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Animal or Vegetable Protein? For Building Muscle it Doesn’t Matter

Muscles need protein to grow. The body, therefore, needs protein from food to build muscle. Researchers are now answering whether the protein source plays a role in this: When it comes to building muscle, it doesn’t matter whether the protein is of animal or vegetable origin.

Protein is necessary to build muscle. Many recreational athletes drink protein shakes after exercise and eat mainly quark and lean meat. They want to build up as much muscle mass as quickly as possible. But what about vegetarians, vegans, and those who just don’t want to eat as much meat or dairy?

Protein source plays no role in muscle building

Whether you consume animal protein from meat, for example, or vegetable protein from legumes, for example, makes no difference to muscle building. This is what researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the Hebrew Senior Life Institute found. A higher protein intake promotes muscle and strength gains, regardless of the source of the protein.

More protein, more muscle

Participants in a study were asked about their eating habits and divided into six food categories: fast food and high-fat diets, fish, red meat, chicken, milk, and legumes. At the same time, the muscle values ​​were recorded.

The result shows higher protein intake – more muscles and strength. However, no difference was found between the individual food categories with regard to muscle building. It is, therefore, possible to build muscle mass from animal protein in the same way as from vegetable protein.

Even if the protein source plays no role in muscle building, it does affect bone density. This is what another study found. People who eat more red, processed meat, therefore, have lower bone density and therefore a higher risk of osteoporosis.

Good news for non-meat eaters

The results prove: that muscle building is also possible with meatless diets. When it comes to building muscle, vegetarians and vegans have the same options and opportunities as meat-eaters. When it comes to muscle building, the primary factor is the amount of protein and not the protein source.

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Comparison of Milk Alternatives: What is Which One Best Suited For?

The market for milk alternatives is growing all the time. This makes it difficult for many people to keep track and remember which plant-based milk is suitable for what.

Everything you need to know about plant milk

There are many different milk alternatives on the market today. This includes milk made from nuts, grains, legumes or oilseeds. Basically, the production of a plant milk is not as complicated as one might think: the selected ingredient is watered or soaked, then ground dry or wet and finally mixed with water. Depending on the ingredient you choose, the drink is then boiled or fermented. Solids are filtered out. In order to refine the taste of the drink, additional oils, sweeteners and/or salt are added to individual solutions.

If you decide to buy a product from the trade, you should definitely pay attention to possible preservatives, sweeteners and emulsifiers. One way to avoid this and have control over the ingredients is to make your own dairy alternative. Materials you need for this are usually just a cheesecloth and a good blender. It is best to choose regional oats to make your oat milk. Soak about 100g whole oats in water for 12 hours. Then you sieve the water, add a liter of water to the grains and puree everything very finely. Now use a funnel and cheesecloth to help you pour the liquid directly into bottles. If you like the milk a bit more flavorful, you can also add salt, vanilla, cinnamon, honey or dates before mixing.

If you choose a milk alternative, you can bring variety into your everyday life on the one hand, but you can also consciously integrate certain nutrients into your diet on the other. There are also other reasons for using milk alternatives: if you make your own milk, you can use regional ingredients. In addition, when buying industrially produced milk, there are mainly regional, fair and organic offers, so that you can also do something good for the environment. According to the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, plant-based milk is more convincing than cow’s milk in terms of the ecological balance: The emission of greenhouse gases in relation to the production of milk alternatives is far below the value in cow’s milk production. Land consumption is also significantly lower. Furthermore, one can take action against animal suffering in the dairy industry: Cows in dairy farms are usually exposed to extreme physical and psychological stress. If you want to prevent this, it can be a good step against animal suffering to use plant milk.

The most well-known milk alternatives

One of the best-known milk alternatives is soy milk. It is considered to be particularly versatile and can be used for baking, for example, but also for making smoothies, in muesli or in coffee. Soy has a very high protein content, which is why it is often chosen by athletes to support muscle building. Milk contains valuable potassium and magnesium, but also iron, zinc and many B vitamins. Depending on what you want to use the drink for, you can fall back on one of the different variants on the market: There is unsweetened and sweetened soy milk, some with vanilla, chocolate or banana flavor and mixed forms with rice or oat milk. If you choose a soy drink with added chia or linseed oil, you can add valuable omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, for example.

According to surveys, oat milk is the most popular milk substitute. It convinces above all with its richness in potassium and phosphorus; The fiber also has a stimulating effect on your digestion. Characteristic of oat drinks is the light and natural sweetness, so that no sugar is usually added. Compared to whole milk, oat milk is richer in unsaturated fatty acids. Oat milk is particularly popular in coffee, but can also be used in muesli, porridge or for baking.

The almond drink is particularly well-known: it is ideal for people who suffer from celiac disease, lactose or soy intolerance. One downside that milk brings is that many of the almond’s minerals are lost during soaking and filtering; however, 100 ml of almond milk contains approximately one to seven grams of unsaturated fatty acids, up to two grams of protein and traces of fiber. In order to increase the mineral content of this milk alternative again, artificial calcium or other minerals are usually added. Almond milk is mainly used to make drinks, dips, puddings or other desserts, as well as for daily muesli.

You should also know these drinks

If you like it a little more exotic, the coconut drink can be a great alternative for you: the coconut flavor is particularly popular in smoothies, cocktails and mueslis. The natural sweetness of the coconut drink can not only be used in sweet dishes, but also in savory dishes: you can use it to cook an exotic curry, for example. On the market, however, there is also the possibility to buy a drink with a slightly more subtle coconut flavor: There are, for example, mixed drinks with rice or almonds.

Among other things, the rice drink is rather unknown; nevertheless, it should not be ignored. Due to the fermentation during the manufacturing process, the rice drink has a slightly sweet taste: this means that the milk can be used in a variety of ways. The milk is particularly suitable for people who cannot use nut or soy milk due to allergies. The rice drink is also lactose- and gluten-free.

Pea drinks are currently not very common on the market, but they also have an increasingly high market potential. The advantages that the peas provide are the high protein content and relatively few calories. The protein content of around 8 to 10 grams per glass makes the milk alternative particularly interesting for athletes. The drink provides calcium and magnesium, added rapeseed oil supplies the body with omega-3 fatty acids. There are also different options for this milk: the original, the unsweetened and the barista milk, which is particularly suitable for frothing. Pea drinks can be used in muesli, but also in porridge, smoothies or coffee.

The only way to find out which milk substitute is best for you is to try it; However, the range is now so diverse that you can test a wide variety of products.

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Caring For Cut Flowers Properly: That’s Why You Should Never Pour Fresh Water on Tulips

Tulips should never be given fresh water during water changes. Why does this damage the cut flowers?

A colorful bouquet of tulips can make your heart happy and bring the fresh scent of spring into your home. Quickly fetch a vase from the cupboard, fill it at the tap and then drape it nicely on the windowsill: You can already feel the spring mood in the apartment.

After a certain time, however, there is less and less water in the vase because the tulips have drawn it. Should I drain the water and fill in new? This would be a mistake that would make the beautiful flowers look ugly sooner.

That way you can keep your tulips for longer

If you have the impulse to give your tulips new water, caution is advised: the water already in the vase should never be poured out, instead you should only refill the vase with fresh water. Because: Fresh water gives the cut flowers new energy, it allows them to grow or bloom much faster. But that also means that they age and wither faster. With the mixture of older and fresh water, the tulips will continue to grow, but more slowly.

However, it is important to refill in good time so that the nutrient content in the water does not become too high. So check regularly how much water your tulips have left. These cut flowers in particular draw water quickly, which is why repeated watering may be necessary.

So no fresh water for tulips! If you heed this tip, you can enjoy colorful flowers for longer.

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Preparing For Death: You Should Definitely Pay Attention to This

Everything that lives must die. But how can you prepare for the inevitable?

What is to be settled?

With every second that passes, the moment of death draws nearer. You suppress it, don’t want to admit it. And yet it is inevitable. Perhaps a visit to the doctor will make you realize the fact that your lifetime is coming to an end. At least now you will realize that life is finite. But can you really prepare for your death?

First of all, it is important to regulate certain things. What happens after death? Is everything settled? Here is a 7-point plan:
Store documents clearly: insurance policies, family book, bank documents and also a list of passwords for online banking, social networks or other online accounts.
Make a will: notary public or handwritten. If handwritten, this should be placed with the documents or officially stored.
Appoint an executor: This means a person who implements the will.
State your funeral preferences: How would you like to be buried?
Declare Pet Inheritance: If you have a pet, who should take care of it after death?
Bequeath objects during your lifetime: It is best to decide who should get what in a discussion group.

The last will

You don’t think about it when you’re young. But when you die, you leave something behind. This often leads to arguments. A will can help with that. It may make sense to write it earlier in life. There are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it does not necessarily have to be written by a notary, you can write it yourself. But you have to follow certain rules here. And what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The handwritten will
can be written alone. No other person is necessary.
can be written anytime, anywhere. It will not be charged.
can be kept at home or kept at the district court (approx. €75.00).
can be changed, destroyed or revoked at any time.
may be unclear or even invalid because it was written by a layperson.
can be lost, not found or counterfeited.

The notarial will:
Legal advice and legally secure preparation by a notary.
An appointment with the notary is necessary.
The document is officially stored.
A change can be made by a notary. A revocation occurs through withdrawal from official custody.
There are notary fees for the creation and modification.
Official custody ensures that the will is found and not forged.
Married couples can draw up a joint will for inheritance.
Most often, couples with children choose the so-called Berlin will: According to this, the longer surviving inherited everything. Only after his death do the children inherit.
If the testator is very wealthy, the Berlin will can have tax disadvantages.

How do you prepare yourself for death?

But how can you mentally adjust to death? It doesn’t matter if you got a message about the approaching end.

Accept that you will die. It’s useless to quarrel with fate. You may think it’s unfair, especially when you get the news that you may not have much longer to live. You must come to the realization that everyone dies. Ultimately, there is nothing unfair about that.
Use your time. Think about what you really want. Go to places you want to see, meet people you love. Is it really important to work even more overtime just to buy yourself things you don’t need?
Eliminate misunderstandings. Remember, this may be the last time you’ll see someone. Forgive all those who have wronged you. Ask forgiveness from anyone you may have hurt.
enjoy It can always be the last meal, the last coffee, the last whiskey. Experience it consciously.
When you lie down to sleep, know that you may not wake up the next morning. reflect on your day. were you happy with it Close your eyes, breathe consciously. Smell, feel the linens, listen to the sounds of the night. And when you wake up, be happy about it. Don’t think about what awaits you that day. Imagine you are born again. take the moment
The world you wake up in will not last forever. Enjoy her. In everything she has to offer you. If you buy a new book, read it consciously. A new pen? It may be that today is the last time you will use it. Appreciate the people and things around you. Everything is impermanent.
Death comes to us all. We can’t stop it, but we can influence whether it frightens us or is ultimately what it’s supposed to be: the end of a life.

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Pets and The Climate: Cats and Dogs Cause so Much CO2 – and What That Means For You

The negative ecological balance of air and car travel as well as meat consumption is well known. But dogs and cats also have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of their owners.

What does carbon footprint mean?

Global warming should be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius
Binding target values ​​for the emission of greenhouse gases, which are primarily responsible for global warming, were laid down for the first time in the Kyoto Protocol on December 11, 1997. In addition to CO2, other greenhouse gases are listed here, such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Since the Kyoto Protocol expired in 2020, a new climate protection agreement was introduced in order to be able to continue pursuing the international climate protection process after 2020. In 2015, at the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, 196 countries agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius — if possible below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In November 2002 the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP 26) took place and ended with the Glasgow Climate Pact. Here the 1.5 °C target was again emphasized and for the first time reference was made to phasing out unrestricted coal-fired power generation and to the abolition of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.

What is the carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint indicates the amount of greenhouse gases released by a specific activity, process or action. This means that every product also has a CO2 footprint, which is made up of the sum of emissions that come together through manufacture, use, recycling and disposal. But the CO2 emissions can also be determined for activities such as air travel, car trips, hotel accommodation or events. The carbon footprint accounts for about 60% of the ecological footprint. This indicates how sustainably a person, a company or a country deals with global resources. According to Welthungerhilfe, the world’s population would need 1.7 earths to cover the need for resources. Earth Overshoot Day, the annual deadline when all ecological resources of a year are used up, was already reached on July 27th in 2021.

Calculate your own carbon footprint
The World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) provides a carbon footprint calculator on its website that you can use to calculate your personal carbon footprint. The Federal Environment Agency also offers a CO2 quick check, which also takes pet ownership into account, among other things. Questions about the following areas of life are asked here:
Your shopping behavior for fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat and fish
The proportion of organic or fair trade products you consume
How often you throw away food
How many car trips, plane trips and cruises you take and how often you use public transport.
What type of heating and water heating you use in your house or apartment
The standard and size of your house or apartment
How many people live in the household
Which energy efficiency class your household appliances have and how many small appliances you own
The type and frequency of laundry washing and drying
The money spent on clothes and shoes, leisure, consumer electronics, furniture, restaurant visits, overnight stays away from home, consumer goods and pets.

Why do pets also have a carbon footprint?

So far, there are only a few studies that look at the environmental impact of a dog or cat’s life. In 2020, the Technical University (TU) Berlin examined the entire life cycle of a dog in this regard and identified food, urine and faeces in particular as the main influencing factors. The environmental impact increases with the size, weight and lifespan of the dog. Animal and plant life are negatively affected by urine and the feces of the fur friends can make the trees more susceptible to diseases. For a dog weighing 15 kilograms that lives for 13 years, an average of 1000 kg of faeces and almost 200 liters of urine could be determined. With regard to dog food, the greatest burden was caused by the high proportion of beef and poultry and the packaging materials.

Are there too many dogs and cats?

Many pet owners may wonder why their beloved four-legged friend causes so much CO2. It is not only the CO2 emissions of a single animal that is decisive, but the large number of pets. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the number of dogs in Germany has more than doubled within 20 years. In addition, the Industry Association for Pet Supplies (IVH e.V.) states that 15.7 million cats and 10.7 million dogs lived in Germany in 2020, the number of which has most likely increased further in the course of the pandemic. 47% of all households had at least one pet. Justifications that dogs ensure more exercise for their owners and can encourage children to take more responsibility should not be included in the considerations.

The feed has the most harmful effect on the climate

Dog and cat food is largely based on meat and meat by-products. According to a report by Galileo TV, which documents a long-term experiment with vegan dog food in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, meat-based dog food accounts for 90% of a dog’s carbon footprint. Around 1 million tons of meat are consumed annually for the 26 million dogs and cats in Germany. It would theoretically be possible to feed dogs on a purely plant-based basis, as Volker Wilke from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover explains in the article. This would reduce CO2 emissions for wet food by 35% and for dry food by as much as 70%. So far, no adverse effects have been observed with feed made from peas, lentils, sweet potatoes or soya supplemented with vitamins and amino acids. However, the changeover should be carried out under expert supervision so that the dogs do not suffer any organ damage or muscle atrophy. However, the origin of the vegan feed is also important. Because if the feed is made with soy from Brazil or other countries of origin, it can be much more harmful to the climate than dry feed made in this country.

What is the life cycle assessment of dogs, cats and horses?

With the provocative book title “Time to eat the dog?” (Is It Time to Eat the Dog?), two New Zealand authors caught the attention of many pet owners in 2009. Is the ecological paw print really that bad?

No more than 2 tons of CO2 per year

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), every inhabitant of the earth should not cause more than two tons of CO2 per year, so that the climate would not be further burdened. The amount of two tons of CO2 corresponds to the capacity that the earth could absorb naturally. The actual values ​​significantly exceed these two tons, depending on the country. According to Statista, in 2019 an average of around 30.68 tons of CO2 was produced per capita in Qatar, around 14 tons in the USA and around 7.8 tons in Germany.

What is the carbon footprint of dogs and cats?

Researchers at the Technical University (TU) Berlin have examined the life cycle assessment of dogs. Among other things, the production of feed and the consequential damage to the environment caused by urine and faeces were included. The result shows that the popular pet causes significant amounts of CO2. For example, a dog weighing 30 kilograms produces around 1,050 kilograms of CO2 a year, as reported by the Tagesspiegel. Thus, with just over a tonne of CO2, this dog causes about the same amount as a one-way flight from Berlin to Washington. With an estimated lifespan of 18 years, the dog’s CO2 emissions would increase to 19 tons.

The life cycle assessment for cats was determined in 2019 by the Swiss eco-balance institute ESU-Services. In addition to feed and environmental pollution, domestic conditions such as heat loss when installing a heat flap were also taken into account. According to this, a cat weighing 4.2 kilograms produces about the same amount of CO2 per year as a 1,165-kilometer car journey, which roughly corresponds to the distance from Berlin to Venice.

Horses are climate sinners too

A study examined all important effects on the life cycle assessment of pets. This included, for example, feeding, housing, faeces, trips by car to the veterinarian or even going for a walk, as well as all necessary purchases for the pets. The authors compared the results with the environmental impact of a car trip. The results showed that horses had the worst environmental record. According to the calculations, the annual cost of keeping a horse corresponded to an annual car mileage of 3700 km. Overall, the scientists came to the conclusion that the larger the pet, the greater the environmental impact.

This is how you can optimize your pet’s carbon footprint

Remove legacies left by four-legged friends

Dogs defecate and urinate when they go for a walk. A researcher determined in 2017 that the dogs and cats kept in the USA alone produce a good five million feces a year. It is not possible to get rid of the urine, but you should collect the dog poop in a waste bag and dispose of it. Thus, the environment is less polluted, because the amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen and heavy metals contained in the feces contribute to freshwater eutrophication and freshwater poisoning. In addition, disposal companies have to collect less manure, which also saves CO2. Also against the background that the production of the manure collection bags is less harmful to the environment than the entry of manure into nature. At the same time, walkers are happy when they are spared stepping into a dog pile.

Adjust the amount of feed as needed

Since many pets are overweight, CO2 can certainly also be saved with regard to the amount of feed. Keep your pet at a healthy weight and avoid overfeeding. As a dog owner, you should also consider that the production of dog food also requires factory farming, because dog food rarely comes from organic farms.

Reconsider BARF feeding

Biologically appropriate raw feeding, or BARF for short, contains 75% high-quality raw meat and is therefore a much more climate-damaging form of feeding than ordinary wet food. This doubles the CO2 footprint. The BARF feeding is considered to be particularly adapted to the needs of the dog as a descendant of the wolf. In the meantime, however, the opinion is becoming more and more widespread that dogs have adapted their digestive system to carbohydrate-rich food in the course of their development and that such a high protein intake is therefore no longer absolutely necessary.

A simple calculation illustrates the dimensions: A meat ration of around 300 – 500 grams per day is recommended for a medium-sized dog weighing 30 kg. This adds up to 150 – 185 kilograms per year over the year – per dog. And this does not include meat consumption for cats.

Insect-based dog food as an alternative

The latest trends include food cans that contain insects as a protein source. Insect food producer Tenetrio reports that insect protein-based dog food contains all the amino acids that dogs need. In addition, dogs are very good at splitting and utilizing the insect protein. A study that examined compound feed containing larvae of the black soldier fly came to the conclusion that the feed was very well tolerated by the dogs even if they suddenly switched. However, the price here is still far higher than for dog food containing meat, which is due to the high production costs.

Vegan dog food possible, but expensive

Feeding a dog meat-free sounds strange at first. It is also not in line with a dog’s natural diet and requires some additives to keep the dog from becoming ill. In fact, it is possible to provide the dog with all the nutrients, even if no animal protein is included. Vegan dog food consists of vegetable protein in the form of legumes such as lentils or lupins, supplemented with vegetables, millet, taurine, L-carnitine, iron, minerals, vitamins or algae. The disadvantage, however, is that the price is currently three times higher than that of conventional dog food. In addition, the current study situation does not yet allow an unrestricted recommendation for special phases of the dog’s life, such as growth or age.

Cats are more difficult to change their food

So far, there are hardly any studies that have examined the effects of vegan diets in cats. The option remains to choose a feed that contains more animal by-products or to offer more dry feed.

Conclusion: Every hobby entails a certain amount of CO2 emissions. Whether it’s a pet or the sports car in front of the front door. Here you have to decide for yourself where you see savings potential. Several pets, a lot of air travel, high meat consumption and cars with high fuel consumption are perhaps too much of a good thing. If you keep a dog as a pet, you can reduce your dog’s CO2 footprint by consistently collecting the droppings in poop bags and by changing the diet.

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Children and The Media: Valuable Tips For Getting Started at a Young Age

Children come into contact with digital media earlier and earlier in their everyday lives. As a parent, it is important to encourage responsible parenting.

The digital age: the transformation of the media

The changing times mean that children come into contact with media at an earlier age. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the family environment usually uses media such as smartphones, tablets or television on a daily basis, but also to the child’s curiosity: children love to observe and try out new things. In addition, the often simple use of the devices by swiping, typing or zooming makes it possible for children to quickly take a liking to them.

So today children grow up “surrounded by technology”; they have usually been in contact with digital media from an early age. The possibilities of modern media are also often used in educational institutions, for example to pass on information material and to use alternative learning methods. In the course of their development, the media world does not appear to be “foreign” to the children, but rather they take it for granted and are enthusiastic about it. This is where it is important to intervene as the child’s authority figure and caregiver: the child should maintain a healthy skepticism about media content and be aware of the dangers.

Characteristics of unhealthy media use

Children’s affinity for digital devices such as computers, smartphones or televisions is often very high. They offer a wide range of sounds, images and videos, which is very popular with children and stimulates the stimuli. The extent to which children are attracted to the media content and how intensely the material affects them varies from child to child: While some children can hardly be influenced, others appear more aggressive, overexcited or listless. This already shows that media not only offer advantages, but can also have disadvantages.

In its 2020 media addiction prevention offensive, the DAK examined the effects and changes in media use and was able to identify six signs of unhealthy media use in the course of the study. These include:

contact behavior. The child or young person avoids family, friends or other social encounters. Social life is severely neglected, so that conversations are seldom or only superficial. The virtual space is considered the only desired contact.
times of use. Internet use is intensifying and the usual leisure activities and contact with reality are shortened accordingly. The reason for this can also be the variety of digital media offers: First watch a film on TV, then play a computer game and keep checking your smartphone.
daily structure. The healthy and regular sleeping rhythm is disturbed. A game is often played or a series watched late into the night, so that the day ends much too late. Fatigue, absence or sluggishness as well as reduced performance can be identified.
Affect. If the child or young person has no access to the Internet, depressive, aggressive or angry reactions appear.
Carelessness. The lack of sleep associated with the previous changes, the isolation from social contacts and reality often means that children and young people can no longer fulfill their tasks and obligations. Even hobbies are neglected or given up entirely.
Self reflection. Affected children and young people often find it difficult to realistically assess their own internet use. They get lost in the media and often don’t even know how much time actually elapses.

Tips for regulated media consumption

Children and young people depend on the help of adults when it comes to healthy media consumption. It is important that you help your child to use digital media consciously. An important point is a regulated usage time, which is based on the age of the children.

Klicksafe, an initiative of the European Union, recommends a usage time of about one hour a day for children from 10 to 13 years old, for 14 to 17 year olds the decision should be made depending on the family and personal situation. Klicksafe also lists the idea of ​​”media vouchers”: The “allowed time” could be transferred to vouchers that the child can freely allocate. These coupons can also be set to a specific device. In this way, the child also learns to deal responsibly with time.

It is advisable to agree on a fixed weekly quota for media use instead of fixed times of the day. This is how screen times are set, but the division is left to the child himself. It can be helpful to set an alarm clock so that the time is really observed and the child gets a feeling for its consumption. Show your child other ways to keep themselves busy: It is often a “reflex” to turn on the television when boredom sets in. For example, you could encourage your child to play an analog game, run around outside, do crafts, draw, or read. To prevent addictive behavior, it can also make sense to take “media-free times”. This means that smartphones, tablets or the television remain switched off during a family outing or at the dining table, for example. It can also be a good idea to avoid media for an hour or two before bed. The important thing is to be a role model. If you use your smartphone continuously, it will also be more difficult for the child to stick to agreed times. So you too should reflect on your media behavior and try to be a good role model for your child.

The type and function of the media are also age-dependent: Take a look! informed about which devices could be useful from what age. Babies react instinctively and mainly to light and sound effects: Independent use of media cannot and should not take place at this age. If a child exceeds the first year of life, it can usually differentiate between “image” and “reality”. The child is able to consciously turn to mobile media; however, the area of ​​experience for children under the age of three should be primarily in the real world. Children between the ages of three and four slowly develop an understanding of symbols and media. Tablets are a great opportunity for children of this age to express themselves creatively, to try out themselves and to perceive new characters in films or series. What is important is the shared use of the media and the regulated period of time. At the age of five to six, children use media as a source of knowledge, as a means of orientation, entertainment and as a toy. Here it is important that you help the child to deal with safe offers and support them if possible. The first “own smartphone”, which many children are pushing for, should only be purchased when the child is able to perceive the dangers of the Internet and knows how to protect itself. This is usually the case from around 12 years of age. Here, too, you should talk to the child about the rules, costs and apps and try out how to deal with the child responsibly.

Child-friendly media offerings

There are numerous media offers that are classified as “sustainable” by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. In these, children should learn how to use media responsibly; The advantage of the offers is that the parents act as “companions” in the digital world and can therefore offer assistance if questions or uncertainties arise with the child. A first tip is the children’s search engine “Blinde Kuh”. It is a search engine that provides news, hands-on offers, and tips for surfing and games especially for children.

Another recommended offer is the page Klick-Tipps.net. The site offers information on various topics, but also surveys or knowledge tests are offered. All content has been subjected to a pedagogical examination.

Children and young people often show a special interest in computer and console games. Which games are recommended from a pedagogical point of view are summarized in a brochure every year, which can be a useful guide.

You can find other pedagogically valuable and child-friendly sites at Seitenstark e.V. This is a network in which certified children’s sites work together to provide sustainable offers for children.

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Curious: This is The Most Common Nightmare – For You Too?

Nightmares don’t just affect children – every second adult suffers from scary scenarios in their dreams. The topics are often similar – and sometimes strange. However, one particular nightmare is dreamed very often.

The most common horror scenarios in dreams

Why we dream is still not fully understood. Dreams should help us, for example, to consolidate what we have learned or to process what we have experienced. Nightmares, on the other hand, can teach us how to deal with fearful situations.

As with books and films, nightmares can also be referred to as “classics”. Because there are some themes that repeat themselves in many people. These include, for example, dreams in which those affected fall into the abyss, freezing in dangerous situations, deaths of loved ones, monsters and war scenarios. According to a study, Germans most often dream of spiders. In the interpretation of dreams, spiders can stand for deception, fears and intrigues, but also for luck or creativity. Here it is crucial in which way the spiders appear in your dreams.

If you have a nightmare about a spider sitting or crawling on your bed, there may be intrigue in your community. If the spider runs over your body in a dream, bad luck is said to be approaching. However, if she weaves a web, it can mean something joyful for you. By the way, the topics of dreamers are different internationally. So most Britons probably dream of expecting offspring. Many Portuguese dream of the end of the world and in Poland, according to surveys, most people dream of cats.

Nightmares – what you can do about it

We’re powerless against dreams, aren’t we? Not necessarily. There are methods that you can use preventively, but also if you have already had a bad dream.

If you have had a nightmare, you can write down the dream after waking up; this should not occur again. You can also change the dream by writing and think of a “happy ending”, for example.

Medications such as antidepressants or sleeping pills can encourage restless dreams. You should talk to your doctor about this. If nothing helps against the bad dreams, you should seek help from a therapist.

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Lifestyle

Anything For The Money? That’s Why There Are no Windows in The Supermarket

Hardly any supermarket has windows. There is a clever trick behind it. Of course, we can already anticipate that this is about the money. And that of the customers.

Supermarket tricks

Supermarkets use a wide variety of tricks to turn their own customers into even more profitable customers. A very special trick are the missing windows. Of course there are some at the front where current offers are also attached, but that’s often the case.

There is a pretty clever effect behind this, which should lure even more money out of our pockets. By the way, arcades and casinos also use it. Overall, all supermarkets are always built according to a perfectly thought-out scheme, which is said to have numerous influences on us. The missing windows have a very simple reason: the longer customers stay in the supermarket, the more money is spent. When you can’t look outside, it’s hard to tell the time. This will keep you in the store for up to an hour.

There are other reasons too: direct sunlight can cause packaging to fade and no longer look high-quality. In addition, window fronts can only be blocked with shelves with difficulty, which means that supermarkets gain space by omitting the windows.

What other tricks are there?

Have you ever noticed that most supermarkets have tile floors? On the one hand, this can be easily cleaned, on the other hand, the shopping trolleys make a lot of noise on it. In order not to attract attention, most people then walk very slowly through the store.

This also tempts you to browse a little more and thus spend more money. Tricks like this quickly end up with things that we didn’t need at all. If the supermarket gets a little fuller, then pay attention to the music: It will probably be more dynamic and faster. This drives people on, so the store empties a bit quickly.

In this way, among other things, we as customers are constantly guided and influenced without us noticing it directly. You can only avoid these effects if you think carefully beforehand about what to buy.

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Food

Debate: Higher VAT on Meat for More Animal Welfare?

The Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. calls for a price increase on meat to improve animal welfare. There are various solution models for this – among other things, raising the VAT rate on meat products is under discussion.

Animal rights activists are calling for an earmarked price increase

The Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. would like to achieve a meat tax, the income from which will improve the welfare of livestock. Due to the earmarking, the money would benefit farmers who are willing to change their animal husbandry and advocate animal welfare.

Albert Stegemann from the Union parliamentary group also welcomes the idea of ​​​​the animal welfare association: He also sees the solution in earmarking, because the resulting income “must be used as an animal welfare premium to support animal owners in Germany with the conversion,” said Stegemann.

Increase in VAT as a simple solution

Both the SPD and the Greens advocate raising the VAT rate for meat. This is currently 7 percent – the increase would result in a tax rate of 19 percent.

SPD politician Rainer Spiering is counting on increasing the VAT rate “for the sake of simplicity”. The only drawback: the solution would primarily affect the consumer, but less on meat producers and food retailers, who should also be involved.

There is also opposition from EU budget minister Günther Oettinger: he is of the opinion that the tax increase would not help to reduce meat consumption.

Is taxation idea not legally possible?

Increasing VAT seems like a simple solution, but it is unlikely to bring the expected benefits. The Federal Ministry of Finance conceded that the earmarked use of VAT revenue for more animal welfare is not legally possible.

The general secretary of the farmers’ association, Bernhard Krüsken, is also critical of the taxation model: “Not the tax authorities, but the farmers need funds and support for the further development of animal husbandry”.

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Lifestyle

New Beauty Trend 2022: How Acid Should Care For Your Hair

Long and healthy hair is still the ideal of beauty for many women and men. But conventional shampoos often do not bring the desired success, which is why alternatives are worth a look.

Hair shampoos in the test – that says Stiftung Warentest

Stiftung Warentest regularly examines several shampoos and compares them in terms of effectiveness, the cost factor and the environmental aspect. In 2020, 18 shampoos and hair soaps were tested, including seven natural cosmetics. A total of 14 performed well, three were satisfactory and one was just sufficient. Big price differences were still noticeable, the products cost between 1 and 38 cents per hair wash. A shampoo, on the other hand, turned out to be a sham.

A new trend is currently noticeable, so-called “hair soaps*” made from oils or fats “saponified” from lye are becoming increasingly popular. In principle, such solid shampoos work no differently than liquid shampoos, they have only been deprived of water and then formed. Most liquid shampoos performed well across the board, while hair soaps performed slightly worse. The problem, however, is that these can form whitish residues when washing. The result is swelling hair that is difficult to comb. A rinse made of vinegar and water, also known as an “acidic rinse”, helps against this so-called “lime soap”. This form of hair washing has been propagated, among other things, since 2014 as the so-called “No poo” movement, which originated in the USA and today has numerous followers and groups worldwide. There are several forms of exercise, one of the most popular being washing your hair with vinegar.

But how healthy is acetic acid for hair and scalp? Does it even damage the hair in the long run and what can you do about the acidic smell?

Beautiful hair: the “no poo” movement

“No poo” simply means to wash your hair without shampoo. Shampoos are said to damage the hair, and the substances and chemicals they contain can potentially make you sick. There is also concern that conventional shampoos remove the scalp’s natural oils, thereby drying out the hair and scalp.

The movement emerged in 2014 and today there are various forms of it. One group rejects any means for the hair and only cleans it with water. Another group uses baking soda in place of shampoo and apple cider vinegar as a supplemental conditioner. The third group consists of self-mixed remedies, for example made from rye flour, eggs, clay or beer.

Since the current beauty trend in terms of hair care products is propagating apple cider vinegar, this technique is briefly presented below. Because the scalp is naturally slightly acidic (hair pH is around 5.5, well in the mid-range), acidifying hair is all about lowering the pH of the scalp and hair. This care treatment is intended to give the hair strands more shine and smoothness and to prevent the hair from charging by closing the cuticle layer and smoothing the hair structure. Numerous external influences can also negatively affect the natural pH value of the scalp and hair, which is why it is advisable to avoid using products with a basic pH value such as children’s shampoos, industrial hair masks and conditioners, cleaning shampoos and hair coloring products and to use natural products instead . What is meant here is above all the “sour rinse” (rinse = English for conditioner), which is used like a conventional hair conditioner

Preparation of the “sour rinse”

The preparation of the conditioner is simple and uncomplicated. The first treatment can also start with a tablespoon of vinegar. For this purpose, the hair is washed with normal shampoo beforehand, whereby a hair care product made from organic and natural ingredients should promise more success, since the chemicals contained in normal shampoos are said to damage the structure. After washing the hair, the acidic rinse is poured over the hair, which does not have to be rinsed out again. Once the hair dries, the vinegar smell will dissipate. If the smell is too strong, a few drops of essential oils can help. In addition to apple cider vinegar, other types of vinegar such as balsamic vinegar, herbal vinegar and lemon juice or citric acid can also be used. Be careful with citric acid, half a teaspoon is enough.

Another non-chemical, vinegar-based hair treatment is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. The shampoo is made from the apple cider vinegar and water, and the neutralizing solution is made from the baking soda and water. Instead of the shampoo, the hair is washed with a baking soda solution to neutralize the scalp and to loosen the oil from the scalp. The sodium hydroxide solution makes the skin alkaline, which then has to be balanced out with the acetic acid.

Even if this procedure is simple and good for the hair, the smell is a disadvantage. In terms of combability, the vinegar treatment is not necessarily recommended for all hair types and is particularly suitable for straight hair. In the case of hair with natural frizz and curls, however, combing it out afterwards is very painful. Another glaring problem with using baking soda is that baking soda can actively damage the scalp and hair. Also, the natural pH level could be compromised by the highly alkaline baking soda, which can lead to scalp and hair damage over time.

problem

So one of the most popular “No Poo” methods is acidifying your hair with a vinegar solution. As mentioned, there are pros and cons here. Anyone who likes to use natural care products and can handle them well should rely on a conditioner with vinegar. However, there is not enough evidence of how beneficial this procedure is for the entire hair structure in the long term. The effectiveness of other forms of care such as egg or beer rinses against problems such as dandruff, itching and dryness has not yet been successfully confirmed.

Although there was a time in Europe when body odors were highly regarded and even encouraged by a lack of personal hygiene, most people are now used to noticing pleasant smells in their counterparts. The natural body odor is less socially acceptable today and is suppressed or covered up with all conceivable methods. Without sufficient care, the hair also begins to smell unpleasantly after a few weeks, since the scalp sebum smells like rancid butter after a while. Some people are very prone to greasy dandruff and irritated scalps, which are made worse by winter and stress. If such a predisposition is present, it is even necessary to use a medicinal shampoo with an antifungal substance. This can prevent certain organic germs from growing. If you fail to do this or if you don’t wash your hair at all instead, it can develop into a massively itchy scalp surface covered with a shell-like crust of scales, from which more and more hair gradually falls out.

Some popular “no poo” methods have been shown to actually damage and irritate the hair and scalp. The oil residue on the scalp can change and oxidize, causing the oil to break down into foul-smelling by-products and causing an itchy and flaky scalp. In fact, pH is not the only reason for hair health, while some problems such as skin irritations, dandruff or allergies can be treated with a pH-adjusted shampoo, it is not the solution to all hair problems. Dermatologists continue to give the all-clear when it comes to naming the body’s own fat production on the scalp as a reason for not shampooing, because the body produces the same amount of scalp fat relatively constantly, regardless of how often and intensively the hair is treated with a conventional shampoo to wash.

Conclusion

Dermatologists are concerned that nowadays hair is washed too often and products with inappropriate ingredients are often used. In particular, allergy sufferers and people with a sensitive scalp should avoid certain ingredients (such as dyes and preservatives, cocamidopropyl betaine, parabens or silicones). Although silicones make the hair shiny and supple, there is a risk of clogging the open scalp pores and follicle openings, so that a reasonable exchange of substances through the scalp can no longer take place.

Hair specialists recommend using a mild shampoo* to wash your head every 2-3 days. In addition, the water should not be too hot, lukewarm is fine. A moderate heat should also be used when blow-drying. The use of organic products can be added as a supplement, for example in the form of a night cap with olive oil to strengthen dry or flaky scalps.

The best remedy for clean hair and a well-groomed scalp is still a good shampoo and conditioner. Modern shampoos are designed to remove scalp oils and dirt without attacking the natural layer of moisture. That is why it is even important for the scalp and hair to get rid of excess oil regularly.

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