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Filter Coffee, French Press or Espresso: This Type of Coffee is The Healthiest

There has long been a debate about whether coffee is harmful or healthy. A study now makes it clear: it depends on the type of coffee.

Filter coffee, French press or espresso: which coffee variety is the healthiest?

For a long time, coffee, consumed daily and in large quantities, had a bad reputation. It promotes cardiovascular diseases, promotes high blood pressure and also has an acidifying effect, it was said.

In their study, Willet and his colleagues were able to reveal that the right type of coffee is – on the contrary – health-promoting. Daily coffee enjoyment can therefore even prolong life. According to the research team, not the gently prepared espresso, not the coffee with the gourmet crema from a portafilter machine, but simple filter coffee is the healthiest.

In addition to finding that coffee can help you lose weight by curbing your appetite and boosting your metabolism, the scientists identified other health benefits:
Filter coffee lowers cholesterol levels
enhances the pain relief of pills
has an anti-inflammatory effect
protects against certain types of cancer (skin, breast, prostate cancer)
reduces the risk of certain liver diseases (liver fibrosis and cirrhosis)
lowers the risk of heart disease

Coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing diabetes

In an earlier study by the same research team in 2006, it was shown that moderate coffee consumption also reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes.

Coffee contains many phytochemicals such as polyphenols and alkaloids. These are important antioxidants that have an anti-inflammatory effect and protect against free radicals, which attack cell structure and are involved in the development of various diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular diseases). Coffee also contains a lot of magnesium, potassium and vitamin B3. In its overall effect, it can therefore positively influence intestinal health as well as sugar and fat metabolism.

In addition to these good ingredients, pollutants can also be produced when the beans are roasted. This is why the preparation of coffee is so crucial. Unfiltered variants, such as coffee from the French press or Turkish coffee, contain so-called diterpenes, which increase cholesterol levels.

Filter coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee

The much-praised espresso, which is brewed gently, also contains fewer, but still a moderate amount of harmful substances. Here, too, a certain amount of coffee grounds remains in the cup, which is often drunk as well. The bad LDL cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in coffees other than filter coffee by as much as 11 percent (when consuming six cups a day), the study found. Unfiltered coffee is therefore particularly dangerous for people with dyslipidemia.

If you drink filter coffee, you don’t have to worry about the quantity. A total of three to five cups a day are still considered healthy. Of course, the strength and roasting also play a role here. Incidentally, how bitter you perceive your coffee is partly dependent on your genes. Some people lack certain receptors that taste bitterness, which is why they perceive their coffee to be milder than others who have these receptors.

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French Fries Just as Healthy as Almonds? New Study With Crazy Results

French fries are a popular food for young and old. However, they are generally considered unhealthy. But are they really? A new nutrition study surprises with its results.

French fries are unhealthy fattening foods – what is the truth of the claim?

In the research literature, regular consumption of fries has been associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. According to the researchers, however, there is little evidence for this assumption. Research leader David Allison and his team therefore wanted to carry out a study that would establish a clear connection between physical health and regular consumption of French fries.

The researchers compared two randomly divided groups of 90 adults each. In one group, the test persons consumed a portion of fries with 300 calories as a snack every day for one month. The control group received a 300-calorie serving of almonds instead. Otherwise, the subjects did not change their lifestyle or diet. Almonds were chosen because they are considered healthy and are not associated with any negative health risks.

The researchers focused their attention on changes in the subjects’ body fat mass and weight. Blood sugar and insulin production were also monitored. At the end of the month, the values ​​in both groups were “comparable and not clinically significant”.

Result: French fries contain more carbohydrates than almonds

At the end of the month, the researchers were able to determine that the group that ate French fries every day had no values ​​outside the normal range. Almonds and fries therefore showed no differences in terms of the health of the subjects. In the French fries group, there were only higher temporary peak values ​​for blood sugar and insulin. According to the research team, this is due to the different proportion of carbohydrates in the two foods.

Study co-author Daniel Smith therefore sees the demonization of fries – and individual foods in general – as unjustified. It makes much more sense to take a close look at a person’s entire diet in relation to their health risk and also to take factors such as daily exercise into account. According to this, fries are no more unhealthy than almonds and you can shake off the guilty conscience with the next portion of fries.

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Dijon Mustard: Ingredients and Characteristics of French Mustard

Dijon mustard is considered one of the finest mustards of all. The city of Dijon, where it was made in the 13th century, gives it its name. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the spicy table mustard.

Dijon Mustard: That’s what makes it so special

The designation “Dijon mustard” is not a protected designation of origin, but it is a seal of quality that stands for a specific manufacturing process and selected ingredients. The fine mustard from Burgundy is particularly spicy and aromatic – this is due to the fact that only brown and black mustard seeds are used in production, which are much hotter than the light ones. This pungency is released through the mustard oils when ground up.

In addition to the choice of mustard seeds, there are a few other special features. On the one hand, the grains are not de-oiled, which means that the spiciness in the mustard is retained. On the other hand, the shells are removed so that only the fine cores of the mustard seeds remain in the end product. This gives the Dijon mustard its typical light color. Instead of vinegar, the French classic uses verjuice, i.e. the juice of unripe grapes.

Dijon Mustard: The Manufacturing Process

Dijon mustard consists of just a few ingredients: brown and black mustard seeds, verjuice (sour grape juice), water, salt and spices. After cleaning, the dark grains are mixed with water, verjuice and spices in the mash tank. Only in the second step are the mustard seeds finely ground – this makes the end product more aromatic.

After a second grinding process, the mustard seed shells are removed in the so-called tamiseuse, a centrifugal sieve. The coarse skins get caught in the sieve, while the fine cores of the mustard seeds are thrown out. To be considered Dijon mustard, there must be no more than two percent husks.

Dijon mustard goes particularly well with this

Due to its intense taste, Dijon mustard is particularly suitable for flavoring sauces, marinades and dressings. It is an indispensable ingredient in the traditional production of mayonnaise.

In France it is often used to refine salads, meat and fish dishes and is often combined with tarragon. But French mustard also goes well with vegetables or soups – for example as an ingredient in a spicy asparagus sauce.

Since the mustard seeds are not de-oiled during production, Dijon mustard contains slightly more fat than other types of mustard. This means that it can be heated up well and is suitable for cooking or frying.

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French fries Vegan? You Should Know That

French fries should actually be vegan, as they only consist of deep-fried potatoes. But it’s not that simple – in some cases there are actually animal ingredients in the fries. So when are they vegan?

Fast food is often criticized for using cheap meat. Those who follow a vegan diet are therefore more likely to eat french fries. But are they actually vegan? If you prepare fries at home in the oven, you can easily answer the question by looking at the list of ingredients on the packaging. But what about the fries in restaurants and snack bars – are they always vegan?

When fries are vegan (and when they aren’t)

French fries consist of three ingredients:
potatoes
spices
frying fat
The small number of ingredients is also the reason why you can easily make fries yourself. Then you know exactly that the fries are vegan.

As a rule, restaurants use a vegetable fat for frying, so the fries are vegan. It is often palm or coconut fat, which is problematic for various reasons. Nevertheless, the fries are vegan in this case.

In these cases fries are not vegan:
Sometimes restaurants fry the fries in clarified butter or lard.
It also often happens that the employees have fried meat in the fryer before the fries, for example chicken nuggets. Then, strictly speaking, the fries are no longer vegan.

Season fries with vegan spices

In addition to the fat used, spices and flavorings are not always vegan:
Beef flavoring on the fries is not uncommon: McDonald’s has been criticized for this in the past, for example. In Germany there was and is not so far.
Some fries have milk or cheese ingredients added, making them no longer vegan.
Many manufacturers add additives to help the fries retain their yellow color, last longer, and be crispy. Not all additives are vegan. That’s why you always have to ask.
By the way: You also have to be careful with ketchup and mayonnaise. Some manufacturers sweet ketchup with honey and mayonnaise usually contains eggs.

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