Health
Good news for coffee lovers! Turns out, simply looking at something that reminds you of coffee can boost your mind, making it more alert and attentive.
The study, published in the journal ‘Consciousness and Cognition’ looked at an effect calling priming through which exposure to even subtle cues can influence people’s thoughts and behaviour.
“Coffee is one of the most popular beverages and a lot is known about its physical effects. Much less is known about its psychological meaning, in other words, how even seeing reminders of it can influence how we think,” said study author Sam Maglio.
“People often encounter coffee-related cues, or think about coffee, without actually ingesting it. We wanted to see if there was an association between coffee and arousal such that if we simply exposed people to coffee-related cues, their physiological arousal would increase, as it would if they had actually drank coffee,” added Maglio.
Arousal in psychology refers to how specific areas of the brain get activated into a state of being alert, awake and attentive. It can be triggered by a number of things, including our emotions, neurotransmitters in the brain, or the caffeinated beverages we consume.
In this case, the researchers wanted to explore how simply being exposed to things that remind us of coffee may have an effect on arousal. Across four separate studies and using a mix of participants from Western and Eastern cultures, they compared coffee- and tea-related cues. They found that participants exposed to coffee-related cues perceived time as shorter and thought in more concrete, precise terms.
“People who experience physiological arousal – again, in this case as the result of priming and not drinking coffee itself – see the world in more specific, detailed terms,” said Maglio.
“This has a number of implications for how people process information and make judgements and decisions,” Maglio added. However, the effect was not as strong among participants who grew up in Eastern cultures. Maglio speculates that the association between coffee and arousal is not as strong in less coffee-dominated cultures.
Past research has looked at the effect of other primed associations, noted Maglio. One study specifically found that merely looking at the McDonald’s logo may lessen our ability to slow down and savour pleasurable experiences in life.
He says the research may be of interest in better understanding a range of consumer-related behaviours, and for marketers in considering retail store locations.
Next steps for the research will look at associations people have for different foods and beverages, researchers said. Just thinking about energy drinks or red wine, for example, could have very different effects on arousal.
Health
Summer is here and it is all about wearing comfy clothes. Whether you are heading to the gym, heading for brunch or just having a movie night at home, athleisure has become an integral part of our wardrobe. Seamlessly blending both the worlds of fashion and comfort, it provides all day functionality like no other style.
Want to pull off the perfect athleisure look? Here are some ways you can achieve the athleisure look effortlessly:
Women
Rock the T-shirt day: Want to look cute but feel comfy at the same time? Well, it isn’t that hard to create an outfit that does both. Pair a T-shirt dress with classic white sneakers for that uber-cool athleisure vibe! You can even throw on a denim shirt for a dressier version of the same look.
Neon is the new monochrome: Thanks to the booming trend in athleisure, sneakers have now become the go-to footwear even with skirts and dresses. This summer add a dash of neon to brighten things up this summer. Pair your neon sneakers with a cool white tee for a relaxed and a spunky look.
Live in your leggings: Casual is the new chic and it is acceptable to don your leggings with a floral jacket to create that effortlessly stylish look.
Hooded and how: The athleisure trend isn’t going anywhere. Love the sporty style but want to add the oomph factor? Throw on a hooded jacket over a pair of leggings or shorts to reel in the paparazzi. A synchronised jacket and joggers sweat is a sure way to seal the athleisure look.
Men
Colourblock your tees: Your regular tee just got colourful and cooler with the colourblocking trend this season. Colourblocked tees usually have two to three colours in stripes or asymmetrical shapes which add a burst of colour to your otherwise boring tee and jeans combination. Pair these tees with loose joggers to ace the summer look.
Jog it up: Closest to your sweatpants, joggers are one of the hottest trends right now. Whether it’s running, yoga, workout and anything else in between, it combines both style and comfort. Incorporate a pair into your everyday ensemble. A simple black jogger is both versatile and super fashionable, style it with a casual T-shirt and a hoodie to champion the athleisure trend.
Prints for your sole: Printed sneakers exude a cool look and can take your athleisure look a notch higher. Ditch the plain, boring sneakers for a pair of cool printed ones to stay in sync with the latest style. Comfortable to wear all day long, they can even be paired with formal wear to spice up your casual Fridays.
Say no to regular jackets: Slightly different from your regular jackets, bomber jackets are a sure way to make the heads turn. Wear it with the front zip open and over a basic T-shirt to the gym or for a relaxed night-out with your friends.
movies
Socialite and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian posted an adorable family picture on her Instagram account.
The photograph had husband Kanye West along with daughter North and Chicago West and son Saint West.
The reality show star simply captioned it, “Morning (sic)”. The photograph got thousands of replies including that of Kim’s best friend Jonathan Cheban, who wrote, “I am ready to have kids…because of this pic.”
Kim and Kanye are expecting their fourth child. Like their son Saint, the fourth baby will also be born via surrogacy.
movies
American Rapper Ermias Davidson Ashedom, popularly known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle, was shot dead outside his store in Los Angeles.
According to a report by Los Angeles Times, the 33-year-old rapper was shot multiple times outside his store situated in Hyde Park neighborhood, LA. He was then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident took place outside the Marathon Clothing Company, which he opened in 2017, Variety reported. After releasing multiple mixtapes, Ashedom dropped his first official album, “Victory Lap,” last year, for which was nominated for best rap album at the Grammy Awards.
He has a child with American actor Lauren London.
News
Vocal government critic and anti-corruption activist Zuzana Caputova will become Slovakia’s first female president after provisional results showed her winning Saturday’s run-off election.
Environmental lawyer Caputova got 58.40 per cent of the ballot while EU energy commissioner Maros Sefcovic garnered 41.59, the Slovak Statistics Office said. Official results are due on Sunday at noon.
“Let us look for what connects us. Let us promote cooperation above personal interests,” Caputova said after her victory.
The 45-year-old added that the outcome was a sign that “you can win without attacking your opponents.” “I believe this trend will also be confirmed in the elections to the European Parliament and the Slovak parliamentary elections next year.”
Sefcovic, the 52-year-old ruling party candidate, called Caputova to congratulate her and planned to also send flowers.
“The first female president of Slovakia deserves a bouquet,” he said.
Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, who belongs to the governing Smer-SD party, said he expected “constructive cooperation”.
Outgoing president Andrej Kiska said that “Slovakia is in a moral crisis and needs a president like Zuzana Caputova.” “Many countries probably envy us for we have chosen a president who symbolises values like decency.”
Political novice Capu-tova, who ran on a slogan of “Stand up to evil” had earlier called the last few weeks “extremely challenging” and “an intense journey”.
No stranger to tough battles, Caputova won a 2016 award for successfully blocking a planned landfill in her hometown of Pezinok.
More recently, she took to the streets of the central European country of 5.4 million along with tens of thousands of other anti-government protesters after investigative journalist Jan Kuciak was gunned down alongside his fiancee in February 2018. He had been preparing to publish a story on alleged ties between Slovak politicians and the Italian mafia.
The killings forced then prime minister Robert Fico to resign but he remains leader of the populist-left Smer-SD and is a close ally of the current premier. Five people have been charged, including a millionaire businessman with alleged Smer-SD ties who is suspected of ordering the murders.
The European Parlia-ment has urged Slovakia to look into “any possible political links to the crimes.” MEPs voiced “concern about the allegations of corruption, conflicts of interest, impunity and revolving doors in Slovakia’s circles of power.”
Speaking to AFP on the campaign trail, Caputova said she would “initiate systematic changes that would deprive prosecutors and the police of political influence.”
