READERBoss

*THE CHOCOLATE HEART*

What is the relationship between chocolates and the heart? Research has shown that eating chocolates that contain 70% of cocoa helps the heart function properly. Below are some benefits of eating dark chocolate.

1. Improves heart health: The antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of clotting and increase blood circulation to the heart, thus lowering the risks of stroke, coronary heart disease and death from heart disease.

2. Stabilise the immune system: Flavonols (group of flavonoids found in fruits, cocoa etc.) prevent the immune system from going into overdrive and reduce oxidative stress, which is an imbalance caused by cells fighting against free radicals and a common cause of many diseases.

3. Fights diabetes: Epicatechin (flavonoid compounds with antioxidant properties) protects cells, makes them stronger and supports the processes that help the body to use insulin better, which might prevent or combat diabetes.
4. Promotes brain function: Flavonols in dark chocolate have a positive impact on brain function, including better reaction time, visual-spatial awareness and stronger memory. Though research is ongoing, one reason for this may be that flavonols increase blood flow to the brain.

5. Enhance athletic performance: The epicatechin in dark chocolate increases the production of nitric oxide in the blood, which supports circulation and reduces the amount of oxygen an athlete uses while engaged in moderately intense exercise. This allows the athlete to maintain workout intensity for longer.

6. Decreases stress: People who ate dark chocolate reported that they felt less stressed, and researchers confirmed that after eating dark chocolate, there were reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This may be related to dark chocolate’s effects on heart health, since stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

*Happy April Fool’s Day 2022*

Just like every year, April Fool’s Day will be celebrated on April 1, which is today Friday, 1st April 2022. It is an annual custom whereby people prank each other and do practical jokes just to have a good laugh. While it is not really a holiday, people plan days in advance on how they can prank their friends and family.

According to historians, the day started being celebrated after Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar back in 1952, and ruled that the new calendar would start from January 1. Prior to this, New Year used to be celebrated in 1st April.
Hence, those who still celebrated the New Year on April 1 were seen as fools and uncivilized.

It is understood that while many refused to accept the change and continued following the Julian calendar, France became the first country to accept and implement the new calendar.
It is because of this reason that the general takeaway was that those who refused to follow the new calendar were considered to be fools and made fun of by those who did. It is one of the days when people get away with almost anything, it is advisable to not go overboard with jokes.

Watch out for a prank from a loved one today!!!




📖