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Legumes are a great source of protein, especially for vegetarians and vegans. But meat eaters also benefit from the “superfood”. And of course there are also tricks against the intestinal complaints.

There are 730 genera of legumes worldwide. The most important are:

Lentils: Yellow Lentils, Green Lentils, Red Lentils
Peas: Chickpeas, Green Peas
Beans: Soybeans, Runner Beans, Green Beans, Kidney Beans, Lima Beans, Mung Beans, Black Beans, Soybeans
peanuts
lupins
Legumes are an important part of human nutrition because of the possible large yields on small areas and are therefore indispensable.

The most important ingredients at a glance

Vitamin bombs: vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, C, E, K. Legumes contain B vitamins, among other things, which are among the most important nutrients of all. However, beans and co. usually have to be cooked for a long time, which is why they hardly contain any heat-sensitive vitamins such as the B vitamins.
Protein: No other plant-based food contains as much protein as legumes. This is often of high biological value, i.e. the body can absorb them well (e.g. soybeans). However, they do not contain all the protein building blocks necessary for life. However, a combination with grain, for example, can easily compensate for this deficit.
Fiber: Legumes contain a lot of fiber. However, the values vary greatly depending on whether the seeds are peeled or unpeeled.
Secondary plant substances: Beans, peas and the like contain secondary plant substances such as alkaloids, saponins and isoflavones.
Iron: In addition to the high protein content, the plant-based superfood also has a lot of iron. However, they also contain phytate: a substance that in turn slightly inhibits iron absorption in the body.
Legumes also collect plus points for people with certain intolerances, as they are vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free. Leguminosae, as they are called botanically, are particularly interesting for vegetarians and vegans. Mainly because legumes have a high protein content, the body can easily absorb these proteins and because the fruits provide many other important nutrients.

This is how they affect the body

Legumes lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels thanks to vegetable proteins and fiber. This automatically reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Legumes are also appropriate for meat eaters, who often struggle with these diseases through their diet.
The amino acid lysine helps the body produce antibodies, which boosts your immune system.
Proteins and roughage prevent cravings and make legumes long-lasting satiating foods. In addition, digestion is boosted, which has a positive effect on your organism.
The saponins (secondary plant compounds) are soap-like substances that may inhibit cancer, have an antibacterial effect and lower cholesterol. But be careful: Other studies show that in high doses they have a haemolytic effect, i.e. they can dissolve red blood cells.

The downside can be summed up very simply: flatulence. But that need not be. If you prepare legumes properly, you can digest them better.

Flatulence will decrease if beans and co. end up on the dinner plate more often
Start with legumes that cause less gas, such as cowpeas, baby peas, shelled lentils, and tofu and tempeh
If you have fresh legumes, soak them beforehand – for up to 24 hours, depending on the fruit
Insider tip: add some baking soda to the soaking water. This helps reduce the hard-to-digest substances
Boil them long enough – and don’t use the soaking water
Herbs and spices help them digest more easily. Rosemary, thyme, marjoram, savory and coriander are particularly good.
Specialists recommend 60 g/serving (after cooking that’s around 200 to 250 g) two to three times a week.

Food

Green Tea From The Himalayas: That’s Why It’s so Healthy

The positive effects of green tea on health are undisputed and are backed up by countless studies. Green tea from the Himalayas is of particularly high quality. We’ll tell you why Himalayan tea is so extraordinary and why green tea is generally so healthy and should be drunk every day.

Green tea from the Himalayas: That’s why it’s so healthy

Green tea from the Himalayas: At 800 to 2,500 meters, dry air alternates constantly with humid air, and it is both cool and hot (due to the strong sunshine). In addition, there is a lot of precipitation here during the monsoon, which together with the fog ensures high humidity. The southern slopes of the Himalayas offer ideal, albeit unusual, conditions for tea cultivation.

Green Tea: Numerous Health Benefits

As the German Green Cross explains, the consumption of
Furthermore, regular consumption of green tea can lower cholesterol levels. In addition, the good cholesterol, the HDL, is strengthened by reducing the bad cholesterol, the LDL. And also at

There is even suspicion that green tea may help with liver transplantation due to its antioxidant properties. Also who under one

Green Tea: Protects the heart and prolongs life

Those who drink green tea regularly may be able to prevent cardiovascular diseases and strokes – this is the conclusion reached by scientists from the Peking Union Medical College in a long-term study published in the European Journal for Preventive Cardiology. The European Union’s Community Research and Development Information Service CORDIS also reported on the results. According to this, consuming green tea at least three times a week should help you live longer and be healthier. The long-term study by the Chinese researchers examined more than 100,000 Chinese over a period of seven years, who were divided into two groups – regular tea drinkers and those who rarely consume tea.

The regular tea drinkers were, on average, 20 percent less likely to develop heart disease or stroke, and they were also 15 percent more likely to survive diseases that have been the death sentence for non-tea drinkers. On average, regular tea consumption can extend life by 1.26 years, and tea drinkers develop heart disease or a stroke about 1.5 years later

What the researchers also noticed is that the positive effects of tea on men’s health were particularly evident. Only slight improvements in health were seen in women. One reason for this could be that the proportion of tea-drinking men in the study was significantly higher than that of tea-drinking women. The scientists hold polyphenols in the tea leaves primarily responsible for the life-prolonging effects of green tea*. These are able to reduce inflammation and at the same time act as antioxidants

Green Tea: Can It Protect Against Cancer?

There is also evidence that green tea can protect against cancer. In an overview study authored by researchers from the Cochrane Collaboration, the scientists looked at a total of 142 studies on the effect of green tea on the prevention of colon, lung, breast, prostate and other types of cancer. However, the results are mixed.

In some studies, there appears to be a link between reducing the risk of developing cancer and consuming green tea. The scientists blame the antioxidants found in the substance epigallocatechin gallate contained in tea for this. These antioxidants inhibit free radicals in the body that have harmful effects. This means that oxidative stress is avoided, which damages the cells and thus causes cancer cells to develop.

Weight Loss: Lose weight with green tea

Regular consumption of green tea* can also have a positive effect on weight. A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry links green tea drinking to modest weight gain.

In the animal experiment, mice were given particularly high-fat food for eight weeks, which made the animals overweight. The control group continued to receive normal food. The highlight: Half of the mice in each of the two groups were given two percent green tea extract

The surprising result: the mice that had the green tea extract in their food gained an average of 20 percent less weight than the mice that did not consume any green tea. They were also shown to have lower insulin resistance. Green tea also had a positive effect on the intestines: the intestinal wall was less permeable, which increased the health of the microbes in the intestine. Since the study is an animal experiment, the results cannot be extrapolated to humans without further ado, so further studies must be carried out.

Beauty: Green tea’s positive effects on the skin

As reported by the Saarland University Hospital, the flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate contained in green tea is able to have a positive effect on skin damage caused by UV radiation. Green tea also proves to be a tried and tested remedy for some skin diseases, especially if they result in vasodilatation and reddened areas of the skin.

Furthermore, green tea can also counteract the natural aging of the skin if it is processed in creams. Studies have shown, among other things, that green tea can increase the thickness of the skin in older people when used locally. An increase in keratinocytes in the skin could be proven, which play a role in inflammation, the immune system and the self-healing of the skin – and also in the self-protection of the skin from harmful UV radiation.

Another study concludes that green tea may help with acne. For example, the administration of green tea extract reduced inflammation on the nose, forehead and chin. However, according to the researchers, further studies are needed to make precise statements about the effect of green tea on acne.

How to recognize high-quality green tea

You can tell whether green tea is of high quality by looking at a few characteristics. If these aspects are given, it is most likely a high-quality green tea, according to the eco-magazine Waschbär*. It is important, among other things, the cultivation

What makes green tea so striking is its so-called “noble bitter note” and at the same time a fresh taste, which is caused by the tannins it contains and the secondary plant substances catechins. At the same time, green tea should always taste sweet, which is caused by the polysaccharides and amino acids it contains. Furthermore, minerals, essential oils and the flavor umami also play a role, which is considered the fifth flavor. Umami is described as hearty and aromatic and has a weakening effect on the bitter substances in green tea, making it more digestible in terms of taste. If one considers the aspect of green tea, the best quality tea is fetched from the tea fields with the so-called “first flush”, which is the first harvest after the winter. After that, the tea is harvested about five more times in the same year, but it no longer comes close to the taste quality of the first harvest. If a tea is labeled “Blend”, it is a mixture of leaves from different harvests.

After harvesting, the tea leaves are processed and go through a number of work steps: after the leaves have withered, they are heated, for example steamed or roasted. Heating stops the fermentation and seals the leaves so the flavor and healthy ingredients don’t escape. The leaves are then rolled so that the tea tastes more aromatic when brewed. When processing, it is important for the quality if as many work steps as possible are carried out by hand, as they are more careful than if the tea leaves are processed exclusively by machines. If the tea is processed manually, this is usually stated on the package, as this is an absolute sign of quality. Finally, it is also important that the tea is as fresh as possible. If the leaves are stored for a long time, they lose both flavor and healthy ingredients. However, there are a few types of tea that only become really high-quality through long storage.

Conclusion: Green tea from the Himalayas has many health benefits

Green tea has countless health benefits that have been confirmed in many studies. Green tea from the slopes of the Himalayas is particularly recommended, as it is considered to be of particularly high quality and tasty due to the external conditions.

In order to get green tea of impeccable quality, you can consider a few aspects of green tea production. Among other things, you should consider cultivation, taste, harvest, processing and freshness. You can ask about these aspects on the packaging or directly from your tea retailer – tea that is organically certified is generally recommended. Green tea can contribute a lot to our health – the miracle tea has a positive effect on this, among other things:

lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels
helps the liver
protects the heart and against strokes
can prolong life
can protect against cancer
helps with weight loss
can have a positive effect on the skin

Food

Are Oatmeal Always Healthy? If You Should be Careful When Eating Grain Products

Oatmeal is considered healthy. In some cases and combinations, however, they can also become unhealthy.

When oatmeal can be unhealthy

Oatmeal is considered a nutritious and filling food. In addition to iron, magnesium and biotin, they receive other healthy nutrients. They give you energy for the day and also for sports, for example. Externally, the use of oatmeal can also have health-promoting effects.

So that the positive effect does not turn into the opposite, you should pay attention to a few points. Oatmeal can become unhealthy in these three cases:

In combination with too much sugar: If you eat fresh, pure oatmeal for your morning breakfast, you can sweeten your portion as you like. It can become problematic if you use ready-made muesli mixtures, as they can contain a large amount of sugar.
Incorrect storage: It is also important that you store oatmeal correctly. In particular, if you are stocking up, you should make sure that it is stored in a cool, dark and dry place so that, for example, there is no breeding ground for pests. The humidity should also remain the same. It is ideal if you free the oatmeal from the original packaging and pack it airtight. If the oatmeal has expired, you should check whether it is still edible or not; you shouldn’t eat them if they’re rancid, for example.
Oatmeal Only: Be careful not to overeat on oatmeal. Since these have a satiating effect, it can lead to you not really feeling hungry and missing out on a balanced, healthy diet that is necessary for you and your body, for example for muscle maintenance and muscle building.
The consumption of oat flakes can also lead to symptoms and allergic reactions for people with an intolerance to oats or an oat allergy. If you suffer from a gluten intolerance, you should be careful with the consumption of oatmeal.

Tip: Also pay attention to the quality of the oatmeal. Oatmeal contaminated with nickel, mold and mineral oil is not good for your health.

Food

Secret Sugar Bombs: 6 Unhealthy Delicacies and The Healthy Alternatives

Sauces, dressings or pickles – none of them taste sweet, but these foods contain a lot of hidden sugar. We will show you which foods are very sugary and what alternatives there are.

Sugar: That is the recommendation

According to Quarks, the body does not need the free sugar (e.g. in industrially produced foods and juices) to survive. Nevertheless, we consume around 30 kilograms per person per year. Recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) or the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) are only for maximum sugar intake.

According to the WHO, free sugars should account for less than five percent of the total energy intake per day. The German Society for Nutrition considers this information to be outdated and recommends covering a maximum of ten percent of the total energy intake with free sugar. With an energy intake of 2,000 kcal/day, this corresponds to 50 grams. However, there is apparently no need to limit the sugar found in fruit, vegetables and milk.

Eating too much sugar increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and cancer. In addition, sugar attacks the teeth – by providing the caries bacteria with the food they need.

Too much sugar: There is hidden sugar in these foods

The consumption of sugar in Germany is far above the recommendations, writes the DGE. This also has to do with the fact that many are not aware of the foods in which sugar is hidden. Here is a list of foods:

1. (Fruit) yoghurt: a sugar bomb

Sounds healthy, but it’s a real sugar bomb: “There are six sugar cubes in 150 grams of fruit yoghurt,” warns nutritionist Matthias Riedl from Hamburg. The same applies to fruit quark, fruit buttermilk or probiotic drinks (e.g. Actimel). If you want to eat healthily, you may even be wrong, because low-fat yoghurt often contains additional sugar. Then it tastes more like a full-fat yoghurt.

The alternative: Antonia Wiedekind, ecotrophologist from Landau in der Pfalz, advises: mix natural yoghurt or natural quark with fresh or frozen fruit. However, frozen fruit must not contain any added sugar. The same applies to canned fruit or packaged fruit such as dried mangoes or cranberries, which often contain added industrial sugar in addition to fructose.

2. Juices and smoothies

Fruit is healthy – but not in every form. “The largest proportion of purchased smoothies is usually apple juice or another fruit juice with a high fructose content,” explains physician Riedl. Fruit juices with fruit juice concentrate or nectar often contain additional sugar. As a rule of thumb, Wiedekind summarizes that fruit should generally be eaten rather than drunk.

The alternative: If you don’t want to do without the smoothie, you can mix a green smoothie with herbs and vegetables such as spinach or lamb’s lettuce. Or with fruit that contains less sugar.

Otherwise we recommend: water with herbs, ginger, pieces of vegetables or fruit. This not only gives taste, but also looks pretty.

3. Sauces, dressings, dips

Ready-made dressings are great: open the lid and pour into the salad. But wait – take a look at the packaging first: “Sugar is almost always added to ready-made dressings, often in the form of glucose syrup,” reveals Riedl. Ultimately, you pour sugar on the green leaves. The same applies to packet soups, ready-made vegetable broths, sauce thickeners, barbecue sauces, ketchup or ready-made dips.

The alternative: It is always best to do everything yourself as far as possible: Wiedekind recommends home-made salad dressings and broths with fresh herbs or quark dips for finger food.

Cream cheese or quark mixed with herbs and vegetables is also a delicious substitute for ready-made spreads, says Carolin Hauck from the Institute for Nutritional Psychology at the University of Göttingen.

4. Muesli and cornflakes

Many people start the day with muesli and think they are doing something good for themselves. But nutritionist Wiedekind advises caution. “There’s a lot of sugar in sweetened cereals and cornflakes,” she says.

And Hauck adds: “The seemingly healthy muesli is often more of a dessert than breakfast, considering how many sweet ingredients many of the packaged mueslis in the supermarket have.”

The alternative: mixing your own muesli with unprocessed cereal flakes and spices like cinnamon and nuts. A handful of nuts are part of a healthy diet anyway.

5. Delicatessen salads and vegetables in a glass

Sometimes you just don’t feel like cooking, so you grab a can or a jar of almost ready-made food: a packaged herring or coleslaw, maybe a jar of pickled red cabbage, corn, or beans. Not a good idea, says nutritionist Riedl.

“Vegetables in a jar, especially red cabbage, contain a lot of sugar.” The same goes for gherkins in a jar. Fish or coleslaw from the pack or from the fresh food counter also contain additional sugar, he warns.

The alternative: You are on the safe side if you use fresh vegetables or frozen vegetables without cream sauces. And: “If you simply prepare your salad yourself, you always know exactly what’s in it,” says Riedl.

6. Ready Meals

Most people realize that a currywurst out of a pack or a frozen pizza is not particularly healthy. However, it is less well known that ready meals often contain a lot of sugar. The problem is that the manufacturers use some tricks to hide the sugar, says Wiedekind.

For example, it is camouflaged as “fruit sweetness” or hidden behind foreign words such as glucose, lactose, dextrose, sucrose, raffinose, maltose or fructose.

The alternative: rely on natural food – cook a lot yourself. Maybe even make your own pizza, ideally with wholemeal dough and specially chopped tomatoes seasoned with herbs. “Basically, the more natural a food is, the better,” explains Riedl. It’s worth paying attention to. Because if you don’t eat that much sugar with your main meal, you can treat yourself to a piece of chocolate or a light dessert afterwards.

Food

Ancient Grain Spelled: How Healthy is Spelled – and What is Important When Eating it

Spelled is considered healthy and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. Here you can find out what you can use it for and what you should pay attention to when recycling it.

Spelled – the healthier alternative

Spelled is said to be healthier than wheat. It is considered to be rich in minerals, protein and vitamins. It is also considered to be less stressed and is said to have very positive effects on digestion.

The grain can be used in many ways in the kitchen. For example, you can use it in baked goods and pasta. You can also use spelled muesli for muesli. In general, there are now many spelled products as an alternative to wheat products: spelled rice, spelled couscous and even spelled milk.

Spelled grist can be processed into meat-free patties, especially in vegetarian and vegan cuisine. There are also alternatives to conventional products in gourmet cuisine. For example, you can try spelled beer or spelled coffee.

Peculiarity Green core

Green spelt is spelled that is harvested before it is ripe. If spelled is harvested at the right time – while the milk is ripe – the grains are easier to digest and very nutritious. Green spelt is considered the healthiest form of spelled and is said to have a positive effect on our organism. It contains many vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and protein.

Important: Spelled is therefore a suitable alternative to wheat. However, people with gluten intolerance should be careful with both spelled and unripe spelt and switch to gluten-free foods. Spelled is said to contain even more gluten than wheat.

Food

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.

Food

Super Healthy Sauerkraut: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat It Regularly

For Sunday roasts or sausages: many people know sauerkraut as a side dish. Cabbage is also really healthy. This is what happens to your body when you eat sauerkraut every day – but does it make sense?

Vitamin miracle: Why sauerkraut is so healthy for our body

From now on, the lactic acid bacteria work at full speed and give the cabbage its typical sour taste through the production of lactic acid. Depending on the manufacturer’s production method, the process lasts from two weeks to several months. Thousands of years ago, people in China used lactic acid fermentation for different types of cabbage. But cabbage is not only valued for its long shelf life. The health benefits of sauerkraut, which is a real vitamin bomb, were already known in ancient times. This is why sauerkraut is so healthy:
Vitamin C: Sauerkraut contains a lot of vitamin C. The old seafarers already knew this, as they always took barrels of sauerkraut with them along with lemons on long and arduous journeys. The high vitamin C content of sauerkraut protects against diseases and malnutrition. Vitamin C is responsible for building connective tissue and supports the maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. It is also significantly involved in various metabolic processes in the body.
Potassium: Sauerkraut is also a good source of potassium. Potassium is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. It is therefore jointly responsible for vital heart function and the regulation of blood pressure.
Gut Health: According to a Stanford University study, fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir naturally increase the diversity of healthy bacteria in the gut. The strengthened intestinal flora is less susceptible to inflammation and thus prevents intestinal diseases.

That’s why you should eat sauerkraut every day

In order to enjoy the lasting benefits of sauerkraut and, above all, to actively support your intestinal flora, you should incorporate healthy cabbage and generally fermented foods into your diet almost every day. Don’t worry, you don’t have to eat a can of sauerkraut every day to benefit from the ingredients. Two to three forks a day are enough to support your intestinal flora.

However, if you eat sauerkraut every day, you should make sure that you do not heat it. Vitamin C is destroyed by the heat and the lactic acid bacteria are then no longer as effective. Also buy sauerkraut that is as fresh as possible directly from family businesses or farm shops. The less processed the sauerkraut, the more vitamins and lactic acid bacteria it contains. Health food stores and organic shops often offer sauerkraut in good organic quality. This way you avoid unnecessary ingredients such as sweeteners, flavorings and large amounts of sugar.

If you want to bring a little variety to the plate, you can also serve the sauerkraut with apples, pears or grapes as a salad. The sweetness of the fruit contrasts well with the acidity of the cabbage. But of course finely shaved carrots or beetroot also go well with it. So you can do something good for yourself and your health without much effort!

Food

Coffee Enjoyment in Abundance: How Many Cups of Coffee a Day are Still Healthy – and When Does it Become Dangerous?

Coffee is one of the most popular hot drinks. The average person drinks three cups a day in this country. But is that still healthy?

From how many cups is coffee harmful?

The caffeine contained in coffee boosts bodily functions, increases hand rank, expands the bronchi and promotes concentration. Whether caffeine can kill is also easy to answer – yes, it can. A quantity of several grams becomes dangerous. The stimulant affects everyone differently. Not only in terms of the effect, but also in terms of how long it takes the body to break down the caffeine. While it takes some people just a few hours for caffeine to be metabolized, for others the process takes much longer.

When it comes to blood pressure, high blood pressure patients have nothing to fear, Professor Wolfram Delius assures the pharmacy umschau. Coffee increases heart rate, but to a manageable extent. With regular consumption, this effect is even weaker. The thesis that coffee is a “water stealer” has also been refuted. The diuretic effect cannot be dismissed out of hand, but is due to the large amounts of water that you support when drinking coffee, the professor refers to the lack of data. Under certain circumstances, those affected can feel cardiac arrhythmias more strongly after drinking coffee. What is certain, however, is that coffee lowers the risk of diabetes. “This is shown by large observational studies,” says Dr. Young Hee Lee-Barkey, Senior Physician at the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW in Bad Oeynhausen.

Can coffee even prolong life?

nutritionist dr. Anna Flögel, who researched at the German Institute for Human Nutrition in Potsdam, emphasizes “If you live unhealthily, for example because you smoke or drink alcohol frequently, coffee does not make you healthier.” Researchers have now discovered the maximum amount of coffee you should drink per day before it becomes unhealthy: too much coffee increases the risk of a heart attack. While men consume an average of 3.6 cups per day, women only drink 3.2 cups of coffee. Researchers at the University of South Australia have investigated whether these amounts are dangerous to health.

There are still many myths and theories surrounding the popular hot drink. One side warns against too much coffee, the other side even claims that it has a healing effect. According to recent studies, drinking coffee could reduce the relative risk of death. In addition, filter coffee is said to help against high cholesterol levels, and in one German city people with liver disease are even asked to consume up to six cups of coffee a day. The “University of South Australia” has examined more closely whether coffee is really harmful”

Global coffee consumption: three billion cups a day

“Around three billion cups of coffee are drunk every day worldwide. Knowing the limits of what is good and what is bad is essential,” says Professor Elina Hyppönen. She is Director of the Australian Center for Precision Health at the University of South Australia Cancer Research Centre. She also says, “As with many things in life, it’s all about balance; if you overdo it, your body will pay for it.”

Risk of heart disease increases with too much coffee

The study found that drinking more than six cups of coffee increases the risk of heart disease by up to 22 percent. More precisely: The study found that too much caffeine can lead to increased blood pressure. This is considered a precursor to serious heart disease. A certain dose can therefore also have negative consequences for health. The study was the first to provide a recommendation for the maximum amount of coffee you should drink per day.

As with most things, the same applies to coffee: as long as you don’t overdo it, drinking it every day is not harmful to your health.

Food

Eating Dandelion: How Healthy is it – and What is The Best Way to Prepare it?

Dandelion is not only beautiful to look at, but also edible. It’s healthy and even tasty. We explain what the plant has to offer and how you can eat it.

In order to find dandelions, it is often enough to go into your own garden. It is known for its yellow flowers and sticky, white sap that often turns fingers brown when touched. But have you ever thought about eating the plant?

How does dandelion affect the body?

Dandelion grows in many places: Whether in gardens, at the edge of the forest or on the street – you can find the plant almost everywhere. At the end of April/beginning of May the lion’s number blooms, but you can see it until autumn.

The plant not only looks beautiful, you can also eat the dandelion. It is even particularly healthy and can be a tasty addition to many dishes. There are many different uses for the plant.

The bitter substances it contains also stimulate the metabolism and promote digestion as well as kidney and bladder activity. The dandelion is also used because of its digestive properties, as the plant reaches the large intestine undigested.

How healthy are dandelions?

The dandelion is not poisonous, you can eat leaves, flowers and roots
The milky sap contained in the flower stalk is also non-toxic. However, the juice can leave unsightly stains on clothing that are difficult to remove.

The root of the plant in particular contains many healthy ingredients such as inulin, vitamins B, C and E and many carotenoids. The flowers and leaves are very rich in minerals such as potassium, zinc and copper. This makes dandelion a valuable dietary supplement.

How to cook dandelion

The bitter substances contained in dandelion ensure that the leaves have a slightly bitter taste. The flowers, on the other hand, are even slightly sweet.

The leaves can be cooked or used raw. They are particularly suitable as an addition to a green salad, but they also enrich a pesto. If the leaves are to be cooked, they must first be washed. Then you can put them in boiling water for ten minutes.

If you roast the roots in a pan, they can be ground up well. Then you can even make a kind of coffee out of it.

Conclusion

Dandelion is healthy and can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. The next time you see the plant, pluck it off and try one of the preparation methods.

Food

Is Beer Healthy? 6 Reasons Why Drinking Beer is Good For us

Diabetes, heart attack, dementia: moderate beer consumption can help prevent diseases. The drink is also isotonic and many people like it. So is beer drinking good for us?

Healthy and tasty: beer can prevent diseases

1. Beer increases bone density: According to US researchers, beer can prevent bone loss. Their conclusion is that beer made with lots of hops and lots of malted barley contains the highest proportion of a bone-strengthening mineral, according to the findings of the “Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture”. Moderate beer consumption can even counteract osteoporosis.

2. Beer reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease: Various research results indicate that a low to moderate alcohol consumption of 10 to 25 grams per day, which corresponds to one to two glasses of beer of 0.3 liters, has a positive effect the risk of cardiovascular disease. A study found that drinking beer in moderation reduces the risk of heart attack by 30 percent. The risk is therefore higher both with frequent beer consumption and with complete abstinence from beer. According to the Deutsches Ärzteblatt, the cardioprotective effect appears to be due to a complex interaction of a wide variety of mechanisms such as an increase in HDL cholesterol levels or a reduced tendency to form thrombosis, but also through effects on stress perception and stress control.

Positive effect: This is how beer affects cholesterol and diabetes

3. Beer has a positive effect on cholesterol levels: A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that those who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis had better cholesterol levels than those who did not drink at all consumed alcohol. Beer in particular helps to increase the proportion of healthy HDL cholesterol in the body or to slow down its breakdown. It protects against heart attack and stroke.

4. Beer lowers the risk of diabetes: According to a study by the Statens Institut for Folkesundhet, those who drink alcohol three to four days a week have a lower risk of diabetes. According to the study, moderate alcohol consumption could protect against the development of type 2 diabetes. According to the study, men who consumed 14 alcoholic beverages and women who consumed 9 alcoholic beverages per week were least likely to develop the metabolic disorder. However, people with existing type 2 diabetes are advised not to consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcohol can inhibit the release of glucose from the liver, which can provoke hypoglycemia in diabetics.

5. Beer can help flush out kidney stones: This assumption is widely held. What is certain is that alcohol and especially beer have a dehydrating effect. This diuretic effect of the beer means that the kidneys are flushed out well and this in turn means that possible stones could be flushed out. The problem with this is that alcohol dries out the body after this inundation and the urine thickens, which can lead to larger stones. Alcohol-free beer is much better recommended. It is isotonic, has the beneficial effects of beer but without the harmful effects of alcohol.

Beer protects against dementia: Moderate “drinkers” have an advantage

6. Beer can protect against dementia: In a study, researchers found that people who had not drunk alcohol for decades had a significantly higher risk of developing dementia in old age than moderate drinkers. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia as a teetotaler is statistically higher than that of moderate drinkers. Alcohol abuse, on the other hand, greatly increases the risk of developing dementia.