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Rosehip Powder: Effect, Side Effects and Application

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

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

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

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

Rosehip powder as a nutrient supplier

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

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

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

This is how rosehip powder works

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does rosehip powder have any side effects?

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

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

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Cooking Tips

The Cappuccino Effect

Physics and chemistry in the kitchen and when cooking are nothing new, but physics when drinking coffee or even more clearly when drinking cappuccino are for us. Actually, enjoying a good cappuccino should above all relax, but relaxed learns and teaches it better. So welcome to lesson 1 in coffee physics. Today: The cappuccino effect. The situation is as follows: If you stir a cappuccino and then tap the bottom of the cup with the spoon at intervals that are not too large and not too small, you can hear very clearly how the resulting sound is very muffled when you first tap it and deep, but builds up to a very high pitch until the last knock. Why is that?

There were first scientific discussions on this topic as early as the late 1960s, and the cappuccino effect can be perceived so quickly and is presented so often by accident that so many cappuccino drinkers have noticed it all over the world and, of course, above all in internet forums about it was discussed. The explanations for this effect are as diverse as, of course, largely wrong. The correct explanation for this phenomenon, which incidentally also occurs with tea with sugar or milk with cocoa, is of course served here with us. The excessive milk froth in a good cappuccino is to blame for the change in the sound of the spoon tapping.

The sound travels more slowly through the air than through liquid, thanks to the frothed and stirred milk froth. A slow sound means a deep tone and the high tone can only be heard again when the air bubbles are slowly removed from the liquid and have settled in their milk froth crown. This also explains why the sound only slowly returns to its normal level.

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Food

Lavender Tea: Effect and How to Make It Yourself

Lavender tea is a versatile and proven remedy. It has a calming effect on the nervous system and can help with various ailments. Here you can find out how to make lavender tea yourself and what you should consider when preparing it.

Lavender tea has an intense aroma and a delicate scent. In addition, lavender tea is a good way to benefit from the versatile healing properties of the plant. Even the ancient Romans used lavender as a medicinal plant and as a bath additive. And the colorful blossoms are still very much appreciated in monastery gardens to this day.

Lavender flowers are used to make lavender tea. You can find out how to make the tea yourself below. If you want to buy lavender tea, you should definitely use organic quality flowers. Öko-Test found increased residues of pesticides and other pollutants in conventional teas.

This is how lavender tea works

Lavender can not only enrich your garden, the medicinal plant also has a wide range of health effects. The valuable ingredients of the flower are responsible for this. These include, among others:

essential oils
tannins
bitter substances
flavonoids
saponins
Lavender has been extensively studied in both animal and human studies. A study from 2013 dealt extensively with the effects of lavender, especially on the nervous system. The following properties of lavender were proven:

antibacterial
antiviral
anti-inflammatory
calming
pain relieving
anxiolytic
mood-enhancing
antispasmodic
circulation-enhancing
You can use lavender tea for various ailments:

Insomnia: Lavender tea can calm and help you fall asleep better. The tea is even said to intensify sleep. The best way to do this is to drink a cup of lavender tea before bed. Even if you suffer from jet lag, you can use lavender tea.
Depressive moods and anxiety: Lavender can have a calming effect on our nervous system and relieves anxiety. In addition, it brightens your mood. It is best to drink two to three cups throughout the day.
Indigestion: Its calming effect also helps with indigestion and can relieve abdominal cramps. It is important that you only let the tea steep for a short time. The highly concentrated essential oils could also irritate your mucous membranes.
Menstrual cramps: Lavender tea can relieve abdominal cramps and has a physically and mentally calming effect.
Respiratory diseases: Lavender can relax the airways and helps against viruses and bacteria, especially in the case of coughs and diseases of the bronchi.
Blemishes and acne: You can use lavender tea as a bath additive for external use on blemishes and acne. To do this, boil a liter of lavender tea and add the tea to your bath.
Lavender tea is generally well tolerated and also suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. A 2015 study looked at the positive effects of lavender tea on new mothers. The participants felt less exhausted and depressed, and lavender tea had a positive effect on mother-child bonding.

In addition to tea, lavender is also often used as lavender oil for medicinal purposes. Here, the content of essential oils is significantly higher, so the effect is different.

Make your own lavender tea

Only the colorful blossoms are used for homemade lavender tea.

At best, lavender grows in your garden. You should make sure that it is real lavender “Lavandula angustifolia” so that you can benefit from the healing effect.

How to make lavender tea yourself:

Harvest lavender:

Depending on the weather conditions, lavender starts blooming between June and August. As soon as the first buds open, but not all have started blooming, you should harvest them.
The best time is midday on a sunny day. Then the dew evaporated.
Cut off the buds with their stalks, this will make drying them easier.
Dry lavender:

Tie the harvested buds together by their stems into bunches and hang them upside down.
Make sure the buds are not exposed to direct sunlight or heat while drying.
After a week or two, the lavender flowers are completely dry. Then you can easily rub them with your fingers.
Use a knife or sharp scissors to separate the buds from the stems and place in a jar.
Store the dried flowers in a dry and light-protected place.
Preparation of the tea:

For one cup (250 milliliters) of lavender tea you need about two teaspoons of dried lavender flowers.
Boil the water first and then let it cool down to about 80 degrees. The effective essential oils are very sensitive to heat and should therefore not be boiled.
Let the tea steep for 8-10 minutes before removing the flowers.
If the intense aroma of lavender tea doesn’t suit your taste, you can tone it down with a little milk or honey.
Lavender is also great for tea blends. To increase the effect, you can mix the tea with St. John’s wort or valerian. In terms of taste, lavender harmonizes particularly well with:

chamomile
licorice
Linden Blossoms
rose petals

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Food

Heather Honey: Taste, Effect and What You Need to Know

Heather honey is a particular specialty. It not only tastes intense, but is also quite complex to harvest. As far as certain active ingredients are concerned, it can be compared to Manuka honey. Learn more about heather honey here.

What is special about heather honey?

Heather honey is a very special honey specialty. On the one hand, this is due to its almost jelly-like consistency, the red-brownish color and its intense taste. On the other hand, the place of its origin plays an important role: heather honey comes from the Lüneburg Heath, a unique and valuable heath landscape. In addition to the famous heather meadows, many animal and insect species are native here, including bees.

Production of heather honey

During the heather blossom in late summer, the bees collect the nectar of the common heather. This is the plant for the heather honey, i.e. the type of heather preferred by the bees. The bees fill the honeycomb of their hive with the nectar.

For the heathland beekeepers, the time-consuming work of harvesting honey then begins. Due to its jelly-like consistency, which is due to certain proteins in honey, heather honey is not easy to harvest. The beekeepers cannot spin the honey out of the combs as easily as ordinary honey because it is too tough. Therefore, heather honey is often offered in honeycomb pieces. Alternatively, the beekeepers first heat the honey in the honeycomb to 25 degrees and then puncture the honeycomb with a roller. The heather honey becomes temporarily more liquid through this process and can then be extracted.

Another special feature of heather honey is the keeping conditions for the bees: Some heather beekeepers still keep their bees in traditional woven beehives. Others move as migratory beekeepers with their bee colonies through the extensive heathland.

Taste of heather honey

So both bees and humans put in tremendous labor to produce heather honey. Nevertheless, not everyone enjoys this honey specialty. This is due to the intense, unique taste of heather honey: it ranges from very spicy to distinctively tart.

The health benefits of heather honey

General health effects of honey

Honey consists mainly of different types of sugar, namely 40 percent fruit sugar (fructose) and 30 percent grape sugar (glucose). You should therefore only enjoy it in moderation. Unlike white sugar, honey contains a number of additional nutrients. These include, for example, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and some vitamins. However, you would have to eat a large amount of honey to meet your vitamin needs.

Scientific studies have nevertheless proven that honey can have a health-promoting effect. For example, honey should:

have an antioxidant effect and protect the body from free radicals
fight inflammation
delay the development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases
have a probiotic and antibacterial effect.
Health effects of heather honey

In a recent study from Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin, a research team looked at Irish heather honey. The researchers found out that this type of heather honey is said to be particularly healthy. They blame the high content of certain antioxidants, the so-called phenolic compounds. There are about as many phenolic compounds in heather honey as in manuka honey, which is also considered to be extremely beneficial to health. Phenolic compounds are phytochemicals that include flavonoids, phenolic acids and tannins.

Flavonoids reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
Phenolic acids have an antibacterial effect.
Among other things, tannins have an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and sometimes anti-cancer effect. They also lower blood sugar levels.
However, it is unclear to what extent the results of the Irish study can be transferred to heather honey from the Lüneburg Heath. For specific findings, the German heather honey would also have to be examined more closely. In addition, the findings from the study are based on a laboratory analysis of the heather honey – how it works in the human body can only be derived to a limited extent.

Buy heather honey

It is best to buy heather honey directly from beekeepers in Lüneburg Heath. With the purchase of this regional honey you support the local beekeepers. Some of them still practice a traditional form of beekeeping, which also contributes to the preservation of biodiversity. In addition, the transport routes for German honey are shorter than for imported goods – regional heather honey therefore has a better CO2 balance. You can find out which other regional types of honey are recommended in the Utopia honey guide.

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Base Fasting: Concept, Effect and Criticism

Alkaline fasting is intended to bring an overly acidic body back into balance and thus help against numerous civilization diseases. But how does alkaline fasting work and do you need it at all?

Alkaline fasting was developed in 1997, but the concept of alkaline nutrition is much older. What’s behind it? The organs of the human body can only work properly under certain conditions. This includes a certain acidity, which is also known as the pH value. According to the advocates of alkaline nutrition, the wrong diet can “overacidify” the body. Then the organs no longer work properly and diseases threaten. Base fasting should help to restore the correct acidity.

Base fasting: This is how the diet works

The basic idea of alkaline fasting is simple: you only eat alkaline foods for a period of your choice – i.e. foods that supply your body with bases instead of acids.

So no more lemons? But. An acidic food does not necessarily make your body acidic. Because the body can easily break down many acids, such as citric acid. Instead, compounds with sulfur or phosphorus in particular are said to form acids during digestion. Sulfur and phosphorus occur naturally in some amino acids. These are often found in animal and vegetable proteins.

That’s why you mainly avoid animal products during base fasting. You eat a lot of fruits and vegetables because they are supposed to have an alkaline effect in the body.

Alkaline fasting: the most important foods

According to the SWR, these foods are particularly alkaline-forming:

fruit
many types of vegetables, especially lettuce
Herbs
Mushrooms, seeds and nuts are also part of base fasting.

The following foods are considered particularly acidic:

meat
sausage
hard cheese
Fish
seafood
eggs
Grain products, legumes and most dairy products are also supposed to form acids rather than bases and do not belong on your menu when you are fasting on bases.

In addition to alkaline foods, you should drink two to three liters of water or unsweetened herbal tea every day. Both should not only quench thirst, but also have an alkaline effect. You should avoid alcohol.

Note: You should avoid processed foods such as sweets or fast food during an alkaline fast, even if they are not necessarily all acid-forming. Because many ready meals contain sulfur or phosphorus compounds as additives.

Base fasting: the state of the art

In fact, the acid or base-forming effects of certain foods have been proven. This is confirmed by the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) in Spiegel. Accordingly, the composition of the urine after eating clearly shows whether a food is acidic or alkaline.

But regardless of whether the body forms acids or bases after eating: it has numerous mechanisms at its disposal to keep the pH values ​​of the individual organs constant. According to the Association of Independent Health Advice (UGB), the blood in particular must have a pH value of 7.4 throughout. Even small fluctuations affect the processes in the body. The body can therefore dispose of excess acids, for example via the kidneys. Or he exhales more CO2 – also an acid.

According to Spiegel, a life-threatening hyperacidity (“acute metabolic acidosis”) can only be caused by certain diseases and must be treated immediately by a doctor. So is alkaline fasting superfluous?

Base fasting against “latent acidosis”

Scientists suspect that a highly acid-forming diet can cause “latent acidosis”. This means that the pH of the blood is constantly at the lower (acidic) limit of the healthy range.

The blood then has to balance the acidity by using the body’s own minerals – including calcium from the bones. This is said to increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Der Spiegel adds that a long-term acidic diet increases the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. This could potentially lead to high blood pressure.
According to the science program Quarks & Co, the risk of kidney stones should also increase.
However, the show also notes that all of these connections have yet to be proven. Experts from Stiftung Warentest come to the same conclusion. In fact, it is very difficult to find meaningful studies on this subject.

Regardless of that, you would have to eat extremely unhealthily to permanently acidify your body. According to Der Spiegel, there is no risk if you eat a balanced diet and eat fruit and vegetables regularly. Base fasting is not necessary – especially not with the help of dietary supplements.

Base fasting: healthy or questionable?

According to the current state of research, you do not have to protect your body from acidification by alkaline fasting. Base fasting for a limited time is not harmful to health either.

Compared to other diets, base fasting has the advantage that you can basically eat when and how much you want. Choosing the right (alkaline) foods is not always easy. The UGB complains that the information on how which foods work varies greatly depending on the source – and is not always backed up by scientific findings.

However, alkaline fasting is unsuitable for a permanent change in diet: According to the DGE, the body lacks important nutrients in the long run. You should eat a varied diet over the long term rather than going on short-term diets. The ten rules of the DGE for a balanced diet and the Utopia seasonal calendar for fresh fruit and vegetables from your region offer good orientation.

Important warning: Alkaline fasting is unsuitable if you suffer from an eating disorder, are pregnant or have an advanced chronic disease. In this case, seek medical advice.

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Lifestyle

Natural Cleaning Agents with Antibacterial Effect

Natural cleaning agents are usually sufficient for cleaning and removing dirt. It does not need any chemical cleaning agents. Instead, we show you natural and antibacterial cleaning products for your home. This protects the environment and your wallet.

Natural and antibacterial household cleaning products

If you want to ensure more hygiene in your household, you don’t need chemical cleaning agents with an additional antibacterial function. Because these antibacterial cleaners are superfluous and sometimes even harmful. In most cases, the usual cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom is sufficient. If you avoid germs and clean thoroughly, bad bacteria don’t stand a chance. You can also use natural home remedies as cleaning supplies. We will show you which home remedies have an antibacterial and disinfecting effect and are therefore suitable for house cleaning.

1) Use vinegar to clean

The classic household remedy vinegar is often used for various cleaning jobs. And not without reason. Because its disinfecting and antibacterial properties make it the ideal cleaning agent. You can use it for various purposes in the household. Clean windows, clean bathrooms or clean the kitchen. Everything is possible with it. And the key advantage is that using vinegar protects the environment. Accordingly, use vinegar more often as a natural and antibacterial cleaning agent.

2) Citric acid as an antibacterial cleaning agent

Citric acid is also a good antibacterial cleaning agent. Similar to vinegar, you can use this for cleaning many different areas. The disinfecting and antibacterial effect of citric acid helps to ensure adequate cleanliness. And the good thing is these natural home remedies are inexpensive. Therefore, avoid aggressive cleaning agents in the household in the future.

3) More tips for more hygiene in the household

Since the use of natural home remedies such as vinegar and citric acid is usually sufficient, there is no need for chemical and aggressive cleaning agents. In addition, you can observe a few basic rules that ensure sufficient hygiene in the household. Then you and your family are adequately protected from germs and bacteria. Therefore, note the following tips:

  • Wash hands regularly and thoroughly. Especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food. So bad germs don’t stand a chance.
  • Avoid germs. These are a suitable breeding ground for germs and are usually found in the kitchen, such as in sponges or damp cloths and corners. Therefore, replace them regularly or wash them hot.
  • Thoroughly clean work utensils and surfaces. After use, cleaning with an all-purpose cleaner is usually sufficient to eliminate germs. Then let it dry well.
  • Use wooden cutting boards. Because these are more hygienic because they dry faster and remove the breeding ground for bacteria.
  • Store food in sealed containers in the refrigerator. Throw away moldy food immediately and clean the fridge regularly with vinegar water.
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Food

Rosehip Tea: Effect, Application and How to Make It Yourself

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

Rosehip tea: These active ingredients make rosehips a medicinal plant

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

1. Vitamin C

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

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

2. Lycopene

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

3. Pectin

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

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

Application of rosehip tea

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

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

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

Recipe: How to make rosehip tea yourself

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

Make your own rosehip tea

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

Prepare rosehip tea

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

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Sloe Juice: Recipe and Effect of the Home Remedy

Sloe juice is fruity and healthy. It is said to have a positive effect on the immune system and on the stomach and intestines in particular. This simple recipe will show you how to make the juice yourself at home.

Sloe juice recipe: the ingredients

You should collect the sloes that you want to use for your juice after the first frost. As soon as they freeze, the bitter substances they contain break down. This gives them a fruitier, less tart taste. Alternatively, you can put fruit collected before the first frost in the freezer for a day or two before processing it.

For about one and a half liters of homemade sloe juice you need the following ingredients:

1 kg of sloes
about 1.5 liters of water
100 grams of sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
You should also have ready:

a sieve
two saucepans
two glass bottles with caps

Prepare sloe juice: This is how it works

Preparing sloe juice is not difficult, but it is quite time-consuming. The actual work is done quickly – you still have to plan about three to four days in total until your juice is ready.

Clean and wash the sloes. Drain briefly in a colander, then transfer to a large saucepan with a lid
Boil the water in a second pot and then pour it over the sloes. Put the lid on the pot and let it sit for a day.
After 24 hours, pour the entire contents of the pot through a sieve and collect the water in a saucepan. Boil it again, pour it over the sloes and let them steep again for a day.
Repeat this process at least three times, preferably four or five times. The more often you boil the sloes, the more intense the juice will be.
On the last day, catch the sloe juice in a saucepan, add the sugar and lemon juice and let it boil until bubbling. Tip: If you like, you can season the juice with a little cinnamon. This gives it a special aroma that goes particularly well with the Christmas season.
Pour the hot sloe juice directly into clean glass bottles and seal tightly. Then store it in a cool, dark place, such as the basement. The sloe juice keeps for many months up to several years.

The health effects of sloe juice

Many naturopaths mention the positive effect that sloe juice is said to have on the body. However, it has not been scientifically proven. Sloes contain vitamin C and flavonoids as well as various tannins and bitter substances. The tannins are of particular interest. For example, they are said to have the following effects:

anti-inflammatory
diuretic
appetizing
help against bladder infections
Use for colds
Sloe juice is therefore used in natural medicine, especially for inflammation in the mouth and throat. Overall, sloes are also said to strengthen the immune system and have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

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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!

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health

The Healthy Effect of Cocoa as a Miracle Cure

The healthy effects of cocoa on body and mind. We will show you which home remedies you can use to use cocoa as a medicinal plant. The brown bean cocoa as a miracle cure is good for the body and mind.

The Mayas and Aztecs already knew cocoa as the “food of the gods” and used it for their rituals around 1,500 BC. The drink was mixed without sugar, only with water and chili, and drunk as a strengthening and medicine. It was reserved for priests and warriors only. But even today you can use the healthy effect of the delicious bean for beauty and household tips.

The positive ingredients of cocoa

Since raw cocoa contains many positive ingredients, it is considered very healthy. The important substances contained include calcium, magnesium, and iron. These minerals benefit our bodies by strengthening our bones, providing energy to our muscles, and promoting oxygen transport to our bodies. In addition, the antioxidants contained in raw cocoa are important for protecting our body cells. The following areas of application also speak in favor of the benefits of soothing cocoa:

1) A good pick-me-up

It doesn’t always have to be coffee in the morning. Raw cocoa also contains caffeine and flavonoids, which get our circulation going. The theobromine it contains has a similar stimulating effect on the heartbeat and pulse. This ensures that the blood is pumped through our veins faster and increases activity and concentration. Cocoa is not only a pick-me-up for a healthy start to the day, but is now used at some parties in the form of raw cocoa as a healthy stimulant for dancing the night away. Our tip: subtly sweetened raw cocoa with a pinch of chili, like the old South American cultures used to drink, gives even morning grouches the necessary kick. Also a good pick-me-up: special properties of matcha tea.

2) Cramp reliever for period pain

Many women get a craving for chocolate during their menstrual period. But are you right with your intuition? After all, cocoa is one of the best sources of magnesium among foods, as there are 545 grams of magnesium in 100 grams of cocoa alone. Magnesium is not only good for the heart and metabolism but also relaxes the muscles and is, above all, antispasmodic. Magnesium also prevents migraines and ensures communication between nerve cells, which is why chocolate can be described as “nerve food” for good reason.

But be careful: Industrial sugar and dairy products are not beneficial during the period, which is why you should use dark chocolate. This has a lower sugar content and often even does without milk components. Warm cocoa with oat or almond milk is a good home remedy for period cramp discomfort.

3) Natural mood enhancer

Cocoa puts you in a good mood. The amino acid tryptophan contained in raw cocoa and the plant alkaloid salsolinol are also used as an antidepressant. Tryptophan is also found in bananas and dates and releases the happiness hormone serotonin. The salsolinol in cocoa creates euphoria by producing dopamine. How about a power smoothie made from bananas, dates, almond milk, and raw cocoa? Instead of industrial sugar, bananas and dates provide a natural fruit sweetness. If you want something to spoon, you can add some chia seeds and spoon the healthy happiness. But there are other natural antidepressants and mood enhancers as well.

4) Slim down with cocoa

Eat chocolate and lose weight? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Commercially available chocolate usually has little cocoa, but too much industrial sugar. In the meantime, however, there is also raw chocolate with a high cocoa content on the market, which is sweetened with the birch sugar xylitol, which is healthy for the teeth and figure. There is also chocolate with coconut blossom sugar. If you make your own chocolate, you can decide which ingredients to use.

You can find cocoa nibs in more and more shops. The small sprinkles made of raw chocolate are suitable for nibbling or sweetening some natural yogurt or chia pudding, which satisfies the craving for chocolate but does not absorb industrial sugar or fat. Due to the tart taste, people consume it more consciously and less, and cocoa also has an appetite-suppressing effect, promotes blood circulation, and stimulates fat breakdown.

5) Wash your hair with cocoa

Washing hair without shampoo? You can smear this in your hair! So-called dry shampoos for greasy hair are a good alternative to conventional shampoos, have no harmful additives, and consist of simple home remedies such as cocoa with low oil content. Simply apply the heavily de-oiled cocoa carefully to the hairline with a powder brush, leave it on for a short time and then brush the hair out well over the sink. If you like, you can add a tablespoon of baking soda to the cocoa powder and pass the mixture through a fine sieve before applying. You can easily make your own shampoo.

6) Coloring gray hair

If you want to darken your color or make gray hair disappear, you can also use the delicious bean: Simply mix half a cup of highly de-oiled cocoa powder with a cup of natural yogurt and add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. After washing, apply this mass to well-dried hair, wait five minutes and rinse. But cocoa is not only good for the hair on the outside: cocoa beans contain iron and zinc and ensure that the scalp is well supplied with blood. Here you will find more home remedies and tips for coloring your hair yourself.

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