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Hop Tea: Application, Effect and How to Make The Home Remedy

Hop tea is not beer, but rather a tried and tested remedy. Hops have a calming effect and have a positive effect on our sleep.

Hops belong to the hemp family. Long before the plant was used to brew beer, it was valued as a medicinal plant.

Hops are now cultivated throughout Europe and in parts of Asia and America. The plant sprouts anew every year and climbs up to twelve meters. Hops are dioecious. This means there are male and female flowers. For hop tea you only use the female flowers.

This is how hop tea works

The most important active ingredients in hop tea include:
Bitter substances: humulone and lupulone
flavonoids
tannins
essential oils
The bitter substances in particular are said to have a calming and sleep-inducing effect. In the meantime, the effect of hops and its ingredients has also been extensively scientifically investigated:
The positive effect of hops on the human psyche was proven in a pilot study. Test persons who consumed dried hop extract daily for four weeks reported reduced anxiety, depression and a lower stress level compared to the placebo group.
In an animal experiment with quail, it was shown that hops regulate the day-night rhythm and improve sleep at night. The birds should have a comparable sleeping rhythm as we humans. However, it is unclear to what extent the data can be transferred to humans.
In addition to the calming effect, hops also have antibacterial and antioxidant effects, according to a 2019 study. The authors of the study conclude that hops extract could help against acne. Because of the same properties, hops are also often used in folk medicine for digestive problems and other complaints such as loss of appetite. However, research is still needed here.

Hop tea and other hop products

The main uses of hop tea include:
nervous restlessness
sleep disorders
anxiety states

In addition to hop tea, there are other ways in which you can benefit from the effects of the medicinal plant:
In the pharmacy you can get capsules or tinctures made from hops. Hop essential oil is used in aromatherapy.
Hops are also suitable for a soothing bath for mind and body. To do this, boil a liter of water, pour it over 20 grams of hop blossoms and mix it into your bath water.
Another option for better sleep is a scented pillow filled with hop blossoms. You can just put that next to your pillow.

How to prepare hop tea

For the soothing tea you use the female flowers of the hops. You can recognize them by growing cone-shaped, spike-like bud sites, while male flowers hang more loosely. You can easily prepare hop tea yourself:
Pour 250 milliliters of boiling water over 2-3 teaspoons of dried female hop flowers.
Let the tea steep for five to ten minutes.
Then remove the plant parts.
You can have three cups a day. To help you sleep better, you should drink the tea about half an hour before you go to bed.

To increase the calming effects of hops, you can combine them with valerian or St. John’s wort. Lavender and chamomile are also good.

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health

Calcium Carbonate: Application, Effect and Special Features

Calcium carbonate is a natural substance that some people also take to prevent calcium deficiency. Here we explain how you can use calcium carbonate and what special features there are.

Calcium carbonate (also called lime, chemical formula CaCo3) is a salt of carbonic acid. It is a substance that is one of the most common on earth. Calcium carbonate is found, for example, in the mineral calcite and in our bones and teeth. Calcium carbonate is also found in large quantities in the shells of crabs, snails, mussels and corals. Calcium carbonate is often found mixed with other minerals: together with magnesium, for example, it is found in limestone.

Calcium carbonate is mined (from rock) and also made synthetically. The salt is insoluble in water, insensitive to light and extremely heat-resistant.

Calcium carbonate: application of the mineral

Calcium carbonate is often prescribed by doctors when a person has a calcium deficiency. Various diseases, such as osteoporosis or an underactive parathyroid gland, can indicate this. Calcium carbonate can increase the calcium level in the blood.

As capsules, powder or tablets, you should only take calcium carbonate according to the package insert – depending on the package information, it is best with food or between meals. Even if there is no maximum dose for calcium carbonate, the daily dose of 1200 milligrams of calcium recommended by the DGE should not be exceeded.

Calcium carbonate is mainly used in the construction industry in the production of cement and burnt lime. Calcium carbonate is also used in the paper industry and in agriculture to prevent soil acidification.

Effect of Calcium Carbonate

The nerves as well as all muscles and bones need calcium for their functionality. Calcium carbonate contains readily available calcium and is available as an inexpensive powder.
In the case of heartburn and indigestion, calcium carbonate can neutralize stomach acid, but it can also cause constipation. Products with calcium carbonate replace the formerly popular sodium hydrogen carbonate (soda), which, according to the DAZ, sometimes leads to severe flatulence.
In principle, calcium carbonate is considered harmless. However, depending on the amount ingested, hypersensitivity may occur.
In addition, kidney stones can form and there can be interactions or deviatingly strong or weak effects with medication, according to the package insert.

Calcium carbonate as an additive

Calcium carbonate can be added to foods during production and is then declared with the E number E170. It often has the function of a natural colorant or stabilizer. In winemaking, the substance can be used to regulate acidity. Calcium carbonate is also permitted for organic products, but not as a coloring agent. Basically, it is often found as an additive in the following foods:
chewing gum
grated / sliced ​​cheese
grape juice
deacidification of wine
baking mixes and baked goods
Isotonic drinks and sports nutrition
When treating drinking water, many municipal utilities use calcium carbonate to increase the degree of hardness of the water. Calcium carbonate is often used as a coloring agent in white wall paint and cosmetics.

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Food

White Pepper: Origin, Use and Effect of The Spice

White pepper seems unusual at first. These are the seeds of conventional pepper that have been removed from the pulp. In this article you can read where white pepper comes from, how it works and how you use it.

White pepper is not a different variety of the pepper plant. Rather, the different colors are different degrees of maturity. Black pepper is harvested while it is still unripe, i.e. green, and then dried. For white pepper, on the other hand, the fruit must be fully ripe. They are then soaked in water for several days and their red flesh is removed. What remains is the white seed of the pepper plant.

Whether black, red or white pepper, the grains come from the evergreen climbing shrub Piper nigrum. The plant needs a lot of heat and high humidity and originally comes from India. In addition to India, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China now export pepper.

Use white pepper

White pepper is the pure seed of the pepper plant. Unlike red or black pepper, white pepper does not contain any pulp. This preserves the pungent substance in the seed, while the flavor profile shrinks without the essential oils from the pulp. White pepper is therefore much hotter but less varied in taste.

As with other types of pepper, you should always grind white pepper freshly or crush it with a mortar. Pre-ground powder quickly loses its intense flavor. That’s why it’s not worth buying pepper in large quantities. According to a study, the content of essential oils, which are responsible for the taste, decreases the longer you store it. Basically, you should store the whole grains in a dark, dry and airtight place so that the aroma is preserved for as long as possible.

White pepper is particularly popular with light dishes. The ground white pepper seasons light sauces or light meat without being visually striking. White pepper is particularly good for these dishes:
The classic hollandaise sauce gives white pepper a pleasant spiciness. In general, white pepper goes well with asparagus. It is also suitable for cream of asparagus soup.
White pepper goes well with potato dishes. Whether mashed potatoes, potato soup or gratin: white pepper gives classic dishes a new twist.
You can also use white pepper for white meat or fish. A marinade made from lemon, white pepper and fresh herbs is ideal for this.
Also try flavoring desserts with white pepper. A pinch of pepper underlines the other flavors and brings unexpected variety to your desserts.

This is how white pepper works

Pepper is considered the most used spice worldwide. Aside from its culinary uses, pepper is also valued for its medicinal properties.

The main active ingredient in pepper is called piperine. The substance is not only responsible for the sharpness of the small grains, but also has other useful and healing properties according to studies:
The pungent substance has powerful antioxidant properties. It supports the body in cell renewal, fights free radicals and reduces oxidative stress.
The substance also supports digestion. Piperine stimulates the production of digestive juices. This allows your body to digest your food more efficiently and quickly.
In addition, white pepper has antibacterial properties.
Black pepper is mostly used for healing purposes, because the other valuable properties come from the essential oils. These are mainly found in the pulp of the plant, which is why the content in the dark variety is significantly higher.

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Food

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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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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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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