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Everything that lives must die. But how can you prepare for the inevitable?

What is to be settled?

With every second that passes, the moment of death draws nearer. You suppress it, don’t want to admit it. And yet it is inevitable. Perhaps a visit to the doctor will make you realize the fact that your lifetime is coming to an end. At least now you will realize that life is finite. But can you really prepare for your death?

First of all, it is important to regulate certain things. What happens after death? Is everything settled? Here is a 7-point plan:
Store documents clearly: insurance policies, family book, bank documents and also a list of passwords for online banking, social networks or other online accounts.
Make a will: notary public or handwritten. If handwritten, this should be placed with the documents or officially stored.
Appoint an executor: This means a person who implements the will.
State your funeral preferences: How would you like to be buried?
Declare Pet Inheritance: If you have a pet, who should take care of it after death?
Bequeath objects during your lifetime: It is best to decide who should get what in a discussion group.

The last will

You don’t think about it when you’re young. But when you die, you leave something behind. This often leads to arguments. A will can help with that. It may make sense to write it earlier in life. There are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it does not necessarily have to be written by a notary, you can write it yourself. But you have to follow certain rules here. And what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The handwritten will
can be written alone. No other person is necessary.
can be written anytime, anywhere. It will not be charged.
can be kept at home or kept at the district court (approx. €75.00).
can be changed, destroyed or revoked at any time.
may be unclear or even invalid because it was written by a layperson.
can be lost, not found or counterfeited.

The notarial will:
Legal advice and legally secure preparation by a notary.
An appointment with the notary is necessary.
The document is officially stored.
A change can be made by a notary. A revocation occurs through withdrawal from official custody.
There are notary fees for the creation and modification.
Official custody ensures that the will is found and not forged.
Married couples can draw up a joint will for inheritance.
Most often, couples with children choose the so-called Berlin will: According to this, the longer surviving inherited everything. Only after his death do the children inherit.
If the testator is very wealthy, the Berlin will can have tax disadvantages.

How do you prepare yourself for death?

But how can you mentally adjust to death? It doesn’t matter if you got a message about the approaching end.

Accept that you will die. It’s useless to quarrel with fate. You may think it’s unfair, especially when you get the news that you may not have much longer to live. You must come to the realization that everyone dies. Ultimately, there is nothing unfair about that.
Use your time. Think about what you really want. Go to places you want to see, meet people you love. Is it really important to work even more overtime just to buy yourself things you don’t need?
Eliminate misunderstandings. Remember, this may be the last time you’ll see someone. Forgive all those who have wronged you. Ask forgiveness from anyone you may have hurt.
enjoy It can always be the last meal, the last coffee, the last whiskey. Experience it consciously.
When you lie down to sleep, know that you may not wake up the next morning. reflect on your day. were you happy with it Close your eyes, breathe consciously. Smell, feel the linens, listen to the sounds of the night. And when you wake up, be happy about it. Don’t think about what awaits you that day. Imagine you are born again. take the moment
The world you wake up in will not last forever. Enjoy her. In everything she has to offer you. If you buy a new book, read it consciously. A new pen? It may be that today is the last time you will use it. Appreciate the people and things around you. Everything is impermanent.
Death comes to us all. We can’t stop it, but we can influence whether it frightens us or is ultimately what it’s supposed to be: the end of a life.

no garden? You can also plant potatoes on the balcony. We’ll tell you how to do it!

Potatoes for the balcony – the preparation

If you want to grow potatoes on your balcony, success starts with the preparation. It is best to use ripe potatoes for planting. It’s best to buy seed or seed potatoes from a gardening store. For planting on the balcony, let them pre-germinate in a box in a dark, cool place. This can already be done in March and takes about four weeks.

The right location is important. Potatoes like it warm and light. But make sure that they are not directly in the midday sun. Use vegetable soil or regular garden soil that you have mixed with some compost for the potatoes. So your plants have enough nutrients. Your potatoes also need enough water and space: Potatoes want to spread and always need a lot of water. The soil should not dry out.

Plant bag, bucket or tub: you need that

If you have prepared everything and the sprouted potatoes are ready, you can almost start. But first you have to decide whether you prefer to work with plant bags, buckets or tubs:
Plant sacks: You can buy special plant sacks in specialist shops, but you can also use plastic sacks made from strong PVC fabric. Even rice or jute sacks are suitable for planting potatoes.
Buckets: Buckets or closed tubs are also suitable as long as they are large enough. In order for you to be able to harvest enough potatoes, your container should definitely have a volume of ten liters and a height of about 40 centimeters.
Pots: As with the plant bags, you can also get plant pots from a gardening store. Here you need dark-walled plastic buckets that are as high as possible so that the soil is warmed up well by the sun’s rays.
It is important, no matter which planter you choose in the end, that you ensure sufficient drainage. Potatoes do not tolerate waterlogging, which is why an additional drainage layer made of gravel is worthwhile. For drainage, you can equip your planters with a hole or some slits before filling. Then the water can drain well.

Growing potatoes on the balcony: Here’s how

With the right equipment, you can now plant your own potatoes step by step:
First fill the drainage layer in your planter (think of suitable holes or slots beforehand).
Now you fill in a 15 centimeter high layer of soil that has been enriched with sufficient nutrients.
Now you can spread the seed potatoes evenly over the soil. About four potatoes per pot. Fill in enough soil to just cover the tubers.
Keep everything moist.
After about 14 days, the potatoes are already 15 centimeters high. If the plants have reached a height of 30 centimeters, you can refill 15 centimeters of soil. After that, you can add soil twice more at intervals of 10 to 14 days. This will cause your plants to form more tubers and new shoots further up the shoots.
After about three to four months, the first potatoes are ready to be harvested. At the latest when you watch the leaves of the plants wither, it is time to harvest. Potatoes can usually be harvested from May to October, depending on when and how they were planted. Simply empty your planter. Then you can enjoy your first own balcony potatoes.

It doesn’t matter whether the cooking oil is running low in the supermarket, you don’t have any more at home or you simply want to do without oil: With the help of a few tips, frying can be done without any oil at all.

This is how you succeed in frying without oil

If you don’t have any oil at home, you can’t find any in the supermarket or you just want to do without it, the question arises: How do you fry without oil? There are different possibilities. With some methods, however, you have to reckon with the disadvantage that the aroma can change slightly because the fat is no longer used as a flavor carrier.

So that nothing burns, it is first of all important to use the right pan. Coated pans are usually made in such a way that the food in them does not burn over low to medium heat; even if you don’t use oil.

Alternatively, you can also use mineral water for frying. It is important that you choose water with as much carbonation as possible and replace the oil in a ratio of 1:1. Proceed as if you were using oil: Before you put the food to be fried in the pan, heat the water slightly. Once the water has evaporated, you can add another small sip.

More methods of frying without oil

Another way to fry without oil, but without skipping the fat, is to use butter or margarine. To avoid burning the butter or margarine, you should only heat it over a low heat. In order to also pay attention to environmental aspects, it is advisable to use a plant-based margarine with plant material from regional cultivation. In comparison, butter has a very energy-intensive production process behind it and comes off worse in the ecological balance.

To fry at higher temperatures without oil, you can use parchment paper. It makes sense to cut the baking paper to the size of the pan and only then fry the vegetables or something similar in it. However, since the baking paper can only be used a few times before it crumbles, it is more sustainable from an ecological point of view to use permanent roasting foils. These can be washed off and can be an ideal replacement for a pan coating.

It is up to you which method you use. You can also try different methods and then decide which one works best for you.

In fact, everyone knows that arsenic is poisonous. But did you know that the toxin is also found in rice? In this article you will find out what dangers the substance poses to children.

How does arsenic get into rice?

Arsenic is a metalloid that occurs naturally in the ground – more or less often depending on geological conditions. Types of grain, including rice plants, absorb arsenic compounds through their roots. These get into the fruit via the metabolism.

Rice is grown in flooded fields because it thrives best in wet, humid conditions. More arsenic ends up in the rice plants via the water than in other cereals that are cultivated dry.

How much arsenic ends up on the consumer’s plate depends not only on the regional soil conditions, but also on the processing of the rice grains. Because the arsenic settles in particular on the edge of the grains.

How much arsenic does rice contain?

Consumers cannot see how much arsenic the purchased rice contains. According to the BfR, the amount of rice that an adult can eat without causing health problems has not yet been researched.

According to the Federal Institute, the average amounts of arsenic in white rice are between 0.1 and 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. Brown, so-called natural rice, contains more inorganic arsenic because the outer layers are largely removed from white rice. Higher amounts than in white rice were also measured in rice cakes and rice flakes.

Is that why children are not allowed to eat rice?

The BfR assessment, according to which it is not very likely that the consumption of rice leads to health risks, applies to all age groups: adults, the elderly as well as children and infants.

Nevertheless, the BfR recommends parents not to feed their infants and small children exclusively with rice-based drinks or complementary foods such as rice porridge. According to the experts, products such as rice cakes should also vary with snacks without rice.

In addition, the BfR points out that rice-based baby food does not meet the needs of infants anyway due to the unsuitable nutrient composition.

Does washing rice help?

It is difficult to wash out the arsenic compounds from finished products such as rice porridge or rice snacks.

For rice itself, the BfR recommends washing it in plenty of water and boiling it immediately before consumption. In the case of rice with small amounts of arsenic, some of this can migrate into the water.
The cooking water should be poured off immediately after cooking.

Arsenic-free rice coming soon?

In a study published in spring, a Chinese research team, including scientists from the University of Heidelberg, succeeded in finding a travel plant that defies dangerous arsenic.

The researchers exposed over 4,000 rice varieties to arsenic-containing water and observed their growth. Only one of the examined plants with the name “astol1” proved to be tolerant to the toxic metalloid.

The plant develops the amino acid cysteine, which is an important element for the plant’s own development of phytochelatins. These substances have a detoxifying effect and are formed by plants in response to pollutants. The neutralized arsenic is stored in the roots of the plant before it reaches the rice grains and can become dangerous to humans. Scientists consider this plant particularly suitable for agricultural use.

Green beans have a reputation for being a very healthy protein bomb. But under certain circumstances, the delicious garden vegetables are poisonous. Even the Bavarian consumer advice center warns.

Why green beans are poisonous

Unlike most vegetables, green beans cannot be eaten raw. They owe this fact to a specific component of the bean: phasin. The toxic molecule is a protein compound that, according to the Bavarian consumer advice center, is found in many types of fruit and vegetables. In comparison, however, raw beans contain a particularly large amount of phasin.

Phasin is actually a substance that is supposed to protect the beans. Plants have a variety of natural defense mechanisms against predators. Some rely on spikes, for example, while others prefer toxic substances. Even though green beans have been cultivated for centuries, they still contain their natural defenses.

The different defense mechanisms of plants do not all work in the same way. Beans and their phasin cause red blood cells to stick together and thus impede the transport of oxygen in the blood. In addition, phasin damages the epithelial cells in the intestine and thus disrupts the absorption of nutrients.

What does eating raw beans do?

The phasin thus hits sensitive areas in the body and can cause significant reactions. However, the reaction to the poison depends on the amount consumed. Eating some raw beans can cause mild stomach upset, intestinal inflammation, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Consuming large amounts of raw beans can also lead to death. According to the Bavarian Consumer Center, the first symptoms appear after about two to three hours. However, signs of bean poisoning can vary in severity.

Because of their low body weight, children are particularly at risk. For them, a very small amount of 5 to 6 raw beans is enough to be deadly. Children should therefore be made aware of the danger if, for example, they play with beans in a garden. Should a case of poisoning nevertheless occur, medical advice must be obtained as quickly as possible, if necessary via the poison control center.

Phasin poisoning is easy to prevent

For all bean lovers, however, the all-clear is clear: fortunately, phasin is not very persistent
Incidentally, the steam cooker often used for vegetables is not suitable for beans. The gentle cooking process does not reach the required temperature to completely destroy the phasin. Green bean blanching water must also be discarded as it contains a significant amount of phasin.

Green pesto is always a real treat! You shouldn’t heat the paste – otherwise the taste could suffer. Green pesto in particular is considered to be particularly susceptible.

Heating green pesto: what exactly happens?

To explain the phenomenon in more detail, you need to take a look at the composition of basil. Like many plants, this contains chlorophyll, which among other things gives the herb its green color.

As the Center for Health writes, chlorophyll is not considered to be particularly heat-resistant. As the scientific magazine Spektrum explains, this is related to polyphenols, which, in combination with enzymes, oxidize under the influence of heat and thus also ensure the characteristic browning of green plants.

Drinking a lot is known to be very important. An adult needs between two and three liters of fluid a day. But you should rather do without three drinks.

#1 Lemonade

One of the favorite drinks of many people are sodas, like cola or similar. But because of their high sugar content, they not only damage the teeth, but also our intestinal flora. The excessive sweetener promotes both obesity and inflammation, which can lead to various diseases.

Consumption of sugary sodas increases the risk of disease

Cola in particular is very high on the red list with almost ten teaspoons of sugar. Regular consumption of sugary drinks can significantly increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver.

#2 alcohol

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a white sausage breakfast or a champagne reception, especially in Germany a beer after work or a glass of wine with dinner is part of the order of the day – but regular alcohol consumption is bad for your health. It is well known that alcohol damages the liver: regular drinking can lead to fatty liver or cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks. But excessive consumption can also cause damage to the brain. This is mainly shown by a poor memory or lack of concentration.

Moderation rather than abstinence counts when it comes to alcohol consumption

Alcohol is a trigger for many diseases, which is why the motto when consuming alcoholic beverages applies: in moderation, not in bulk! You don’t have to give up alcohol completely, but reducing your consumption can’t hurt.

#3 Energy drinks

Pupils and students in particular like to use an energy drink as an energy booster or pick-me-up during the exam phases or after a long night of partying. But just like sodas, these drinks also have a very high sugar content, which has a negative effect on health.

In addition to sugar, energy drinks also contain caffeine. This can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which is why these drinks should be consumed with caution, especially by people with cardiovascular diseases.

Trembling and sweating after energy drinks: be careful with pick-me-ups

Regular consumption can lead to nausea, headaches, insomnia, nervousness and sweating. Particularly heavy consumption of energy drinks can trigger cardiovascular diseases and circulatory collapse.

Finding the right stroller can be quite difficult. However, the following tips will keep you on the safe side.

Appearance isn’t everything when it comes to prams

Much more important are comfort and functionality. Is the child comfortable? Is there enough lying space (approx. 80 cm in length and approx. 35 cm in width)? You can also choose between a hard-shell stroller or a combinable stroller with a soft, removable carrycot that you can later convert into a buggy. The latter is clearly recommended if you want to save yourself the purchase of a buggy.

In addition to the lying surface, it is necessary that there is enough space to stow away diapers, baby food, any purchases, toys, and everything else that might be needed on the go. The stroller should also be stable, so you can be sure that nothing will happen if your child moves a little more violently. A special version of the stroller is the baby seat with chassis. You can transport the baby from day one and then easily remove the baby seat from the chassis and attach it to the car.

Also fully functional when mobile – brakes and suspension

Of course, driving comfort is just as important. A good suspension is therefore absolutely necessary – a soft suspension and larger wheels are advisable if you want to use more uneven roads, a slightly firmer suspension, and small wheels if you are more likely to be on asphalt, i.e. on level roads, in the city. A well-functioning parking brake is also necessary because you don’t want the stroller to roll away if you’re not paying attention for a moment.

Is the trunk of the car big enough?

Swivel slides also allow you to quickly change direction with your stroller and with height-adjustable slides you can adjust the push handles perfectly to your size. If you also own a car and plan to go on longer trips, it is also advisable to try out whether the stroller fits in the trunk before you buy it. Most sellers are so accommodating that you can try before you buy to make sure everything fits. Keep in mind that the weight of the stroller should be such that you can lift it without hesitation and also transport it over short distances (e.g. on stairs or on public transport). A well-insulated canopy is advisable so that the child can sleep peacefully and quietly. Defy wind and weather with the right cover for your stroller.

Which stroller is right for me and my baby?

It is up to you which car you ultimately choose. It is important that the stroller adapts to your needs and plans and is a safe and comfortable means of transport for your child. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the TÜV marking and/or the GS mark. In any case, the stroller purchase should be well planned. Do not save at the wrong end, because it is an investment that pays off in any case.

Planting runner beans is easy. The plants are undemanding and bring good yields. We explain to you what you have to pay attention to when growing.

Planting pole beans – you should know that

If you want to provide yourself with vegetables, runner beans should not be missing in your garden. They are easy to grow and produce good yields over a long period of time. The plants keep forming new pods and you can harvest regularly over a long period of time. Because they mainly grow tall, you can harvest a lot of vegetables from a relatively small area in your garden.

Planting runner beans – These points are important

If you want to grow runner beans, you have to consider several points:
Beans are weak eaters – meaning they only need a small amount of nutrients. Pole beans, however, have slightly higher requirements than other types of beans. Therefore, it makes sense if you prepare the bed with some compost.
Runner beans live up to their name: they need a pole to help them climb. Depending on the variety, they grow 1.5 to 4 meters in height.
A good climbing aid are long bamboo sticks. Plant four equally spaced in the ground and tie the top ends together. If you want to grow more beans, you can set up the poles in two rows using the same principle. Then tie two together at the top and connect them to each other with a crossbar at the top.
Pole beans only germinate above 12 degrees Celsius. Therefore, only plant them when the soil has warmed up and no more frosts are to be expected. From the “Ice Saints” in mid-May you are on the safe side.
The beans need a sunny, warm location if possible.

Prepare the bed for runner beans

Even if runner beans are quite undemanding, you should prepare the bed properly. In this case, this means that you have to loosen the soil well. Now you should set up the climbing aids. Make sure the trellises are long enough for your type of bean. Set up the poles at a distance of 50 to 70 centimeters from each other.

Then place five beans three centimeters deep in the soil at equal intervals around each pole. The warmer it is, the faster they germinate.

Maintain runner beans

Pole beans begin to germinate just a few days after sowing. Once they are about 6 inches tall, cover them with soil. This makes them more stable and forms additional roots. As a rule, the young shoots quickly find their way to the climbing aid. If that doesn’t work, you can easily tie them up with a piece of string.

Runner beans grow incredibly fast. You will be amazed. Once the beans have sprouted and found support on the trellis, your task is limited to regular, thorough watering. Pole beans need a lot of water.

Harvest runner beans

It won’t be long before your runner beans start producing flowers, which eventually become pods. Harvest time is from the end of July. The young beans are particularly tender. When ripening, the individual beans form a hard skin in the pod.

You should always use two hands to harvest beans. With one hand you hold the tendril just above the pod, with the other you pluck off the pod.

IMPORTANT: Raw beans are poisonous! They contain the protein phasin. The substance is only broken down by cooking.

Regular harvesting and thorough watering ensure you high and consistent yields. As the gardening season draws to a close, allow some pods to fully mature. When the husk is brown and dried up in late fall, you can harvest it and have your own seed for next year.

A surprising number of customers are dissatisfied with the hairstyle, the service, or the costs after visiting the hairdresser. However, if you heed a few small pieces of advice, you can find a good hairdresser for yourself.

Everyone knows the problem: you move and eventually need a visit to the hairdresser. Or the regular hairdresser you’ve always been to suddenly close. What to do? Helplessly go to the first salon you come across and hope you’re satisfied? Surveys show that many customers leave the store unsatisfied. However, this can be avoided if you know how to go about your search for a good hairdresser.

Use someone else’s knowledge when looking for a hairdresser

First, you should explore yourself among friends, relatives, and co-workers. Listen carefully to the answers and pay attention to details. This allows you to roughly filter which salons come into question. If a good shop is recommended to you, feel free to test it out.

You can also look at advertisements: radio or television spots, as well as regional newspapers or advertising posters, may provide indications of good salons. But be careful, not every advertisement should be trusted blindly. Approach the matter critically and don’t let anything talk you into it.

Look at the hairdresser yourself and make experiences

If you have decided on a few salons in the pre-selection, refine your search. A first conversation with the shops of choice can be very helpful. Call them or stop by in person: ask about the prices for the hairstyle you want and don’t hesitate to ask about the service – is a head massage or a cup of coffee included in the price?

Pay attention to details in the salon: Is the shop carelessly furnished or creatively designed? If you are not able to furnish a shop nicely, you will also have problems mustering enough creativity for a beautiful hairstyle.

Take a look at the employees there: Do you like their hairstyle? The haircuts of the salon employees are often a good indication of how the salon works. If their cuts are not clean, you can actually leave the shop immediately.

Finally, give the store of your choice a chance. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the store, advice before the haircut, the execution of the cut, as well as tips and advice on the hairstyle. If you are satisfied, you have found a good hairdresser – if not, keep looking. Worth it.