Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

against

Browsing
health

Tea and Coffee Protect Against Heart Disease

Drinking coffee without regrets, who doesn’t wish for it. In the face of many opinions circulating that drinking coffee promotes cardiovascular diseases, strokes and other ailments, many a passionate coffee drinker may try to hold back for the sake of health. After a study recently revealed that coffee is good for the heart, Dutch scientists are now daring to take another step that clearly weakens the stubborn prejudice against the black hot drink. The results of their long-term study with more than 37,000 subjects, published in June 2010, show that moderate consumption of coffee, but especially tea, can lead to a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease.

Coffee protects For 13 years, the researchers from the University Medical Center in Utrecht have analyzed data on the tea and coffee consumption of the study participants and linked it to the incidence of heart disease and death in this group of people. The result of the tea drinkers was clearest. Those who drink between three and six cups of tea a day have a 45 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than someone who drinks less than one cup of tea a day. With higher tea consumption (more than six cups a day), the risk is still reduced by 36 percent.
The study did not record the type of tea the subjects consumed. However, based on statistical values, it is assumed that 78 percent of Dutch tea drinkers prefer black tea and 4.6 percent consume green tea. This means that the results of the study can primarily be related to black tea drinkers.

The study also showed positive results for coffee drinkers: two to four cups of coffee a day reduce the risk by 20 percent. The effect is therefore not as strong as with tea drinkers, but is still clearly present. The researchers also state that heavy tea and coffee consumption does not increase the risk of stroke, as is often assumed. No corresponding correlations could be established.

The scientists can only guess why the positive effects are weaker for coffee drinkers than for tea drinkers. It is possible that heavy coffee drinkers are generally more careless with their health, smoke more often and eat less healthily. They had higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels than the tea drinkers in the study. Nevertheless, coffee and tea drinkers can rejoice. The good effects on health cannot be denied and will perhaps calm down one or the other heavy coffee drinker a little…

Keep Reading
By
health

Sugar Withdrawal: What Effectively Helps Against Sugar Addiction

Too much sugar can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and the so-called metabolic syndrome. Nevertheless, almost everyone likes to grab chocolate, gummy bears or sweet drinks. Is it the sugar addiction?

Sugar is not healthy and we eat far too much of it – everyone knows that by now. Whether sugar can be addictive and whether there is a sugar addiction is discussed in science.

Does Sugar Addiction Exist?

There are already a number of studies that deal with sugar addiction. Prof. Falk Kiefer from the University of Heidelberg used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look inside the brains of overweight people. He found that our brain reacts differently to apples than to sweets: the high-sugar foods activate the reward system. Similar to alcohol or other addictive substances, the brain releases more dopamine. Dopamine is known as a kind of happiness hormone. Nevertheless, Prof. Kiefer does not speak of a sugar addiction. However, there is no question that sugar can trigger addiction-like behavior.

Other studies have tested the link between sugar and addiction in rats. High sugar consumption caused brain changes in the rats. This later led to a craving for sweets. However, it remains unclear whether the result can also be transferred to humans.

Where does sugar addiction come from?

We live in a time when sugar is available anytime, anywhere. That was not the case before. The five tastes of bitter, salty, sour, umami (savory) and sweet were used by our ancestors to judge whether something was edible or poisonous. Poisonous plants are often bitter, unripe ones often sour. A sweet taste, on the other hand, means that something is ripe and edible. No wonder we love sugar and can’t resist it.

But our problem today is that we can hardly avoid sugar. It is omnipresent and available at all times. If you want to try avoiding sugar and reducing your cravings, Utopia shows you a number of helpful tricks.

Sugar withdrawal tip 1: Eat sensible food

Sounds banal, but it is important: try to eat as wholesome and healthy as possible. Dietary fibers from green vegetables or whole grain bread and proteins from legumes keep you full for longer. And you’ll get cravings less quickly.

Also watch out for hidden sugar in food: Sugar can be added to convenience products, bread, yoghurt or supposedly healthy fruit bars. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be called “sugar”: Sugar is also hidden behind sucrose, lactose, fructose (sirup), fructose, glucose (syrup), dextrose, invert sugar (syrup), dextrose or (malto)dextrins .

Sugar withdrawal tip 2: Eat regularly

Breakfast, lunch, dinner: These three meals should definitely be included. The longer you go without a meal, the more likely you are to crave sweets. And if you get hungry in the meantime: try fruit. Of course, fruit also contains sugar, which you want to avoid during sugar withdrawal. However, fruit is not as sweet as table sugar and also contains many important vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Sugar withdrawal, tip 3: Sweetener as a sugar substitute?

D rather not. Sweeteners are at least as sweet as sugar. So you won’t be able to get rid of the sweet taste from the sugar substitute. In addition, some sweeteners are not recommended: the sweeteners aspartame, acesulfame and cyclamate are suspected of having an appetizing effect and the consumer centers advise against consuming larger quantities. It is better to gradually reduce the amount of sugar as you withdraw from it.

Sugar withdrawal, tip 4: Sport against sugar addiction

The next time you get cravings, lace up your sneakers. Because when you exercise, your body releases the same feelings of happiness as it does with sugar. Especially when you go to your limits and it gets really exhausting, feelings of elation set in. In addition, the feelings of happiness last longer. You’ll still feel energetic and happy hours later, unless you’ve completely exhausted yourself by exercising.

Which sport you choose is up to you. The main thing is to exercise and have fun.

Sugar withdrawal tip 5: Get enough sleep

After a good workout you can sometimes sleep like a baby. And that’s a good thing: those who have had a good night’s sleep have less of a need for sweets to keep themselves awake and active.

The subject of sleep is often underestimated in everyday life. Not getting enough sleep can lead to a vicious circle: You are tired, so you eat sweets, you wake up for a short time, your blood sugar level takes a roller coaster ride. Then you won’t be able to fall asleep at night and the fun starts all over again.

Better get seven to eight hours of sleep, and you might not even think about your cravings, and the sugar withdrawal will go just fine.

Sugar withdrawal, tip 6: risk factor stress

Many people eat sweets because they are stressed. But chocolate & co. are not conducive to relaxation and sugar withdrawal quickly turns into a failure. After a stressful day, you should rather go out into the fresh air or get your mind off things when you talk to friends on the phone.

Or you try to counteract the causes of stress: For example, try to manage your working hours more efficiently so that you don’t drown in tasks. Or talk about it with the people who are causing you problems – for example, if someone in the family or close friends is the trigger of your stress.

Sugar withdrawal tip 7: Drink water if you are addicted to sugar

When cravings get you and you don’t have trainers handy, what then? Sugar attacks are often not as bad as we think. Try it with a large glass of water (or two or three…).

You can also feel really full of it, it will pass quickly. And? Still craving sweets?

Sugar withdrawal tip 8: Ban sweets from your reach

No matter how disciplined you are with sugar withdrawal, do you clear out all the cupboards when you get addicted to sugar? Then banish the seductive content elsewhere. Hide the candy in a place that’s hard to get to and doesn’t always catch your eye—like way back on a large closet. In the long run, however, only helps to get rid of the sweetness completely. Give it away to family or neighbors, or share it on foodsharing.

Being controlled by those around you can also help. Let co-workers, friends and family know that you are on sugar withdrawal. Who wants to be caught giving in to sugar addiction and emptying the pantry …

Positive support from those around you has an even more lasting effect: find someone who can tackle sugar withdrawal with you. In pairs or threes, you can motivate each other, praise each other – and sometimes stop yourself from giving in to sugar addiction “when you get hungry”.

Sugar withdrawal tip 9: Distract yourself

If you are about to give in to sugar addiction again: go for a walk, draw a picture, write down nice things, call a friend, read a good book or meditate a bit. Objectively, these are far more pleasant things than crushing a bag of gummy bears. It only takes you a few clear seconds to think about anything other than sugar, your sugar withdrawal, your sugar addiction. Withdrawal will take care of itself and you will be happy. Worth it.

Sugar Withdrawal Tip 10: Hold on to your success

There are always low points when you can’t take it anymore, when you want to throw everything away. Of course, also during a sugar withdrawal. It’s best to write down everything you’ve done. Then you can use it to motivate yourself again in low phases when sugar addiction strikes from behind.

For example, you could write down all the foods you want to avoid (chocolate, jelly beans, cake,…). For each day you’ve done that, put a tick next to it. Or you mark every day without sugary in the calendar. Once you have a small series of ticks on the paper, you probably won’t want to break the series.

Conclusion

Whether sugar addiction really exists has not been finally clarified – but sugar seems to have an addictive effect. In any case, it makes sense not to eat too much sugar. There are many small things that can help you with sugar withdrawal. It is important not to set your goals too high at the beginning and then gradually increase them. Here’s how you can tackle sugar withdrawal and reduce your cravings for sweets.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

The Coffee Sock Against Foot Odor

Coffee is not only a luxury food, but also a versatile household remedy. As a coffee sock, coffee declares war on sweaty feet.

The coffee sock: coffee for your feet?

Coffee has not only been a popular hot drink for many centuries, it has also always been used as a versatile household remedy. In foot care, for example, coffee grounds have proven to be a cheap and effective peeling. But the potential of coffee for foot care is far from exhausted. A few years ago, an American start-up developed the so-called coffee sock. This is intended to remedy a tolerable issue: sweaty feet and foot odor. But what is behind the innovative coffee sock and how is the trend to be assessed?

With the coffee sock against bad smells

Coffee itself has a very aromatic smell. Freshly ground coffee powder is a real pleasure for many and when brewing a coffee, the typical aroma spreads throughout the room. No wonder, then, that coffee is used to bind bad smells or to trump them with the scent of coffee. Ground coffee has proven itself in the refrigerator, for example. Here, freshly ground coffee powder binds unpleasant odors and instead spreads its aromatic scent. So it was only a matter of time before an innovative researcher came up with the idea of ​​using coffee as a weapon against sweaty feet. The start-up “Ministry of Supply” dared to take the first step and paved the way for coffee to be on your feet.

Coffee in the textile industry

In order to use coffee and its positive properties in the textile industry, the only thing missing was the optimal technology for incorporating the coffee into the textile fibers. Three students from Boston tinkered and experimented until they came up with the idea of ​​integrating carbonated coffee into the fabric. During carbonation, the coffee is charred and fat is removed from it. That’s why the coffee sock doesn’t smell like aromatic coffee. Nevertheless, the odor-binding properties of coffee have an effect on clothing.

The coffee socks against sweaty feet

The composition of the coffee sock (also called Atlas sock) plays an important role so that the coffee can work optimally against sweaty feet. This sock consists of 40% cotton and 20% elastane. The remaining 40% is made from recycled polyester. Here, the carbonated coffee is integrated into the polyester using 3D knitting. Due to the special composition, the coffee sock can absorb three times as much moisture as a cotton sock. No wonder that the innovative technology is now also used for sports and functional clothing.

Keep Reading
By
health

Eating Beetroot Raw: What Speaks for and what against

Beetroot is healthy and versatile, and therefore a very popular vegetable in Germany. But can beetroot also be eaten raw? We explain what you should consider.

Raw beetroot: A superfood full of vital substances

Beetroot is full of important micronutrients such as phytochemicals, iron, vitamin C and B vitamins. Just 200 grams cover around 50 percent of your daily folic acid requirement.

However, this only applies to raw beetroot. When you boil or fry them, many important nutrients are lost. Most adults should therefore eat the power vegetable raw from time to time. For example, you can enjoy the beet in a salad, as a beetroot carpaccio or in a smoothie. But not everyone should eat raw beetroot – because unfortunately the vegetable also has a few disadvantages.

Eating beetroot raw: the disadvantages

In addition to many positive ingredients, beetroot also contains oxalic acid. If you eat too much of it, kidney stones can form. The acid also makes it harder for your body to absorb calcium. Cooking the beets lowers their oxalic acid content.

Beetroot also contains nitrate. The salt is initially completely harmless to health. However, if it is stored unfavorably or has to be transported long distances, it converts to nitrite. This substance is very dangerous, especially for infants. Therefore, children should only eat nitrate-rich vegetables in moderation.

Conclusion: The dose makes the poison!

Beetroot is a very healthy food that provides your body with many important nutrients. The beetroot is particularly rich in nutrients when it is raw. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with eating the vegetables raw from time to time.

To keep your food low in oxalic acid and nitrate, you should buy fresh, local produce and not store it for too long. You can get beetroot from German cultivation between June and March. If you only cook or blanch the vegetables for a short time, the oxalic acid content will already drop significantly. However, be careful not to cook it for too long – otherwise valuable ingredients will be lost.

Note: Raw beetroot is less suitable for people with kidney problems and small children. In this case, seek medical advice beforehand.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

Is Milk Healthy? – 6 Arguments Against Milk

It is considered a healthy, natural food that makes you big and strong and the ultimate source of calcium. “Milk makes tired people perk up,” say some. But opponents of milk believe that milk makes you sick. Is milk healthy or unhealthy? Utopia introduces you to the arguments against milk.

Milk consumption – when is milk healthy?

Every German consumes a total of 86 kilograms of fresh milk products every year. That makes us world leaders. And this despite the fact that the human body neither absolutely needs milk nor is it originally designed to digest lactose. It is absolutely paradoxical that humans are the only creatures that consume milk from other animals and continue to do so in adulthood.

It is undisputed that milk is essential to start life. The infant can easily digest breast milk thanks to the enzyme lactase.

But it is actually only due to a “genetic defect” that has developed in the course of evolution that it retains this ability and makes it possible to consume milk even in adulthood. But is this even necessary?

1. Milk unhealthy due to diseases

Milk is rich in good ingredients. In addition to calcium, it contains many vitamins, magnesium, iodine and amino acids that the body cannot produce itself. A healthy, balanced drink. But here is the first mistake. Because milk is by no means just a drink, but can be described as a staple food due to its high nutrient density.

Opponents of milk also claim that milk makes you sick. They can trigger allergies, especially in infants, lead to chronic infections, cause skin problems and neurodermatitis, promote asthma, diabetes and even cancer. The reason for this could be the foreign proteins in the milk, against which the body defends itself. Many of these cases of illness may be due to a milk allergy. So far, however, there have been no scientific studies that can unequivocally confirm this connection.

2. Milk unhealthy due to lactose intolerance

What occurs in Germany as a clinical picture is quite normal on many continents: milk intolerance. 75% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant. If the body lacks the enzyme lactase, which is supposed to break down the milk sugar (lactose) into digestible components, this is referred to as lactose intolerance. In Germany, this affects 15 percent of people, but globally, milk tolerance is the exception rather than the rule. In Asia and Africa, for example, just one percent of the population can digest milk. During the course of evolution and cattle breeding, which began around 7,000 years ago, populations in the north, in particular, developed the enzyme lactase to digest milk, which was actually intended as food in times of need. Originally, our body does not seem to be dependent on milk at all, quite the opposite.

3. Milk unhealthy due to loss of calcium

Even as a child you learn: the calcium from milk helps growth, is good for the bones and makes you strong. That’s correct. No food in our society contains as much calcium as milk. The mineral is essential for strengthening bones and teeth, but also for muscle function. But what only a few know: the many animal proteins in milk can lead to acidification in the body and blood. In order to neutralize these, the body needs calcium, which it then has to extract from the bones. This loss of calcium can be the cause of osteoporosis. And that despite claims that milk prevents the disease.

The ratio of absorption and loss of calcium is therefore much more important than the pure intake of the mineral. Because, as milk opponents argue, calcium deficiency is not caused by drinking too little milk, but by consuming too many acidic foods such as coffee, cola, alcohol, meat, dairy products and sweets. Even if it is less than milk: Many vegetable sources also contain calcium and can sufficiently cover the need for this mineral. Topping the list are green leafy vegetables, broccoli, beans, soy, nuts and grains. Vegetable protein can also be better metabolized by the body and does not lower the pH value into the acidic range.

4. Milk unhealthy because it goes through many technical processes

For many people, milk is one of the most natural products. It comes fresh from the cow and can be drunk without additives. But in reality it looks a little different. Because milk is now an industrially processed food that comes fresh from the dairy instead of from the cow. There it was homogenized, broken down into its individual parts, pasteurized, heat-treated and preserved. Doesn’t sound so natural anymore.

5. Milk is unhealthy for the environment

Cows emit a lot of greenhouse gas, namely methane, which is many times more harmful to the climate than CO2. Cows therefore have a bad climate balance per se. In addition, a lot of feed is required for the four million dairy cows in Germany, which either comes from countries in which rainforest is cleared for the cultivation of feed or which is grown in Germany in monocultures using artificial fertilizers and pesticides. Factory farming (whether for milk or meat production) is one of the biggest climate sins.

6. Is organic milk the better alternative?

Many believe that drinking organic milk is a good compromise. Not only does it come from organic farming, it is also healthier than conventional milk. That’s true, since organic milk contains three times more omega-3 fatty acids and more vitamins, but fewer harmful substances than conventional milk. But is the cow, to whom you owe the delicious organic milk, really “happy”? Perhaps the statement that organic cows lead a happier and less suffering life is true.

But what does not distinguish them from the animals from mass farming: They also have to calve every year, are sometimes artificially inseminated, separated from the calf shortly after birth and end up in the slaughterhouse after their job as milk producers. Not to mention the conventionally farmed cows. The turbo cows give up to 40 liters of milk a day (about eight would be normal). In order to achieve this top performance, they are given concentrated feed, are made permanently pregnant and suffer from various diseases, such as mastitis, which are finally treated with antibiotics. Man also benefits from this when he takes the milk. A cow could live 20 years. But the high-performance apparatus only has to last about five years before it is sent to the slaughterhouse.

Drink milk – conclusion

Today we consume significantly more milk than we used to, both directly in the form of dairy products and indirectly via dairy products, which actually do not belong in the refrigerator; there is hardly any reliable information about the long-term effect of this. In addition, the way in which we produce this food piecemeal today is usually no longer ethically justifiable.

Therefore, do not blindly rely on seemingly plausible reasons for milk consumption. In fact, almost every argument in favor of milk also has an argument against it.

Everyone should therefore take a differentiated look at their milk consumption and the associated framework conditions and not ignore the question “Do we really need milk?”. However, you don’t have to give up milk completely or become a vegan from now on. Just buy and drink milk consciously. As so often, the rule of thumb also applies to milk consumption: less is more.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Freezing Potatoes: What Speaks for and What Against

Freeze potatoes? That’s the first thought when you’ve cooked too many potatoes again. But it’s not that easy to freeze potatoes.

Freeze raw potatoes?

Unfortunately, raw potatoes are not suitable for freezing. The low temperatures in the freezer turn starch into sugar – so the potatoes would taste much sweeter. This is not harmful to health, but the taste is very unusual. In addition, freezing destroys the cell structure. As a result, potatoes will look glassy and mushy after thawing.

Freeze boiled potatoes

In principle, however, you can freeze boiled potatoes: peeled, whole or in small pieces, you can use them after defrosting to make soup or mashed potatoes. Nevertheless, the consistency changes even when cooked, so you should really only freeze potatoes in an emergency.

However, the situation is different if you freeze the potatoes in their processed state: you can freeze potato soup and mashed potatoes without any problems, without the taste or consistency changing.

By the way, bought fries and croquettes keep so well in the freezer because they have been shock-frozen.

Instead of freezing: store potatoes properly

Freezing potatoes helps prevent potential food waste, but it’s not recommended. Because the freezer consumes a lot of energy and if the potatoes are not processed into mashed potatoes or potato soup, the consistency also suffers. If you want to preserve potatoes for a long time, a dry, cool and dark environment is ideal – for example the cellar. You can store potatoes there for months.

If you don’t have a basement or similar place for the potatoes, you should only buy small quantities. In vegetable and organic shops, potatoes are sold individually and not just in a large kilo sack. This is a much more effective way of preventing food waste.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Foodwaste – A Spice Against Food Waste

Imagine you go shopping and throw a third of the goods in the garbage can. Absurd? Should you think! But a third is actually exactly the amount of food that ends up in the garbage worldwide every year. This enormous food waste is a major problem of our time. And a large part of this goes back to private households. Find out here what you can do to reduce food waste.

Far too large a proportion of the world’s population has no access to food and is starving. While a third of our food is literally produced “for the bin”. Around 12 tons of food are wasted along the food supply chain in Germany alone. 173 kilograms are thrown away by every person in the EU every year. That’s shocking. We live in an abundance that has reached dangerous levels – for people, but also for the environment.

Food waste – a gigantic problem for people and the planet

Mindful handling of food offers numerous advantages for us humans and the planet. If we didn’t waste food on a massive scale, we could improve global food security, combat climate change, strengthen biodiversity and relieve waste management systems, to name just a few positive aspects. Unfortunately, far too little attention has been paid to this topic so far.

It is not that difficult to avoid food waste in your own household – there is often simply a lack of awareness of it. It would be really important in private. At around 52 percent, an enormous proportion of food waste along the food supply chain can be traced back to private households. And with that on us, because we are at the end of the supply chain. But that also means: We consumers have the greatest power to change something about this problem.

There are many tips on how to avoid food waste. This starts with a well-planned purchase, through the correct storage of fruit and vegetables, for example, to the fact that the best-before date is not an indicator for simply throwing away a product unopened. Awareness of food rations and the courage to simply reuse leftovers are also decisive for less food waste.

Foodprep instead of foodwaste: creativity and intuition in the kitchen

A well thought-out collection of recipes can help you to perfectly match dishes and ingredients so that as little as possible is left over or can be reused. Key word: food prep.

For example, if you plan your week culinary with a menu, you can pre-cook the basis of rice, potatoes or pasta in reasonable quantities and refine them with vegetables or other side dishes, toppings and fresh herbs. If something is left over, it’s time to get creative: You can often combine leftovers from the previous day wonderfully or spice them up with little tricks.

For example, have you ever tried to process leftover vegetables into a delicious spread? Fine soups can still be conjured up from the tired carrot and the no longer quite so crunchy beetroot. Greens that would otherwise end up in the compost are suitable as the basis for a delicious pesto. Leftover potatoes or pasta are great as a casserole or fried can make you full and happy. Rice, quinoa, millet & Co. are the best basis for colorful bowls. The imagination knows no limits.

Dare and let your intuition guide you. You’ll see how much fun it is to fight food waste in your own kitchen.

The best for leftovers – A universal seasoning for the leftover kitchen

Are you still missing a bit of pep with your leftover dishes? If salt and pepper are too boring for you, the herb specialist SONNENTOR has just the thing for you!

“The best for leftovers” is a spice mixture that was specially developed for the leftover kitchen. The mixture has two special features: First, it goes with every dish. Secondly, it comes from experts – namely from the social media community of the Austrian company. She created and designed the seasoning all-rounder especially for leftovers. The name also goes back to the herbal community. Edith and Johannes Gutmann, the owners of SONNENTOR, chose the final name “Das Beste für Reste” from hundreds of fan submissions.

The fans of Sonnentor agreed: For a perfect mixture of spices for leftovers, you need tomato flakes, sea salt, parsley, onion pieces, oregano, garlic and black pepper. According to fans, this combination of the finest organic spices gets the best out of the leftovers.

ZeroWaste in the kitchen – attract attention and raise awareness

With this project, SONNENTOR not only wants to revolutionize the taste of leftovers, but above all wants to raise awareness of food waste. The aim is to shape a sustainable future together – and with “The best for leftovers” everyone will succeed in avoiding food waste in their own kitchen.

Under the hashtag #missionleftoverkitchen, the organic pioneer launched a call to use up all the supplies at home and to ban the topic of food waste from the kitchen. SONNENTOR fans also regularly receive tips and inspiration for leftover dishes.

Keep Reading
By
health

Lemon Juice Against Norovirus

Lemon juice is not only acidic and gives dishes a fresh note: it may prevent people from being infected with noroviruses. According to a study by the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), lemon juice could help against noroviruses because it is suitable as a disinfectant. EAT SMARTER presents the research results.

The study

Can lemon juice help against norovirus? The virologists can already prove through earlier research that fruit extracts such as orange or pomegranate juice can reduce the infectivity of noroviruses. In recent studies, Grant Hansman, a researcher at the German Cancer Research Center, found that the virus particles change their shape after binding to the citrate. A subsequent X-ray structure analysis showed that the citrate from lemon juice or from citrate-containing disinfectants binds to exactly the point where the virus comes into contact with the body cells during the infection process.

These results are proof that the citrate reduces the ability of noroviruses to become infectious and that lemon juice could help against noroviruses: “Perhaps a few drops of lemon juice, which one usually drizzles on the oyster, are a good protection against infection,” speculates virologist Grant Hansman. He also estimates that the amount of citrate in the juice of lemon could be enough to decontaminate hands.

The norovirus

The violent pathogens trigger severe gastrointestinal complaints and are the most common cause of gastrointestinal outbreaks in schools and hospitals. The extremely contagious virus is transmitted “fecal-orally”, i.e. via contaminated hands or food.

Keep Reading
By
Food

A Supermarket Against Waste

In Denmark, the first supermarket has opened that sells food past the best-before date.

Best before date, brown speckled bananas, a dented Tetra Pak: most of us wrinkle our noses at such goods. The result of this picky shopping behavior is 82 kilos of food per capita that is thrown away in Germany every year – even though it would have been edible without hesitation.

Social supermarket in Copenhagen

After a law came into force in France in February of this year that prohibits supermarkets from throwing away food, a pilot project in the Danish capital Copenhagen is now causing a stir. The social supermarket “WeFood” sells food that would be thrown away in other supermarkets because it does not meet the ideal of beauty, has been damaged in transit, or has passed its sell-by date.

The store, which opened last Monday, offers a wide variety of groceries, including bread, vegetables, fruit, and frozen goods. The prices are 30 to 50 percent lower than in a normal supermarket.

Celebrities were guests at the opening: None other than Princess Mary inaugurated the food supermarket in the Amager district, together with the (now resigned) Danish Minister for Food and Health, Eva Kjer Hansen. This reflects the position the small Scandinavian country places on the fight against food waste.

“The new supermarket with expired groceries is a great start on our way to waste less food and resources,” Minister Hansen told the online magazine The Local. “There are still too many regulations that don’t contribute to food safety, but make it difficult or prevent the sale of food past its best-before date.”

Supermarket of the volunteers

The ceremonial opening of the WeFood market was preceded by a year of hard work: the equivalent of almost 135,000 euros was collected via crowdfunding for the project, which is run by the Danish church’s emergency aid. Church officials fought tough negotiations with the Danish government to get permission to sell expired food. It was only when some regulations were changed that the social supermarket could become a reality.

The project is supported by the supermarket chains Føtex and Danske Supermarked, which contribute the lion’s share of the range. WeFood obtains fresh fruit and vegetables from a smaller, independent supplier. Only volunteers work in the WeFood supermarket; the proceeds benefit the work of the Danish church emergency aid in the poorest countries in the world.

Anyone traveling in Copenhagen will find the WeFood supermarket at Amagerbrogade 151, 2300 København. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Spirulina Chocolate is Said to Help Against Malnutrition

Stefania Abbona is on a big mission with her Algae Factory: She is looking for ways to feed the growing world population in a healthy and ecologically beneficial way. Her solution: chocolate with spirulina flakes.

Goal: useful and tasty food

The world’s population is growing in seconds, but food resources are limited. The solution: algae. Cultivation is ecologically advantageous and the nutrient content is high. Spirulina is currently mainly available on the market as tablets or in powder form.

But the Algae Factory has a bigger goal. They want to ensure that their products are not only useful but also really taste good. That’s why they combine the beneficial ingredients with goodies. The chocolate variant with spirulina flakes should still be unique. And who knows, maybe that way we can get used to the food of the future better.

Spirulina is so healthy

Said spirulina are cyanobacteria, which are also called blue-green algae or microalgae. Algae are rightly considered super suppliers because they contain a lot of proteins and important vitamins. The vitamin B12 content of some types of algae is even higher than that of meat! Algae also contain important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Algae also provide significant amounts of the important trace element iodine. On average, there is around 10 mg iodine per 100 g of algae. This makes algae particularly valuable for vegetarians and vegans.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be the spirulina chocolate

If you are following a healthy diet and want to include spirulina in your diet, you don’t need to buy Algae Factory’s Spirulina Chocolate. We have great alternative recipes for you that you absolutely have to try!

Keep Reading
By