Tag

application

Browsing

Mustard flour consists of ground mustard seeds. Here you can read how you can use the mustard powder as a kitchen seasoning and remedy and what you should pay attention to.

Origin and Effect of Mustard Flour

You probably know mustard flour as a condiment in the kitchen. This is usually made from yellow mustard seeds. The grains come from mustard plants, which are yellow flowering annual cruciferous plants. The mustard plants were brought to Central Europe by the Romans. The three most well-known types of mustard are:
White mustard (Sinapis alba, also yellow mustard, field mustard)
Brown mustard (Brassica juncea, also called Indian or Chinese mustard)
Black mustard (Brassica nigra)
All types of mustard contain mustard oil glycosides. When the mustard seeds are ground into mustard flour, they are broken down in conjunction with enzymes into mustard oil. This mustard oil works as follows:
anti-inflammatory
antiviral
antibacterial
circulation-enhancing
but also irritating to the skin
According to a study by the University of Freiburg, mustard oils should also prevent cancer. 20 grams per day should be enough for this effect. Eating mustard also stimulates the appetite and improves digestion.

Use mustard flour in the kitchen

Mustard flour is a very aromatic spice. In the kitchen you can make your own mustard in combination with vinegar and salt and use it as an ingredient to refine many dishes:
curries
dressings
marinades
sauces
soups

Uses of mustard flour: when it helps

Mustard flour is used as a remedy in the form of compresses, baths and wraps. You can use it at:
arthrosis
bronchitis
a cold
gout
headache
migraine
rheumatism
sinusitis
If you use the home remedy, you should consider the following:
Mustard flour is a strong irritant and can burn the skin and cause severe redness.
As soon as you find any of these symptoms painful, you should definitely stop using mustard flour. Otherwise, in the worst case, severe skin burns can occur.
It is best to seek advice from a pharmacist with a degree in herbal medicine or a phytotherapist before using mustard flour.
Mustard oil can irritate the skin and mucous membranes. So be careful not to get it on your face. It should not come into contact with your eyes in particular.

Where to buy mustard seeds for mustard flour

You can buy mustard seeds cheaply in advance and grind them into mustard flour if necessary, preferably with an electric spice grinder. You can get mustard seeds in:
pharmacies
health food stores and
on the Internet.
You can often get ready-made mustard wrap sets at the pharmacy.

Sauerkraut juice is extremely healthy thanks to its high vitamin content. It also contributes to a healthy intestine thanks to lactic acid bacteria. Read here why this is so.

To make sauerkraut, white cabbage is fermented with lactic acid. During this fermentation process, the lactic acid bacteria involved multiply explosively. These are responsible for many of the health-promoting effects of sauerkraut. However, the sauerkraut juice is not a waste product, on the contrary: it is extremely healthy and is particularly recommended for light constipation and fasting cures.

Sauerkraut juice is rich in vitamins

Many people know that sauerkraut is particularly rich in vitamin C. It strengthens the immune system, has an antioxidant effect and boosts the metabolism. But the fermented vegetables also contain many other vitamins:
Vitamin K: Vitamin K is also found in large quantities in sauerkraut juice. This fat-soluble vitamin is important for healthy bones and blood clotting.
Beta-carotene: Beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A. This is important for healthy skin, eyes and bones and strengthens the immune system.
Folic acid: The B vitamin folic acid is important for cell and blood formation.
Vitamin B12: As one of the few plant foods, sauerkraut provides vitamin B12. These are needed for a healthy nervous system.
Since some of these vitamins are heat sensitive, you should avoid heating both sauerkraut and sauerkraut juice. This is the only way to benefit from the useful ingredients.

Sauerkraut juice as a natural probiotic

As the cabbage ferments, the lactic acid bacteria can multiply in abundance. That is why sauerkraut and sauerkraut juice are particularly rich in these microorganisms. But don’t worry: These bacteria are not potential pathogens, in fact, lactic acid bacteria are extremely beneficial for us.

These lactic acid bacteria are also found in our intestines. There they ensure a healthy intestinal climate in which beneficial bacteria feel comfortable and pathogens have a hard time. Sauerkraut juice is therefore considered a probiotic food that helps build a healthy intestinal flora.

This is particularly important after antibiotic therapy, for example: the antibiotic not only kills harmful bacteria, but also beneficial bacteria in the body. A disturbed intestinal flora can lead to many health problems in the long term, such as a weakened immune system. By regularly consuming probiotic foods such as sauerkraut juice after antibiotic therapy, your intestinal flora can rebuild.

Use of sauerkraut juice for constipation

The lactic acid bacteria not only ensure a healthy intestinal flora in the long term, but also stimulate digestion in the short term. Therefore, sauerkraut juice is recommended for acute and chronic constipation as a gentle and natural laxative. It is most effective if you drink the sauerkraut juice first thing in the morning. During many fasting cures, one or two glasses of sauerkraut juice are recommended after getting up.

If you drink sauerkraut juice every day, it should also help to detoxify and purify the body. The dietary fibers it contains also stimulate digestion.

Side effects: Sauerkraut juice is a gentle laxative that you can take every day. Consuming large amounts will cause diarrhea. If you want to drink sauerkraut juice regularly, you should not consume too much of it.

Basic tea can be prepared from different types of herbal tea. We’ll tell you how to use alkaline tea and whether it has positive effects.

Basic tea: definition and application

In the commercial sector, some tea blends are offered as “alkaline tea”. This means that these food products are above 7 on the pH scale and are alkaline rather than acidic. They are therefore suitable for an alkaline diet. Because alkaline tea is supposed to flush out the acids and pollutants from the body.

Alkaline tea is a suitable alternative to water if you are doing an alkaline treatment or eat an alkaline diet. For example, one tea maker recommends drinking three to five cups of alkaline tea daily.

Alkaline tea as part of an alkaline diet

Followers of an alkaline diet generally assume that the human body is overly acidic. According to this theory, acidic foods, coffee drinks, alcohol, and stress imbalance many people’s acid-base balance. This hyperacidity can trigger various diseases. In order to detoxify the body again, acid-forming foods should be reduced and alkaline-forming foods such as fruit, vegetables or herbs should be increased. Basic tea should also contribute to this.

Types of tea that are considered alkaline teas

Basic tea hides various herbal mixtures. These include the following ingredients:
fennel
Ginger
peppermint
rosemary
sage
thyme
Some herbal teas have been in use since the 5th century B.C. used as medicinal tea. Within the last 200 years, herbal tea has been used more and more as a stimulant in addition to its medicinal function. Today, herbal tea can be found in many medicine cabinets. Alkaline teas, i.e. herbal teas, are not prescribed by conventional medicine. In naturopathy, on the other hand, which promotes an alkaline diet, types of tea are prescribed for recovery. In another article we will inform you which types of tea you should know and what effects they have.

Hop tea is not beer, but rather a tried and tested remedy. Hops have a calming effect and have a positive effect on our sleep.

Hops belong to the hemp family. Long before the plant was used to brew beer, it was valued as a medicinal plant.

Hops are now cultivated throughout Europe and in parts of Asia and America. The plant sprouts anew every year and climbs up to twelve meters. Hops are dioecious. This means there are male and female flowers. For hop tea you only use the female flowers.

This is how hop tea works

The most important active ingredients in hop tea include:
Bitter substances: humulone and lupulone
flavonoids
tannins
essential oils
The bitter substances in particular are said to have a calming and sleep-inducing effect. In the meantime, the effect of hops and its ingredients has also been extensively scientifically investigated:
The positive effect of hops on the human psyche was proven in a pilot study. Test persons who consumed dried hop extract daily for four weeks reported reduced anxiety, depression and a lower stress level compared to the placebo group.
In an animal experiment with quail, it was shown that hops regulate the day-night rhythm and improve sleep at night. The birds should have a comparable sleeping rhythm as we humans. However, it is unclear to what extent the data can be transferred to humans.
In addition to the calming effect, hops also have antibacterial and antioxidant effects, according to a 2019 study. The authors of the study conclude that hops extract could help against acne. Because of the same properties, hops are also often used in folk medicine for digestive problems and other complaints such as loss of appetite. However, research is still needed here.

Hop tea and other hop products

The main uses of hop tea include:
nervous restlessness
sleep disorders
anxiety states

In addition to hop tea, there are other ways in which you can benefit from the effects of the medicinal plant:
In the pharmacy you can get capsules or tinctures made from hops. Hop essential oil is used in aromatherapy.
Hops are also suitable for a soothing bath for mind and body. To do this, boil a liter of water, pour it over 20 grams of hop blossoms and mix it into your bath water.
Another option for better sleep is a scented pillow filled with hop blossoms. You can just put that next to your pillow.

How to prepare hop tea

For the soothing tea you use the female flowers of the hops. You can recognize them by growing cone-shaped, spike-like bud sites, while male flowers hang more loosely. You can easily prepare hop tea yourself:
Pour 250 milliliters of boiling water over 2-3 teaspoons of dried female hop flowers.
Let the tea steep for five to ten minutes.
Then remove the plant parts.
You can have three cups a day. To help you sleep better, you should drink the tea about half an hour before you go to bed.

To increase the calming effects of hops, you can combine them with valerian or St. John’s wort. Lavender and chamomile are also good.

Calcium carbonate is a natural substance that some people also take to prevent calcium deficiency. Here we explain how you can use calcium carbonate and what special features there are.

Calcium carbonate (also called lime, chemical formula CaCo3) is a salt of carbonic acid. It is a substance that is one of the most common on earth. Calcium carbonate is found, for example, in the mineral calcite and in our bones and teeth. Calcium carbonate is also found in large quantities in the shells of crabs, snails, mussels and corals. Calcium carbonate is often found mixed with other minerals: together with magnesium, for example, it is found in limestone.

Calcium carbonate is mined (from rock) and also made synthetically. The salt is insoluble in water, insensitive to light and extremely heat-resistant.

Calcium carbonate: application of the mineral

Calcium carbonate is often prescribed by doctors when a person has a calcium deficiency. Various diseases, such as osteoporosis or an underactive parathyroid gland, can indicate this. Calcium carbonate can increase the calcium level in the blood.

As capsules, powder or tablets, you should only take calcium carbonate according to the package insert – depending on the package information, it is best with food or between meals. Even if there is no maximum dose for calcium carbonate, the daily dose of 1200 milligrams of calcium recommended by the DGE should not be exceeded.

Calcium carbonate is mainly used in the construction industry in the production of cement and burnt lime. Calcium carbonate is also used in the paper industry and in agriculture to prevent soil acidification.

Effect of Calcium Carbonate

The nerves as well as all muscles and bones need calcium for their functionality. Calcium carbonate contains readily available calcium and is available as an inexpensive powder.
In the case of heartburn and indigestion, calcium carbonate can neutralize stomach acid, but it can also cause constipation. Products with calcium carbonate replace the formerly popular sodium hydrogen carbonate (soda), which, according to the DAZ, sometimes leads to severe flatulence.
In principle, calcium carbonate is considered harmless. However, depending on the amount ingested, hypersensitivity may occur.
In addition, kidney stones can form and there can be interactions or deviatingly strong or weak effects with medication, according to the package insert.

Calcium carbonate as an additive

Calcium carbonate can be added to foods during production and is then declared with the E number E170. It often has the function of a natural colorant or stabilizer. In winemaking, the substance can be used to regulate acidity. Calcium carbonate is also permitted for organic products, but not as a coloring agent. Basically, it is often found as an additive in the following foods:
chewing gum
grated / sliced ​​cheese
grape juice
deacidification of wine
baking mixes and baked goods
Isotonic drinks and sports nutrition
When treating drinking water, many municipal utilities use calcium carbonate to increase the degree of hardness of the water. Calcium carbonate is often used as a coloring agent in white wall paint and cosmetics.

Rosehip powder is obtained from the fruits of the rose and used as a local dietary supplement. You can find out more about the application, effect and possible side effects in this article.

Rose hips are the fruit of one of the most well-known plants – the rose. Many do not know that the red fruits not only look pretty, but also taste good. You can drink rose hips as a tea or process them into rose hip jam.

What is less known is that rose hips can also be processed into powder. Here we explain what rosehip powder is and how you can use it.

Note: In general, you should eat a balanced and varied diet. Then you can get all the nutrients you need without supplements. If you suspect you are lacking nutrients in your diet, seek medical advice.

Rosehip powder as a nutrient supplier

All the nutritional power of the rose is concentrated in rosehip powder. This is considered to be very rich in nutrients: rosehip pulp, for example, contains 20 times more vitamin C than lemon.

If you dry rose hips and then grind them, you get a powder. This contains many healthy ingredients such as:

Galactolipids: help scavenge free radicals in the body
Polyphenols: have a health-promoting and antioxidant effect
Carotenoids: have a cell-protecting and antioxidant effect
Pectin: belongs to the dietary fibers, supports digestion
Minerals: important for many bodily functions
Tannins: inhibit or kill microorganisms

This is how rosehip powder works

Rosehip powder is said to help against many ailments and support a healthy lifestyle.

Because it contains galactolipid, rosehip powder can help against joint pain caused by arthritis and arthrosis or rheumatism. Because galactolipid binds radicals and can help relieve pain in inflamed joints, tendons and cartilage and fight inflammation.

The galactolipid is also said to prevent calcium deposits in vessels and thus help to prevent arteriosclerosis. In this disease, the blood vessels calcify – this can lead to heart attacks and strokes, among other things.

Rosehip powder is also said to be used as a natural pain reliever. It is said to help against stomach and liver pain. It is easier on the stomach than aspirin or ibuprofen.

Rosehip tea and rosehip powder also have a slightly draining and diuretic effect. Therefore, rosehip powder can also be taken to combat urinary tract infections and kidney diseases.

Due to its high vitamin C content, rosehip powder has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. The many healthy ingredients also support the immune system and help with colds.
Note: The study situation is still unclear for many of the effects described. If you wish to take rosehip powder as a drug substitute, we recommend that you seek medical advice first.

Does rosehip powder have any side effects?

Rosehip powder is a very gentle dietary supplement. So far no side effects are known.

Because it is so well tolerated, the powder is even suitable for pregnant women.
If you consume a lot of rosehip powder, your urge to urinate may increase. You should then make sure to drink enough fluids – especially water.
Note: This article cannot replace a doctor’s visit. If you have serious health problems or are unsure about taking it, you should always seek medical advice.

A rosehip tea made from the peel of the fruit brings many health benefits. Here you can find out more about the effect, application and own production of rosehip tea.

Rosehip tea: These active ingredients make rosehips a medicinal plant

Rose hips have been used in natural medicine for a long time. They owe this to their many valuable active ingredients. These include, among other things:

1. Vitamin C

Depending on the variety, 100g of rose hips (ready-to-eat mass) bring up to 1,500 mg of vitamin C. The native rose hip even beats exotics such as the kiwi, which in comparison has just 45 mg of vitamin C per 100g. Vitamin C is important for health because it:

strengthens the immune system,
protects cells from free radicals,
helps to form hormones and messenger substances,
supports the regeneration of skin, hair, nails and connective tissue,
is important for cholesterol and fat metabolism,
helps absorb iron better.

2. Lycopene

Lycopene is a plant pigment that is also extremely valuable for the human body. Because it has an antioxidant effect and thus prevents cell damage.

3. Pectin

Rose hips are rich in pectins. These are dietary fibers that can have a slightly laxative and detoxifying effect in the human body and therefore help with digestive problems and kidney diseases.

Due to these and other valuable ingredients (including vitamins A, B, E and K, flavonoids, calcium, magnesium, iron), the rose hip is considered a local super fruit with great healing effects and health-promoting potential.

Application of rosehip tea

Rosehip tea made from dried peel has a long tradition and is still very popular today. However, the effect of rosehip tea has not been sufficiently scientifically proven, but is based on the experience of folk and naturopathy. Without a doubt, rosehip tea is a wholesome drink. Rosehip tea is often used to:

Relief from digestive problems: The contained pectins increase the volume of the intestinal contents and help to move them quickly through the digestive tract.
Convalescence: Thanks to the many vitamins and minerals in the fruit, rosehip tea can help the body regain strength after illness.
Immune boost: The high vitamin C content makes rosehip tea healthy and stimulates the immune system. In this way, rosehip tea helps the body to fight off disease-causing viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Relief of gastrointestinal complaints: You can also use rosehip tea if you have diarrhea. The pectins in the shell bind water, swell and thus solidify the intestinal contents. Irritated gastric mucosa walls can be soothed with rose hip tea, because the pectins, flavonoids and tannins it contains have a protective effect on the mucous membranes.
Relief of urinary tract problems: There are a lot of fruit acids in rose hips. These have a diuretic effect and thus promote the excretion of pollutants and viruses that cause urinary tract problems.

Recipe: How to make rosehip tea yourself

Rosehip tea is very easy to make yourself. You can either buy already dried rosehip peels in a health food store or organic shop or harvest the rosehips yourself and make a tea. Homemade tea has the advantage that it definitely does not contain any additives such as colorings and artificial flavors.

Make your own rosehip tea

Harvesting rose hips: Rose hips are ripe in late autumn when the fruit yields slightly when pressed with a finger.
Wash and core the rose hips: First wash the rose hips, then remove the stalks and buds. Then cut the hips in half and remove the seeds. There are hairs on the seeds that may cause skin reactions. Therefore, as a precaution, wear (reusable) household gloves. After scraping, wash the shells thoroughly again to remove any hairs.
Drying the rosehips: Now you can dry the rosehip shells. This should be done as gently as possible and without too much heat. It is best to leave the rose hips spread out in a warm place for a few days until they are completely dry. Check regularly that the skins are completely dry.
Storing rosehips: After drying, you can chop the shells up a bit and store them in an airtight container.

Prepare rosehip tea

Brewing: Pour 250ml of hot water on about 2 teaspoons of dried rosehip peel and let the tea steep for 10 minutes.
Consumption: In order to benefit from the greatest possible health effects of rosehip tea, you should drink the tea regularly over a longer period of time. In this way you can strengthen your immune system in the long term.