Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

big

Browsing
Food

Carob: Brown Powder with a Big Effect

Carob has long been established in organic supermarkets. Carob what? The powder from the dried fruits of the carob tree contains numerous nutrients – and offers a delicious alternative to chocolate. Exactly the reason to take a closer look. Together with ChocoSan, we will introduce you to the advantages of the superfood and give you delicious tips on how to prepare it.

Origin and production of carob

Carob is the roasted and finely ground pulp of the carob fruit. They grow on the carob tree, whose best-known product in this country is probably the carob bean gum. In order to obtain carob, the ripe fruits are cleaned, broken up, and crushed. After the stalks and seeds are removed, the pulp is either dried, roasted for longer shelf life, and then ground or processed directly into syrup.

The nutritional content of carob

Carob contains hardly any sodium and fat, but a high proportion of high-quality dietary fiber. Together with the natural sugar they contain, they provide a lot of energy with a relatively small amount of calories (255 kcal per 100 g). In addition, there are vitamins A, B, and E, trace elements such as iron and manganese, natural minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as secondary plant substances such as flavonoids with antioxidant properties. Unlike cocoa, carob is also free of stimulating substances such as theobromine and caffeine.

And last but not least, carob can also have a positive effect on digestion and support the natural function of the gastrointestinal tract thanks to its high proportion of fiber and starch. In addition, carob is said to have a basic effect.

The uses of carob

In principle, carob can be used wherever cocoa powder is usually used as an ingredient. With its sweetish, caramel-like taste, carob resembles the taste of cocoa but is less bitter than it. Carob offers interesting taste variations in cakes, creamy desserts such as pudding, or in spreads. To get used to the transition from chocolate to carob, it is initially advisable to replace only part of the cocoa used with carob and then gradually increase this proportion. Since carob already contains sugar, you can also use less sweetener. This is how you save additional calories!

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Save Money and Energy: Washing Clothes at 30 or 40 Degrees – That’s How Big The Difference is

It doesn’t matter whether you wash the laundry at 30 or 40 degrees? No – because lower temperatures not only save energy and costs. You also have another advantage. How big is the difference really?

Washing at low temperatures: what about cleanliness?

As far as washing the laundry is concerned, many fall into a certain routine after a while – and then always wash at the usual number of degrees. At first glance, the difference between 30 and 40 degrees sounds very small; after all, it is just 10 degrees more that are generated in your washing machine. However, these 10 degrees are by no means low for the washing machine: it requires almost twice the energy if it has to bring the temperature to a full 40 instead of just 30 degrees.

The worry that the laundry won’t get really clean or isn’t hygienic if you wash it at lower temperatures is usually unfounded. Washing machine technology is so advanced today that laundry can be cleaned at just 20 degrees. A so-called hot wash (a wash cycle that can heat up to 90 degrees) is only necessary in the case of contagious diseases or a special need for hygiene – according to the Stiftung Warentest.

If you want to be on the safe side that the laundry is completely germ-free even at 30 degrees, you should let it dry in the fresh air if possible. Here, the sun kills various germs with the help of UV radiation.

Focus on costs and the environment

When comparing the washing temperatures, it can be seen that there is no noticeable difference in the cleaning effect.
However, if you take a look at power consumption and the environment, you can see some significant differences:

If you normally wash at 60 degrees and now turn it down to 40 degrees, about 50 percent of the electricity costs are saved
If you calculate this down from 60 to 30 degrees, you save as much as 67 percent.
Depending on the electricity provider, you save around 40 euros if you wash about three times a week. It is therefore worth switching to lower temperatures.
You are also doing something good for the environment, as the lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions can only be reduced by washing at lower temperatures; and by up to 35 percent. The Federal Environment Agency recommends: Washing permanently at the lowest possible temperature and only choosing a program at 60 degrees once a month to prevent the growth of germs in the washing machine. For example, bedding or towels should be washed.

Conclusion: washing at low temperatures – so what’s the point?

Unless you have an illness or other reason that makes you forced to do a hot wash, try to do a hot wash only once a month. You don’t lose anything when it comes to cleanliness: Today’s washing machine technology and detergents ensure clean laundry even at low temperatures.

If you wash at low temperatures, this offers advantages for you and the environment. On the one hand you can save money in the long run, on the other hand you also help to reduce CO2 emissions. In summary, there are no disadvantages for you if you wash at low temperatures.

The initial question as to whether it makes a difference to wash laundry at 30 or 40 degrees can therefore be answered in the affirmative. There is no noticeable difference in terms of cleanliness, but all the more so in terms of the environment and the costs involved.

Keep Reading
By
health

Forest Bathing – Breathe a Sigh of Relief for the Big City Soul

During the lunch break we like to have a good time with my harvest. We cook something delicious together, sit outside when the weather is good. It is not uncommon for Wanda to take her dog to the nearby forest in the evening and especially at the weekend. There she can take her time, take a break and gather new energy.

The forest, with its tall trees, some of which are centuries old, emanates a power and calm that awaken a feeling of security in us. At the same time, this complex ecosystem, which consists of bushes, herbs, wildflowers and a variety of animals, makes us happy and awakens our spirits.

Forest bathing – feel-good import from Japan

The Japanese have dedicated an entire field of study to the regenerative effect of the forest and have been researching the health effects that a walk in the forest can bring with them for several decades. This trend is called Shinrin Yoku, which in Japanese means something like bathing in the atmosphere of the forest. Entire forests of forest trails have been created to provide relaxation, stimulation and focus.

Swimming without a lake? This is how forest bathing works!

You don’t have to venture into the cold lake or dive into the sea of ​​leaves for classic forest bathing. Rather, one is immersed in the cool and humid air, the tangy smell of fir trees, the sounds of birds and the soft and soothing green of the foliage. The forest can be perceived with every sense, you can surrender to it and get in intensive contact with it and the life in it.

Originally, Shinrin Yoku exercises were carried out in the forest, similar to Qigong. You can also encounter the forest through meditation exercises, cycling or a quiet walk. You can stroll carefully through the forest without much haste, take your time and look, feel and listen to what the forest has to show you. Astonishing effects can occur in your own body through this mindfulness and attention.

Tips to open up to the forest

There are no rules (but surely there’s no harm in turning off your phone…)
Perception and attention can be opened to all impressions of the forest
Walking meditations, i.e. an additional concentration on your own breath, can help to banish everyday worries for a moment and to fully engage with the experiences in the forest

Health effects of forest bathing

Some studies have examined the health effects of staying in the forest and have been able to prove that blood pressure and stress hormones in the human body are reduced and that muscles relax when bathing in the forest.

Health scientists in Tokyo have shown that a day in the forest can increase the number of human immune cells by 50%. Even if research results confirm our intuitive positive perception of the forest, the question remains: How does this stimulation arise?

50 shades of green

There are various explanations for this. From naturopathy comes the theory that the body subconsciously remembers that nature and the forest are our original habitat, offering us protection and nourishment. A psychological interpretation is that the scent of the forest evokes positive childhood memories and that this positive conditioning is also reflected in health. The coloring of the forest with its variety of green tones can also be responsible for calming the nerves and stimulating the immune system.

Whatever the reason why we feel so safe in the forest. The short vacation in the forest helps to reduce stress and to find relaxation.

Keep Reading
By