A new study has found that drinking hot chocolate can temporarily increase a person’s intelligence.
The University of Birmingham has found that when given cocoa to drink participants in the research performed cognitive tasks better than those who hadn’t been given cocoa.
It’s worth noting though, only 18 people participated in the study and they were all men.
But – cocoa did improve the cognitive thinking of the men! And it’s all down to the ‘flavanol’.
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‘Flavanols’ naturally occur in fruit and vegetables as well as cocoa beans and are already known for their benefits to the cardiovascular system.
The cocoa beans in the experiment contained high levels of flavanols. The study suggests that drinking this flavanol enriched cocoa temporarily increased the blood oxygen saturation levels. And more oxygen enables a person to think more clearly!
The research was done to help empower people to make better choices when it comes to food and drink.
Researcher, Dr Rendeiro, said: “Our results showed a clear benefit for the participants taking the flavanol-enriched drink – but only when the task became sufficiently complicated.
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“We can link this with our results on improved blood oxygenation – if you’re being challenged more, your brain needs improved blood oxygen levels to manage that challenge.
“It also further suggests that flavanols might be particularly beneficial during cognitively demanding tasks.”
So while it doesn’t necessarily mean we should start chugging hot chocolate 24 hours a day, it does point out how vital vitamins and minerals are in our health and well being.
If you do want to go all out and make the ultimate festive hot chocolate inspired charcuterie board, check out these here.
Wetherspoons has confirmed that it will be reopening hundreds of pubs next month. The pub chain announced that 394 venues would open their doors on April 12th, after the government’s roadmap out of lockdown was revealed. Stage two of this roadmap will see pubs and restaurants open for outdoor service, although customers will still have to follow the rules around mixing households.
Wetherspoon
Spoons is only opening a limited number of its 875 UK pubs, as not all of them are equipped for outdoor drinking and eating. This includes plenty across Greater Manchester and the North West, like the Castle in the Air at Trafford Park, the Bishop Blaize in Stretford, the Gateway in Didsbury, and Chorlton’s Sedge Lynn.
Spoons owner Tim Martin confirmed the news today, Thursday March 4th, releasing a statement. The full list of Wetherspoons pubs reopening on April 12th:
Flounders Fish and Chips in Blackrod has started selling a battered chip butty and customers are going mad for it!
The deep-fried treat will set you back just £2 and is served with either English curry, Chinese curry, gravy or mushy peas.
Staff say the new item is already flying out the deep fat fryer.
Owned by Victoria Flatters for the past eight years, Victoria reckons they are the only chippy in the area to sell the deep-fried treat.
The 50-year-old told the Manchester Evening News: “My daughter sent me a link about a battered and the shop was doing it down south.
“We weren’t sure about it because we thought it would be a bit of a mess.
“But they’re quite light and really nice. People have been coming back for more – one customer has been every day for two weeks!”
The barm is put in the fryer for three to four minutes before being turned over and cooked on the other side until crispy. It’s then topped with chips for a delicious treat.
Flounders Fish & Chips Blackrod/Facebook
Victoria added: “We are the only ones doing it in the area. I don’t know anyone else that’s doing it.
“We just thought we would do a bit of variety.
“With demand I have to keep up with what people like and what the changes are, it’s been a brilliant response.”
Salford Rum Company has teamed up with Manchester-based beekeepers to create a new honeycomb flavoured rum.
The Salford Rum Company, created in 2018, is a luxury local premium rum created by rugby-league-playing high school pals James Harrison and Tommy Gaughan.
Created to celebrate the history, heritage and people of Salford Docks throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s – which became the third-largest port in the UK – Salford rum takes inspiration from the rums of the Caribbean.
The brand new Salford Honey Rum is distilled and bottled in the shadows of the old docks and created as a tribute to Salford’s Worker Bees.
Salford Rum/Facebook
Created in partnership with The Finest Honey, a beekeeping collective that sells surplus honey and sources honey from rescue bees.
The floral honey adds a sweetness coupled with intense golden spiced liquid rum to create a well-balanced flavour with honeycomb, caramel and butterscotch notes on the palate.
Presented in a rose gold foil print with a honeycomb motif designed by Dave Draws, the bottle also dons a worker bee on the seal and cap.
Salford Rum co-founder James Harrison, said: “To coin a local phrase, we are absolutely ‘buzzing’ to launch the Honey Rum to our product portfolio.
“This third expression has been a long time coming and we have taken time to ensure it hits the right note with the UK’s growing number of spiced and premium rum drinkers.
Salford Rum/Facebook
“It’s great to partner with The Finest Honey, too – it’s a fantastic organisation that sells surplus honey from a range of regional producers, and the link-up is testimony to how we work in Manchester and Salford – collaboratively and for the greater good.
“Our products have developed a cult following regionally and are starting to gain a following nationally, too.
“We look forward to seeing how much our fans love the new Honey Rum, and how they use it creatively to make amazing cocktails and incredible creations at home.”
The preorder for the second batch was limited to 200 bottles, each individually numbered and they have already sold out.