healthy

When trying to lose weight, here are 7 foods you should know: They’re healthy, but they still contain hidden calorie bombs that can sabotage your summer diet if you’re not aware of it.

Losing weight not working? These 7 foods could be to blame

In general, when you take a closer look at the nutritional information, industrially processed and preserved products often have a high fat or sugar content. Sugar or other flavoring agents are added to most industrially processed foods, which leads to a high number of calories. The principle applies: homemade is always best!

In the following we have put together an overview of the foods for you that have significantly more calories than you would think at first glance.

You should not eat too much of it, especially not if you are on a diet, otherwise you may not be able to achieve the desired weight loss success.

1. Dried fruit

As a substitute for unhealthy sweets such as chocolate & co., many people like to use dried fruit. They are also a varied topping in yoghurt, smoothies or muesli. However, the dried version is not as healthy as fresh fruit: Depending on the type, the latter contains 15 to 20 grams of natural sugar and some fiber. Already 30 grams of dried fruit (about three to four dates) have about the same amount of sugar. A large amount of dried fruit is eaten faster than one or two fresh apples, pears or tangerines.
If you need a snack substitute for the usual chips in the evening, you should reach for vegetable sticks. Carrots and kohlrabi are ideal for crispy, fresh, healthy snacking fun.

2. Fruit Juices

“From today on I’ll leave out soda and cola and only drink fruit juices, then I’ll definitely lose weight in no time at all!” Something like this is a widespread misconception that has led countless people who want to lose weight into the calorie trap. Fruit juices are real calorie bombs: a glass of orange juice (100 ml) has 45 calories, apple juice 46 calories, pineapple juice 53 calories. For comparison: A glass of beer (100 ml) has 43 calories, cola 41 calories, soda 40 calories.

Fruit juice contains an incredible amount of fructose. The good news is that fructose is processed differently by the body than conventional liquid sugar from soft drinks, for example. That’s why fructose doesn’t hit the hips quite as quickly. The bad news is that around 30 percent of Germans suffer from fructose intolerance. The consequences are a feeling of fullness, flatulence and diarrhea, but also lack of concentration and moodiness.

Tip: If you want to drink fruit juice, it is best to make a spritzer out of it: depending on the mixing ratio, you can easily halve the calorie content. In addition, a juice spritzer is much better as a thirst quencher than the pure, sugar-sweet juice.

3. Smoothies

The creamy consistency is already in the name: the term “smoothie” is derived from the English word “smooth”, which means “smooth” or “soft”. Herbs, fruits, milk and seeds are typical ingredients of the pureed drinks – and almost all of them are healthy and nutritious.

But: Smoothies from the supermarket can turn out to be real sugar bombs. According to the Fit for Fun portal, they can contain up to 800 calories and 60 to 80 grams of sugar. The problem: A smoothie usually contains a lot of pureed fruit – and fruit contains a lot of fruit sugar (fructose).

According to the Federal Center for Nutrition, self-mixed smoothies based on green vegetables such as celery and spinach or wild herbs such as nettles and dandelion are best. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it. Try our green smoothie with kale and cucumber.

4. Nuts

Nuts are also generally known as healthy fillers, but they should only be consumed in moderation. While all types of nuts contain healthy fats and valuable nutrients and are good for the heart and blood vessels, they also contain a lot of calories. According to the Federal Center for Nutrition, a 100 gram portion of hazelnut kernels contains 644 kilocalories, for example, while the same portion of chestnuts “only” has 196.

100 grams of roasted peanuts also contain 585 kilocalories – and such a bag or a can from the supermarket is quickly plastered.
Especially when you are on a diet, all types of nuts should only be eaten in small portions.

5. Dips

As a complement to carrot, cucumber or pepper sticks, dips appear almost perfect. But even in this actually sensible and healthy snack side dish, fat and calories can hide in large quantities.

Good advice: stay away from dips from the refrigerated section. Pre-made dips often contain loads of oils, fats, sugars and preservatives. Homemade dips are better and healthier. Yoghurt, low-fat quark and fresh herbs can be mixed into a tasty cream with few calories in just a few minutes.

6. Black Rice

Black rice is considered healthier compared to white rice because it contains more protein and fiber. Nevertheless, if you eat too much, you quickly fall into the calorie trap, since black rice also has a high proportion of carbohydrates.

The black version is therefore not suitable as a diet alternative to white rice.
The consumption of only half a cup of rice per day is recommended, which should serve as a tasty side dish in healthy dishes. Therefore, it is better to eat a little more vegetables instead of more rice.

7. Avocado

Avocados are more popular than ever before: The “green gold” should not be missing in any “healthy” household. The calorie bomb, also known as “butter fruit”, is extremely unsuitable for losing weight. The avocado is a berry, to be precise. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, potassium and calories. An avocado (about 200 grams) contains about 400 to 450 calories, so it is almost a meal in itself.

The avocado is nicknamed “butter fruit” because of the consistency of its flesh. The texture of the shell also earned it the nickname “alligator pear”. Avocado is a healthy addition to any diet, but like all the foods in this article, it should only be eaten in small portions.

Food

Curious: Noodles For Breakfast – Why That’s Healthy

Have you ever eaten pasta for breakfast? If not, then it’s about time, because “Breakfast Pasta” can be really healthy and is becoming a trend.

Are pasta healthy?

There is no general answer as to whether pasta is healthy, as pasta can be made from a wide variety of ingredients. Accordingly, the different variants also have deviations in the area of nutritional values and calorie quantities. The only thing they have in common is that all noodles provide a lot of energy due to their high carbohydrate content.

Wheat flour or durum wheat semolina are mainly used for light-colored noodles, while egg noodles are based on a relatively large amount of egg. Dark pasta is usually made from whole wheat flour. There are also glass noodles, which consist almost entirely of starch.

In this country you can find pasta made from durum wheat semolina or egg noodles in the supermarket. 100 grams of durum wheat noodles provide 330 calories. Alternative whole grain pasta, which contains more fiber, iron, vitamins and magnesium, is healthier. The noodles are not fattening, especially the sauces make them unhealthy.

But: Noodles for breakfast – why can that be healthy?

A German breakfast often consists of sausage and cheese or a bread roll with butter and jam. However, more and more people are actually eating pasta for breakfast.

The advantage here is that the pasta dishes are available in a wide variety of combinations. That makes the breakfast versatile. If you also choose pasta or noodles made from legumes, you can provide your body with important fiber in the morning.

It’s healthy and keeps you full for a long time. In addition, digestion is stimulated. The pasta can be combined for breakfast with a home-made tomato sauce or green pesto. But scrambled or fried eggs also make the pasta dish look a little more like breakfast.

Reheated pasta has fewer calories

If you want to have noodles for breakfast in the morning, you should warm up the pasta from the night before: warmed up noodles have fewer calories than fresh ones. The starch in the noodles is not completely broken down in the small intestine, a small part passes through it undigested. This starch is called resistant starch and is part of the dietary fiber.

It is only processed by the bacteria in the large intestine. This resistant starch is produced, among other things, when heated, starchy foods such as pasta cool down. The calorie content of resistant starch is only half that of digestible carbohydrates. This ensures that reheated pasta is lower in calories.

In addition, the fatty acid butyrate is formed during the digestion of resistant starch. This is an important source of energy for the mucosal cells of the large intestine. It can help prevent inflammation and strengthen the intestinal flora.

Conclusion

With a pasta breakfast, you can make good use of leftover pasta, provide your body with fiber and start your day well-nourished.

health

Mother Juices: What’s Behind It – And How Healthy Are They?

Fruit juices are known to provide you with many healthy nutrients. This also includes the so-called mother juices: They are made from acidic fruit varieties.

Worth knowing about mother juices

In principle, all fruit and not-from-concentrate juices, including mother juice, have a fruit content of 100%. This is even regulated by law: apart from the fruit, there must be no other ingredients in a fruit juice.

This type of juice is called mother juice because it comes from the first pressing. It is therefore often referred to as pure direct juice. The fruits are pressed once and briefly and gently pasteurized so that most of the natural, healthy ingredients are retained. The same applies to fruit juices and other not-from-concentrate juices: These too are only pasteurized gently and briefly, so that the loss of nutrients is minimised.

The advantage of this production method is that you can benefit from all the nutrients and vitamins of the fruit to the maximum. Depending on the variety, the fruits contain numerous antioxidants, secondary plant substances, vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2 and B6 as well as the minerals phosphorus, magnesium and iron. These ingredients strengthen your immune system, can prevent nutrient deficiencies, have an anti-inflammatory effect and protect against free radicals. Currently there are no studies that prove this effect of the mother juices; however, you can be sure of the many healthy ingredients.

Mother Juices – derived from acidic fruit varieties

Mother juices are derived from acidic fruit varieties. These include, for example, cranberries, cranberries, elderberries, pomegranates, sea buckthorn or black currants. Not everyone likes the taste of pure mother juices: They usually taste a bit more sour and bitter than well-known fruit juices. It is a good idea to dilute the juices slightly with water or process them in a smoothie or jelly.

A mother juice is also often the basis for a fruit nectar, often with the addition of water, sugar or honey for a sweeter taste. Due to the positive effect on health, it makes sense to integrate fruit juices and thus also mother juices into your diet and to enjoy them from time to time.

Tip: When buying, you should pay attention to organic quality; This is the only way you can be sure that no chemical plant products were used during cultivation.

Food

Healthy Sugar Substitute: Tasty Alternatives as a Sweetener in Everyday Life

Many low-calorie drinks now have a permanent place on the menu of our favorite restaurants. Our diet also offers us many opportunities to avoid sugar with the help of sweetening alternatives. But which sugar alternatives are there, what can they be used for and how healthy are they actually?

Artificial Sugar Alternative #1: Saccharin

With a sweetening power 300 to 500 times stronger than our table sugar, saccharin has made it to the top of the most popular sweetening alternatives. Saccharin is not metabolized and is ultimately excreted unchanged. Because it is calorie-free, saccharin is often used in light products.

#2: Aspartame

The same can be said about aspartame. Aspartame has protein building blocks (proteins) that contain four calories per gram. Therefore, it comes very close to sugar, also with four calories per gram.

#3: Erythritol

We often come across erythritol in the sugar department, packed in a bag as an alternative sweetener. It is mostly used 1:1 like sugar for baking

More artificial sugar alternatives

Sucralose is a real all-rounder! This is a new sweetener made from sugar that is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged in most people. In addition, it is 600 times sweeter than sugar, good for the teeth, water-soluble and can be used for many foods.

Natural Sugar Alternative #1: Stevia

After dealing with the chemical sweeteners, we turn to the natural, plant-based alternatives and their special features.

#2: Xylitol

Even if the name is more reminiscent of a musical instrument: xylitol
The sweetener from Finland has the name “birch sugar” because it is traditionally made from birch bark here. Xylitol dissolves well in water, looks just like our table sugar and is often used for chewing gum and toothpaste due to its tooth compatibility.

#3: Coconut Blossom Sugar

Coconut blossom sugar is also known as palm sugar and is considered one of the top sweetening alternatives. With a whopping 380 calories per 100 grams (sugar at around 400 calories) it is the most sinful sugar substitute. If you also look at the nutritional values (90g per 100g of carbohydrates), you might ask yourself why coconut blossom sugar is supposed to be healthier.

Other natural sugar alternatives: rice syrup and sweeteners from the kitchen

Rice syrup is made into syrup using a fermentation of cooked rice and originally comes from Japan. Rice syrup* comes to about 290 kilocalories and 70 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams. The syrup also contains no fructose and is therefore well suited for people with a fructose intolerance. Rice syrup tastes less sweet than sugar and also has an effect on blood sugar levels. Rice syrup contains calcium and iron.

Baking with sugar alternatives – you should pay attention to that

Since hardly anyone would like to do without their sweet cake in the afternoon, the question arises as to how well the sweetening alternatives are suitable for baking. Because the correct dosage is particularly important when baking, as this can deviate from the usual sugar and the alternatives. As we noted above, sweeteners vary

Sugar alternatives: That’s what dental health is all about

The dissatisfied look of the dentist and then again: caries! It’s simple: oral bacteria feed on sugar, and sugar has become a big part of many of our foods. Because we are eating more and more sugar.

Sweet drinks in particular are dangerous because they quickly give us a lot of sugar and thus damage our dental health. Refined sugar and cane sugar promote the development of caries to the same extent. Even honey should not be consumed excessively when the teeth are suffering.

Sugar alternatives and weight: For a slim line?

The eternal suffering with sugar and the morning number game on the scales – if you want to lose weight, you should avoid sugar. This is often said and unfortunately it is also true. But what about sweeteners? Don’t worry, because sweeteners are often accused of making you fat, but the German Society for Nutrition has no current scientific evidence.

Due to the lack of metabolization and the lack of nutritional values, the body cannot utilize sweeteners, which is why the blood sugar levels are not further influenced. It should be borne in mind that artificial sweeteners increase the appetite for sweets as they trick the brain into thinking it is eating something “sugary” and this feeling does not last long due to the lack of energy (in the form of kilocalories). The feeling of hunger can thus return faster and let us devour the second piece as well.

However, as long as it’s two (maybe three) and a good balance, sweeteners shouldn’t interfere with weight gain. On the contrary: if used correctly, sweeteners can help reduce our cravings (especially at the beginning of a craving).

Sweeteners in diabetics and children

Sugar alternatives for children: As mentioned above, sweeteners are almost calorie-free, tooth-friendly and do not affect blood sugar levels, which is why they are harmless to children’s health in reasonable amounts. However, it is important to ensure a balanced diet, since sweeteners do not keep you full for long. In addition, children should not eat too much, as these are often heavily sweetened and they could get used to the above-average sweet taste.

Sugar Alternatives for Diabetics: Sweeteners (like aspartame, saccharin) are beneficial for diabetics because they come with no calorie content or blood sugar effect. Since diabetics should pay close attention to their sugar intake, the craving for lots of sweets can still be satisfied with sugar alternatives. Of course, the same applies here: enjoy consciously! Rice syrup and honey (similar to sugar) have a lot of influence on blood sugar levels. Xylitol affects blood sugar a little. No influence

In summary, sweeteners should be dosed correctly so that they do not have the opposite effect and trigger feelings of hunger. In terms of health, sweeteners have surprisingly many benefits. Therefore, the first sugar-free cake should not be long in coming!

Lifestyle

6 Healthy Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is getting closer and couples all over Germany are looking for the right gift for their partner. Unfortunately, since most stationery shops will probably remain closed, online shopping is often the only alternative that remains.

Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Chocolate is often given as a gift on Valentine’s Day. That’s not very imaginative. It’s also not a healthy gift idea. For this reason, in this article, we would like to introduce you to 6 healthy Valentine’s Day gifts that you can buy online for your partner or simply put together yourself.

1) Yoga set for inner balance

If your partner is athletic or wants to exercise, then a yoga set could be the perfect gift. Yoga is not only a sport that trains endurance and physical strength but also the mind. In this way, yoga can reduce stress and prevent tension. A yoga set usually consists of a yoga mat and other small utensils that are important for the sport. Since the effect of yoga takes place not only on the physical but also on the emotional level, this hobby can also benefit the mutual relationship.

2) Fitness bracelet for the sporty partner

If your partner is already an athlete and wants to improve their performance, then a fitness bracelet could be the right gift for Valentine’s Day. A fitness bracelet allows your partner to track progress in sports and thus improve performance. With this gift, you can help your partner and increase motivation for the sport. When choosing a suitable bracelet, you can even respond to the individual taste of your partner. Fitness bracelets are available in a wide variety of designs these days – whether stylish, modern, or elegant.

3) Your partner’s favorite type of tea

Fine tea is not only very tasty, but it can also have health benefits. There are all kinds of teas, each with different benefits. There are types of tea that are supposed to reduce stress or relieve tension and types of tea that are rich in vitamins. For example, lemon tea contains a lot of vitamin C, which is extremely important for your body’s immune system. On the other hand, there is green tea, for example, which is rich in oxidants that help induce feelings of happiness and allow your brain to relax.

However, since most teas are generally said to have a positive effect on health, it doesn’t matter too much which type of tea you use as a gift, as long as you know what your partner’s favorite type is. Of course, you can also choose a variety that your partner doesn’t know yet and thus give him a double surprise for Valentine’s Day. If he likes it, the gift is a double success.

4) Valentine’s Day coffee gifts

Now we would like to introduce you to a Valentine’s Day gift that will sweeten your partner’s morning. Because if your partner is a coffee lover, then a Valentine’s Day coffee would be the perfect gift. It is well known and proven by studies that regular coffee consumption has a positive effect on health to a moderate extent. Since high-quality coffee is also a morning treat for many coffee connoisseurs, a healthy and tasty gift for Valentine’s Day can be found. Or give away a DIY Golden Milk Spice Mix. Because this is just as delicious and wakes you up.

5) Healthy alternatives to sweets

If your partner is someone who likes sweets, then there are healthy options for Valentine’s Day too. For example, many types of fruit are very sweet and tasty, yet healthy. Pineapples and strawberries, for example, are therefore perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day. If you want to add a personal touch to your gift, you can bake a cake with the fruit. This way, you can give your partner a healthy personal surprise that will surely come across perfectly.

6) Spices and herbs for the health-conscious partner

It is not surprising that herbs and spices have become increasingly popular in recent years. Due to the increasingly well-known positive side effects of spices on our health, the herbal spices industry is enjoying constant growth. Products such as turmeric, parsley, or even cinnamon are said to be extremely healthy for the body and are ideal as a gift for the nutrition-conscious partner. You should only know before you buy whether your partner has allergies to the ingredients of certain spices. So you can choose the right spices as a gift with a clear conscience.

Food

Almonds: Healthy, Delicious and Unsustainable?

Almonds are popular in the kitchen and cosmetics and new products are constantly coming onto the market: almond milk, almond flour, almond cream, even almond-based vegan cheese is in the refrigerated section. Are such products really healthy and sustainable or just hip and delicious?

We clarify where the almonds come from in the trade, what varieties there are, what almond oil, almond milk and almond butter are all about – and how sustainable almond production is.

Where do the almonds come from?

Almond trees probably originally come from Southwest Asia, but this cannot really be clarified today, as it is not always clear whether the occurrence is wild or caused by planting. Today, wild almond trees grow particularly on the eastern Mediterranean coast, in Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. There are also almond trees in Germany – but not wild.

In the Vorderpfalz and on the southern wine route, the climatic conditions are suitable for almonds, so that almonds were grown there until the 1940s. To this day, the almond trees bloom in many places in the spring in a sweet pink. Globally, most almonds are now grown in the US, but about 10 percent of global almond cultivation takes place in the EU, mainly in the Mediterranean region.

Are there different types of almonds?

There are basically three groups of tonsils:
sweet almonds used in baking and desserts,
Cracked almonds for raw consumption in nut mixtures to crack and
Bitter almonds, which are used in small amounts to flavor liqueurs (Amaretto), for example. Due to their high content of hydrocyanic acid, among other things, bitter almonds are not suitable for consumption. During the production of the baking ingredient bitter almond oil, the hydrocyanic acid is extracted from the oil.

Products made from almonds: almond oil, almond milk, almond butter

Almonds are extremely versatile and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes or as almond oil in cosmetics. Very classic products based on almonds are:
Marzipan: Strictly speaking, only almonds, sugar and maybe some rose or orange blossom water belong in marzipan. The more almonds in the marzipan, the higher the quality.
Almond milk: To make it, almonds are ground into a very fine paste and mixed with water. When straining, you get almond milk, which can be used as food or cosmetics.
Almond oil is pressed from sweet almonds and bitter almonds, depending on the purpose. Almond oil is particularly suitable for sensitive and dry skin and for babies, but it also tastes delicious in desserts and flavored as bitter almond oil in pastries and liqueurs.
Almond flour is a by-product of almond oil production. This is the so-called press cake, which is usually offered de-oiled as almond flour. Oil-free almond flour is gluten-free and contains only a few carbohydrates, which is why it is suitable for celiac patients and as part of a low-carb diet.
Almond butter consists of finely ground almonds without any additives. Dark almond butter is made from unpeeled roasted almonds, white almond butter is made from peeled “blanched” almonds. Dark almond butter has a strong flavor and is good for baking, light almond butter can replace cream and is a wonderful base or addition to desserts or smoothies.

How healthy are almonds?

Half of the almond is fat, which doesn’t exactly make it body-friendly. Although the fat it contains has the same calorie density as any other vegetable fat, it is much healthier. This is due to the content of unsaturated fatty acids and good omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio. These healthy fatty acids have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and cholesterol levels.

Furthermore, almonds contain about 20 percent protein, which is why almond butter and almonds are often used as a valuable source of protein in meatless cuisine.

The approximately 22 percent carbohydrates in almonds keep you full for a long time and, as a gluten-free alternative, are the basis of almond flour.

If the shell is still attached to the almond or if the ground almonds have not been blanched, almonds also contain a lot of dietary fiber, which not only prevents colon cancer, but also keeps you full for a long time because they only allow the blood sugar level to rise slowly.

The information on the nutritional values of products made from almonds cannot always be made in general. For example, it is impossible to give general information about fat content, protein and calorie content for almond milk, since it always depends on how much water was used in the recipe to produce it or whether the milk was sweetened.

Almonds in themselves are very healthy in small amounts and are a valuable source of protein, but in larger amounts they contribute to an increased consumption of fat and then find themselves on the hips quite quickly. No wonder with around 700 kcal per 100 g! The rule of thumb is: A handful of nuts (approx. 25 g) per day is enough. By the way: The fact that almonds are a kind of “fat brake”, burn more fat than they deliver, or accelerate weight loss diets is pure nonsense.

Are Organic Almonds Better?

In principle, the use of pesticides is forbidden in organic farming – unlike with almonds from conventional cultivation. To combat pests, almonds are gassed with, among other things, phosphine, which is very toxic. Theoretically, little or no toxic phosphine should stick to the food after fumigation, but Öko-Test magazine found traces of it on nuts in September 2014.

Sulphurizing (a preservation method) is also forbidden in the organic sector, because this destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine), among other things, and the actually healthy almonds lose a vitamin. So it doesn’t just make sense to buy organic almonds in terms of pesticides.

Food

Dates: a Healthy Snack With a Lousy Ecological Balance

Dates are becoming increasingly popular – as a sweet and as a sugar alternative. We took a look at where the fruits actually come from, how healthy they are and what you should consider when buying them.

Although the date palm epitomizes desert for us, it needs a lot of water to thrive. Because of this, most date palm groves grow around oases where water is readily available for a sophisticated irrigation system.

“The” date does not exist

The date palm is a cultivated plant that was of great regional economic importance, especially in the past. Building materials and fuel are obtained from their leaves, palm wine is made from the juice tapped from the trunks, and the fruits are traded or further processed.

There is not just one type of date palm, but countless, which differ in particular in the colour, size and shape of their fruits. Dates can therefore have many colors: yellow, red, brown, black and all shades in between.

Depending on the country of origin, different varieties are grown or favored. Most dates are grown in Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Medjoul dates (also spelled Medjool dates) are particularly popular with us because they have a particularly fleshy and juicy pulp and a soft, honey-like taste. The Deglet Nour date can also often be found here, it is a bit firmer and flourier in the flesh, has a harder skin and is easier to process.

Nutritional Values of Dates

Dates are still not only tasty, but also high-calorie food for everyone who is on the move – traditionally the Bedouins of the cultivation countries. We also often have them in our provisions as a snack, between meals or as food for the journey, because they are easy to transport and provide energy quickly.

The calories of dates vary between fresh and dried fruits and depending on the variety. Most brands state around 300 kilocalories per 100 grams for dried (organic) dates without stones.

Dates are basically fat-free and therefore cholesterol-free, high in healthy fiber and high in carbohydrates, of which about 15 percent is starch, with the rest being sugar. However, due to the roughage and the starch content, the fruits allow the blood sugar level to rise more slowly than other sweets, which is why there is a lasting satiety effect. This makes dates a healthy snack when you are hungry for sweets. Because of their comparatively high calcium and magnesium content, they are also ideal for athletes.

Dates as a healthy sugar substitute?

Sugar is basically neither healthy nor essential for our body, because it can produce sugar itself from starch products. Sugar has therefore been viewed critically for some time, so that there are more and more sugar alternatives that are said to be healthier.

Date sweetener and date syrup are obtained from dates, which are intended to replace sugar. However, due to the characteristic inherent taste, alternative date-based sweeteners are not suitable for all purposes.

Date syrup is made from fresh dates, which are first boiled with water for a long time and then filtered. What remains is a very dark syrup, which can also have a honey-like consistency. The syrup no longer contains any roughage due to the filtering.

Date sweeteners are dried and finely ground dates. It therefore also contains all the roughage and, in contrast to syrup, offers an additional health effect; it allows the blood sugar level to rise more gently. Due to its properties, however, date sweeteners can only be used for baking or as a sweet topping.

In principle, chemically speaking, these two sugar alternatives are also a type of sugar. The “healthy effect” of the minerals contained in small amounts is small. It is therefore healthier than replacing sugar one-to-one with date products to reduce the consumption of all kinds of sweets.

What do you have to pay attention to when buying dates?

Dates are susceptible to pests. There are several methods to avoid pest infestation. In conventional cultivation, the fruits are often gassed with bromomethane in their country of origin, a gas that is not only toxic to pests but also destroys the ozone layer. This has been banned in Germany since 2006, but not in the countries where the dates come from.

Organic dates are a little better: they are gassed with carbon dioxide to combat pests. This is a climate-damaging gas, but at least it does not destroy the ozone layer. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are also prohibited in organic farming.

Both methods of pest control are therefore ecologically questionable, which speaks for consuming dates only in moderation.

Conclusion: Dates are better only from organic cultivation and only in moderation

Dates are the better candy for everyone who likes it sweet or needs uncomplicated food for the road. Although date sweeteners or date syrup are interesting sugar alternatives, they are not suitable as a healthy substitute for any type of sugar, as they are industrially processed products with little added health value.

For the sake of the environment, you should not buy dates too often. If you buy dates, they should be dried and not fresh and come from controlled organic cultivation. If they are also fairly traded, you are also supporting the people in the country where they are grown.

Food

Couscous is so Healthy: Everything About Nutritional Values and Calories

Couscous is a staple food in North Africa. But how healthy is couscous and what are its nutritional values? We explain exactly what couscous contains and why it should be on your menu more often.

What actually is couscous?

Unlike rice, for example, couscous is not a grain of its own, but is usually made from wheat.

To make couscous, coarse durum wheat semolina is mixed with salt water and then grated until small balls of about 1mm form. They give the couscous its typical structure. The granules are then dried for sale.

However, the raw material for couscous differs from country to country. While in Europe “instant couscous” is mainly made from durum wheat semolina, couscous can also be made from barley or millet.

Carbohydrates and Nutritional Values of Couscous

Couscous is a grain product and therefore a high-calorie filler: it contains a whopping 353 calories per 100g. The good news is that couscous is very low in fat (just 1.8g per 100g) but high in fiber, a total of 7.6g per 100g. The protein content is also very high at 11g per 100g: couscous contains around five times as much protein as potatoes.

So couscous is by no means fattening unless you serve it with high-fat sauces or high-calorie meat dishes. In addition, couscous contains lots of healthy minerals such as potassium and B vitamins, especially vitamin B3.

Nutritional values at a glance (per 100 g couscous):
Calories (kcal): 353
Protein: 11 g
Fat: 1.8g
Carbohydrates: 69 g
Fiber: 7.6 g

Which couscous to buy?

Couscous from Turkish and Arabic shops as well as from the supermarket usually comes from conventional wheat cultivation. Under certain circumstances, it can therefore be contaminated with chemical pesticides.
To achieve a light color, the couscous is usually bleached with caustic soda. Caustic soda is otherwise used in the production of pipe cleaners and soap. In higher concentrations, it is particularly harmful to fish and plankton.
We therefore recommend that you buy organic couscous from controlled organic farming. You can get it in well-stocked organic supermarkets and health food stores. There you can also buy couscous made from other grains, such as spelt, barley or buckwheat. These are usually not bleached either.

Food

Kefir: What You Need to Know About The Healthy Milk Drink

The tasty kefir has been said to have health-promoting properties for centuries. We’ll tell you what kefir is made of and why the drink is good for your body.

Kefir – what is it?

Kefir is a slightly carbonated, thick sour milk drink. It is created by fermentation processes of milk with kefir fungi, in which yeasts are also involved in addition to lactic acid bacteria. Kefir has its origins in the Caucasus region. Here people have sworn by its healthy effects for centuries and also call it the “drink of the centenarians”. Due to the fermentation process, kefir is largely lactose-free.

Traditionally, kefir was made from mare’s milk. Today, cow’s milk is mostly used for this. But a vegan kefir drink can also be made from plant milk. Kefir made from milk tastes slightly sour and is comparable to buttermilk. Depending on the manufacturing process, kefir has carbonic acid and a low alcohol content.

The kefir mushroom

To make kefir, a so-called kefir fungus is added to the milk. This is also known as “kefir grain”, “Tibetan mushroom” or “Caucasian milk kefir” and has the appearance of a small, pure white cauliflower.

A kefir mushroom can be dried for storage or frozen and used as needed. The mushroom doubles in size in about two weeks at room temperature. If stored properly, you can live off a single kefir mushroom for a lifetime.

To make kefir, the kefir fungus is left in the milk for at least 24 hours, which starts the fermentation process. In this natural process, important substances from the milk are increased and poorly tolerated substances and bacteria are broken down.

Microorganisms of the kefir fungus decompose, among other things, the milk sugar (lactose) in the pure milk, harmful bacteria such as listeria and the poorly digestible casein. At the same time, they form small amounts of carbonic acid, lactic acid and alcohol. So you can safely consume kefir drinks if you are lactose intolerant. The kefir fungus also contains numerous important nutrients and minerals, which it transfers to the milk during fermentation and multiplies in it. These include:
calcium
iron
folic acid
iodine
Niacon
polysaccharides
Vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, C and D

What makes kefir so healthy

Kefir mushrooms also contain numerous health-promoting microorganisms such as bacteria, bacilli, yeast and streptococci, summarized under the term “probiotics”. These stabilize the intestinal flora and ensure that undesirable, pathogenic microorganisms are combated. With regular consumption of kefir, the healthy microorganisms sustainably strengthen the immune system. So kefir can help with a variety of diseases and ailments, including:
Intestinal infections and bacterial imbalances in the gut caused by antibiotics
chronic fatigue
sleep disturbances and nervousness
allergies
Diseases of the liver, gallbladder and heart
stomach ulcers
problems with blood pressure
Various inflammations
osteoporosis
Furthermore, the kefir fungus is said to slow down the aging processes of the body cells and to increase memory performance.

In addition to the traditional milk kefir, there are also “water kefir” and the now well-known tea fungus “Kombucha”. They all have in common that they are a mixture of substances made up of bacteria, vitamins and yeasts.

Kefir – choosing the right milk

You can either buy kefir as a ready-made drink or make it yourself. With both variants, however, you should make sure that you get the milk base in organic quality. Scientific studies have found that organic milk contains around 50 percent more important omega-3 fatty acids than comparable milk from discounters. This is because cows from organic farms have a richer and fresher choice of feed, which directly affects the quality of the milk. The cell-protecting omega-3 fatty acids from the organic milk are processed and increased by the kefir fungus, which has a positive effect on the end product. At the same time, by buying organic milk, you are supporting more species-appropriate husbandry of the dairy cows.

On the other hand, industrially produced kefir is sold under the name “Kefir, mild”, in which a specific composition of bacteria and yeasts is used instead of the actual kefir fungus. This kefir drink contains little or no alcohol, but – unlike the traditionally produced kefir – is not lactose-free and therefore not suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

A kefir mushroom can also be cultivated vegan, for example in coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk or fruit juice. Either way, it’s healthy and delicious. However, in contrast to milk kefir, a plant-based kefir drink has fewer health-promoting nutrients such as lactic acid bacteria.

Food

Matcha Tea: Does The Green Pick-Me-Up Make You Healthy and Happy?

Matcha tea was and is the best and finest tea in Japan, which used to be reserved for the elite only. The bright green, frothy drink is still considered a cult drink.

However, the trend towards matcha tea did not come to Germany directly from Japan, but from the USA. Stars, starlets and wannabes have been spotted there with the green “in” drink in their hands for a number of years.

It is said to make you slim, fit and healthy, and helps fight signs of aging and even cancer. Like all other green teas, it also serves as a stimulating alternative to coffee with its caffeine content (tein). Is the expensive cult drink worth its price?

Why is matcha tea actually powder?

Matcha tea is one of the green tea varieties and is traditionally drunk in Japan. The tea probably originally came from China, but was forgotten there. Unlike “normal” green teas, matcha tea is not prepared as a decoction of tea leaves, but from a bright green powder.

This powder consists of finely ground green tea leaves from which the stalks have been removed. “For Matcha of the highest quality, the tea farmers even remove the leaf veins by hand,” explains Heidrun Schubert from the Bavarian Consumer Advice Center

Only the pure leaf remains, which is also consumed as a whole in tea. Since matcha tea is a so-called “shade tea”, the tea bushes are shaded with bamboo mats or similar four weeks before harvest. This makes the leaves particularly intense green.

Prepare matcha tea

If the matcha tea from the green powder is not brewed properly, neither the taste nor the effect are said to be right. Preparing matcha tea is part of a tea ceremony in Japan. You don’t have to make a ceremony out of it at home, but it still takes some practice and effort.

The water for the foamy tea should be as soft as possible, it must have a temperature of 80° Celsius when brewing. The easiest way to check this is with a roast thermometer. About a teaspoon of the powder goes into a bowl, which you then pour on with around 100 milliliters of water.

Then manual work is required – matcha tea has to be opened during preparation. To do this, take a special broom made of bamboo (the Chasen) and stir with a loose wrist in your own movement until the powder has completely dissolved and a fine foam has formed on the surface.

The right accessories

In order for the preparation to succeed, you need the right accessories – a normal teacup or blender is not enough to create the perfect foam. A set consists of the already mentioned bamboo whisk, a suitable bowl and a bamboo spoon for portioning the tea powder. Purists or lovers then get a suitable ladle and a Japanese kettle.