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Do Not Pit: it is Best to Sieve The Cornelian Cherries

From September, the overripe cornelian cherries are ready for harvest. The cherry-like wild fruits taste delicious in chutneys, jams, and pastries, as well as in juice or syrup. However, since pitting the cornelian cherries is extremely laborious, the red fruit should be processed differently.

Seven instead of stone

Instead of pitting them, the cornel cherries should be sieved so that they can then be processed more easily. The best way to do this is to briefly boil the fruit in a pot with a little water and then pass the fruit market through a sieve. In this way, pith and kernels are cleanly separated from one another. Cornelian cherries taste particularly good when they are combined with apples or pears, as this softens the acidity.

Harvesting the cornel

Despite their name, cornel cherries are not related to the well-known cherries but belong to the dogwood family. The wild fruits are also called Herlitze or yellow dogwood and grow on tree-like shrubs at the edge of the forest. Cornelian cherries are ripe from September. When they are overripe and almost fall from the bush by themselves, it is the right time to harvest.

The vitamin bomb

The red fruits are rich in vitamins B and C, which strengthen the body’s defenses and have a positive effect on the immune system. Cornelian cherries also contain potassium, calcium, and iron, which are responsible for strengthening bones and for transporting oxygen in the blood. The fruit is also often used as a home remedy to reduce fever and for gastrointestinal diseases.

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Food

The 8 Best Mashed Potatoes Alternatives

“Gene men mei, fly away mashed potatoes” Bibi Blocksberg would call to her broom. And we associate our childhood not only with the little witch but also with mashed potatoes, which were regularly on the menu. It still tastes great today as a side dish. But the competition never sleeps and 8 great alternatives are waiting.

Pea puree

This pea puree brings a lot of color to the plate and is also vegan thanks to the use of soy cream. Cress and lemon provide a special flavor kick. Try the puree with children who don’t really like peas. Maybe the color and the creamy consistency will convince you.

Carrot and lentil puree

For those who like it a little exotic, this puree is just the thing. Lentils keep you full for a long time, coconut milk creates a holiday feeling at home. Top: This puree is also vegan.

Apple Celery Puree

This apple and celery puree is light and fruity, a wonderful substitute for mashed potatoes in classic dishes, and goes well with stewed meat.

Pumpkin puree

Autumn is definitely coming and then pumpkin will be at the top of our menu again. Why not as a creamy pumpkin puree? It can be complemented wonderfully with mushrooms. A true autumn feast.

Brussels sprouts puree

Although potatoes are used in this Brussels sprouts puree, if you want to keep the carbohydrate content low, you can simply add Brussels sprouts to the tubers. Vegetables are filling and healthy. If you don’t have fresh Brussels sprouts at home, you can simply use the frozen version.

Black salsify puree

Black salsify is a typical winter vegetable and contains the most nutrients of all vegetables after peas and beans. Therefore, this recipe for the delicious black salsify puree should definitely be reserved. The season starts in October and lasts until April.

Mashed sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are currently one of the absolute trend foods and are preferably served as fries with burgers. But a puree made from sweet potatoes also tastes great and should definitely be tried.

Chickpea puree

Chickpeas are real powerhouses that keep you full for a long time and provide lots of valuable ingredients. Legumes are therefore very popular with vegetarians and vegans in particular. The chickpea puree is also quick to prepare since the canned chickpeas are already pre-cooked and peeled.

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Food

Mozzarella: Aldi Has the Best

The mozzarella is presented all in white as a Caprese combination with tomatoes or baked-on pizza. But which one is the best? To find out, Stiftung Warentest took a closer look at a total of 20 mozzarellas. The result: The test winner can be found at the discounter Aldi – for around 55 cents.

Mozzarella on test

Stiftung Warentest examined a total of 20 mozzarellas in terms of taste and pollution in the laboratory. Including four mozzarellas made from buffalo milk and 16 from cow’s milk. The latter, in turn, contained two variants of the mini balls, three organic products, and two light and two lactose-free items.

Most of the mozzarellas were convincing in terms of taste and were rated “good” – there was no “poor” rating. The examination of the pollutants also showed a thoroughly positive result: 16 mozzarellas were rated “good” and four others were rated “very good”. However, an increased germ content was detected in three of these products.

The Top 5

Only products from discounters with the overall rating “good” can be found among the top 5. These are the rankings:

  1. “Casale Fresco Mozzarella Classico” from Aldi (North) for 55 cents
  2. “Casale Fresco Mozzarella Mini-Classico” from Aldi (North) for 79 cents
  3. “Bio Mozzarella” from Aldi (South) for 89 cents
  4. “Mondo Italiano Mozzarella” from Netto for 55 cents
  5. “Cucina Mozzarella classico” from Aldi (South) for 55 cents

Useful kitchen tips for mozzarella

  • Buffalo mozzarella is bright white, while mozzarella made from cow’s milk is cream-colored
  • Care should be taken with swollen packs: the mozzarella may have been stored too long and not chilled properly. The cheese may already have spoiled
  • Mozzarella develops its best flavor at room temperature
  • Eat mozzarella quickly after opening. The rule is: keep cool and in brine
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Food

The Best Snacks for Hiking

Soon it will start again, the popular hiking time: over mountains, through forests, and along rivers, it goes over hill and dale. So that the body has enough energy available and does not tire, wholesome snacks are important. In this article, you can read what hikers should consider when packing their lunch boxes.

Hiking snacks

So that the body is supplied with sufficient energy while hiking, it is important to put together the right snacks for hiking. Break bread, bars, and the like should primarily contain complex carbohydrates.

These keep you full for a long time and provide energy over a long period of time. In order not to unnecessarily burden the body with digestion and to prevent performance slumps, it is better to take several breaks and eat small snacks.

Whole grains, fruits & vegetables

Wholemeal bread, which is topped with mild cheese and a lettuce leaf or a slice of cucumber, is particularly recommended. Magnesium-rich bananas are also among the hiking snacks that definitely belong in your backpack. It is refreshing and revitalizing with tomato, cucumber, paprika, and other favorite vegetables – previously cut into bite-sized pieces.

Granola bar

Nuts such as almonds or walnuts, dried fruits such as dates or mangoes, and homemade muesli slices provide an energy boost. It is best to pack these individually and not together with the lunch break, as they can soften and take on the smell.

Beverages

Drinking enough is especially important when hiking, as it means physical exertion. Drinks are therefore part of the snacks for hiking. Mineral water, fruit spritzers (mixing ratio 2/3 water to 1/3 juice) and unsweetened herbal or fruit teas are best.

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Lifestyle

New Best Before Date in Norway

The best-before date: For many, the reference “best before” means “definitely lethal” – and so tons of food that is still edible ends up in the garbage. Norway is therefore now introducing a new formulation that is intended to lead consumers to more conscious consumption.

The best before date on food gives consumers an indication of how long a product can be enjoyed. Until this date, the manufacturer guarantees that the quality, taste, and appearance will remain unchanged.

After this date, however, a product does not automatically become inedible. Nevertheless, the expiry date is often combined with the use-by date – this actually states by when food should be consumed – for example in the case of meat products.

This misunderstanding leads to extreme food waste. Norway now wants to counteract this problem with a new best-before date.

New best before a date with the addition

The new expiry date is not actually a new date but a new formulation. The packaging will now say “Best before but not bad after” – several companies in Norway are already using this new formulation on their products.

Throw away less food

This innovation has not yet arrived in Germany, but here too the products should not be automatically thrown away as soon as they have reached their best-before date.

A common-sense check can help here: Is the product still edible? How does it smell, how does it look? A little taste test helps too. A product should definitely still be edible a few days after the best-before date. Also, make sure you store your groceries correctly and shop with foresight.

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Food

Comparison of Milk Alternatives: What is Which One Best Suited For?

The market for milk alternatives is growing all the time. This makes it difficult for many people to keep track and remember which plant-based milk is suitable for what.

Everything you need to know about plant milk

There are many different milk alternatives on the market today. This includes milk made from nuts, grains, legumes or oilseeds. Basically, the production of a plant milk is not as complicated as one might think: the selected ingredient is watered or soaked, then ground dry or wet and finally mixed with water. Depending on the ingredient you choose, the drink is then boiled or fermented. Solids are filtered out. In order to refine the taste of the drink, additional oils, sweeteners and/or salt are added to individual solutions.

If you decide to buy a product from the trade, you should definitely pay attention to possible preservatives, sweeteners and emulsifiers. One way to avoid this and have control over the ingredients is to make your own dairy alternative. Materials you need for this are usually just a cheesecloth and a good blender. It is best to choose regional oats to make your oat milk. Soak about 100g whole oats in water for 12 hours. Then you sieve the water, add a liter of water to the grains and puree everything very finely. Now use a funnel and cheesecloth to help you pour the liquid directly into bottles. If you like the milk a bit more flavorful, you can also add salt, vanilla, cinnamon, honey or dates before mixing.

If you choose a milk alternative, you can bring variety into your everyday life on the one hand, but you can also consciously integrate certain nutrients into your diet on the other. There are also other reasons for using milk alternatives: if you make your own milk, you can use regional ingredients. In addition, when buying industrially produced milk, there are mainly regional, fair and organic offers, so that you can also do something good for the environment. According to the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, plant-based milk is more convincing than cow’s milk in terms of the ecological balance: The emission of greenhouse gases in relation to the production of milk alternatives is far below the value in cow’s milk production. Land consumption is also significantly lower. Furthermore, one can take action against animal suffering in the dairy industry: Cows in dairy farms are usually exposed to extreme physical and psychological stress. If you want to prevent this, it can be a good step against animal suffering to use plant milk.

The most well-known milk alternatives

One of the best-known milk alternatives is soy milk. It is considered to be particularly versatile and can be used for baking, for example, but also for making smoothies, in muesli or in coffee. Soy has a very high protein content, which is why it is often chosen by athletes to support muscle building. Milk contains valuable potassium and magnesium, but also iron, zinc and many B vitamins. Depending on what you want to use the drink for, you can fall back on one of the different variants on the market: There is unsweetened and sweetened soy milk, some with vanilla, chocolate or banana flavor and mixed forms with rice or oat milk. If you choose a soy drink with added chia or linseed oil, you can add valuable omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, for example.

According to surveys, oat milk is the most popular milk substitute. It convinces above all with its richness in potassium and phosphorus; The fiber also has a stimulating effect on your digestion. Characteristic of oat drinks is the light and natural sweetness, so that no sugar is usually added. Compared to whole milk, oat milk is richer in unsaturated fatty acids. Oat milk is particularly popular in coffee, but can also be used in muesli, porridge or for baking.

The almond drink is particularly well-known: it is ideal for people who suffer from celiac disease, lactose or soy intolerance. One downside that milk brings is that many of the almond’s minerals are lost during soaking and filtering; however, 100 ml of almond milk contains approximately one to seven grams of unsaturated fatty acids, up to two grams of protein and traces of fiber. In order to increase the mineral content of this milk alternative again, artificial calcium or other minerals are usually added. Almond milk is mainly used to make drinks, dips, puddings or other desserts, as well as for daily muesli.

You should also know these drinks

If you like it a little more exotic, the coconut drink can be a great alternative for you: the coconut flavor is particularly popular in smoothies, cocktails and mueslis. The natural sweetness of the coconut drink can not only be used in sweet dishes, but also in savory dishes: you can use it to cook an exotic curry, for example. On the market, however, there is also the possibility to buy a drink with a slightly more subtle coconut flavor: There are, for example, mixed drinks with rice or almonds.

Among other things, the rice drink is rather unknown; nevertheless, it should not be ignored. Due to the fermentation during the manufacturing process, the rice drink has a slightly sweet taste: this means that the milk can be used in a variety of ways. The milk is particularly suitable for people who cannot use nut or soy milk due to allergies. The rice drink is also lactose- and gluten-free.

Pea drinks are currently not very common on the market, but they also have an increasingly high market potential. The advantages that the peas provide are the high protein content and relatively few calories. The protein content of around 8 to 10 grams per glass makes the milk alternative particularly interesting for athletes. The drink provides calcium and magnesium, added rapeseed oil supplies the body with omega-3 fatty acids. There are also different options for this milk: the original, the unsweetened and the barista milk, which is particularly suitable for frothing. Pea drinks can be used in muesli, but also in porridge, smoothies or coffee.

The only way to find out which milk substitute is best for you is to try it; However, the range is now so diverse that you can test a wide variety of products.

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Lifestyle

Get Rid of Hiccups: The Best Tips and Tricks Against Annoying Burping

Uncomfortable hiccups sometimes come out of nowhere and can be extremely annoying. We’ll tell you how burping occurs and which simple tricks and effective home remedies you can use to quickly get rid of hiccups.

This is what happens in your body when you hiccup

Babies hiccup even in the womb. However, there are different theories as to why the increased burping exists in the first place. On the one hand, it could be used to train the breathing reflex. Another theory is that this is to prevent fluid from entering the lungs.

What is certain, however, is that the diaphragm cramps during the hiccups. As a result, the glottis between the vocal cords closes reflexively. The inhaled air, which at this moment can no longer escape from the lungs, consequently hits against the closed vocal cords. According to the German Lung Foundation, this can cause the typical “hiccup” noise. Key nerves in the diaphragm (Nervus phrenicus) and in the brainstem count as triggers for the present spasm.

The most common causes: How do hiccups occur in the first place?

Hiccups can occur in a variety of situations. However, the unpleasant hiccups occur particularly frequently during or after eating – especially if the food was consumed too quickly. The belching is then caused by the increased swallowing of air. But also the immediate succession of hot and cold food or drinks can be a trigger for the spasm of the diaphragm. The situation is similar with strongly fluctuating temperature differences.

If you suffer from strong excitement or were frightened, the increased burping can also occur. Because in psychologically stressful situations, those affected usually tend to have hectic, restless breathing. Hiccups occur in a very similar way to the infrequent gulping of air when you eat too quickly. Heavy consumption of nicotine and alcohol is also a typical cause. Medications such as anesthetics or tranquilizers can also cause the unpleasant symptoms. If hiccups occur during pregnancy, the embryo is usually in a position that presses on the diaphragm.

Get rid of hiccups: These home remedies help best

A wide variety of home remedies and tips can be used as quick help against acute hiccups. Despite their differences, they all have one thing in common: the tricks are intended to distract those affected for a short time. Since hectic breathing in particular causes the diaphragm to cramp, it also helps to consciously relax it. Ultimately, the only way to find out which method is best for getting rid of stubborn hiccups is to try it out.

To get rid of hiccups, it is recommended to drink a glass of ice water or quite consciously think up answers to certain questions. These methods are intended to lead back to normal breathing through targeted distraction.
A popular home remedy for hiccups is a small portion of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice on a sugar cube. Thanks to the acid, the nerves are also briefly distracted.
If you drink fennel tea slowly, at best only by the spoonful, this can also help to get rid of annoying hiccups.
Laughter is not only fun, but also ensures a loosened and relaxed diaphragm.
If you let yourself be startled, it has a very similar effect to laughing. A jerky twitch in the event of a shock can allow the diaphragm to relax again after a brief contraction.
Holding your breath and swallowing dry several times is another good way to slowly regain control of your breathing.
Sticking out your tongue or rolling your back for a few breaths will also help calm your breathing. Both techniques ensure that breathing takes place more strongly over the abdomen and is thus more relaxed. As a result, the spasm in the diaphragm can relax.
Breathing regulation can also be achieved by holding your breath or breathing into a bag. This increases the carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂) in the blood and thus provokes deep, more even breathing. But be careful: you should not overdo it with this technique. Otherwise, circulatory problems and even loss of consciousness can result.

How to effectively prevent hiccups

To prevent hiccups, you should ensure an upright, straight posture when consuming food or drinks. You should also take your time eating and try to breathe as calmly as possible. Smaller portions also help. In addition, still, unsweetened drinks are generally better tolerated. On the other hand, carbonated liquids promote the occurrence of hiccups.

Chronic hiccups: You can do this if the burping is persistent

Usually hiccups only last a few minutes. The intensity can vary greatly – around four to 60 hiccups per minute are completely harmless. If the increased burping lasts longer than two days, experts speak of a so-called chronic hiccups. Those affected usually find this very stressful and exhausting. Not infrequently, lack of sleep and depression are the result. It is therefore particularly important that a doctor is consulted as soon as possible. Even if an exact determination of the causes of chronic hiccups is usually difficult, the symptoms can be alleviated with medication.

In some cases, other diseases are responsible for the chronic hiccups. On the one hand, these are inflammations in the esophagus, stomach or small intestine. If these are associated with swelling in particular, irritation of the diaphragm and its nerves is possible. On the other hand, nerve disorders, for example in the brain, can cause permanent restrictions and cramps in the diaphragm. In addition, hormonal diseases or infections, such as Ebola, are possible triggers for persistent, chronic hiccups.

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health

Sugar Makes You Sick: How Best to Avoid Fattening Foods

Very tasty, but extremely unhealthy: Sugar is in various forms in almost every food. However, particularly large amounts of the fattening agent are hidden in processed products. Here are the consequences of eating too much sugar and the best tips for eating less.

How much sugar is ok?

Assuming an average calorie consumption of 2000 kcal, that is 50 grams of sugar that you can consume per day. That corresponds to about half a liter of lemonade, 17 sugar cubes, or 100 grams of chocolate. So the recommended amount is reached quickly – but how do you manage to eat less sugar effectively and easily?

There are many different testimonials from people who give up sugar, but not every way works. First of all, the most important thing is to reduce the daily amount of sugar – this is particularly difficult for many at the beginning, because our body and our taste buds are used to the sweet experience.

Ways to eat less sugar

The aim of the reduction is to sensitize our taste for sweets again. Because if you eat sugar again after giving up, it tastes all the sweeter. Now you have to either continue to do without sugar or cut out sugary foods. For example, Ökotest suggests diluting juices with water or mixing fruit yoghurt with plain yoghurt.

You should also pay attention to the list of ingredients when shopping: Sugar is often added as a flavor enhancer to many processed products. Especially here you can eat a lot of sugar quickly. The bestselling author of the “Nutrition Compass”, Bas Kast, therefore always recommends: “Cook yourself with fresh, natural food” – because this is the only way to really have control over the ingredients and the sugar intake.

Eat sugar: Less is always better

The realization that sugar is unhealthy and that we should eat as little of it as possible is nothing new. However, the fact that the health consequences can go as far as cancer is very shocking. So in order to really pay attention to a healthy diet with little sugar, the best thing to do is simply stop eating.

That means no sugar in the coffee, no sweets in the evening and always cook with fresh ingredients. This is difficult for many to implement, but reducing the amount of sugar is a step in the right direction. “Enjoy, the dose makes the poison,” agrees the expert Bas Kast.

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Food

No Cow’s Milk: These are The Best (and Worst) Milk Alternatives

Animal suffering, high water consumption and a bad CO2 balance: More and more people are switching from cow’s milk to plant-based milk. But are the cow’s milk alternatives really that much more sustainable?

Instead of cow’s milk: plant-based milk is trendy

The life cycle assessment for the production of cow’s milk does not come off too well. In addition to factory farming and the general animal suffering, this is another reason for many people to switch to plant-based milk. In addition, a Nobel Prize winner warns of cancer from beef and milk. Babies are particularly at risk.

The move away from animal milk is a general trend – sales of milk alternatives such as almond milk, soy milk or oat milk continue to increase from year to year. But do milk alternatives really do better than conventional cow’s milk in terms of sustainability?

Cow’s milk alternative: rainforest clearing for soy milk?

Soy milk is considered the most common and popular alternative to cow’s milk. However, also as the most controversial. However, the ecological balance also leaves a lot to be desired here. Around 35 million tons of soy are imported into the EU every year, 50 percent of which comes from Brazil. However, the rain forests suffer from the fact that these huge quantities of soya are transported to Europe.

At the expense of the rainforests in South America, huge fields are being planted specifically for soybean cultivation. However, it should be mentioned here that soy is not primarily used for plant-based soy products, but mainly as fodder for animals in Europe. According to the manufacturer Alpro, soy in plant drinks and similar products is made in Europe and Canada.

Oat milk performs best

Probably the most sustainable cow’s milk alternative is oat milk. The grain is mainly sourced from regional farms and, in contrast to the other dairy products and alternatives, uses relatively little water. In addition, due to the regional or at least European cultivation, the transport routes are much shorter than, for example, with almond milk. According to the Albert Schweizer Foundation, oat milk uses only 40 percent of the energy for production compared to semi-skimmed cow’s milk and at the same time requires 80 percent less space.

Almonds from California have a bad ecological balance

Most of the water is definitely used in the production of almond milk. Since about 80 percent of the almonds used come from the Californian desert and therefore extra large areas are cultivated for this, the water consumption is extremely high. In addition, almond trees per se require a relatively large amount of water. Thus, the water consumption of almond milk is about 17 times higher than that of cow’s milk. However, about a tenth fewer greenhouse gases are released in return.

The exotic: coconut milk as an alternative

Very popular, especially in Asian curries and other dishes, but not yet established as a pure milk substitute: coconut milk. According to every second coconut product contains harmful substances such as mineral oil, plasticizers or chlorate. In addition, coconut products have a pretty bad CO2 balance because of the long transport routes. This effect is intensified by the fact that the coconut palm grows quite slowly and is not very productive. Overall, the coconut milk can not score in terms of sustainability.

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Food

Ginger Lemon Iced Tea: Recipe For The Best Summer Drink in The World – Without Alcohol

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.

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