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Corn: Calories and Nutritional Facts of Cooked and Uncooked Corn

Corn is high in calories compared to other vegetables. It also provides the body with a number of important vitamins and minerals. Here you can find out everything about the nutritional values ​​​​of corn.

How many calories are in corn?

Corn is often part of our menu: Whether as a delicious side dish or as roasted corn on the cob from the grill – you can prepare the small yellow grains in a variety of ways. But how many calories does corn have?

100 grams of fresh cooked corn has around 90 calories. This makes it one of the most calorie-rich vegetables. Depending on how the corn was processed, the number of calories it contains will vary.
Canned Corn: 80 calories
dried corn: 350 calories
Grilled corn on the cob: 93 calories
Roasted Corn (salted): 434 calories
Popcorn is used to make popcorn. Unsweetened, 100 grams of this snack has 330 calories. However, popcorn often still contains fat or sugar, which can increase the calorie content per 100 grams to up to 400 calories.

Corn and its nutritional values

Not only is corn high in calories, it’s also packed with a variety of nutritional values. However, it consists of 72 percent water. Other ingredients in the corn kernels are fat (1.2 grams per hundred grams), proteins (3.3 grams) and carbohydrates (15.7 grams). Corn also contains many vitamins and minerals:
Vitamin A: Vitamin A not only strengthens your vision, but also your bones and your immune system.
various B vitamins
Vitamin C: Vitamin C strengthens your immune system and protects your body from the influence of free radicals.
Vitamin E: Also known as the “fertility vitamin” it supports fat metabolism.
Iron: Your body needs to absorb enough iron so that oxygen can be transported through your blood.
Sodium: Sodium conducts nerve impulses, controls your heart rhythm and ensures that all movements of your body work properly.
Calcium: Your body needs calcium to strengthen bones, teeth and cell walls.
Potassium: Just as important for your muscles as magnesium
Zinc: Strengthens the immune system and promotes wound healing
Phosphorus, the most important component of your bones
Last but not least, various essential amino acids are also found in corn. They are particularly important for the daily metabolism.

Tip: If you buy frozen corn, the vitamin and mineral content is higher than, for example, canned corn. However, cooling always costs additional energy – so it is most sustainable to prepare corn fresh when it is in season.

carbohydrates in corn

The 15.7 grams of carbohydrates found in corn include glucose, fructose, and sucrose. These ensure, among other things, that fresh corn tastes very sweet. The more time that elapses after harvest, the more sugar is eventually converted to starch and the less sweet the grains taste.

Good for digestion: dietary fiber in corn

Even though corn is relatively high in calories and carbohydrates, its nutritional values ​​make it a healthy meal. The many dietary fibers in the corn kernels in particular contribute to this. Dietary fibers are called indigestible components of food that swell up in the intestine. According to a study, corn products have a prebiotic effect – they ensure that the benign bacteria in your intestines multiply better. This is how corn can stimulate your digestion.

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Lifestyle

Interesting Facts about Oatmeal and Oat Milk

Oatmeal and oat milk are popular foods. Rightly so! Because oatmeal is healthy and making oat milk yourself is easy. Of course, you can also find both in the supermarket. Here you can get the oatmeal’s nutritional values ​​and more information about the regional superfood.

Anyone who has already discovered oat products knows how delicious they are. There are many ways to use oats. Because not only porridge and muesli can be made from it. You can also use oatmeal to make bread or prepare lunch.

Oats as nature’s miracle cure

Oats are a useful grain from the grass family. Until the Middle Ages, this was mainly used as food. But today it is mainly used as animal feed. Although it is currently enjoying a period of popularity due to its healthy reputation. Because it is also considered a local superfood that you should know about. And rightly so, it’s becoming increasingly popular. Since it can be used in many ways, e.g. as oatmeal, oat bran, oat milk, and much more. It has the advantage that it is grown regionally in Northern and Central Europe, among other places, and contains little gluten.

The beneficial effects of oats

The oat grain is nutritionally very valuable. Because it contains a lot of protein and the proteins it contains consist largely of essential amino acids. You can also find minerals in oats, such as magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, and zinc. In addition, it contains B vitamins and vitamin E. And because of the many calories, it is a real source of energy (100 g / 370 kcal). And if you’re looking for another source of fiber, this grain is for you. It is also said to have a healing effect. Because it is said to have a positive effect on certain diseases.

Simply prepare oatmeal

Since you can prepare the oatmeal in many ways, we want to give you some inspiration. So you can heat them up with oat milk or water in a saucepan and add a little cinnamon. Then you can refine the porridge with fruit, flaxseed, and delicious honey. Also, note our ideas for making muesli yourself. Instead of the classic version, you can also prepare hearty oat dishes. For example, a hearty porridge with tomatoes, feta, and mushrooms. In addition, patties made from zucchini and oatmeal taste very good. You can also use it to bake delicious oatmeal cookies or bread yourself.

Oats as a remedy

The good nutritional values ​​of the grain and its positive effect on diseases make it a valuable food in naturopathy. Accordingly, you can sensibly integrate it into your diet and benefit from it. However, you should make sure that the oatmeal or oat milk is of good quality. So we show you what you can use the grain for:

1) Oatmeal to deacidify the body

Oatmeal is rich in nutrients. Foods that form good acids are also included. So you can eat them with peace of mind. If you are in the process or plan to detox your body effectively, then diet is crucial. Good acid-forming foods such as oatmeal, couscous, etc. can help you with this.

2) A good source of fiber

The grain also provides you with valuable dietary fiber. Nowadays we usually eat too little of it. But these are important for our digestion. Consequently, use them to effectively stimulate your digestion and fight constipation. You should also drink a lot and get enough exercise. If all else fails, you can cleanse your colon. Also, read about simple home remedies and foods for colon cleansing.

3) As a home remedy for gastrointestinal complaints

Likewise, oatmeal is a good remedy for gastrointestinal complaints. Because the indigestible fiber of these should protect the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Accordingly, they form a protective layer that retains the acidic gastric juice. So make yourself a delicious porridge with these complaints.

4) Oatmeal to lower cholesterol

Furthermore, the regular consumption of oatmeal is said to effectively lower cholesterol. And that’s because of the good and healthy oatmeal nutritional values. Because the beta-glucan it contains helps to reduce LDL levels. However, you have to eat at least two servings a day for this effect. But since you can conjure up a variety of dishes from it, this shouldn’t be a problem!

5) For healthy nutrition during pregnancy

A nutritious and healthy diet during pregnancy is important. This is because the health and development of the child are already influenced here. If you are pregnant, it is advisable to eat consciously and increase the nutrients. The oatmeal nutritional values ​​show that these and others should be integrated into the diet. Also read about valuable pseudo-cereals during pregnancy.

6) Green oats for body aches

Green oats are immature oat plants. This is harvested shortly before flowering and, as a tea, has a positive effect on health problems. Accordingly, inflammation in the body should be reduced. You can also take a full bath with it. This can relieve body aches.

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Birch Sugar: Interesting Facts About The Sugar Substitute Xylitol

Birch sugar (xylitol) is a sweetener that is considered a healthy sugar substitute. We explain what you need to know about the sugar substitute.

Because high sugar consumption can be unhealthy, many people are looking for alternative sweeteners. In addition to sweeteners such as aspartame, you will find sugar substitutes in many sugar-free products. These include birch sugar (xylitol or xylitol). It is chemically related to sugar and is a natural intermediate product of glucose metabolism in the body. Birch sugar is one of the sugar alcohols, the so-called polyols. Despite its structural similarity to sugar, xylitol has different properties. You will learn more about this in the following sections.

Birch sugar: How xylitol is made

Not only we humans produce xylitol in our body – birch sugar or precursors thereof also occur naturally in many plants, not only in birch bark. Some types of fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries, also contain birch sugar.

On an industrial scale, pure xylitol is usually obtained in a complex process from wood or organic waste such as corn cobs or sugar cane fibers:
These vegetable raw materials contain xylans, which are usually extracted at high temperatures using sulfuric acid or caustic soda. This produces xylose, also known as wood sugar (because it is found in many types of wood).
Xylitol is produced from xylose under high pressure and with the use of a catalyst.

Birch sugar: calorie content and uses

Externally, birch sugar does not differ from white sugar. In principle, you can use it in all recipes as a one-to-one sugar substitute – it has the same sweetening power and otherwise behaves very similarly. However, xylitol is less soluble in cold water than sugar. It also has a cooling effect in the mouth and enhances mint and menthol flavors.

While household sugar has 400 kilocalories per 100 grams, xylitol only has 240 kilocalories.

According to the consumer protection initiative, there is no maximum limit for birch sugar in food – you can find it (sometimes under its E number E967) in various products such as:
sugar-free or reduced-sugar sweets and baked goods
Mustard
sauces
sugar free chewing gum
dietary supplements

Undesirable side effects of birch sugar

Products containing more than ten percent birch sugar must be labeled “Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect”. Like other sugar alcohols (e.g. sorbitol or erythritol), large amounts of xylitol can cause flatulence, abdominal pain and diarrhea. A single dose of up to 20 grams and a daily dose of up to 70 grams is well tolerated by most people. However, there is one exception: People who are sensitive to so-called FODMAPs usually do not tolerate xylitol very well, even in small amounts – because polyols are FODMAPs.

Otherwise, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) classifies birch sugar as harmless to health.

Caution: Xylitol is highly toxic for dogs, rabbits and some other animals because the substance causes extreme insulin releases in them.

Conclusion: birch sugar in moderation and preferably organic

As part of a balanced diet, there is nothing wrong with using birch sugar in moderation as a sugar substitute. You can get xylitol from organically grown raw materials both online (for example at **Amazon) and in organic shops. So you can be sure that these are free of genetic engineering.

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Sugar Substitutes and Sweeteners: Differences and Facts Worth Knowing

Sugar substitutes and sweeteners replace sugar in many products. We explain the differences between the two terms and which substances are behind them.

Sugar substitutes – relatives of sugar

While table sugar (sucrose) contains 400 calories per 100 grams, most sugar substitutes only have 240 calories. However, most of them also have a lower sweetening power than sugar.
Particularly important for diabetics: sugar substitutes are metabolized independently of insulin – they only allow the blood sugar level to rise minimally.
Sugar causes tooth decay, it has a cariogenic effect. Sugar substitutes have little to no such effect.
As the name suggests, sugar substitutes can replace sugar in most products. Although they may have to be dosed higher, they otherwise behave very similarly.

Both sugar and sugar substitutes occur naturally in many plants. In the human body, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol are part of carbohydrate metabolism.

From erythritol to xylitol: Approved sugar substitutes

According to the consumer advice center, eight sugar substitutes are currently approved in the EU:
Xylitol (E 967): Also known as birch sugar, it is the only sugar substitute that has the same sweetening power as sugar and is effective against tooth decay.
Erythritol (E 968): The only sugar alcohol that has no calories.
Sorbitol (E 420): Often used as a humectant and bulking agent.
Mannitol (E 421)
Isomalt (E 953)
Lactitol (E 966)
Maltitol (E 965)
Polyglycitol syrup (E 964)
Note: Since 2014, according to the consumer advice center, products with sugar substitutes no longer have to state whether they are sugar substitutes or sweeteners. The indication “sweetener” is sufficient. However, the list of ingredients must contain the name or the E number of the substance used.

Why might it be interesting to know what kind of sugar substitute it is? Chemically speaking, sweeteners are very different from sugar substitutes.

Sweeteners: No carbs, but sweet

Unlike sugar substitutes, sweeteners are not closely related to sugar. The group of sweeteners includes very different and chemically complex substances. They have in common that they contain hardly any calories and, above all, have a much greater sweetening power than sugar. Stevia, for example, is 300 times sweeter than table sugar. That’s why, unlike sugar substitutes, you can’t just use sweeteners as sugar substitutes in baking.

Sugar substitutes: harmless to health?

According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), sugar substitutes may be used in food indefinitely. The EU does not have an “acceptable daily intake” (ADI) – i.e. no limit value for a tolerable maximum for the daily intake.

The only caveat: Sugar substitutes can cause bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain because they’re difficult to digest. For this reason, products containing more than ten percent of a sugar substitute must bear the following notice: “Excessive consumption can have a laxative effect”. According to the Deutsche Apothekerzeitung, erythritol and xylitol are the most tolerable.

Otherwise, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers sugar substitutes to be harmless. In the EU, the institution is responsible, among other things, for checking the approval of additives. Since many ratings are very old (many date back to the 1980s), a new rating process is currently underway. By 2020, the sugar substitutes should also have been re-examined.

Sweeteners: Probably harmless, but only in moderation

There is an ADI (acceptable daily intake) for sweeteners. According to the BfR, scientists determine this in animal experiments: the animals are given enough of a sweetener until their body reacts to it. This dose is usually divided by 100 (a so-called “safety factor”) – this is then the ADI. This value is checked regularly, for example it was reduced for cyclamate in the early 2000s. The last sweetener reviewed by EFSA in 2013 is aspartame.

As the Deutsche Apothekerzeitung reports, high doses of sweeteners in animal experiments sometimes lead to complaints ranging from allergies to cancer. However, there is no evidence that these hazards in the context of ADI also exist in humans.

The EFSA and the BfR consider all sweeteners to be harmless in the specified daily maximum amounts. As already mentioned, however, the last reviews were a few years ago. For example, a year after the last assessment of aspartame, scientists found that the substance can cause changes in the intestinal flora. These in turn cause the blood sugar level to rise – apparently not only in animals but also in humans. Over time, this can lead to diabetes. So are sweeteners like aspartame not that safe after all? In order to clarify the question unequivocally, more meaningful studies are needed.

Important: In any case, according to the BfR, aspartame and aspartame-acesulfame salt are toxic for people suffering from the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria. The phenylalanine in aspartame is problematic. Therefore, products with aspartame must be labeled “contains a source of phenylalanine”.

How recommended are sugar substitutes and sweeteners?

Sugar substitutes are harmless to health, and so are sweeteners in moderation. But are they really recommended as a sugar substitute? According to the DAZ, scientists repeatedly discuss the question of whether sugar substitutes and sweeteners have an appetizing effect or reduce satiety. So far there is no clear answer.

Eating sugar substitutes doesn’t necessarily mean you’re consuming fewer calories. While their calorie density is lower than sugar, you’ll need to use more to get the same sweetening power. Exceptions are xylitol (same sweetening power) and erythritol (no calories).

Another problem is that people tend to eat more of something that doesn’t have sugar in it. Sugar-free foods are considered healthier, so you can theoretically eat more of them. But then you also quickly consume more calories. Sugar substitutes are therefore not ideal for losing weight.

One thing is clear: If you want to lead a life without sugar, neither sugar substitutes nor sweeteners can train you to lose your sweet tooth. You are more likely to achieve this with a permanent change in diet, in which you primarily use the natural sweetening power of fruit and vegetables.

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Cassava Flour: Nutrition Facts, Uses and Recipes

Cassava flour is a good alternative to conventional wheat flour. It is gluten-free and grain-free and yet can be used almost like wheat flour. You can find out more about cassava root flour here.

Cassava flour is being hailed as the new star among alternative flours. It is a flour that is gluten-free, grain-free and rich in fiber.

Cassava flour is made from the starchy tubers of cassava. This is a plant species that belongs to the Spurge family. Manioc originally comes from South America and the natives are said to have fed on the plant. There are now cassava growing areas in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Even today, cassava is one of the staple foods of millions of people in South America and parts of Asia and Africa.

However, the cassava roots are poisonous when raw because they contain hydrocyanic acid. However, they can be processed in such a way that the hydrocyanic acid boils down and the tubers become edible. For this reason, cassava tubers are often fermented, boiled or ground into flour and washed.

Cassava Flour: Nutritional Values

Manioc flour is an interesting flour alternative for people who (have to) eat a grain-free or gluten-free diet. It has a high starch content, a mild taste and a fine texture. Thus, cassava flour mimics the consistency and properties of conventional flour very well. Unlike other gluten-free flour alternatives (such as buckwheat or quinoa flour), cassava flour can often be used as a one-to-one substitute for conventional flour containing gluten, such as wheat flour. Other gluten-free flours usually require additional ingredients to make a working dough.
Energy: 371 kcal
Carbohydrates: 88.6 g
Protein: 0g
Fat: 0g
Calcium: 57 mg
Potassium: 303 mg
What is striking about the nutritional values ​​is the high proportion of carbohydrates. In comparison, wheat flour has about 70 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams of flour. Cassava flour is therefore a good source of energy. However, it has no protein and only a few essential amino acids. After all, wheat flour has 11 grams of protein. Cassava flour also lacks micronutrients such as vitamins. Therefore, where cassava is a staple food, nutritional deficiencies can occur. For this reason, scientists have been trying for some time to breed cassava varieties whose tubers contain more nutrients. On the positive side: cassava flour contains a lot of calcium and potassium.

However, there is nothing wrong with including cassava flour in a balanced diet from time to time. Especially in a gluten-free diet, cassava flour provides a lot of variety.

Use cassava flour: bread, pancakes and more

To make cassava flour the traditional way, the tubers are peeled, grated, and then soaked. The mass is then pressed out, washed and roasted in an oven. What remains is the cassava flour.

Depending on the region, the cassava flour is processed differently. It often turns into a bread-like cake or farofa (Brazilian side dish). A Brazilian drink is also based on cassava flour. In some African areas, the flour is also used for fufu or foufou, a kind of dumpling dough.

Tip: Incidentally, finely ground cassava flour is often also called fufu or foufou in European trade. You can find it in Asian or Latin American supermarkets.

If you have never used cassava flour, you can approach it and replace part of the conventional flour with cassava flour in existing recipes. You can use cassava flour to make breads, rolls, wraps, pancakes, cakes and cookies. Depending on the dough and recipe, you may need a little less liquid in your baked goods. Cassava flour is also suitable for binding sauces or making breading.

Recipe with cassava flour: Fufu from West Africa

Fufu (also foufou) is widespread in West Africa and popular as a main ingredient or side dish in many dishes. Fufu refers to a type of solid porridge or dough that is formed into small dumplings and served with a sauce, soup or stew.

Ingredients for fufu (dumplings made from cassava flour):
cassava flour
water
Cassava flour binds a lot of water. Therefore, the rule of thumb is that you should always use a little more water than you use cassava flour. If you take 100 grams of cassava flour, add about 120 milliliters of water.

How to prepare fufu:
Boil the water.
Pour the boiling water over the flour in a saucepan.
Heat the mixture, stirring constantly, bring to the boil and then continue to simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes. Keep stirring the porridge.
Then take the pot off the stove to let the mixture cool down a bit.
Then form small dumplings with your hands. You can serve these with various vegetable dishes, or use them traditionally as an ingredient in soups, stews or sauce dishes.
Tip: The balls are often so sticky that they are difficult to chew. That’s why they are usually dipped into the sauce or soup and swallowed whole.

Recipe with cassava flour: Farofa from Brazil

Another classic cassava flour recipe is the Brazilian farofa. This is a popular side dish, for which the cassava flour is sautéed in a pan with butter, onions and herbs until golden brown. Eggs are often added as well.

We recommend that you use organic ingredients that come from the region whenever possible. In this way you support an agriculture that does without many synthetic pesticides and in which animal welfare is better guaranteed. In addition, with regional products you avoid long transport routes that cause high CO2 emissions.

You need these ingredients for four servings:
200 g cassava flour
3 tbsp butter (or margarine if vegan)
2 spring onions
1 bunch coriander or parsley
5 sprigs of fresh mint
1 teaspoon zest from a lemon
Salt
How to prepare the farofa:
Wash the herbs and chop them up.
Cut the spring onions into rings.
Heat the butter or margarine in a pan and sweat the onion in it.
Add the cassava flour and toast until golden brown in color.
Stir in the herbs, lemon zest and spring onions.
Tip: If you want to eat eggs, add them to the pan along with the cassava flour. The farofa goes well with rice or bean dishes.

Life cycle assessment: cassava flour is so sustainable

The life cycle assessment of cassava flour:
On the one hand, cassava grows very well even in long periods of drought and therefore does not need to be watered heavily. This is particularly beneficial in regions where water is often scarce.
On the other hand, buying cassava flour in Germany is not very ecological. Because the flour is imported and therefore travels long distances. Transport causes so many climate-damaging emissions.
Therefore, you should carefully consider to what extent you want to integrate cassava flour into your diet. Conscious handling of cassava flour is important in any case. Also, you can try mixing cassava flour with other locally sourced gluten-free flours. This includes, for example, buckwheat flour.

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This is What Makes Blueberries so Healthy: Nutritional Values And Interesting Facts About Blueberries

The healthy blueberries are often referred to as the powerhouses among fruits. Here’s what you should know about blueberries and what makes them so healthy.

There are two different types of blueberries: wild blueberries and cultivated blueberries. Wild blueberries are richer in healthy nutrients than cultivated blueberries. You can collect the wild berries mainly in the forest and in heath and moorland. It is unlikely that you can become infected with the fox tapeworm through wild berries. Researchers from the University of Ulm found that the highest risk of infection is through direct contact with foxes or through transmission through dogs that have become infected.

What you should consider when buying blueberries

The blueberry season runs from June to the end of September. Because blueberries go moldy quickly, you should eat them—or freeze them—as soon as possible after purchasing or harvesting them. When buying blueberries, also pay attention to organic quality: Cultivated blueberries from conventional cultivation are usually contaminated with synthetic pesticides.

In winter you don’t have to do without the healthy berries. They are also available off-season in frozen or dried form.

Blueberries as a healthy source of nutrients

Blueberries contain many healthy ingredients. In addition to numerous dietary fibers, the berries contain the following nutrients:
carotene
Vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin E
iron
magnesium
calcium
potassium
Blueberries owe their blue color to the pigment myrtilline. Myrtilline is one of the anthocyanins – these are secondary plant substances that have an anti-inflammatory and blood-forming effect. They also help the body to trap and neutralize free radicals.

Getting high in anthocyanins in your diet can slow down the skin’s aging process – helping to prevent wrinkles. The anthocyanin in blueberries is also said to be useful as a cancer prophylaxis.

Furthermore, blueberries contain healthy tannins, which are particularly found in blueberry juice. They help with diarrhea and kill harmful bacteria and viruses. Blueberry Nut Juice is a juice made from 100 percent blueberries. The healthy ingredients of the berries are thus retained as far as possible.

Good to know: 100 grams of blueberries contain only 36 calories.

Also healthy: tea made from blueberry leaves

Blueberry leaves also have health benefits. If you brew a tea from them, it helps with the following diseases, for example:
stomach pain
Diarrhea
bladder weakness
inflamed eyes (put compresses soaked in tea on them)
Rashes (wash gently with the cooled tea)
To prepare the blueberry leaf tea, pour 1/4 liter of boiling water over two teaspoons of blueberry leaves and let the tea steep for ten minutes. Strain it and drink a cup morning, noon and night.

Important: Do not drink the tea regularly, but only in case of acute symptoms.

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Lovage: Cultivation and Interesting Facts About Maggi Herb

Lovage is also called maggi herb because its taste is reminiscent of the spice of the same name. Here you can find out more about the versatile spice and its cultivation.

The lovage belongs to the umbelliferae family. It originally comes from southern Europe and southwest Asia, but also grows in our gardens. The plant, up to two meters tall, has bare stems that branch out at the top and serrated leaves.

Growing lovage: This is how the Maggi herb thrives

Lovage is a perennial plant that sprout again in spring and can be harvested from April. Here are some tips on how to grow lovage in your home:

Lovage prefers to be in the light semi-shade.
Since the plant has extensive roots, the soil should be deep enough.
You have to water lovage regularly. However, it does not tolerate waterlogging. So the soil should be permeable.
Lovage needs a lot of nutrients to grow. You should therefore plant it in humus-rich soil and possibly fertilize it.
If you don’t have a garden, you can also plant the lovage in a flower pot on the balcony, but then the plant will not reach its full size.
Lovage plants draw many nutrients from the soil. That’s why you shouldn’t plant a piece of ground with lovage permanently, but give the ground several years to recover in between.

Cooking with lovage: spice for soups and sauces

The various components of lovage are mainly used for seasoning. The strong taste of lovage, reminiscent of celery, goes particularly well with hearty dishes. Here’s how you can use each part of the plant:

You can use the young leaves to flavor meat and fish dishes, soups, sauces and dishes with eggs.
You can blanch young shoots and serve as a vegetable side dish.
You can candy the lovage stems.
Lovage seeds can be used to flavor bread or other pastries.
Aside from its use in cooking, lovage has been used in natural medicine for centuries. It contains essential oils, is said to stimulate digestion and help against heartburn, stomach, intestinal and bladder problems. It has been scientifically confirmed that the root of the lovage has a draining effect and can be used to treat inflammatory urinary tract diseases.

Dry and store lovage

You can dry the various components of lovage without losing much of their aroma. The dried leaves taste a little less spicy than fresh, while the seeds and roots have a stronger taste. Store the dried lovage in a dark container in a dry, cool place.

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Patisson Squash: Facts And Uses

The patisson squash is a lesser-known type of squash. Here we will show you what distinguishes this special variety and how you can use the “Ufo pumpkin” in the kitchen.

Patisson squash: taste, color and storage

The patisson squash is a particularly small variety of squash that only reaches a diameter of about ten to 20 centimeters. Since the flat shape of the vegetable is reminiscent of a small UFO, you can sometimes find it under the term UFO pumpkin or bishop’s or emperor’s hat. The pumpkin variety is colored white, yellow or green. Sometimes the bowl is also provided with stripes or dots.

If you bought a patisson squash or even grew it yourself, you should eat the vegetable as soon as possible. It has a significantly shorter shelf life than other varieties. Therefore, store it in a cool and dark place (e.g. in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator or in the basement) and use it within a few days.

How to use patisson squash

Slightly larger patisson squash should be peeled before use. You can eat smaller specimens with the skin and also use them raw in a salad, for example. The best way to do this is to grate the small UFO pumpkins into small pieces. If you don’t want to use it raw, you can cook it almost any other way, like boiling, blanching, sautéing, or baking.

You can pickle cooked patisson squash to make it last longer. For a filling main course, you cut the squash in half, bake it in the oven and then fill it with things like couscous salad, red lentil salad or rice salad. With small patisson squash, you only cut off the stalk and some of the surrounding skin as a “lid” and then bake them whole.

For a side dish, you can puree the Ufo pumpkins or prepare them in the oven as pumpkin wedges or pumpkin fries. You can serve this with a plum chutney or onion chutney, for example. Finally, the autumn vegetables are also suitable for soups or stews.

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Sticky Rice: Nutrition Facts, Basic Recipe and Ideas for Sticky Rice

Sticky rice, also known as sticky rice, is a Thai specialty. In the national cuisine, it is used either as a side dish or as the basis for more elaborate dishes. We will introduce you to the type of rice and show you a simple basic recipe.

Sticky rice is a type of rice that is mainly found in Thailand, but also in other Asian countries. It has thick, bulbous grains that resemble jasmine rice. While uncooked jasmine rice appears slightly translucent, glutinous rice – or sticky rice – is white. This is due to its high starch content.

Another difference lies in the way it is prepared: sticky rice is not boiled but steamed. As a result, the individual rice grains stick together and the sticky rice gets the typical consistency for which it is named. According to Thai tradition, a special bamboo basket (for example via** Avocadostore) is used for steaming. A steamer or a large saucepan serves the same purpose.

You can get sticky rice in Asian shops or in well-stocked supermarkets. Some manufacturers also offer sticky rice in organic quality. If you have the choice, you should opt for the organic version – this way you support sustainable cultivation conditions and avoid rice that is contaminated with chemical-synthetic pesticides. Ideally, the sticky rice should also have a Fairtrade seal: Then you can be sure that it comes from fair trade.

The nutritional values of sticky rice

Cooked sticky rice contains about 150 calories per 100 grams. Uncooked, it usually contains between 330 and 350 kilocalories per 100 grams. Uncooked sticky rice has the following additional nutritional values:

Protein: 7 g
Carbohydrates: 77 g
Fat: 0.8g
Sugar: 0 grams.

Like all types of rice, sticky rice is low in fat and cholesterol and rich in minerals. On the other hand, it contains less fiber than, for example, whole grain rice.

Sticky Rice: Simple basic recipe

Because glutinous rice needs to be steamed, the best way to cook it is in a special steamer. If you don’t have one, a simple saucepan and sieve will suffice. Make sure that the sieve can be hung in the saucepan.

Ingredients:

250 g sticky rice
water

Directions:

Wash the glutinous rice in lukewarm water until the water runs clear. Then put it in a bowl of cold water and stir well. Let the sticky rice sit in the water for at least three hours. If you want, you can put it in the night before and leave it overnight.
Pour the glutinous rice into a colander and rinse thoroughly.
If you are using a steamer for the preparation, line the steamer insert with a damp kitchen towel and put the sticky rice in it. Fill the pot with one liter of water and insert the insert. Then fold the kitchen towel over the rice and put the lid on. Let the rice steam over medium heat for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a large saucepan. Fill it with about a liter of water and place the sieve on the edge of the pot. Line the sieve with a kitchen towel, add the glutinous rice and fold the towel over the rice. Then put the lid on the pot. Make sure to keep the gap between the sieve and the lid as small as possible so that not too much steam can escape.
Steam the glutinous rice with the lid on and over medium heat for about half an hour. Then remove the pot from the stove. Caution: If some steam escapes despite the lid being on, be careful not to burn yourself.
Let the finished glutinous rice cool down a bit before you serve it as a side dish or process it further.

This is how you can process sticky rice

You can either serve the finished sticky rice as an accompaniment to other dishes or process it further. A classic Thai recipe is sticky rice with coconut milk and mango. To do this, boil 400 milliliters of coconut milk together with 50 grams of sugar and some salt and mix them with the finished rice. The dish is garnished with fresh mango slices.

However, both mangoes and coconut milk have a bad ecological balance because they cannot be cultivated regionally and have to be imported over long distances. You should therefore only use both occasionally when cooking. If you want to do without coconut milk, you can use regional organic cream or oat cream instead – this also makes the sticky rice nice and creamy. As an alternative to mangoes, you can try peaches or apricots, for example. You can get both from German cultivation during the season. You can find out which types of fruit are in season at what time of year in the Utopia seasonal calendar.

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Food

Oatmeal Nutrition Facts: Gluten Free, Healthy and Good Calories

Oatmeal is healthy, provides valuable calories and is – at least naturally – gluten-free. You can find out the nutritional values ​​of oatmeal here.

Oatmeal is so healthy: the nutritional values

Oatmeal is not only versatile, it is also one of the healthiest foods. Whether in muesli, as porridge or as a basis for vegetarian patties – with oatmeal you are doing something good for your health.

100 grams of rolled oats contain:

Calories: A little more than 350 calories – a value that makes the figure-conscious in particular sit up and take notice. In fact, these are long-chain carbohydrates that make you long.
Carbohydrates: just under 60 grams
Protein: 13.5 grams – which is why oatmeal is very suitable for a vegan diet and for muscle building.
Fat: seven grams of fat. Compared to other cereals, oats are therefore quite high in fat. However, these are almost exclusively unsaturated fatty acids, which are very healthy for the human body.
Dietary Fiber: Ten grams of dietary fiber and are so very high in dietary fiber. Oatmeal stimulates your digestion and keeps you full for longer.
In addition, the oatmeal provides vitamins and numerous valuable minerals:

Oats are rich in B vitamins, which are important for healthy skin, hair and nails. We also need vitamin B1 and B6 for our nerves.
In addition, with oats you supply your body with essential minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium and manganese.
Thanks to the high content of beta-glucan, oatmeal can also help lower cholesterol levels.

Gluten in oatmeal: you need to know that

In itself, the oats are gluten-free and therefore suitable for people with gluten intolerance (celiac disease). However, oatmeal and other oat products can be contaminated with wheat. This is mainly due to the fact that the same machines are used for harvesting.

Important: If you have a gluten intolerance, you should therefore pay attention to the imprint “gluten-free” when buying.

Oats in a gluten-free diet have been discussed for years. According to the Deutsche Zöliakie-Gesellschaft e.V., most people with celiac disease tolerate the (uncontaminated) oats without any symptoms. However, a small proportion has been shown to react negatively to the grain.

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