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Organic Ice Cream: Less is More!

If you want to avoid cheap milk, you can’t avoid organic ice cream when it comes to ice cream either. Here you can find out what the advantages of organic ice cream are and where you can find the largest selection.

According to statistics, the average German licks and spoons eight liters of ice cream. Whether in the supermarket or at the ice cream parlor around the corner: More and more people are turning to organic ice cream. The main ingredient in ice cream is usually milk and cream. Reason enough to make sure that high-quality ingredients are used when it comes to ice cream. The choice of an organic ice cream makes sense in any case.

What can be organic about ice cream?

In addition to milk, ice cream also contains a lot of cream, sugar, egg yolk and skimmed milk powder. With organic ice cream, all of these ingredients must come from organic farming.

Organic ice cream must not contain any artificial flavors. Sweeteners, stabilizers, synthetic colors, preservatives and flavor enhancers are also banned under the regulation. As a natural stabilizer substitute, locust bean gum is often used in organic ice cream. Refined sugar is replaced with whole cane sugar, agave or corn syrup.

Organic ice cream is always GMO-free. The organic products do not contain any cheap vegetable fat and are not excessively whipped with air.

These seals guarantee the quality of organic ice cream

EU organic seal: The aim of the EU organic seal is to promote organic farming. Products that bear this seal must come entirely from organic farming. One exception: Five percent of a product may come from conventional agriculture – but only if the ingredients are not available on the market in ecological quality. Mineral nitrogen fertilizers are forbidden, as are chemical-synthetic pesticides, and species-appropriate animal husbandry is prescribed. Additives are only permitted to a limited extent in processed foods – currently 49 instead of the 316 in conventional products. These must be natural flavors or extracts obtained from natural raw materials.

Bioland: Bioland has a very extensive quality assurance system that goes beyond the EU organic guidelines. Animal welfare is also a priority here. During the controls, not only is it ensured that the barn is big enough – the animal itself is also checked regularly. In contrast to the other two large cultivation associations (Naturland and Demeter), Bioland also attaches great importance to regionality: in order to bear the seal, the producers must be from Germany and South Tyrol. You can find a list of all Bioland ice cream manufacturers on their website.

Naturland: Another important seal for products from organic farming is Naturland. Naturland is one of the largest organic farming associations. The demanding label not only contributes to ecological improvements in the cultivation and processing of food worldwide, but also takes social aspects into account. Human rights and working conditions are the focus. The label is credible due to extensive and regular controls by external, state-approved bodies.

Demeter: With around 1,500 German member companies, Demeter is the smallest of the three important cultivation associations. In contrast to the others, Demeter farms practice biodynamic agriculture. Demeter is the strictest farming association with regard to the guidelines – both in terms of animal husbandry and arable farming and processing.

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Cooking Tips

Have a French Breakfast: Sometimes Less is More

Croissant, baguette, pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins… Obviously, for the French, breakfast is not just a meal, but a real pleasure that should best take place in a suggestive brasserie in Paris.

You can’t say that the French breakfast is very rich, hence the name “petit déjeuner” (in good German: small break of the fast), but sometimes less is more!

On weekdays, when everything has to be done quickly in the morning, the French usually only eat a croissant with honey and/or jam and drink large cups of café au lait (milk coffee) with it. At the weekend, on the other hand, the small, quick breakfast often turns into a larger brunch, where, in addition to the classic croissant, crepes, madeleines or hearty dishes are also served, such as baguettes with sausage and cheese, stuffed vegetables (petits farcis) or a piece of quiche Lorraine .

It’s not particularly sumptuous, especially compared to a hearty German breakfast, but the morning meal in France is a very tasty and enjoyable ritual that you should ideally take your time with.

The History of the French Croissant

The protagonist of the French breakfast is certainly the croissant: historically, its birth can be dated back to 1683, when the Turks besieged Vienna and dug an underground tunnel at night to enter the imperial city undisturbed. However, they had not counted on the Viennese bakers, who started their work before daybreak, heard the unusual noises of the tunnel builders and immediately alerted the soldiers.

As a thank you for saving the city from the Turks, Austrian bakers were now allowed to bake croissants in the shape of the Turkish crescent, which they called Kipferln. When the Empress Marie Antoniette married from the Viennese court to France in 1770, she introduced the croissant to Paris, where it was immediately called the croissant (translated: “rising moon”). In a short time, the croissant became the national specialty of France and still is today THE ambassador of savoir vivre.

How do you prepare a French breakfast?

Usually just having a croissant for breakfast during the week, French cuisine offers a wide selection of delicious baked goods that are served for a festive brunch at the weekend or on public holidays. So feel free to overdo it with the petit déjeneuer: combine baguettes, brioches and croissants with sweet strawberry or apricot jam and with French sausages and especially cheeses – Roquefort, Brie, Camembert… let your taste roam free!

Now let’s take a look at the ingredients you need to prepare a traditional French breakfast – in its more sumptuous version.

Ingredients (2 people)

2 croissants
4 madeleines
2 crepes (pancakes)
1 baguette (cut into small pieces)
Strawberry and/or apricot jam
honey
some butter
Sausage and cheese platter (some raw ham, salami, and French cheeses like Camembert, Brie, and Roquefort)
Stuffed vegetables (e.g. eggplant or zucchini)
2 pieces of quiche Lorraine
coffee or Ceylon tea
some milk (for the coffee)
8 oranges (for the juice)

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Food

Eat Less Meat – This is How You Can Do It

Reducing your own meat consumption has many advantages for the environment, animals and health. And it’s easier than you think. We have tips on how to manage to eat less meat.

There are many good reasons to eat less meat: environmental protection, animal welfare, health, to name just a few. Perhaps you are toying with the idea of reducing your meat consumption or giving up meat altogether. On the one hand, this is not that difficult, on the other hand, we have a few tips here so that you can definitely succeed in eating less meat.

Don’t think too far into the future

If you start thinking too far ahead, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the change. It’s best not to think too much about what’s coming at first, just go for it and see how it goes for you. Thinking now about whether you will be able to do without a roast at Christmas is of relatively little use. Would you rather look for vegetarian snacks for a spring picnic or invite a few friends over for a vegetarian Easter brunch. That makes more sense – and more fun!

Don’t put yourself under pressure and don’t set big goals

Eating less meat shouldn’t become an exercise that puts you under pressure. Don’t set yourself any goals, at least not big ones. For example, from now on, “completely abstaining from meat forever” doesn’t have to be. Instead, try to set small goals, such as eating meat one day each week. Or set no specific goals at all, apart from reducing your meat consumption – without any benchmarks, quantities or time limits. So as little pressure as possible.

Tell others about it

Inform others about your intention to eat less meat (without brandishing the moral club). On the one hand, this strengthens your plan mentally, on the other hand, you may get positive encouragement that motivates you. Or – very practically – others may give you good tips or have meat-free recipe ideas to share with you.

Find like-minded people

It’s better together: This also applies to trying to eat less meat. Therefore, look for people who also want to remove meat from the menu or are already doing so. You may also find someone in your circle of friends who is also planning to eat less meat. Then you can start together and exchange ideas or support each other. It’s also more fun to try out new dishes and restaurants together.

There are also many veggie communities online. There you can exchange ideas with like-minded people, collect recipes or ask for insider tips: Where can you find good vegetarian sausages? How do I make Kohlrabi Schnitzel? Or who knows the best veggie kebab stand?

Try new things and experiment

Have you tried eggplant for the first time in your life? No problem, now is the opportunity to rediscover vegetables. For example, find a delicious recipe with aubergines and try again to see if you like aubergines. Or give Brussels sprouts a (new) chance, for example as a Brussels sprouts quiche.

But you can also combine vegetables that you have never eaten together before. For example, broccoli tastes great in a salad. Or fennel with orange – a poem!

Go eating

Especially if you live in a city, take advantage of the offer and look around for restaurants, cafes, takeaways and so on that have a vegetarian or vegan offer. There are now a variety of places in every major city that offer meat-free cuisine, from burgers to curries, sandwiches and home cooking, you’re sure to find something you’re looking for.

If you prefer to go to your local bar, then specifically ask for non-meat dishes there. Maybe you will discover new delicious dishes there that you have always overlooked. The advantage of eating out: You not only enjoy good vegetarian or vegan dishes, you also don’t have to cook or wash up yourself. Especially when starting out, it is also good to be inspired by chefs who have more experience with meat-free cuisine and show the corresponding finesse.

Eat less meat? Learn (vegetarian) cooking

If you prefer to cook for yourself, no problem either. On the contrary, you can now find countless recipes online, for example at Utopia. In addition, when you prepare (new dishes) yourself, you can enjoy the feeling of success that you get when you succeed in a recipe particularly well.

Especially if you don’t want to move in the direction of pudding vegetarian: in, it makes sense to lend a hand and cook with fresh and seasonal ingredients. The more colorful the better!

In many cities there are also vegetarian cooking courses and you will also find what you are looking for in bookstores if you are looking for vegetarian cookbooks. Maybe a good reason to visit your favorite bookstore again.

Eat what you like

Bolognese is your favorite dish? So why not cook vegan Bolognese from soy strips and make it your new favorite dish. If you don’t like something at all, for example the fennel mentioned above, then stick to meat-free foods or vegetables that you like to eat when making the switch. Or try it with dishes that you like. If you like tarte flambée, try a vegetarian version with asparagus.

Try plant-based meat alternatives

If you like schnitzel, sausage, nuggets and the like, then try vegan and vegetarian alternatives. You may be surprised and at the same time you don’t have to change your habits much.

If substitutes aren’t your thing, no problem, there are many vegan recipes that don’t require any meat substitutes at all.

Prevention is half the battle

So that you don’t throw in the towel out of habit, it’s better to take precautions. For example, if you don’t yet know where you can eat a good vegetarian meal during your lunch break, it’s better to pack leftovers from the previous evening’s dinner. At home, a supply of vegetarian ingredients, from lentils to vegetables, to tofu and tomato paste, is a good idea. In this way, delicious dishes can be conjured up quickly and you won’t be embarrassed to go back to the butcher’s meat loaf roll, especially during the break.

Also recommended: It is always good to have veggie snacks on hand for acute hunger pangs. Good snacks are nut mixes, crackers, fruit, muesli bars or a vegan snack sausage if you like to eat something like that in between. We recommend that you choose organic food here.

Pay attention to a balanced diet

Not least for the sake of your health, but also for the enjoyment of eating, you should ensure a balanced diet when you switch to a meat-free diet. Living only on fries may make you happy at times, but it takes revenge in the end.

By the way: How about chickpea fries? But not exclusively, please.

As with cooking, the same applies to eating: the more colourful, the better. When it comes to your diet, make sure that you cover your nutritional needs, for example to avoid hunger pangs. Vegetable proteins can help you with this. And try to eat as balanced and varied as possible, to integrate many different types of vegetables, fruit or cereals into your diet. Seeds, nuts and herbs (e.g. in salads) round off your meals and provide additional vitamins and nutrients. Also: the eye eats with you!

We also recommend that you buy regional, seasonal and organic food when it comes to groceries. This is not only good for you, but also protects the environment.

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Food

Less Sugar: Coca-Cola Changes Recipe

In the fight against obesity, the beverage giant Coca-Cola is now giving in: The company wants to significantly reduce the sugar content of its famous drink.

Less sugar in Coca-Cola

The sugar content in Coca-Cola is to be significantly reduced in the future: by 2020, around ten percent less sugar is to be used in the preparation of the popular soft drinks. “That requires a lot of effort. We’re changing recipes, increasingly relying on smaller packages, and, last but not least, clear product information for consumers,” explains CEO James Quincey to “Welt am Sonntag”.

Due to the changed consumption behavior of consumers, sugar has become a new challenge for many societies around the world. The white sweetener is often consumed in excess – in beverages and other foods – which increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, says Quincey.

Soft drinks promote obesity

There are almost eleven grams of sugar in 100 milliliters of Coca-Cola. Converted to one liter, this would be a total of about 35 sugar cubes – a considerable amount. Especially when you consider that Coca-Cola is drunk in large quantities every day as a thirst quencher for many.

A nasty sugar trap if you look at the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO): It recommends no more than 25 grams of sugar per day – that’s about ten sugar cubes.

Now the sugar content in one liter of cola is to be reduced to 31 sugar cubes. The beverage giant wants to support the WHO in its goal that people consume no more than ten percent of their calories from added sugar. Currently, this would correspond to 250 milliliters of cola.

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Lifestyle

Less Sport, More Alcohol: According to The Study, These People Are More Intelligent – What’s Behind It?

Smart people’s brains fare better in the modern world. But a study proved that the intelligent people in the focus are more likely to lead an unhealthy lifestyle with alcohol.

Smart people drink more alcohol and exercise less. what’s up

Sufficient exercise and a healthy diet play a major role when it comes to health. One might think that a person’s intelligence indicates a healthy lifestyle. After all, intelligent people are more conscious and should know better. Or?

In addition, there is ample evidence that proves that there is a connection between high intelligence and long life expectancy. It involves these factors:

Higher intelligence offers opportunities for higher education, which can bring a healthier environment and higher social status.
Intelligent people live healthier lives overall, exercise more, smoke and drink less, which increases life expectancy.
A high IQ score can indicate overall good physical condition. This means that it can cope better with environmental stresses, which also increases life expectancy.
However, according to the study by psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics and Political Science, intelligent people very often have rather unhealthy lifestyles. They tend to sleep late and have more drinks than less intelligent people. In addition, they often lack exercise.

result of the study?

In the study, the psychologist presents the savannah theory: According to the studies, the brains of intelligent people cope better with the developments and requirements of the modern world. People with a lower IQ would not do as well with urban life or the media. Alcohol, the internet and television played no role in the Stone Age. Therefore, according to this theory, less intelligent people tend to have less of a tendency to get high from drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes because their brains have not evolved as much as those of intelligent people.

The psychologist is less concerned with inferring intelligence from lifestyle. Rather, he would like to examine how people deal with the values ​​and options of the modern world.

Is this healthy?

Of course not. Because the more unhealthy the lifestyle, the higher the risk of disease, regardless of a person’s intelligence. If you don’t exercise and eat unhealthily, you risk cardiovascular problems, depression, dementia or even cancer.

No matter how high the intelligence quotient is: In order to stay fit and healthy, sport, healthy nutrition and avoiding unhealthy consumer goods should play a major role and be taken seriously.

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health

Less Stress: 7 Foods That Help You Relax

Stress is not only exhausting, but also extremely unhealthy. In addition to relaxing exercises and behaviors, diet can also have a positive impact on your stress level. We tell you which 7 foods help against stress.

These 7 foods help fight stress

When we are under stress, our body is constantly on alert. This is not healthy in the long run and can, for example, lead to chronic inflammation and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Even our brain can be damaged under constant stress and our memory can be impaired, American brain researchers found out.

Diet has a major impact on our health. And it can also be used to successfully combat stress. These 7 foods help against stress:

1. Avocado

Yes, we can’t hear the name of the trend food anymore either. Nevertheless, the avocado has to be on this list because it is considered the superfood among anti-stress foods. Not only does it fuel our bodies and get our brains working at peak performance, but it also helps to reduce stress.

Avocados work against stress because they contain a lot of B vitamins, especially vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamine, a substance that is essential for a functioning nervous system. Thiamine promotes the exchange of information in our brain and thus also the ability to concentrate. The vitamin also has a stress-relieving effect. It is not without reason that thiamine is also called the nerve vitamin.

Avocados are also rich in potassium, other B vitamins, magnesium and unsaturated fatty acids. However, they have a relatively poor eco-balance because their cultivation uses a lot of water. This leads to water shortages in the cultivation areas, which are also often at the other end of the world. You should always keep this in mind when buying avocados.

2. Nuts

Nuts are the perfect nerve food for on the go. The stress-relieving snack is high in vitamin B2 and vitamin E, especially walnuts, pistachios and hazelnuts. Here’s why pistachios are so healthy yet potentially dangerous.

The nuts also contain magnesium, which supports the energy metabolism. But the most important anti-stress ingredient in nuts is potassium. Both nutrients help to strengthen the immune system, but potassium is a real stress killer. Potassium is so effective against stress because it regulates the heartbeat and blood pressure and ensures a calmer pulse even under stress.

Among the nuts, the Brazil nut is way ahead when it comes to stress-relieving effects. This is because Brazil nuts have a relatively high selenium content. Selenium is particularly good against stress because it inhibits the transmission of impulses in the nerves and thus calms the nervous system. This automatically creates less stress in the body and you are calmer.

3. Spinach and other leafy green vegetables

It is a misconception that spinach has incredible amounts of iron. Although spinach is still a good source of iron, this has little to do with the myth of the miracle cure. Regular consumption of spinach won’t give you the strength of a bear like Popeye does, but it will give you iron-hard nerves.

The reason for this are the nutrients vitamin B6 and potassium contained in spinach, which protect the nervous system. The additional calcium it contains also contributes to good signal transmission between the nerve cells. The high magnesium content in spinach also promotes healthy functioning of the nervous system.

However, the most important anti-stress substance in spinach is folic acid, which leafy greens have in abundance. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body produce mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Spinach thus contributes to a better mood, which allows you to cope better with stressful situations. Tip: In order to retain as many of the nutrients as possible, you should only sauté the spinach briefly and not boil it.

4. Tea

The fact that tea is said to have a calming and stress-relieving effect is nothing new. The fact that this effect has now been scientifically confirmed is news. Researchers from University College London have shown in a study that people who drink tea are less stressed than people who have consumed a placebo drink.

One of the most well-known teas with a calming effect is chamomile tea. In various studies, the tea has now been attested to have a sleep-promoting effect. One of the best ways to combat stress is getting enough sleep, which makes chamomile tea a real anti-stress tea. Chamomile tea also has an anxiolytic effect, which can prevent stressful situations and help you cope better with stress.

Green tea also has an anti-stress effect: the high content of the amino acid L-theanine supports the formation of alpha waves in the brain, which leads to a feeling of relaxation. But: Green tea contains caffeine, so it is not necessarily recommended at any time of the day.

5. Dark Chocolate

Cocoa or dark chocolate is a real stress killer. Dark chocolate contains a lot of magnesium, which has a stress-relieving effect. It also contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is essential for the formation of the happiness hormone serotonin – but the mood-enhancing effect of chocolate is well known.

Dark chocolate also contains flavanoid, an antioxidant that breaks down stress hormones and lowers blood pressure. The rule here is: the darker the chocolate, the more flavanoids it contains. You should therefore always choose chocolate with a minimum of 70 percent cocoa content, for example the Lindt Excellence with 90 percent cocoa content*.

Another ingredient in dark chocolate that helps reduce stress is anandamide. Anandamide is an unsaturated fatty acid that binds to the same brain receptors as cannabis. Important: Only dark chocolate has the stress-relieving effects.

6. Berries

Berries – the local superfoods. Berries are true wonder weapons, also against stress. On the one hand they are rich in vitamin C, on the other hand berries have a very high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant that gives many berries their dark color. The antioxidant produces the mood-enhancing dopamine in the brain and thus prevents symptoms of stress.

All berries contain these substances, but some in particularly favorable amounts. Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries help particularly well against stress. Goji berries are said to be best at helping with stress, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Berries are not only easy to portion, they can also be wonderfully processed into ice cream. Simply put frozen berries and some milk (vegetable or animal), possibly some sugar, in the blender and you’re done.

7. Coffee

Who drinks too much coffee is nervous and stressed? none. Coffee can even help against stress attacks. The reason for this is the caffeine, which docks onto the adenosine receptors in the brain and blocks them. Adenosine is the body’s own sedative. Not only that, but it is also partly responsible for the development of stress symptoms.

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health

6 Good Reasons Why You Should Eat Less Meat

More and more people are opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet.

6 good reasons to give up meat

“Do you have anything vegetarian?” Not so long ago, this question made the staff roll their eyes in some restaurants. In the meantime, meatless dishes can be found on many menus as a matter of course. Vegetarians and vegans are hardly ever looked at askance. Too many people rely on this diet for that. The reasons for this diet speak for themselves.

1. Vegetarian diet is good for climate protection

Those who do without meat ensure lower greenhouse gas emissions. According to a study by the environmental protection organization WWF, around 25 percent of the climate footprint of an average person living in Germany is due to their diet.

Animal products account for the largest share (69 percent). Meat in particular should be mentioned here – beef is the most harmful to the climate – but dairy products should also be given more attention here. “Our current food systems pose one of the greatest challenges to our planet and the continued existence of humanity on Earth,” says the WWF study.

2. Meat consumption consumes a lot of resources

About 15 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted worldwide can be traced back to keeping livestock. Cattle, for example, emit large amounts of methane gas. Alongside the energy sector and transport, industrial animal husbandry is one of the main causes of climate change.

The production of one kilogram of beef, for example, produces a good 13 kilograms of CO2 equivalents, while the figure for fruit and vegetables is well under one kilogram. For the production of one kilogram of beef, up to 16 kilograms of grain are required as feed. “Industrial animal husbandry and the cultivation of animal feed take up 80 percent of all pasture and arable land in the world. In Germany, animal feed alone accounts for 60 percent of the arable land,” writes Greenpeace, for example.

If the arable land were used for the production of plant-based food instead, significantly more people could be fed.

3. Meat production uses a lot of water

Animal products contain much more water than plant-based ones. This is also referred to as “virtual water”, the total amount of water used in the manufacture of a product until it ends up on our plate or in our cupboard.

An example from the organization Peta: On average, 2,350 liters of virtual water are needed to produce a 150-gram beef burger, while an average of just over 150 liters of water is needed for a soy burger. The difference is also extreme when it comes to soy milk: just under 300 virtual liters of water are required for one liter of soy drink, while cow’s milk requires more than 1,000 liters.

4. Eating too much meat is unhealthy

Overall, according to the German Society for Nutrition, Germans eat twice as much meat as recommended by health experts. A quantity of 300 to 600 grams of meat per week would be significantly healthier, i.e. half of the current per capita consumption. Processed meat (sausage, ham) is even classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meat from conventional husbandry is also often treated with medication such as antibiotics. Anyone who eats a lot of meat therefore runs the risk of developing resistance to antibiotics.

5. Vegetarian diet protects animals

The grievances in factory farming have long been known: farm animals are often kept and killed under cruel, undignified circumstances. Keeping dairy cows is also often anything but animal-friendly.

On the other hand, more organic products in the shopping basket and the consideration of replacing some dairy products with vegan alternatives such as oat milk help.

6. Eating meat isn’t “natural” or “necessary”

People who eat meat and other animal products like to argue that it’s “natural” and “necessary.” But much contradicts this claim: not a few people get sick at the sight of blood, let alone a dead animal body. Dead bodies repel us.

In addition, our tooth structure and the human swallowing reflex have the characteristics of herbivores: We do not “tear” our food and do not swallow it in large chunks, but chew and swallow it, as Geo.de writes, among others.

Conclusion: Vegetarian diet has only advantages

In conclusion, it can be said that there is a lot to be said for a vegetarian or vegan diet. A meatless diet is good for the environment, animals and ourselves.

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