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Smart people’s brains fare better in the modern world. But a study proved that the intelligent people in the focus are more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle with alcohol.

Smart people drink more alcohol and exercise less. what’s up

Sufficient exercise and a healthy diet play a major role when it comes to health. One might think that a person’s intelligence indicates a healthy lifestyle. After all, intelligent people are more conscious and should know better. Or?

In addition, there is ample evidence that proves that there is a connection between high intelligence and long life expectancy. It involves these factors:

Higher intelligence offers opportunities for higher education, which can bring a healthier environment and higher social status.
Intelligent people live healthier lives overall, exercise more, smoke and drink less, which increases life expectancy.
A high IQ score can indicate overall good physical condition. This means that it can cope better with environmental stresses, which also increases life expectancy.
However, according to the study by psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics and Political Science, intelligent people very often have rather unhealthy lifestyles. They tend to sleep late and have more drinks than less intelligent people. In addition, they often lack exercise.

result of the study?

In the study, the psychologist presents the savannah theory: According to the studies, the brains of intelligent people cope better with the developments and requirements of the modern world. People with a lower IQ would not do as well with urban life or the media. Alcohol, the internet and television played no role in the Stone Age. Therefore, according to this theory, less intelligent people tend to have less of a tendency to get high from drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes because their brains have not evolved as much as those of intelligent people.

The psychologist is less concerned with inferring intelligence from lifestyle. Rather, he would like to examine how people deal with the values ​​and options of the modern world.

Is this healthy?

Of course not. Because the more unhealthy the lifestyle, the higher the risk of disease, regardless of a person’s intelligence. If you don’t exercise and eat unhealthily, you risk cardiovascular problems, depression, dementia or even cancer.

No matter how high the intelligence quotient is: In order to stay fit and healthy, sport, healthy nutrition and avoiding unhealthy consumer goods should play a major role and be taken seriously.

The bottle is open but not drunk empty: Depending on the drink, the shelf life of the alcohol varies. It is important to know how long each drink should be kept.

How long does wine and sparkling wine last after opening?

Surely you have already asked yourself whether you have to throw away the opened bottle of the alcoholic beverage. But this is not the case: if you store the opened bottle properly, you can extend its shelf life. The times given are not fixed, so if you notice that the drink has a strange smell or taste, you should not hesitate to throw the drink away before the time frame is up for health reasons. The reverse also applies: if the drink still tastes and smells good, even though it has been open longer than stated, it can still be enjoyed.

You should definitely store an open white wine in a cool place. Normally, if it is a strong white wine, it should retain its taste after about two to three days. If you have a light white wine, the taste can wear off after just a day or two. The same applies to rosé: lighter varieties lose their aroma a little faster, stronger wines only about two to three days in the fridge. Red wine is also stored refrigerated after opening. If the wine has a high tannin content, it can retain its aroma for around five to seven days; medium-bodied and light wines lose their flavor intensity over the course of three to four days after opening. If the wine taste has evaporated, but the wine is still good, you can use it for cooking, for example.

Opened sparkling wine, champagne or other sparkling wine bottles have a very short shelf life as the carbon dioxide evaporates quickly. When storing the bottle, it is important that you close it tightly and put it in the fridge: This way, they usually still taste slightly tangy after two days. After the second opening, the bottle should ideally be emptied. Whether putting a silver spoon down the neck of the bottle is helpful has not been scientifically proven.

High-percentage storage: You have to pay attention to this

The shelf life of harder alcoholic beverages depends on how high the alcohol content is. As the alcohol content increases, so does the shelf life; nevertheless, the other ingredients should not be ignored either.

If you are storing a homemade liqueur that contains perishable ingredients, you should always be extra careful. Before drinking, you should always smell it and try it to see if it’s still edible. Particular care should be taken, for example, with egg liqueurs, cream liqueurs, the well-known crème de cassis* and vermouth. It is important that you store the liqueur in a cool and dark place: it should keep for a few weeks.

With liqueurs that have an alcohol content of more than 30 percent, the shelf life is automatically longer. If you store these liqueurs in a dark and cool place, you can usually still enjoy them decades later.

Brandies or spirits that have an alcohol content of more than 37.5 percent are known to have a “shelf life forever”: If you keep them closed and in the dark, they actually have a very long shelf life. The only thing that can be lost over the years is the aroma of the drink.

The scientific name for alcohol is ethanol. In most cases, however, ethanol is colloquially referred to as alcohol. The term spiritus is also common. However, this is not drinkable alcohol. The spirit can be used in the household as a solvent and cleaning agent as well as for disinfection. This means it has a wide range of applications.

For example, yellowed porcelain, such as cups, can be cleaned properly with a 1:1 mixture of spirit and water using a cotton swab. Alcohol-soluble adhesives can even be removed from the carpet with the help of spirit. Window panes can also be easily cleaned with a dash of spirit in water. And the price tags on things that you would like to give away can also be easily removed with alcohol.

Use of alcohol in the home

The good housewife should always have some alcohol in the house because it has very practical effects and areas of application. First of all, drinking alcohol is of course very popular. A beer after work usually does no harm if it is accompanied by a decent meal. The alcohol content in the beer is also not particularly high, so a bottle or two in the evening should not be a problem. They usually have a calming, relaxing effect and let the man sleep well.

But drinking alcohol with a higher percentage also has its right to exist in a well-run household if you don’t overdo it with consumption. A bitter is not reprehensible and sometimes after a shock, a grain of corn helps to get back to earth. Just because you occasionally consume alcohol doesn’t mean you become addicted to alcohol. But you should always be aware of the danger. Since alcohol is also dangerous for children, after all, it is an addictive substance, albeit a legal one, it should always be stored in such a way that children cannot touch it.

Are you looking for the perfect summer drink? Then you should try this ginger elderflower lemon ice tea with honey. The alcohol-free refreshment tastes delicious and is really healthy. Here is the recipe.

Recipe: Ginger-lemon iced tea with honey and elderflower

You need this for one liter of iced tea
A thumb-sized piece of ginger
Three to four tablespoons of elderflower syrup*
A tablespoon of honey
juice of a lemon
It’s that easy
Wash ginger and cut into thin slices
Pour a liter of boiling water over it and let it steep for at least 10 minutes
Add elderflower syrup, honey and lemon juice
Remove pieces of ginger, stir, allow to cool, add ice cubes and enjoy
A few more tips
You can peel the ginger, but you don’t have to – just wash it
The longer you let the ginger steep, the more intense or spicier the tea will be
If the iced tea tastes too sweet according to the recipe, simply reduce the amount of syrup and honey accordingly

By the way: You can easily grow ginger in a pot or in the garden yourself. Cut a thumb-sized piece with a “bud” off a ginger root, soak it in water overnight, and plant it the next day, about an inch deep. Water regularly and after just a few months you will have your own ginger plant at home, whose bulb you can harvest and eat as soon as the leaves turn brown. I’ve tried it myself, it works – even if the tuber harvested was admittedly not very large.

The after-work beer, the digestive schnapps or a glass of wine – alcohol consumption is part of everyday life for many. But from what amount is it too much? And why are older people particularly at risk when it comes to alcohol?

Alcohol consumption among older people is often underestimated

Older people often have more experience drinking alcohol, which does not mean that they drink more sensibly. Drinking habits are all too often not questioned – not by oneself and not by those around them. However, especially in old age, excessive alcohol consumption is not to be taken lightly. As you age, your body’s response to alcohol differs from the pattern we’ve seen before. For example, the body cells can no longer store water as well as they used to. The body’s fluid balance decreases. As a result, the same amount of alcohol consumed now results in a higher blood alcohol concentration. In addition, the liver does not break down alcohol as well as it used to. Therefore, if you drink more than 0.3 liters of beer per day as a woman or more than 0.6 liters of beer as a man, you are already in a health risk area.

There are two groups of older people who consume alcohol at a risky level. The first and larger group consists of people who have had a drinking problem for years. The health risk is particularly high here. The second group includes people who started drinking alcohol to a risky degree quite late. The reasons for this can be very complex. Possible reasons for dangerous alcohol consumption in old age are often critical phases of life such as retirement, reduced social contacts, financial problems or the loss of a partner, according to the Federal Center for Health Education.

Certain drinking habits often creep in, such as the digestive schnapps, the after-work beer or the daily glass of wine. But sometimes it doesn’t stop there. Drinking large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis can be dangerous. This does not only apply to older people! However, older people often go unnoticed when they consume alcohol at a risky level. There are various reasons for this. For example, because the risky drinking behavior of relatives and other people around them is tacitly accepted or because consequential damage is wrongly attributed to old age.

The danger of alcohol in old age

In older people, even small amounts of alcoholic beverages can lead to undesirable effects. There are also possible drug interactions. Alcohol consumption can also further worsen health impairments such as osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, memory loss and mood instability, according to the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) on the occasion of the day of the elderly.

Prof. Dr. Heidrun Thaiss, head of the BZgA: “Alcohol consumption harbors dangers at any age. In older people, they show a particular spectrum: alcohol consumption, for example, can increase the risk of falls and other accidents because balance and reaction time are impaired. These effects can occur in older people even with small amounts consumed. If alcohol is consumed in large quantities over a longer period of time, the risk of certain types of cancer increases. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract, the liver and specific brain functions are impaired. In older people, the breakdown of alcohol by the liver can also be delayed. Previously ‘well tolerated’ amounts can therefore have a stronger effect with increasing age. For these reasons, older people should consume alcohol with particular restraint.”

Alcohol is in more foods than you think. However, for many people it is important to know where it is found – even in small amounts. We explain how you can detect hidden alcohol in food.

Pregnant women in particular should avoid these foods

The Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection and the Blue Cross have put together which foods may contain hidden alcohol. There are various reasons to deal with the question of the alcohol content in food, according to the Blue Cross. This is often due to the concern for a healthy diet. Parents attach great importance to this, especially when it comes to small children. The desire for an alcohol-free diet can also have cultural, religious or health reasons, for example in the case of chronically ill or alcohol-dependent people. To protect the child, pregnant or breastfeeding women should also not consume alcohol.

But those who want to eat alcohol-free come across several problems:
Food manufacturers’ products change regularly, so lists of alcohol-containing foods quickly become outdated.
For many foods, a reference to alcohol can only be found in the small print on the back.
Everyone has to ask themselves how strict they are about foods that only contain trace amounts of alcohol.
Natural alcohol, for example in sauerkraut, fruit juices or bread, is created by the natural fermentation process. According to the Hamburg consumer advice center, it rarely exceeds 0.3 percent. It cannot be tasted and is considered harmless. However, the natural fermentation process can also produce alcohol in yeast dough, kefir or very ripe fruit. Especially fruit with a high sugar content is affected. The newspaper Spektrum Wissenschaft, for example, describes bananas as the “permille devil among foods” because ripe bananas can contain around 0.6 percent alcohol by volume.

Tips to spot alcohol in food

The good news: There are numerous tips for identifying alcohol in food. This is what you should do to become aware of hidden alcohol content in food:
Read the ingredients: Caution! Especially with little alcohol, the note is only in the middle or at the end of the list. The following terms also indicate alcohol in a product: ethyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethanol, potable alcohol and ethanol. E numbers can also be an indication, E 334 = tartaric acid, E 1519 = benzyl alcohol or phenylmethanol.
In restaurants, at counters and cafes, ask about the ingredients to see if the products contain alcohol.
Alcohol is often added to cake-like (ready) foods. Sometimes it helps to sniff the bottle as soon as you open it, because that way you can smell the alcohol better. Also be careful with sweets: Chocolate fillings often contain alcohol.

Alcohol can hide in these foods:

According to the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection, hidden alcohol can also be found in the following foods:
Chocolate and liqueur ice cream, cream cakes
chocolate bar
Rum Grape Chocolate
chocolates
easter eggs
wine gums
Plum, sour cherry and apricot jam
Red fruit jelly
Apple compote
Oxtail, onion and fish soup
gravy
Hühnerfrikassee
game dishes
Meatballs
Fish stew, mussels, fish fillet, blue trout
Wine sauerkraut, red cabbage
Cheese fondue
Black Forest cake, Herrentorte, eggnog cake, red wine cake
donuts
Since there is a labeling obligation, one can assume that significant amounts of alcohol in a food are labeled on the packaging. However, this labeling obligation also has gaps: If an aroma is dissolved in alcohol, this does not have to be stated in the list of ingredients of the end product, writes the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection. And advises: “If you want to be sure to avoid even the smallest amounts of alcohol, ask the manufacturer directly.” There are also gaps in labeling for some confectionery or small packaging, the Blue Cross reports on its website. Cakes at the bakery, food in the restaurant or ice cream at the ice cream shop may also have a low alcohol content, but this does not need to be specifically pointed out.

Alcohol poorly labeled as a preservative

The alcohol content of drinks only has to be specified if they contain more than 1.2 percent alcohol by volume, writes the Baden-Württemberg consumer advice center. That means: Even in “non-alcoholic beer” there can still be a small amount of alcohol. Many non-alcoholic beers contain the note <0.5 percent alcohol.

The VerbraucherService Bayern also warns that Fassbrause often still has residual alcohol of 0.15 to 0.5 percent by volume. In addition, there is a bitter taste similar to that of alcoholic beer. In terms of food law, Fassbrause is still considered a non-alcoholic drink, as the alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent. Probably not a health problem, but not a sensible drink for children or young people, as they get used to the taste of beer very early on.

People like to drink alcohol after work, at the weekend or in a relaxed atmosphere. The results of a study now show at what age beer, wine & Co. is particularly harmful to us.

Alcohol more or less harmful? Age matters

However, there are phases in life when you should urgently avoid alcohol consumption. A study has identified three phases in which beer, wine, schnapps and the like are particularly harmful. The British-Australian study was published in the medical journal British Medical Journal

Heavy alcohol consumption during pregnancy, for example, can cause enormous brain damage in infants. “Around 10 percent of pregnant women worldwide consume alcohol, with rates in European countries being significantly higher than the global average,” said Louise Mewton, who led the study.

Alcohol greatly reduces the brain volume of the newborn and can lead to cognitive impairment. This is also known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

Alcohol during pregnancy: How consumption affects the baby

But according to the study, even small amounts of alcohol are harmful: at a sensitive point in time, such as during the development of the brain in the embryo, even a few milliliters of alcohol are dangerous for the brain structure of the child.

The second highly sensitive phase is between the ages of 15 and 19. Heavy alcohol intoxication has serious consequences for adolescents. According to the study, about one in five young people would regularly consume 60 grams of pure alcohol. The result:
decreased brain volume
Deficits in cognitive performance
slower white matter development
According to the scientists, the delayed development of brain mass would result in an increased risk of traffic accidents and a higher affinity for suicidal thoughts.

Alcohol at retirement age: Even small amounts accelerate deterioration

The third critical phase of life concerns the older generations. According to the study, anyone who continues to drink alcohol regularly from the age of 65 upwards must expect a reduction in brain volume. Even moderate alcohol consumption would reduce the size of the brain. However, it is unclear whether this structural change in the brain also affects cognitive abilities. However, the authors of the study strongly believe that this is not the case.

The liver is responsible for detoxifying the human body. The organ is affected by sugar, nicotine or alcohol. That’s why the liver should be detoxified every now and then: we’ll tell you which foods help best.

Experts recommend: detoxify the liver once a year

Liver health and quality of life are therefore directly related. The liver is a silent patient and cannot hurt itself. Stress on the metabolic organ makes itself felt in other ways – for example in the form of tiredness, headaches and back pain, skin problems or impaired digestion.

#1 Grapefruit

The grapefruit is rich in antioxidants. These natural ingredients protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals, which are intermediate products in the metabolic process. The vitamin C in the fruit in particular supports the cleansing of the liver and improves its function. The antioxidant glutathione eliminates heavy metals. In addition, the bitter substance naringenin contained in grapefruit helps to break down fat in the liver.

#2 Green Tea

Like grapefruit, green tea contributes to liver health. Antioxidants like catachins promote the breakdown of fat in the liver, which is why green tea can also help with weight loss.

#3 Garlic

Another antioxidant supplier is garlic. But it is not only through compounds such as allicin and selenium that it promotes liver detoxification. Garlic also activates liver enzymes responsible for breaking down toxins. Regular garlic consumption is also said to lower blood lipid levels (e.g. cholesterol levels).

#4 walnuts

Nuts are considered “brain food”. In addition to concentration, they also promote liver function. Toxic ammonia is produced in the body when protein is broken down. The liver has to convert this into urea so that it can ultimately be excreted in the urine. The substance arginine contained in the walnut supports this process. The same applies to lenses.

#5 Cabbage

Cabbage can also neutralize toxins. In all forms, it helps with the breakdown of nitrosamines, which are produced when smoking. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage as well as radish and radishes look good on the plate for the benefit of the liver.

#6 Leafy greens

The liver is known to struggle with heavy metals. Spinach, arugula and the like help against this and also boost the production of bile.

#7 Tomatoes

The metabolic organ is a great friend of vegetables. In addition to the well-known antioxidant glutathione, tomatoes provide the liver with a lot of water and therefore have a detoxifying effect.

#8 Avocados

Avocados are a real all-rounder when it comes to supporting the liver: They contain glutathione for detoxification as well as vitamins and minerals that boost digestion and the breakdown of liver fat. The super fruit is best known for its unsaturated fatty acids. These help to lower cholesterol levels.

#9 Lemon Juice

Because of their high vitamin C content, lemons are often used for health purposes – mostly in the form of hot lemon juice. In the liver, the vitamin stimulates the production of digestive enzymes. Bile function and intestinal activity are supported. In addition, lemons help the liver absorb more minerals and the body’s pH value is therefore more balanced.

#10 Beetroot

Beetroot juice is often used for coloring. In fact, the colorings beta-carotene and flavonoids found in vegetables also promote liver function and detoxification. In addition, beetroot is said to bring the blood into shape. It is believed to lower blood pressure, increase red blood cell production and improve blood flow in the brain.

#11 Turmeric

It’s getting even more colourful: turmeric is currently on everyone’s lips. The bright yellow spice is said to be detoxifying and anti-inflammatory and offer protection against many types of cancer – including in the liver.

Easily get rid of a hangover the morning after. Better even prevent the rude awakening and hangover beforehand. Who does not know this problem, the night before you drank too much at a party, and the next morning you feel miserable, you have a full-blown HANGOVER and would like to die? What can you do now to get rid of this hangover?

Prevent hangovers

Home remedies and tricks are suitable as precautions against the hangover. Before drinking alcohol and during the drinking session, there are a few things to keep in mind to reduce the hangover the next day:

  • Greasy meal before alcohol, as fat delays and dampens the absorption of alcohol in the blood.
  • Eat lots of peanuts, chips, pretzel sticks, and fatty and salty snacks at the party.
  • Do not eat sweet snacks because sugar increases the effects of alcohol and increases the absorption of alcohol in the blood.
  • Fluids and minerals are particularly important because alcohol requires them more in the body. Therefore drink a glass of mineral water at the party in between. Juice spritzers and fruit juices are also very suitable.

Measures before going to bed

Fewer hangovers the day after drinking and quite simply get fewer hangovers after drinking! After drinking excessive alcohol, there is an unpleasant hangover the next day. Everyone knows this problem, as it can become really uncomfortable if you have drunk or “drunk” a lot of alcohol such as beer, wine, or schnapps. There are two very effective pre-bed remedies to reduce the hangover the next day.

  1. Consume baking soda. Baking soda is available in the pharmacy or in the supermarket (such as Bulrich salt for heartburn). Baking soda is basic and neutralizes acidic alcohol (balanced acid-base balance). I recommend taking 3 Bulrich salt tablets with plenty of water immediately before bed.
  2. Drink plenty of water when drinking alcohol, but at the latest, before you go to bed. Alcohol removes water from the body (dehydrating) and can therefore have a very negative effect on well-being. Half a liter of water before bed and your body will have plenty of water to help break down alcohol throughout the night.

Home remedies for hangovers the day after

There are natural and inexpensive ways to get rid of that hangover the day after and that thick head.

1) Coffee and lemon for hangovers

In such a situation, each of us would like to drink strong coffee, simply adding a good dash of lemon juice to the coffee. It tastes terrible, whoever drinks this coffee should definitely know and be able to suppress the gag urge, but the effect is unique. Within minutes the headache is gone and you can think reasonably clearly. The effect of the alcohol, i.e. the hangover, is eliminated by the citric acid. For the next coffee, please use a new cup.

2) Get rid of hangovers by eating eggs

Eggs contain something called cysteine. This is a special amino acid that helps the body break down toxins. When the alcohol is broken down, highly toxic oxygen radicals are formed, which can be bound with this amino acid.

3) oxygen and fresh air

Oxygen is critical to any type of metabolism. The breakdown of alcohol also requires oxygen. It is therefore important to breathe a lot of fresh air. If you go for a walk the day after, you also get your whole body circulating through the movement.

4) Peppermint Oil

A few drops of peppermint oil will help you relax. Simply drip the peppermint oil onto your forehead and feel the pleasant cooling effect. Always be careful not to get the peppermint oil in your eyes.

Alcohol is also found in foods where you would not expect it. We explain to you which products you have to be careful with.

You can identify alcohol in food by its smell or by the list of ingredients. The problem, however, is that alcohol can also be contained in foods that are declared “alcohol-free”. Alcohol-free beer, for example, can still contain up to 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. According to the Baden-Württemberg consumer advice center, alcohol only has to be stated on the label if it has a content of at least 1.2 percent by volume.

While you are certainly aware of the fact that rum balls or Black Forest gateau traditionally contain alcohol, bananas, grape juice or jam will probably come as a surprise to you.

Some products contain alcohol as a preservative. In some cases, however, the alcohol is also produced by a natural fermentation process, for example with fermented vegetables, yeast dough, kefir or ripe to overripe fruit. Especially fruit with a high sugar content is affected. Bananas can contain up to 0.6% alcohol by volume.

Caution: These foods may contain alcohol

If you want to specifically avoid foods containing alcohol, you have to be aware of which products can be problematic. In addition to ripe fruit, particular caution is required with these foods, according to the Bavarian consumer advice center:

Confectionery: ice cream, sweets, jams
Finished products: including soups and sauces, preserves
Baked goods: e.g. cakes and tarts, yeast pastries
Drinks: kefir, naturally cloudy fruit juices, non-alcoholic beer, malt beer
Ripe fruit and fermented vegetables: e.g. bananas, sauerkraut
The German Society for Nutrition recommends no more than ten grams of alcohol a day for healthy women – which corresponds to about one glass of red wine – or a maximum of 20 grams of alcohol for healthy men. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol completely, as even small amounts can be harmful to the unborn baby.

It has not yet been scientifically clarified whether small amounts of alcohol in food pose a serious risk to children. It is therefore advisable for babies, children and pregnant women to only consume fermented foods in moderation and to use fruit with little sugar such as watermelons or blueberries. Because the alcohol in fruit comes from the conversion of sugar, high-sugar fruit tends to contain more alcohol.

Tips to avoid alcohol in food

If you want to avoid alcohol in food, there are a few things you should consider in everyday life. Always look at the list of ingredients or, if in doubt, ask again about packaged products. We present four important tips that can help you to avoid alcohol-containing products:

Check the list of ingredients: It is worth studying the list of ingredients of the respective product to check for a possible alcohol content.
Note the different terms: alcohol is often hidden under the names “ethanol”, “potable alcohol”, “ethyl alcohol” or “ethanol”. In addition, it is also listed in the form of various variety designations, such as “Brandy” or “Amaretto”. As soon as you are unfamiliar with a substance, research it or ask in the store.
Cook fresh: prepare your own food with fresh food. So you can be sure that there are no unwanted (alcoholic) preservatives in it.

Ask: At the bakery or in ice cream parlors you will usually not find a list of ingredients. To be on the safe side, it is worth asking the seller. Even if you eat in the restaurant, you can find out from the staff about the substances contained in the dish.
Store fruit correctly: You should store different types of fruit, such as apples and bananas, separately from one another if possible, otherwise they will ripen prematurely and the fermentation process will be accelerated. Fruit that has yet to ripen is best stored at room temperature. If you keep it in the fridge, you prevent the ripening process.