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Carotene: Does it Really Have to Be Capsules and Tablets?

Carotene tablets are supposed to protect our skin and, as “beauty capsules”, ensure “beauty from within”. But is it really necessary to supplement carotene or can we also meet our needs naturally?

What are carotenes?

Carotenes are secondary plant substances and belong to the group of carotenoids. They are the reason for the red, yellow or orange coloring of various types of fruit and vegetables. Synthetically produced, they are therefore also often used as food coloring. The name comes from the Latin word “carota”, which means “carrot” and thus alludes to the best-known carotene supplier.

There are over 600 carotene variants, of which around 60 can be converted into vitamin A by the human organism. The so-called beta-carotene has the highest vitamin A activity and is therefore the best-known and most important representative of the carotenes. Since it is an important precursor of vitamin A, it is also referred to as provitamin A.

Why do we need carotene?

The most important function of carotenes is their cell-protecting (antioxidative) effect: carotenes eliminate free oxygen radicals in the tissue and thus protect us from harmful environmental influences such as infections and UV rays. Carotene is also instrumental in strengthening our immune system.

If carotenes are converted by metabolism, they fulfill other important functions as vitamin A. The importance for our eyesight is well known. Surely everyone has heard the saying “Have you ever seen a rabbit with glasses?” However, what many do not know is that without vitamin A we would not be able to see anything at all. The gaze impulses that hit our eyes first have to be forwarded to the brain, where they are processed into correct images. This forwarding would not even take place without vitamin A. A vitamin A deficiency can therefore actually lead to visual disturbances, such as night blindness or reduced visual acuity, as well as very dry eyes.

Another well-known function of vitamin A is its importance for our skin. Dry, irritated or very sensitive skin can be a sign of vitamin A deficiency, as this plays a key role in the structure of the skin. Vitamin A is also important for the stability of our bones and the functionality of our mucous membranes.

Which foods contain carotene?

In the dietary supplement market, carotene tablets are advertised as “sun protection from within”, “help to activate a tan” or “cure against dry skin”. However, if you integrate different types of fruit and vegetables into your diet every day, you will be able to cover your need for carotene without tablets and pellets. According to the German Society for Nutrition, the recommended daily intake of carotene is two to four milligrams.

As a rule of thumb, all red, yellow, or orange fruits and vegetables are high in carotene. These include e.g.:
carrots
sweet potatoes
pumpkin
paprika
tomatoes
apricots
mangoes
nectarines
peaches
sea ​​buckthorn
persimmons
But many green vegetables also provide your body with carotene. The color of the carotene is overlaid by the green of the high chlorophyll content. Kale has the highest carotene content of all foods: just 25 to 40 grams cover your daily requirement. Spinach, rocket, savoy cabbage or lamb’s lettuce are also examples of vegetables containing carotene.

So that your body can use the carotene accordingly, you should always eat the vegetables and fruits mentioned with some (high-quality) fat. For example, you can sauté vegetables in some oil or butter, add olive or linseed oil to your salad, or sprinkle some nuts and seeds over your fruit salad. In order to make it even easier for your body to digest it, you should also chew the food long enough or enjoy it pureed or as juice.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: The Fat is Important, The Capsules Are Expensive

Omega-3 fatty acids are supposed to be important in some way. But does that also apply to fish oil dragees and omega-3 capsules? And what is the role of omega-3 fatty acids anyway?

The benefit is simply not sufficiently proven. This applies to healthy people as well as to high-risk patients who have already had a heart attack. The experts also found insufficient evidence for other areas of application such as the prevention of dementia or age-related eye diseases.

This is important because many people spend a lot on omega-3 fatty acids, up to 90 cents a day. According to the test, the need for omega-3 fatty acids can be met even without fish, for example with rapeseed and linseed oil or walnuts. According to the German Society for Nutrition, people in this country are adequately supplied with plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Background: Omega 3 and fatty acids

Basically, you have to distinguish between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids belong to the group of unsaturated fatty acids.

Saturated fats are easy to recognize: they are solid at room temperature. This includes all animal fats and, for example, palm oil. Saturated fatty acids are not essential to life, and if consumed in excess, they are even considered harmful, partly because of their increasing effect on blood cholesterol levels.
Unsaturated fats are more complicated because there are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fatty acids are found, for example, in olive oil, canola oil and many nuts and seeds. The body is able to produce these monounsaturated fatty acids itself; they are therefore not essential.
The polyunsaturated fatty acids include omega-3 fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid and also omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid, which is contained in safflower oil or sunflower oil. The body cannot produce polyunsaturated fatty acids – such as linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid – so they are essential.

The three omega-3 fatty acids

Does the “omega-3” fatty acid even exist? No: In reality there are many different ones, of which only three are well known because they are particularly important for the human metabolism:
α-linolenic acid,
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Vegetable food contains almost exclusively α-linolenic acid, fatty fish such as eel, herring or sardines contain DHA and EPA. There is a herbal exception for DHA and EPA: algae. Red algae in particular contain the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids otherwise only found in fish.

Function of omega-3 fatty acids

The list of processes in which omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the body and their properties is long. However, this shows how important such high-quality fats are for our body – it just doesn’t work completely without fat. The omega-3 fatty acids are involved in

the structure of cell membranes,
the hormone production,
the correct function of eyes, nerves and muscles.
Omega-3 fatty acids improve blood flow,
prevent thrombosis,
work against inflammation,
support the immune system,
promote blood circulation,
EPA and DHA fatty acids lower blood lipid levels,
α-linolenic acid ensures bone stability,
DHA DHA lowers blood pressure and supports fetal brain development.
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This list is just a sample of the many functions of omega-3 fatty acids, showing how important these essential fatty acids are to the human body.

Omega 3 deficiency?

A lack of essential fatty acids leads to various deficiency symptoms such as skin changes (excessive keratinization), susceptibility to infections, growth disorders, hair loss and a lack of blood platelets. However, what is not immediately “visible” and therefore difficult to understand is the fact that patients with various diseases have very low levels of fatty acids. These include the following diseases:
depression
breast cancer
Alzheimer’s and dementia
schizophrenia
ADHD
The scientific studies have not yet been completed, but initial results indicate that inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma are also positively influenced by omega-3 fatty acids and that a lack of fatty acids aggravates the course of the disease.

Omega-3 overdose

There is a study that suggests that consuming too much α-linolenic acid increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, this study did not come to a conclusive result, so that further research is currently being carried out. If too many omega-3 fatty acids are ingested – for example through omega-3 capsules – nausea and vomiting can occur and the “good” HDL cholesterol can be reduced. There are no other clearly documented side effects of excessive intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Daily requirement of omega-3 fatty acids

There is no uniform information on the daily requirement for omega-3 fatty acids. For α-linolenic acid, the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) states that 0.5 percent of the daily energy intake should be covered by α-linolenic acid. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) states that a daily consumption of 250 milligrams of EPA and/or DHA is recommended, while US health and government organizations with values ​​of 100 to 600 milligrams of EPA/DHA are well above the European recommendations . The DGE recommends that pregnant women take in at least 200 milligrams of DHA per day.

Which foods contain fatty acids?

As already mentioned at the beginning, α-linolenic acid is generally found in plant foods such as flaxseed or walnuts. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are found in oily fish such as eel, herring or sardines and also in algae such as the microalgae Schizochytrium and Ulkenia. To some extent, α-linolenic acid can be converted to DHA and EPA, but the conversion is limited.

However, it is not only the intake of such essential fatty acids through our food that is decisive, but also that the ratio of these fatty acids to one another is optimal. The higher the proportion of omega-3 fatty acids and the lower the proportion of omega-6 fatty acids, the more optimal the oil is. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 should not be more than 1:5 in order to keep the cardiovascular risk low.

The “healthy olive oil”, highly praised by good marketing, comes off surprisingly badly at 1:11: it has an unfavorable ratio. Local linseed oil (1:4) has the highest omega-3 content. If you don’t like the intense taste, you can also use rapeseed oil (1:2), walnut oil (1:6) or soybean oil (1:7), which are much healthier in their fatty acid ratios than the widespread sunflower oil (1:122) and corn oil (1:54) or Peanut Oil (1:32) – Oils that are popular in the hospitality industry because they are cheap and highly heatable.

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Coffee Pods or Coffee Capsules? Similarities and Differences…

For coffee connoisseurs, it has long been a deterrent not to brew coffee in powder form or freshly ground from the previously seen coffee beans. In recent years, however, two new options have become more and more established and many traditional coffee drinkers have been whet their appetites through quality, taste and the almost infinite number of different aromas. Nowadays, coffee is also prepared and consumed in pods or capsules. In terms of price, these relatively new forms of coffee enjoyment hardly differ, but what is the difference in the end and what are the similarities? As a coffee lover, how do you find out what the right way of brewing coffee is for someone personally?

Both forms of preparation have in common that you can use them to prepare your favorite hot drink extremely easily. For both forms, you need special coffee machines to process the capsules or pads. With both of them you can only prepare exactly one portion of coffee. So with both options there is the great advantage that you no longer prepare your morning coffee by the pot, but one portion after the other. You can even switch between the flavors while enjoying it. The only problem for people with ecological awareness is the significantly higher waste production, because more waste is produced for every new coffee.

The coffee pads consist of small filter bags and the capsules are even made of plastic, which according to the manufacturer should be extremely environmentally friendly. Even if the purchase of a corresponding machine is relatively cheap, the criticism is also directed towards the follow-up costs, because these are significantly higher than with normal coffee due to the high consumption of the individual portions. At the end of the day, this of course means a significantly higher profit per gram of coffee sold for the manufacturer. For the user only higher enjoyment and more comfort during and before the same. The biggest advantage of coffee capsules, according to the advocates of this format, is above all the increased freshness. The coffee is protected from air in the capsule and is actually only opened shortly before it is actually brewed. The aroma should therefore be maximum and is therefore perfect for coffee connoisseurs who like to consume their coffee fresh.

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Capsules, Pads or Beans?

Technical developments simplify our lives in many ways. But is it always the case that you ensure an increased joie de vivre and that simplification is synonymous with better quality? Using capsules and pads for coffee preparation is modern and practical. But what do the relatively newly created preparation forms of the freshly ground bean do and what not?

Coffee capsules

The “Nespresso” system from Nestlé, in which capsules are used for the preparation of coffee in special machines, is already over 40 years old, but was only able to prevail a few years ago. Critics claim that the product is not improved, but a newly oriented advertising strategy. In the meantime, the devices are widespread and available in many versions. In addition to the simple coffee, many coffee specialties are now also offered, such as espresso, latte macchiato and others. Even flavored drinks can be prepared with the Nespresso machines. The assertion of some consumers that the drinks somehow taste artificial is a matter of taste. But it could also be because the raw material coffee cannot be used pure. It must be converted and prepared “capsule -friendly”. After that, it must be durable and despite all the production steps, the contents of the capsule must taste like coffee after preparation.

However, the biggest shortcoming is the environmental pollution from the empty capsules. They are made of aluminum and therefore recyclable, but must first be produced extensively and fed afterwards.

Coffee pads

Coffee pads offer the opportunity to quickly drink a hot drink of constant taste. In the meantime, they have been on the market for more than a decade, but could not prevail on a large scale. Coffee broth systems for the gastronomy, which worked on the basis of the technology developed for Senseo, had no chance. Somehow they look like a marginal phenomenon in the coffee world. Most coffee drinkers referred to the taste of a coffee from a pad as acceptable, but in no way outstanding. Compared to the capsules, pads offer the advantage that the remains are completely degradable. The purchase of a special coffee pad machine needs to be considered due to the follow -up costs. Compared to the whole bean, pads are much more expensive compared to the amount of coffee/gram. Both the use of capsules and pads requires the purchase of a separate device. The decision for one of them binds it to the chosen preparation type.

Coffee beans

Fresh beans require a higher effort because you always have to grind the coffee first. But keep in mind: the taste is in the beans! Only when these are ground does the unique aroma of the coffee develop. If this has happened, the coffee should be consumed as soon as possible, because the longer the contact with the air lasts, the more the components that matters. Anyone who makes the comparison will find that the original is still the best. Enjoy your coffee freshly brewed in the cup or pot or use the proven French-press system. Brewed coffee should never be in contact with oxygen over a longer period of time. It not only loses taste, but may become bitter and therefore even inedible. Better fresh coffee again and again. If the preparation in the cup, the jug or fench-press does not agree, consider a one-time purchase: a fully automatic coffee machine not only grinds the coffee fresh for every cup, but also presses the hot water with the necessary pressure through the powder. A cup of coffee prepared in this way contains all the digestible substances of the drink, with the harmful remaining in the powder. In addition, the aroma is protected by the fine crema on the coffee to the last sip.

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Coffee Capsules – Enjoying Coffee at The Expense of The Environment?

In addition to coffee pods, coffee capsules are also very trendy. But this one is criticized because the capsules produce a lot of waste.

A controversial trend in the coffee market – the coffee capsules

Fast, uncomplicated coffee is trendy. No wonder, after all, fewer and fewer people are taking the time to have a relaxed breakfast in the morning. Instead, it has to be quick at this time of the day. The portion coffee machines are just what they need here and are therefore real bestsellers. Whether with pad or coffee capsules, the desired product only has to be inserted and after a few seconds the coffee will bubble into the cup. There is no need for time-consuming preparation or follow-up work. The stylish coffee machines are particularly popular in single households, but they are also very popular as a supplement to the classic filter machine. However, the capsule machines have come under criticism for various reasons. Is this criticism justified?

The history of coffee capsules

The history of coffee capsules is closely related to the food company Nestlé and the associated label Nespresso. After the Second World War, the filter coffee machine dominated German households for a long time. But the first portion coffee machines were developed as early as 1970. Nestle also experimented with the first capsules from 1970 and applied for a patent for them. The market launch took place in 1980. Initially, sales were rather sluggish. It was not until the 1990s that the coffee capsule became more and more popular. The reason for this was not least the intensive advertising campaigns with George Clooney, among others. Since then, coffee from the capsule has been a worldwide success. For a long time, Nestlé was unrivalled. Only when the patents expired did a battle for market leadership in the coffee capsules area develop.

This is how the coffee capsule works

Coffee capsules only work with special coffee machines. Usually only one capsule of the same brand fits into the corresponding coffee machine. To enjoy the coffee, hot water is pressed into the capsule at high pressure. The coffee is brewed in the capsule itself. As soon as the maximum pressure is reached, the aluminum capsule ruptures and the drink flows into the cup. Due to the different capsule sizes from 40 to 110 milliliters, different portions are possible. Of course, the coffee capsules are available in many different flavors

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Small But Mighty: What Are the Advantages of Coffee Capsules?

The way to the perfect Italian coffee is quick and uncomplicated thanks to coffee capsules. In terms of taste, the small capsules are in no way inferior to other forms of coffee preparation. On the contrary! You can find out the advantages of coffee capsules here.

How coffee capsules revolutionized the market

Coffee is considered an indispensable part of quality of life across all social classes. Thanks to the coffee capsule, enjoying a hot drink became a lifestyle experience at the beginning of the millennium.
Its history goes back several years. The engineer Eric Favre invented the capsule system as early as 1970, which first came onto the market in 1986. But the breakthrough of coffee capsules only came in 2001. Since then, this form of coffee preparation has enjoyed great popularity and has changed drinking habits, especially in western industrialized nations. No wonder: The coffee capsule systems have a lot of advantages, both in terms of preparation and taste.

With coffee capsule machines, preparation is child’s play

Thanks to the machines, which are designed for coffee capsules, there is no time-consuming preparation. The preparation is very simple:

Clamp the coffee capsule with portioned coffee powder into the capsule machine.
Place a cup or mug under the nozzle.
At the push of a button, water gets into the small can with great pressure. There the coffee brews itself first.
The coffee capsule ruptures due to the high pressure.
The finished coffee then flows through the opening directly into the cup. The result can be seen and tasted: The coffee tastes just like you know it from an Italian café – and all that at the push of a button!

The advantage: Better crema and more aroma

The preparation in the capsule machine has a decisive advantage in terms of later enjoyment. It is due to the fact that the coffee brews itself under high pressure in the capsule. Thanks to this process, your coffee is then crowned with a particularly beautiful crema, and more aromatic substances are released than with conventional preparation.

In addition to the better crema and the aromatic taste, the capsules have another advantage: you can be sure that your coffee always tastes the same. Aroma and strength do not change because the capsules always contain the same amount of coffee.

Coffee capsules preserve aroma particularly well

Coffee capsules are made of plastic or aluminum and are also individually wrapped so that the aroma is fully preserved.

Since the freshly ground coffee is sealed in a capsule, it is optimally protected from oxygen, light and moisture. The aroma is preserved particularly well and only released again during preparation. In this way, you can always enjoy particularly fresh coffee with capsules.

Storage: What is the best way to store the coffee capsules?

When it comes to storage, coffee capsules come in handy. Because unlike coffee beans, ground coffee or coffee pods, they stay fresh even without a sealable jar.

Anyone who values order in the kitchen is well advised to use space-saving and elegant storage solutions such as caskets or capsule holders.

Simple and easy to care for: the coffee capsule machine

The capsule machine is always quickly ready for use. It only takes a few seconds for the device to heat up. Then you can brew your coffee at the push of a button.

But that’s not all: the maintenance of the capsule machine is also easy. You can easily clean removable inserts. And like any other coffee machine, you should descale your capsule machine from time to time.

Varied drinking pleasure thanks to coffee capsules

There are many different types of coffee capsules – so you have plenty of variety in your cup. So you can enjoy a delicious crema in the morning and a strong espresso in between. In households with several people, everyone can brew their favorite type of coffee whenever they like.

Coffee capsules are therefore not only ideal for preparing individual portions, but are also very popular with families where everyone prefers a different type, or in offices where individual portions are regularly prepared.

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Sustainable Coffee Capsules: What Differentiates “Biodegradable” and “Compostable”

Coffee capsules are super practical: easy to portion and clean to use. For a clear conscience, they are even available in eco-friendly! However, with gradations, because some of these capsules conserve resources more than others. Looking for particularly sustainable coffee capsules? Then you should know the difference between biodegradable and compostable coffee capsules!

What does “biodegradable” mean?

“Biodegradable coffee capsules” – that sounds pretty sustainable. But let’s take a closer look: The expression “biodegradable” generally means that a substance can be decomposed by biological mechanisms, for example by microorganisms or enzymes. The only waste products left with biodegradable materials are water, carbon dioxide and biomass. However, the term “biodegradable” only refers to the chemical structure of the materials used, not to the raw materials used. For example, biodegradable plastics can contain degradable polyester. Their origin, on the other hand, can be bio-based (e.g. wood) or fossil (petroleum).

What does bio-based mean?

Bio-based refers to the raw material from which something is made. A bio-based polymer is made entirely or partially from biomass, i.e. from renewable raw materials such as trees, plants, crops or grasses. In contrast to fossil resources, biomass is a renewable, i.e. sustainable resource. Not all biodegradable plastics are completely bio-based. It is often a matter of mixtures with fossil components, which in turn are not resource-saving.

And even if packaging is also declared as bio-based, that does not mean that it consists exclusively of renewable raw materials. After all, in order to be able to call themselves bio-based, plastics only need to contain at least 40 percent biomass.

Can I dispose of biodegradable coffee capsules in the compost?

Let’s come to the question of disposal. Can you throw biodegradable coffee capsules in the compost or organic waste? The answer is: No! Because even if biodegradable plastic can decompose completely, it sometimes takes several years. Therefore, biodegradable coffee capsules end up in the residual waste after the coffee has been consumed.

Compostable coffee capsules are more sustainable

When it comes to sustainability, so-called compostable coffee capsules are a step further than the “biodegradable” label. But what exactly does compostable mean? In this case: biodegradable under certain conditions and within a certain time. A substance is considered compostable when it decomposes in industrial composting facilities under specified conditions:
within twelve weeks
at around 60 degrees Celsius
at least 90 percent
These conditions cannot normally be achieved on domestic compost. And according to the Organic Waste Ordinance, even compostable coffee capsules are not allowed to be disposed of with organic waste. Therefore, you should also dispose of them in the residual waste.

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