Science Says Eating Chocolate Could Improve Your Brain Function
It’s always great to find an excuse to do something that you love more often. Eating chocolate, for example.
Very fortunately for many of us, science now favors this sweet habit. Here’s the big reason why being a ’’chocoholic’’ is no longer something to be worried about.
Chocolate makes us smarter.
That’s right. This is a scientific fact!
We all want an excuse to do more of the things we love: drink coffee, have sex, and, of course, eat chocolate. Fortunately, science has got our back on all of those things. But if you still need to justify your chocoholism to your mother or significant other, we got some more confirmation today on chocolate’s health benefits.
According to a recent longitudinal study published in the journal Appetite,chocolate consumption is positively associated with cognitive brain function. That’s right: chocolate might make you smarter.
For the study, 968 people aged between 23 and 98 were measured for dietary intake, cardiovascular risk factors, and cognitive function. They discovered that more frequent chocolate consumption was “significantly associated with better performance on [cognitive tests including] visual-spatial memory and [organization], working memory, scanning and tracking, abstract reasoning, and the mini-mental state examination,” regardless of other dietary habits.
They also found that regular intake of cocoa flavonols could protect the brain against age-related cognitive decline, like dementia.
Cocoa flavanols can claim responsibility for our favorite sweet’s positive effect on the brain. The researchers found that high levels flavanols are found in dark chocolate but less so in milk or white chocolate. They can also be found in abundance in red fruits, like grapes and berries.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the study participants weren’t fed delicious Twix bars — they downed drinks containing cocoa flavanols, which contain a much higher concentration of flavanols than your average chocolate bar. According to a 2003 analysis by the USDA, a typical 100g bar of dark chocolate contains 53.49mg of cocoa flavanols, and milk chocolate contains an average of 13.35mg. In one of the studies from which this study gathered data, the participants who showed the most cognitive improvement consumed a drink containing 993mg of cocoa flavanols daily for eight weeks.
Which would mean that you’d have to eat roughly 18 bars of dark chocolate, or about 74 bars of milk chocolate a day, to get the same effect.
So, while your brain may thank you for consuming that much chocolate, the rest of your body will want to smack you.
Regardless, you can use this study as an excuse (if you need one) to enjoy that Butterfinger from time to time — and then maybe someday we can supplement it with that miracle cocoa flavanol drink that only scientists seem to have access to.
We think this is the best news ever. We’re going to the store to load up on choc. We need it so that we can work better — and so you do!
Creative advertising always attracts your attention, so it’s clear why many brands strive to come up with novel ideas and innovative approaches to marketing their products. Sometimes you have to give credit where it’s due, and in many cases these guys achieve exactly what they set out to do — and to brilliant effect.
We put together a few of the best examples we could find for you to appreciate. Some are striking, others are funny, still others are incredibly inventive — all all of them perform their task brilliantly!
A clever use of hand grips on public transport by watch company IWC
adpressive
Hair dye from Wella
copyranter.blogspot
Mugs of beer on tree trunks in honour of Oktoberfest
adsoftheworld
The perfect way to market the small yet spacious Honda Fit
These Kids Are Reading To Shelter Dogs To Prepare Them For Home Life.
Let’s face it. When most people look for dogs at their local shelter, they go for the first outgoing, loveable pooch they grow attached to. But where does that leave all of the timid dogs that were psychologically scarred before arriving at the shelter?
To help these dogs work on their social skills, the Humane Society of Missouricreated a program that makes shy canines more adoptable.
Here’s how it works.The Missouri Humane Society’s Shelter Buddies Reading Program pairs kids aged 6 to 15 with scared and traumatised dogs to prepare them for adoption.
After completing a 10-hour training program, the children sit in front of a dog’s kennel and read to them.
Children Read Books To Traumatized Shelter Dogs To Help Rehabilitate Them
“We wanted to help our shy and fearful dogs without forcing physical interaction with them to see the positive effect that could have on them,” program director Jo Klepacki told The Dodo.
“Reading to the dogs helps to bring comfort to and reduce the anxiety of shelter pets.”
Children Read Books To Traumatized Shelter Dogs To Help Rehabilitate Them
“Ideally that shy and fearful dog will approach and show interest. If so, the kids reenforce that behavior by tossing them a treat.”
“When children tell stories to the dogs, it also helps them develop their own reading skills.” The project also “nurtures empathy in children” and “teaches high energy dogs that calm behavior is desirable.”
Children Read Books To Traumatized Shelter Dogs To Help Rehabilitate Them
What a brilliant idea! Especially since it gives new hope to dogs still suffering from previous abuse or abandonment.
Watch the video below to see these inspired children do their part to help shelter dogs at the Humane Society’s first annual Deck the Howls reading event.
Please share this story with anyone you know who cares for animals and would be happy to see the work the Humane Society of Missouri does to help neglected dogs find loving homes!
To learn more and donate to this awesome program, head over to the Missouri Humane Society’s website.
With only a few supplies, she made a simple DIY lantern that lights up the room with its unique glow. She uses garden fairy cutouts placed inside of the jar so that they appear to have a magical fairy inside when lit by a candle. Making a few jars and placing them together, she used them as decorating accents, but they can also be used individually as a nightlight. The sparkling fairies instantly draw your attention and bring a smile to your face. To make the lanterns, she gathered jars, cutout fairies, glue, tissue paper, glitter, twine, and artificial berries.
She starts by bending the berries back and forth to loosen the cutouts to be able to press easily inside of the jar, then secures it with glue. To make them pop, she covers the entire outside of the jar with glue, then one layer of white tissue paper. By gluing glitter around the top and bottom, she creates a magical effect to the lantern.
The finishing touches are simply adorable as she wrapped a twine bow around the top, and glued a few foam berries along with it The final product is simply adorable and can be used with either candles or battery-powered lights.
Alissa Kane has struggled with unhealthy eating habits for years. When she got an opportunity to join A&E’s Fit to Fat to Fit program, she saw it as an opportunity to get happy and healthy. Her trainer Adonis Hill had something a little unusual in store for the teacher. Personal trainers talk a big game. They constantly tell us that “we can do it,” that size doesn’t matter, only our determination. It’s hard to believe them when we see their visibly strong, toned bodies — of course working out is easy for them!
Adonis decided to put his money where his mouth is. The trainer, who struggled with his weight before, gained 70 pounds himself to show Alissa that strength and beauty comes from inside not out. The experiment was a success. After getting over the initial shock of Adonis’ new body, and working her butt off, Alissa’s stunned her family and friends with a well-earned transformation!
Alissa Kane never thought she could lose weight. That was until she met personal trainer, Adonis Hill. Adonis believes that anyone can get healthy and into shape, so he showed Alissa just that.
Adonis ate 8,000 calories a day for three months and gained 70 pounds. The next four months, he would work closely with Alissa to prove that together they could achieve their goals and inspire those who feel helpless. Adonis understood what Alissa was going through; he too used to struggle with his food addiction.
“I was putting in a lot of work in the gym but eating right was hard this time because I was coming off an old addiction. I had to wean myself off unhealthy food,” he told Daily Mail.
The two worked tirelessly together, Alissa said her first workout was “hell.”
“I collapsed on the beach, and I couldn’t even hold my head up. I was so angry,” she said.
But Adonis never gave up on her.
After four months, Alissa outperformed him.The teacher lost 58 pounds to Adonis’ modest 57! The student becomes the master.
Alissa’s transformation was both inside and out. What’s important here is that the goal wasn’t to be stick thin, but to be healthy.
“People everywhere, you can do this!” she said. “The most important thing I learned is that you can make mistakes and still be amazing at losing weight.”
See Alissa’s full transformation story below!
Please SHARE if you think Adonis and Alissa are an inspiration for anyone struggling to meet any goal!
Daddy And Daughter Perform Adorable Cover Of Justin Bieber’s ‘Love Yourself’
rowing up, I was practically my father’s little shadow. Whether he was out working in his garage or yelling at the TV while he watched football, I was right by his side mimicking every move he made. While I also enjoyed spending plenty of my time playing with my dolls or riding bikes with friends, those moments goofing around with my dad are some of my absolute favorite memories. And he was never one to turn down an invitation to one of my famous tea parties!
That’s why I love seeing the dad in this video embrace spending time with his little girl, too. Just like the adorable daddy-daughter duo who covered “Shut Up and Dance,” these two have found an awesome connection through the magic of pop music. Rob ACS and his daughter Averianna decided to go for a some sweet Justin Bieber sounds for their duet, covering his hit “Love Yourself.”
They both sit on the couch while Rob starts things off, but it doesn’t take long for Averianna to jump right in. Even when it’s not her turn, you can tell she has trouble keeping herself from belting the lines as she mouths along! I think someone is going to be outshining their old man pretty darn soon. In a few years, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her running her own web series and really giving Dad a run for his money!
But for now, their delightful collaboration totally warms my heart. Take a look for yourself below.
And don’t forget to SHARE with your friends!
Dad and ave . “Love yourself ”
Posted by Rob Acs on Sunday, February 14, 2016
Many of us had a favourite soft toy when we were kids which we just couldn’t bare to part with wherever we went and whatever we did. Well, it seems that in some cases, the same mindset develops among our beloved pets — give them a toy when they’re still very young, and they’ll love it with all their heart for innumerable years into the future.
Here are 20 examples of this heart-warming phenomenon. We can barely cope with this much cuteness!
DrLionzilla
He can’t fall asleep without his friend.
imgur
He’s been hugging his favourite duck every night for a year and a half.
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This little puppy soon outgrew his favourite bear toy, but that didn’t stop him loving it!
Carrie Molina
The past vs. the present.
Dmitry Gudkov
He grew up in order to one day be able to chew on his favourite orange crocodile.
imgur
Already inseparable for nine months!
imgur
Mayo and his lion in photos taken one year apart.
imgur
Both cat and toy have changed beyond all recognition over the past year and a half…
Kristine Rivera
Time has no effect on this little doggy. You can’t say the same for his toy, though!
imgur
This cat has refused to swap his toy for another for more than four years!
imgur
Saying goodbye to your childhood is not something everyone can face up to.
imgur
The love between these two has lasted seven years!
Sheena Villarraga
She sleeps so contentedly when she has her frog by her side.
reddit
This dog tears and gnaws at virtually every toy he’s given — with this one exception.
PixelPixie
I’ll never give him up!
Anna Nicoară
Remi and his favourite ball.
Małgorzata Florczyk
He gave up his wicker basket for a cardboard box, but his taste in toys hasn’t changed.
imgur
Blue toys are the best!
Ania Uchnast
She plays cat and mouse — every day.
imgur
Let it get a bit shabby-looking — I’ll love it all the same!
Like many young boys, James Isaac’s life completely changed when he got a dog.
Before Mahe joined the 9-year-old New Zealand boy and his family two years ago, leaving the home increasingly had become a struggle for everyone.
“James has profound autism, so he gets quite anxious when we go on outings. He’s very impulsive and he doesn’t have any awareness of danger,” his mother, Michelle Isaac, explained to TODAY Tuesday.
That made it stressful to be near traffic or any other unsafe areas where James might dart away.
“Mahe has changed our lives so much. He is a real part of the family now,” Isaac said of their service dog. “The main thing he does is help to keep James safe and calm when he’s out.”
That included a day trip earlier this month to the hospital.
Mahe stuck by James’ side before and after his recent MRI.
An unexplained series of seizures prompted doctors to order an MRI for James, who had to be put under general anesthesia for the test because he wouldn’t be able to lay still for it otherwise.
Shortly before the procedure, Mahe was allowed to hop up on the hospital bed to check in on his friend.
“He got his face really close to James, who was asleep by that point, and he reached in to sniff him,” Isaac said. “He looked really concerned. It was quite touching.”
James ended up in the hospital after an unexplained series of seizures.
The dog reunited with James later in the hospital recovery room. Although James does not speak, it was obvious his fears were eased because he had Mahe nearby.
“Having him on the bed was really a calming thing for James when he came out of the anesthesia,” Isaac said. “He had his buddy there, and felt a bit more secure and less anxious.”
Michelle Isaac said her son’s dog, Mahe, has “changed our lives so much.”
Isaac said she’s been “completely blown away” by how quickly photos of James and Mahe in the hospital have spread across the world.
“I’m really, really happy for the Assistance Dogs New Zealand,” she said of the organization that matched Mahe with her family. “They’re a very small charity, even by New Zealand standards. They’re just getting themselves established, so this is wonderful.”
Mahe has already had an impact on the way strangers look at James, his mother said.
Isaac said she can’t emphasize enough how Mahe has helped change family dynamics.
“Before Mahe, when it was just one of us with James, we’d have to hold his hand tightly to stop him from running from the road, and James hates that. He doesn’t like being manhandled. He just wants his freedom,” Isaac said. “Mahe gives him that freedom to explore his environment without being dragged around.”
Mahe now spends one day a week at James’ school, where teachers are being trained to handle the dog with the intent of having him accompany James on future outings.
“They also think Mahe will have a very positive effect on the other kids in his special needs class,” Isaac said.
“He is a real part of the family now,” Michelle Isaac said of the dog.
Mahe has already had such an impact on the way strangers look at James, she said.
“Before we had Mahe, it was hard. People were staring and thinking, ‘What’s wrong with that kid?’ and his behavior might be unusual and it was quite hard,” she said.
They still get stares now, specifically in areas like a mall or other places dogs aren’t normally allowed.
“There is such a magic that happens between a child with autism and the dogs, they just calm the kids down. The kids will maintain eye contact with the dog, but often not with their own parents and siblings.”
“But it’s a positive thing. It’s totally different. People approach us and say, ‘Oh, what a great dog, and what does he do for James?’ They are interested in James in a positive way.”
Alissa Kane never thought she could lose weight. That was until she met personal trainer, Adonis Hill. Adonis believes that anyone can get healthy and into shape, so he showed Alissa just that. 
Adonis ate 8,000 calories a day for three months and gained 70 pounds. The next four months, he would work closely with Alissa to prove that together they could achieve their goals and inspire those who feel helpless. Adonis understood what Alissa was going through; he too used to struggle with his food addiction.
“I was putting in a lot of work in the gym but eating right was hard this time because I was coming off an old addiction. I had to wean myself off unhealthy food,” he told Daily Mail.
The two worked tirelessly together, Alissa said her first workout was “hell.”
“I collapsed on the beach, and I couldn’t even hold my head up. I was so angry,” she said.
But Adonis never gave up on her.
After four months, Alissa outperformed him. The teacher lost 58 pounds to Adonis’ modest 57! The student becomes the master.
Alissa’s transformation was both inside and out. What’s important here is that the goal wasn’t to be stick thin, but to be healthy.
“People everywhere, you can do this!” she said. “The most important thing I learned is that you can make mistakes and still be amazing at losing weight.”
See Alissa’s full transformation story below!
Please SHARE if you think Adonis and Alissa are an inspiration for anyone struggling to meet any goal! 
“James has profound autism, so he gets quite anxious when we go on outings. He’s very impulsive and he doesn’t have any awareness of danger,” his mother, Michelle Isaac, explained to TODAY Tuesday.
That made it stressful to be near traffic or any other unsafe areas where James might dart away.
“Mahe has changed our lives so much. He is a real part of the family now,” Isaac said of their service dog. “The main thing he does is help to keep James safe and calm when he’s out.”
That included a day trip earlier this month to the hospital.
Mahe now spends one day a week at James’ school, where teachers are being trained to handle the dog with the intent of having him accompany James on future outings.
“They also think Mahe will have a very positive effect on the other kids in his special needs class,” Isaac said.
