one’s mental performance.
Flavanols are a group of molecules which occur naturally in fruits and vegetables. They’re a member of the plant flavonoid family and are common in cocoa, grapes, apples, tea, berries, and even wine. While previous studies reveal these molecules can improve brain health, the new report finds they also stimulate brain-blood oxygenation levels. The results show this actually helps people to think faster and perform cognitive challenges more efficiently.
“We used cocoa in our experiment, but flavanols are extremely common in a wide range of fruit and vegetables. By better understanding the cognitive benefits of eating these food groups, as well as the wider cardiovascular benefits, we can offer improved guidance to people about how to make the most of their dietary choices,” lead author Dr. Catarina Rendeiro says in a university release.
(Excerpt) Read more at studyfinds.org ...
Nearly 1 million crockpots sold by Amazon, Target and Walmart recalled for burn risk
cbs ^ | 11/25/2020 | Katie Gibson
FR Posted on 11/25/2020, 5:07:05 PM by BenLurkin
Sunbeam Products is recalling almost a million crockpots sold by retailers including Amazon, Target and Walmart after roughly 100 consumers were burned — some seriously — when the lids blew off in use, spewing hot food and liquid.
The recalled Crock-Pot multi-cooker can pressurize when the lid is not fully locked, causing the lid to suddenly come off in use, posing burn risks to consumers from spewing hot food and liquids, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Sunbeam has received 119 reports of lids detaching, resulting in 99 injuries ranging in severity from first-degree to third-degree burns, the Boca Raton, Florida-based company said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I don’t know all the science; but chocolate always works for me - wine, too...