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Healthier Than You Think: 10 Foods That Unfairly Have a Bad Reputation

There are some foods that are unfairly given a bad rap by many people. Here we explain which products you are sure to have made a mistake about.

1. Potatoes

The potato. We eat them as an accompaniment to all dishes, but they are not really considered healthy. They are often labeled as fattening foods, but they are even suitable for losing weight. The potatoes have an incredibly high satiety index and are a valuable source of nutrients. The potato contains hardly any fat, but plenty of starch, fiber and, for these proportions, a lot of protein. The vegetables also contain a lot of potassium, B vitamins, phytochemicals, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.

Tip: Of course, this only applies to cooked, unprocessed potatoes. A portion of boiled potatoes with quark keeps you full for an incredibly long time and is often eaten by athletes to provide energy.

2. Eggs

There is a lot of power in eggs. They contain a lot of protein, which athletes in particular take advantage of. They also contain various vitamins, such as vitamins B, A, D and K. The key point with eggs is the natural protein that our body can fully utilize. In combination with the amino acids, the interaction is optimal, and they also fill you up for a long time.

Eggs were notorious for a long time because of their high cholesterol level, but this is only a concern for people who already have high levels in this area anyway. For healthy people this is not relevant.

3. Coffee

A morning without coffee is unthinkable for many people. It helps us to start the day fit or to get us out of the midday slump. Three to four cups of coffee are considered normal daily consumption. The drink is said to promote our performance and reduce the risk of diabetes. In addition, coffee stimulates intestinal activity, thus promoting the intestinal flora and reducing the risk of colon cancer. Even the liver function is said to be significantly improved by the caffeine drink.

4. Chocolate

It is already known to have a high magnesium content. So it is good for nerves and muscles. It helps with stress and tastes great too. Cocoa even contains iron and zinc. But the digestion also benefits from the sweets, because in moderation they have an anti-inflammatory effect and boost the metabolism. The higher the cocoa content, the healthier the chocolate. Instead of a chocolate biscuit, simply snack on a bit of dark chocolate.

5. Peanut Butter

More than just fat – the peanut butter. It sounds incredibly unhealthy at first. The newfangled, delicious, sweet spread from the USA. Unfortunately, the unhealthy stereotype also applies to some varieties, but as soon as you reach for a product that consists only of peanuts and a little salt, you are supplying your body with vitamin E, fiber and proteins. Vitamin E, for example, helps to preserve cognitive abilities, especially in older people.

6. Popcorn

Of course, this doesn’t mean the sweetened, caramel-covered XXL popcorn bucket from the cinema, but popcorn is actually not as unhealthy as many people think. However, there are also salty or natural variants. Because popcorn contains medium- and long-chain carbohydrates, which provide energy over a long period of time. The popped corn contains fiber and the volume of the grains ensures a long saturation phase, which is why it is sometimes even used to lose weight – this certainly sounds utopian to some, but many athletes use popcorn as a source of energy.

7. Corn

Even in its pure form, corn is a great food. It is often avoided due to its starch content, but it is actually packed with proteins, fiber and B vitamins. For example, corn is ideal for very thin or weak people, because the starch it contains in large quantities helps to build up weight and body mass.

8. Burritos

The Mexican dish has long since arrived in Germany and is eaten here at least as much as in its home country. However, they are not exactly considered “healthy”. But it depends on the filling, because if you adjust it, the burrito is anything but unhealthy. For example, choose brown rice, chicken, beans and avocado and this meal will give you everything you need for the day. This dish is full of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. However, you have to do without sour cream and cheese for the healthy version.

9. Bananas

Although the banana is a fruit, it is often considered unhealthy because of its high carbohydrate and sugar content. But due to its vitamin C, B6 and potassium content, it is actually very healthy. By the way, if it is a small fruit, it does not contain more calories than an apple.

10. Butter

She doesn’t have to let herself be taken away from bread. Butter contains saturated fatty acids, but also polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. As many people think, saturated fat has not been shown to be bad for heart or cholesterol.

Thanks to vitamins A, D, E, omega-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid, the butter is anything but unhealthy. The butter is just right for people with stomach problems because it is easy to digest. Due to the milk fat it contains, the food also has a positive effect on the risk of heart attack.

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Are Vegetarians Really Healthier? Study With a Surprising Finding

Many people take Lent as an opportunity to let bad habits rest – also in terms of nutrition. One possibility is, for example, not eating meat. But how healthy is it to give up meat? A detailed study provides surprising insights into the question.

Long-term study on meat abstinence: data analysis of more than 48,000 people

The medical journal reviewed vegetarian and vegan diets in a July 2019 in-depth study by the University of Oxford. In the course of their surveys, the researchers evaluated the data of around 48,000 subjects who had neither heart disease nor stroke in the past.

About half of all participants reported eating meat. The other half was divided into vegetarians, vegans and pescetarians, i.e. people who do not eat meat but eat fish.

Over a research period of 18 years, 2,820 cases of heart disease and 1,072 strokes were recorded among the subjects.

Meatless diet: Lower risk of heart disease

It was striking that meat eaters showed a significantly higher susceptibility to heart disease. Compared with the pescetarians, the risk of heart disease was increased by 13 percent. Compared to vegans and vegetarians, it was even 22 percent. According to the researchers, this could be due to the significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and elevated blood cholesterol levels.

In contrast to the heart diseases, the subjects with a meatless diet performed significantly worse when it came to the risk of a stroke. According to the study, a plant-based diet increases the risk of stroke by more than 20 percent.

The scientists at the University of Oxford attribute this to the low levels of vitamin B12 in vegetarians and vegans. The vitamin is mainly found in animal products such as fish, meat and cheese. Despite the lengthy study, the researchers said more research is needed to definitively confirm the results.

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Eat Better: Are Cooked Carrots Healthier?

Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables, and not without reason! But why are cooked carrots healthier? We’ll tell you!

What is the difference between raw and cooked carrots?

The good news first: Whether raw or cooked, carrots definitely are
You should also always add some fat in the form of healthy olive oil, sunflower oil or a little butter during preparation. Because the important ingredient beta-carotene is fat-soluble. So if you add some fat to cooked carrots, you absorb the beta-carotene particularly well. This also applies to raw carrots, by the way. If you eat them uncooked, also eat them with some fat (e.g. hummus) to be able to absorb the vitamins better.

It’s best if you don’t remove the skin from the carrots at all, or only remove them where necessary. Because most of the vitamins are right under the skin. Therefore, always wash the carrots particularly thoroughly to remove smaller soil residues. Our conclusion: If you want to absorb as much of the carrot’s vitamins as possible, then pay particular attention to the correct preparation. So you always get the best of the healthy root vegetables.

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Green or White: Which Asparagus is Healthier?

Asparagus is considered the most popular spring vegetable because it not only tastes delicious, but is also an absolute nutrient bomb. But what is the difference between green and white asparagus and which variety is healthier? Here are the answers.

White or green – that’s the difference between asparagus

White asparagus grows underground and is also harvested underground. Its green counterpart grows above the ground and forms chlorophyll as soon as it stretches its head out of the ground towards the sun. Hence the green color.

In addition, green asparagus does not taste quite as mild and fine as white, but has a more spicy taste.

Since white asparagus has to be pricked, which involves a lot more effort, it is usually a bit more expensive. Green asparagus only has to be cut off.

How healthy is asparagus?

Asparagus consists of 90 percent water and is therefore very low in calories and fat-free. The fat content is only about 0.3 percent. It’s 0.47 percent carbohydrate and just over 2 percent protein, which is where “most” of the calories come from.

The popular vegetable also contains many important vitamins (A, B, C, E, K) and many valuable minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.
The high potassium content and the asparagine, which stimulates kidney function, have a draining effect and there can be a strong smell of urine after consumption.

White and green asparagus: which variety is healthier?

Green asparagus is a bit healthier because it contains more vitamin C, folic acid and also more B vitamins than its white counterpart.
In addition, you don’t have to peel it, just remove the woody ends before cooking.
In the end, both varieties are very healthy, which is why only personal taste should play a role in the selection.

Asparagus and gout – when does asparagus become unhealthy?

However, according to the Federal Center for Nutrition, eating large amounts of asparagus can trigger gout attacks, which is why some people should consume the delicious vegetable with caution. It contains many purines, which are converted to uric acid in the body. If there is more uric acid than the kidneys can process and excrete, the uric acid level in the blood will be too high, which in turn can lead to deposits, especially in finger and toe joints.

This creates pain and swelling in sufferers, which are the symptoms of gout. If you have kidney problems or even kidney stones, it is better to consume asparagus in smaller amounts. In moderation this is not a problem, because the quantity makes the poison. Incidentally, the largest proportion of purines is in the asparagus head, so if you want to be particularly careful, you can remove it beforehand – but who wants to do without the best part?

Ultimately, both white and green asparagus are super healthy and should definitely be taken advantage of and enjoyed during asparagus season.

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Forest Honey or Blossom Honey: Which One is Healthier?

Forest and blossom honeys are indispensable in many households. But how are the two different? Is forest honey healthier?

Overall, both blossom and forest honeys are considered healthy. But forest honey is said to be even healthier due to its sucrose content and its higher content of minerals, trace elements and essential oils. what’s up

Forest honey and blossom honey in comparison

Honey is a popular and valuable product that can be found in many homes. Honey is not only used as a sugar substitute, but can also be used for diseases such as liver diseases. Forest honey in particular should also be able to counteract infectious diseases.

Forest honey consists mainly of honeydew that bees collect from deciduous and coniferous trees, for example from insect secretions. It is therefore one of the so-called honeydew honeys – just like fir, leaf and spruce honey – and its color is more in the dark range. The color can range from brown or greenish-brown to almost black. These characteristics distinguish it from flower honeys, which include, for example, lime and acacia honey. These generally come from the nectar of flowers and are colored in the light range – from yellow to brown. They are usually a little sweeter and have a finer taste than forest honeys, which usually have a strong, malt-spicy aroma and, despite their firmer consistency, remain liquid longer than blossom honey.

Important: Since honey loses many enzymes when heated, it is advisable not to add it to hot drinks or use it in baking. It then loses its effectiveness. That is why high-quality honey is usually obtained by cold centrifuging.

Forest honey: is it the healthier alternative?

Overall, honey is considered healthy. It is said to have anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and anti-allergic effects. Compared to blossom honey, forest honey is considered healthier because it contains less glucose and fructose than blossom honey. It should also contain more minerals, trace elements and essential oils and have a strong antibacterial effect.

Info: Even if forest honey is considered to be healthier, an Austrian study from 2007 showed that blossom honey has a better effect on free radicals, i.e. harmful metabolic products, compared to forest honey. This is probably due to the higher flavonoid content in honey.

Attention: Although honey is generally considered healthy, one should not forget that it consists of approx. 70% fructose and glucose and contains approx. 77 kcal per portion (25 g) and is therefore also critically discussed as a sweetener or sugar substitute . Diabetics in particular should be careful when consuming honey, as it, like table sugar, leads to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. It is also important for people with fructose intolerance and with an immune deficiency to be careful when consuming honey. Honey is generally not recommended for babies and small children.

Conclusion: the quality of the honey is crucial

A distinction is made between blossom and forest honeys. Flower honeys are obtained from the nectar by the bees, while for forest honeys the bees collect plant secretions and secretions from insects that feed on plant sap. Due to its higher fructose than glucose content and higher content of minerals, trace elements and essential oils, forest honey is considered healthier than blossom honey. However, blossom honey is said to be more effective against harmful free radicals.

Due to the sugar content, honey – regardless of the variety – should only be consumed in moderation. Overall, both types, both forest and blossom honey, are considered healthy and anti-inflammatory.

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Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats: Which is Healthier?

What is behind saturated and unsaturated fatty acids? We will show you briefly and concisely where they are contained, what is better and what effect the fatty acids have on your body.

Difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

Fat is important for our body – along with proteins and carbohydrates, it is one of the basic nutrients. Every fat contains saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

Fat isn’t clearly healthy or unhealthy – it depends on how much you’re eating and where it’s coming from. Unsaturated fatty acids are healthier. But saturated fats also have their place and don’t always have to be bad in moderation.

Which fatty acids are contained in which and what do they do?
Saturated fatty acids are mainly found in hydrogenated edible fats (e.g. margarine, palm fat, all animal fats, coconut fat) and in most finished products. You can tell they’re firm (or spreadable) at room temperature. Saturated fats provide a lot of energy.
Unsaturated fatty acids are mainly found in vegetable oils and are very sensitive to heat, which is why you should not use olive oil for frying, for example. Unsaturated fatty acids are divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The monounsaturated fatty acids help build the cell membrane, polyunsaturated (also called essential fatty acids) are important for the development of the body. You can find them in meat, grains and potatoes, but also in vegetable oils, nuts, fish and avocados.

Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats: How Much is Healthy?

Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends that no more than seven to ten percent of the total energy intake should consist of saturated fatty acids. Too many such fats can increase cholesterol and blood pressure. This, in turn, often leads to heart disease and obesity.

Monounsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, have a positive effect on fat metabolism. Polyunsaturated fatty acids even lower cholesterol levels.

In the production of edible fat such as butter or margarine, but also if you heat fats too much, trans fats can be formed from unsaturated fatty acids. These also increase the “bad” LDL cholesterol level and lower the “good” HDL cholesterol level.

The Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends no more than one percent trans fatty acids for a healthy diet – however, trans fats are contained in many processed foods. They are currently not subject to declaration in Germany, so you cannot tell from the packaging whether a product contains them. For example, avoid them by cutting out fried foods, shortening, margarine, and baked goods made with them.

Coconut oil consists almost exclusively of saturated fatty acids, but is not harmful – provided it is “virgin coconut oil”.

Attention: Coconut products have been transported a long way and the cultivation is often not very sustainable either: In order to meet the increasing demand, coconuts are often grown in monocultures and treated with pesticides.

Summary: Which is better?

Even if fat is generally discredited, it is important and very healthy in moderation – it all depends on which fat you eat.

Saturated fats are found in many foods, especially processed ones. It therefore makes sense to avoid such products as far as possible. If possible, switch to unsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oils.

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Ceylon Cinnamon: Is It Really Healthier?

Cinnamon is one of the most popular spices. The Ceylon cinnamon variety is not only delicious, it is also considered to be particularly healthy. But is that really true?

Ceylon cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree. The tree originally came from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) – hence the name. Today, however, Ceylon cinnamon is also grown in other regions of South Asia, such as the Seychelles and Madagascar.

Although Ceylon cinnamon is probably the best-known type of cinnamon, we mainly get the Chinese variety Cassia cinnamon in this country. Because it is cheaper and has a stronger aroma. If you buy cinnamon sticks, you can recognize real Ceylon cinnamon by the fact that the sticks are fine-leaved and consist of several thin layers.

How healthy is Ceylon cinnamon?

The interesting components of cinnamon are the essential oils, of which the cinnamon bark contains up to four percent. The so-called cinnamaldehyde has the largest share in this. This substance gives Ceylon cinnamon and the other varieties their characteristic aroma. The remaining components of the essential oils are partly different for the two types. This applies, for example, to these two substances:
Eugenol: While Ceylon cinnamon contains up to ten percent of the substance, cassia cinnamon contains almost zero. Eugenol is one of the polyphenols that are known as cell-protecting antioxidants. A study on cell cultures and rats confirms that eugenol has an antioxidant effect. However, the study does not show whether this substance also has a positive effect on the human body. Nor can she explain how eugenol works in conjunction with the other ingredients in Ceylon cinnamon.
Coumarin: Here it’s the other way around: according to Foodwatch, cassia cinnamon contains about 200 times more coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon, and Stiftung Warentest came to a similar conclusion. The substance is considered liver-damaging if you ingest too much of it. Cassia cinnamon contains so much that you already reach the recommended maximum limit with two grams of it per day.
Since Ceylon cinnamon contains significantly less coumarin than cassia cinnamon, it is healthier, at least in larger amounts.

There are many studies that have examined cinnamon itself and have found different positive effects – for both varieties. The following two reviews summarize some study results:
A 2014 review cites studies concluding that cinnamon is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial. It is also said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, just as in the case of eugenol, human clinical trials are lacking.
Another review looks at studies looking at whether cinnamon can lower blood pressure. The available studies seem to confirm this, but the authors of the review come to the conclusion that there are too few studies to clearly demonstrate an antihypertensive effect.
Overall, there is a lot of evidence that both Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon are healthy, even if there have been too few clinical studies to date. Because it contains a lot of coumarin, you should only use it very sparingly – especially if children are eating with you.

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9 Psychological Tricks to Lose Weight Healthier

Psychological tricks to lose weight healthier to help you get slim. Lose weight successfully without sport through simple measures. To do this, the psychological background of eating and gaining weight must be taken into account.

In order to be able to lose weight healthier, simple psychological tricks will help you in everyday life. They support you in getting slim without putting you on a radical diet. That’s why they’re so effective. Because success begins with your attitude and your thoughts.

Healthier weight loss without exercise

If you want to lose weight these days, it’s not easy. Because sweet temptations are lurking everywhere and there is often a lack of movement in everyday life. It can quickly happen that you gain a few finds that you actually don’t want to have. And as long as you feel comfortable in your own skin, nobody should embark on a radical diet! But if you feel the need to lose weight, psychological tricks can help you lose weight. And all without a diet plan, renunciation, and competitive sports!

Good reasons to lose weight

Nobody should be forced to lose weight if they feel comfortable in their own skin. However, being overweight can pose a health risk. If that’s the case, you should try to reduce your weight and do something good for your health. Because the consequences of morbid obesity are manifold and should be taken seriously.

Tips for healthier weight loss

If you’re one of those people who would like to lose some weight but don’t have the time or desire to do intensive sports, then try the psychological tricks for losing weight. They should help to achieve long-term success against excess weight. Because the mistake of many diets is that they give too many rules and only a few stick with them in the long term. And sometimes clever tricks help to look slimmer and appear thinner.

1) Never go hungry!

Starvation or delaying the next meal often leads to food cravings. And in such a case one tends to eat more than is appropriate in a diet. Therefore, it makes much more sense to satisfy your small hunger with a piece of fruit or yogurt. As a result, you may be able to reduce weight a little more slowly but more effectively this way. Likewise, strictly abstaining from eating only reinforces the urge for more. And the only thoughts revolve around the food!

2) Avoid cravings and hidden sugars

Since ravenous hunger attacks often trigger a guilty conscience or lead to abandoning the diet, you should break the ravenous hunger spiral. In addition, sugar makes us dependent. From childhood, we are conditioned to eat something sweet when we have done well or when we are sad. To break this psychological thought pattern, try to learn new reward strategies. You should also avoid hidden sugars. In the following video, you will learn more about insidious food cravings and how to get rid of them. In addition, see our article on nutrition and cravings during pregnancy.

3) Reduce stress and lose weight

Too much stress in everyday life can cause cravings and increase the craving for sweet food. Because the sweet temptation is known to calm the soul. As a result, we like to reward ourselves with a bar of chocolate or a bag of chips while watching TV after a hard day’s work. Therefore, it can help if you use stress-reducing agents. With less stress, you can lose weight sustainably.

4) Inform others, helps with weight loss

Informing friends and family helps with weight loss. Because if your environment knows your diet plans, they will not tempt you to diet sin. It may also be that your environment welcomes your change in diet and who knows – maybe you will find fellow campaigners in your environment who also want to lose a few kilos? You can get to know the advantages of superfoods together and work on a healthy dream figure.

5) Meaningful employment and activities

If you want to lose weight successfully, you should structure your everyday life with meaningful activities to prevent boredom or idleness. Because a full day with meaningful activities distracts from eating. So make a list of important and fun things you’ve wanted to do for a long time. Accordingly, you can redecorate your apartment, go to the swimming pool or have a wellness day. Sporting activities also help to ensure mental well-being and help to reduce weight. So go for a long walk. In addition, a walk can stimulate digestion, which is just as important when losing weight.

6) A memento motivates

If you want to lose weight with a diet, a piece of clothing that you fit into when you were “fattest” can serve as a motivational aid. So pick up the garment and slip it on from time to time. You’ll be amazed at how good it feels when the garment feels wider and wider. And this positive feeling should be an incentive and give you the feeling that you are on the right track to losing weight more effectively and healthily. In addition, note our tips for self-motivation.

7) Souvenir photo as a reminder

If you really want to lose weight with a diet, a clever trick can help you avoid constantly getting food out of the fridge. To do this, attach a photo to the pantry and refrigerator door that shows you in your “toughest” times. Every time you want to get something out, you’ll get a quick reminder not to deviate from your goals. Consequently, a good tip for healthier weight loss without exercise. You can also hang up a picture from your “best” times.

8) Hide the candy

Everyone knows that sweets should be avoided or only allowed in very limited amounts when dieting. Therefore, you should not tempt yourself with the sweets you have by storing them incorrectly. Consequently, these should not be lying around openly and within reach. In order to be able to lose weight more healthily, it helps to store the sweets well where you cannot see them all the time. It can also be useful if you hide them in a way that makes them more difficult to reach, for example on top of the kitchen cupboard. In line with this, note our tips on the correct storage of food.

9) Weight table creates control

If you want to lose weight in a healthy way, keeping a weight chart can have a motivating and controlling purpose. Accordingly, enter your starting weight at the beginning of the weight loss phase. Then add the new values ​​so that little by little the success becomes visible. It is also important to check that you are not losing too much weight too quickly. This way you can avoid health hazards and the yo-yo effect. To avoid uncertainty, step on the scales no more than once a week.

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Oat or Spelled Flakes? Which Breakfast is Healthier

Both spelled flakes and oat flakes are suitable for a healthy, nutritious breakfast. We compared the nutritional values ​​of the two cereals.

Oat porridge is probably one of the most popular breakfast foods – especially among athletes, because oatmeal is known to be rich in proteins. But you can also prepare the delicious breakfast porridge or muesli from spelled flakes. You can find out here which nutritional values ​​the cereal flakes provide you with in detail.

Spelled flakes vs. oat flakes: nutritional value comparison

Oatmeal is high in protein, healthy fats and fiber, and also provides some vitamins and minerals. More information: nutritional values ​​​​of oatmeal. Oats have earned their reputation as a healthy breakfast ingredient—but spelled can keep up, too.

The macronutrients of oat flakes and spelled flakes in comparison (per 100 grams):
Calories: With around 350 to 370 kilocalories, spelled flakes and oat flakes have about the same energy density.
Carbohydrates: Both cereals are rich in high-quality long-chain carbohydrates. With around 64 grams, spelled flakes provide a little more than oat flakes with around 59 grams.
Proteins: Spelled flakes provide about 14 grams of vegetable protein. With around 13 grams, oat flakes can almost keep up with this considerable value.
Fat: The spelled flakes contain around 2.6 grams of fat. In comparison, oatmeal is quite high in fat, at about seven grams of fat. In both cases, however, it is mainly unsaturated fatty acids that are considered healthy fats.
Fiber: With around 8.4 grams of fiber, spelled flakes are among the foods rich in fiber. Oatmeal can even go one better with almost ten percent fiber content. The breakfast cereals thus contribute to healthy digestion.

Conclusion: In terms of macronutrients, oat and spelled flakes perform similarly. Both types of grain can score with a high protein and fiber content as well as with complex carbohydrates. The biggest difference lies in the fat content: spelled flakes are significantly lower in fat than oat flakes. However, these are mainly the health-promoting unsaturated fatty acids.

Oat or spelled flakes: vitamins in comparison

When comparing the two cereal flakes, it is also worth taking a look at the micronutrients they contain. Both oat and spelled flakes provide valuable vitamins:
Vitamin B1: 100 grams of spelled flakes cover around 30 percent of the daily thiamine requirement and still provide only half as much vitamin B1 as oat flakes. The latter contain a proud 0.6 milligrams of thiamine. The flakes support the metabolism and are healthy for the nervous system.
Vitamin B2: With the same amount of spelled flakes you can still cover 8.6 percent of your daily riboflavin requirement. They have about as much vitamin B2 as oatmeal (nine percent of the Guideline Daily Amount GDA).
Vitamin B3: While spelled flakes do not contain any significant amount of niacin, 100 grams of oat flakes can cover a quarter of your daily needs. So oat flakes perform significantly better here – and are therefore particularly good for metabolism, cell division, the immune system as well as skin and muscles.
Vitamin B5: Oatmeal can also score points with vitamin B5. 100 grams cover around 18 percent of the GDA and thus support the energy metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Vitamin B6: Spelled flakes are particularly rich in vitamin B6. With around 25 percent of the GDA, they provide about twice as much vitamin B6 as oatmeal and thus support a healthy metabolism as well as the nervous and immune systems.
Vitamin E: Both oat flakes and spelled flakes are rich in vitamin E. While 100 grams of spelled flakes cover around 10.5 percent of the GDA, oat flakes even manage around twelve percent. The cereal flakes thus protect the cells from free radicals.
Conclusion: Spelled flakes provide a lot of important vitamins. Compared to oats, spelled scores with a particularly high vitamin B6 content. Oatmeal, on the other hand, contains more vitamins B1, B3 and B5. Both cereal flakes contain about the same amount of vitamins B2 and E.

You also get important minerals from both oat and spelled flakes:
Iron: 100 grams of spelled flakes cover 20 percent of the daily iron requirement, oat flakes even more than 35 percent. The breakfast cereals thus support a healthy immune system and the transport of oxygen in the blood.
Potassium: There are about 330 milligrams of potassium in 100 grams of spelled flakes – about 16.5 percent of the GDA. Oatmeal even manages to reach almost 400 milligrams. This makes the flakes particularly healthy for the muscles.
Magnesium: With 105 milligrams per 100 grams, spelled flakes can cover around 35 percent of the GDA. Oatmeal contains even more magnesium with 130 milligrams. Both cereals contribute to healthy muscles and metabolism.
Zinc: 100 grams of spelled flakes cover about 31 percent of the daily zinc requirement – oat flakes even about 60 percent. The mineral is important for healthy skin and hair.
Conclusion: With these minerals, both spelled flakes and oat flakes can contribute to a balanced diet. A comparison shows that oat flakes provide slightly more vital minerals than spelled flakes.

Oat or spelled flakes? – Conclusion of the comparison

Both in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients, oat and spelled flakes are convincing. Both cereal flakes are rich in vegetable protein, fiber and long-chain carbohydrates – and also provide lots of vitamins and minerals.

In a direct comparison, it is noticeable that oat flakes contain slightly more minerals: Iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc are contained in both cereal flakes, but in higher proportions in oats.

Oatmeal is also a bit healthier in terms of vitamin content: they contain a particularly large amount of vitamins B1, B3 and B5. On the other hand, spelled flakes provide twice as much vitamin B6 as oat flakes. This makes it clear once again why a varied diet is so important.

The bottom line is that both spelled flakes and oat flakes are extremely healthy: We therefore recommend that you neither limit yourself to one nor the other and instead vary them occasionally or mix both types. Variety on the daily menu is an important part of a balanced diet.

Only in the case of gluten intolerance (celiac disease) are spelled flakes eliminated because of their relatively high gluten content. Oats, on the other hand, are gluten-free. But beware: rolled oats and other oat products can be contaminated with wheat residues. Therefore, pay attention to the “gluten-free” packaging note when buying if you suffer from celiac disease.

We also recommend that you buy organic oat and spelled flakes – like other foods. Because: As Öko-Test found out, conventional oatmeal is often contaminated with glyphosate.

By the way: spelled and oat flakes hardly differ in taste either. Both have a slightly nutty taste with an individual touch. You can use the flakes either cold in muesli, cooked as porridge, baked as granola, pureed in a smoothie or for vegan patties and when baking, for example for delicious biscuits.

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Left-Handed or Right-Handed Lactic Acid: Which is Healthier?

Right-handed lactic acid is said to be healthier than left-handed. But, is this really the truth? We explain how the two lactic acids differ and what is behind them.

Lactic acid is found in a wide variety of foods. It is not only found in dairy products, but also in sauerkraut, for example, and as an additive in jams and preserves. Lactic acid is formed in dairy products when lactic acid bacteria convert lactose. The acid ensures that the food does not spoil as quickly and tastes sour. There are two different types of lactic acid: left-handed and right-handed lactic acid. We explain how they differ.

Left-handed and right-handed lactic acid

When scientists want to find out whether they are looking at left- or right-handed lactic acid, they shine light on it. Because the two lactic acids change certain properties of light in different ways: Strictly speaking, light is a wave that oscillates up and down in a certain way. This is called polarization. Left-handed lactic acid turns this polarization (i.e. the direction of oscillation of the light) to the left and right-handed ones to the right.

How can that be? Both types of lactic acid have a slightly different structure. They both contain two bonded carbon atoms, to which one oxygen and one hydrogen atom are attached. In the left-handed lactic acid, both of these little oxygen-hydrogen arms are on the same side, but not in the right-hand one. The right-handed lactic acid is “twisted in on itself”.

Left-handed and right-handed lactic acid: Mixed in nature

Lactic acid is not the only substance that can exist in different forms. Another example is amino acids. What is unique, however, is that both left- and right-handed lactic acid occur in nature. When you eat a food that has lactic acid, it’s usually a mixture of both.

But there are also yoghurts on which the manufacturers advertise that they contain a particularly large amount of dextrorotatory lactic acid. This variant is considered healthier. But is that true?

Is dextrorotatory lactic acid really healthier?

It seems logical that right-handed lactic acid is healthier than left-handed. According to Stiftung Warentest, it is the only one that is a product of human metabolism. In addition, the human body can break down dextrorotary lactic acid more quickly. The body must first convert left-handed lactic acid into right-handed ones in order to metabolize it.

For a long time there was a suspicion that left-handed lactic acid could acidify the blood. However, scientists could not confirm this suspicion. Instead, both variants are considered equally healthy.

Exception: Babies lack the enzyme that converts left-handed into right-handed lactic acid. Therefore they do not tolerate left-turning lactic acid. The Federal Center for Nutrition recommends giving small children sour milk products such as yoghurt only from their first birthday and then only in small quantities. People who are missing part of the intestine sometimes cannot tolerate levorotatory lactic acid either.

Lactic acid for a good intestinal flora

It doesn’t matter whether it’s left-handed or right-handed: lactic acid is healthy.
According to the UGB health platform, lactic acid stimulates digestion, regulates the body’s acid balance and has positive effects on the intestinal mucosa.
In addition, lactic acid occurs together with its producers, the lactic acid bacteria. These support a healthy intestinal flora.

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