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They contain essential vitamins and minerals – and yet sweet fruit and savory vegetables do not regularly end up on Germans’ plates. Just under a third manage to consume the recommended amount of 400 grams of fruit and vegetables.

Germans eat too little fruit and vegetables

Germans eat just 289 grams of fruit and vegetables a day – clearly too little according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It recommends 400 grams of fruit and vegetables a day. A quantity that is consumed by only a third of the population.

27 percent of the women surveyed eat the recommended amount – for men, on the other hand, the figure is only 20 percent. This is now the result of the government’s response to a request from the Greens politician Bärbel Höhn, as quoted by the magazine “Spiegel”.

Fruits and vegetables are so healthy

Apples, pears, and the like not only taste great, but they also provide the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Above all, vitamin C is well represented in many varieties. It strengthens the immune system and is involved in many metabolic processes. In addition, they are low in fat and calories and high in fiber, which makes the fruits a healthy filler.

Cucumber, cabbage, and co. also fill you up thanks to their high fiber content. Legumes also provide high-quality vegetable protein, which is particularly important for vegetarians and vegans. The good ingredients of the vegetables ensure a healthy intestinal flora and fill up the mineral account. Whether nibbled on their own or mixed in smoothies: consuming delicious fruit and vegetables is not that difficult!

From bed to school and from there in front of the screen: the image of lazy youth is widespread. How dramatic is the situation really? From bed to school and from there in front of the screen: the image of lazy youth is widespread. How dramatic is the situation really?

Mom and Dad’s Fears

Gunar Senf from the Faculty of Education at the University of Leipzig has done a lot of research in this area. The author of the book finds that there are definitely deficits. “Some children move too little and sit too much in front of the computer or smartphone.” Unfortunately, that always has something to do with the fear of the parents. “Many are overly cautious.”

dr Heinz Krombholz, on the other hand, describes the research on mobility in children and adolescents as “confusing”. For the scientific employee at the State Institute for Early Education (IFP) in Munich, one thing is certain: the situation is not as threatening as is often publicized – quite the opposite. “Look around the streets. The children ride bikes, skateboard or balance on the slackline.” Of course there would also be children who move less than others. “But it’s always been there.”

Krombholz also says: Inactivity is often not the problem of the children, but of the parents. The attitude of mother and father shapes the movement behavior of the offspring. And a lack of exercise is often related to the socio-economic conditions in the family.

This is confirmed by Ralf Sygusch from the Institute for Sports Science at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. The fact that children nowadays are just lazy couch potatoes because of media use is “total nonsense”. “Children can do both: run around all day and use their smartphone in the evening.” Sygusch also thinks that the parents are responsible. “You have to set an example.” Too much control and a meticulously planned daily routine tend to be counterproductive. “In principle, however, we are a long way from parents restricting their children’s range of motion.”

Bad feeling

But there seem to be some overly concerned parents. A survey by the opinion research institute YouGov reveals how strongly people think about security. Among other things, half of the 1002 mothers and fathers surveyed stated that they only allowed their offspring to play unsupervised on their own property or in the immediate vicinity. In addition, every second person gets a queasy feeling when the offspring steps outside the door alone.

Some companies are therefore sensing big business: Concerned parents can order the “Where is Lilly” tracking watch for 159 euros, among other things. Originally intended as a tracking device for pets, the inventors have extended the radius of action to include the offspring. The device description provides additional breeding ground for overly cautious parents: “Especially in today’s world, it is important to offer parents and their children security. Who is there when you need to buy something quickly and your child wants to continue playing in the garden?”

Comment by editor Irmtraud Fenn-Nebel: Wrong care – when parents exaggerate

On the one hand, it sounds stereotypical: “Today’s” children are only attached to their smartphones and are becoming short-sighted, addicted, fat, stupid and lazy. On the other hand, digital devices and the Internet are here and “today’s” parents have a hard time finding the right balance in dealing with them. But does that justify a development that can be observed at the same time: What makes them helicopter parents who constantly circle over their dear little ones under the mistaken assumption that they have to bear everything with them?

Yes, viewed objectively, the challenges of the digitized world cannot be compared with what today’s 30-year-olds grew up with. And those who are even older have different experiences. Diverting streams in the forest, watching “Daktari”, schoolbags in the corner at lunchtime and off to wherever. When the conversation turns to “in the past,” the wild dogs of yesteryear outdo each other with tales of great freedom and daring activities.

Why don’t they begrudge their own children that, why don’t they trust them? Flashback: When the child was born, it had cute, healthy feet. How happy you were about your first steps! This went well until the educators remembered their care and deprived the offspring of their mobility. Note: A child must have a smartphone, everyone has one, they just stare at it.

How about if everyone in the class gave up and took a digital break? It would be worth a try. But that doesn’t mean that the child will cycle anywhere in the time gained. It would have to be up the hill! And this traffic! unreasonable. Daddy/Mommy drive. They like to focus their day on child care. Now it sits with its healthy feet in the car, better: helicopter. And in the trap, because some wild dogs from back then simply overdid it in their 180-degree turn.

Comment Peter Groscurth: Upbringing problems? Superfluous discussion!

Listless, overweight children and strident parents who look after their offspring in a rushed and aggressive manner. Pictures as they are currently being used.

Morals seem to be declining. A wise man puts it: “Young people nowadays love luxury. They have bad manners, despise authority, have no respect for older people and gossip about where they should work. Young people no longer get up when older people leave the room They contradict their parents, rant in society, devour sweets at the table, cross their legs and bully their teachers.”

Is it really like that? What. Parents also take care of their children nowadays – and they just buck from time to time. But many see it differently: their own behavior – earlier in puberty – is all too quickly glorified.
There is constant noise and scolding. If children are not interested in sports, our country collapses. If they do without tablets and the like, our business location is threatened with existence as a developing country in the future.
In the 80s there was the supposedly constantly playing video game generation (on the Commodore 64 or Atari). And today? Today she is doing her job well and cheerfully, is efficient and raises her own children.
Why this outcry? Usually hyperactive psychologists or life coaches, who greedily write bitterly angry books and gossip on talk shows… May their works, dust-attracting, be outmoded on the shelves.

By the way, the quote from the clever man is more than 2400 years old and came from the mouth of the philosopher Socrates. Since this misanalysis, the earth has continued to rotate surprisingly cheerfully, including all human generations on it – almost as beautiful as helicopter parents, if they existed.

Proteins are vital for the body and have many important tasks. An acute deficiency can quickly become harmful and thus trigger food cravings, muscle breakdown or mood swings.

Protein deficiency dangerous: The body needs proteins for this

Just like carbohydrates and fats, proteins also belong to the so-called macronutrients. Proteins are primarily used by humans as a source of energy. In addition, proteins are an important building material, with the help of which, among other things, cells and tissue, enzymes and hormones can be formed. The body must therefore be supplied with enough protein every day in order to function as well as possible. Animal and vegetable proteins can be ingested through food. Animal protein sources include fish, meat, milk, dairy products and eggs. Vegetable protein, on the other hand, is found in grain products, potatoes, legumes and nuts.

But how much protein should you consume every day? There is a rough reference value for this: “For adults, the reference value is derived using data from nitrogen balance studies. According to this, the recommended intake for 19 to 65 year olds is 0.8 g protein per kg body weight per day. This corresponds to 57 to 67 g protein per day . This amount can be achieved by eating protein-rich foods,” says the Federal Center for Nutrition. A reference value of 0.9 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day is assumed for children and adolescents, and around 1 gram of protein per kg of body weight per day for people over 65 years of age.

Since the human body needs proteins in many different places, a deficiency manifests itself in different ways. Insufficient protein intake can not only affect the body, but also the psyche.

This is how a lack of protein affects the body

Visual Appearance: Proteins play an essential role in many parts of the body. A deficiency can therefore also become apparent in various places: A protein deficiency can “promote the edges of the eyes and cause more wrinkles,” writes utopia.de. Brittle nails and a pale complexion are also possible signs.

Hair loss: Sufficient protein is essential for the hair, since our hair also consists of special proteins – so-called keratins. “If the body is not supplied with enough protein, the keratin formation necessary for hair growth suffers. Dry, brittle hair and hair loss can be the result.”

Atrophy of the muscles: A lack of proteins is easily noticeable in the muscles – they are broken down slowly. If the body doesn’t get enough protein, it uses its own stores – which in the case of proteins are mainly found in muscle tissue. Losing muscle mass is also accompanied by a loss of body weight.

Food cravings as a typical sign

Weak immune system: The immune system also suffers from a protein deficiency. Here the nutrient is urgently formed for the formation of antibodies that are used to fight pathogens. If the body can only produce insufficient defenses, the immune system is weakened – which leads to an easier susceptibility to infections.

Impaired wound healing: Impaired wound healing can also show a protein deficiency. If there are too few proteins in the body, wounds often heal more slowly because the damaged cells cannot be repaired or renewed as quickly as possible.

Cravings: Because proteins are harder for the body to digest, it takes longer for the body to use them. Proteins are responsible for a stable blood sugar level. “Without enough protein, blood sugar levels fluctuate wildly, leading to food cravings that often lead to excess calories and weight gain.”

A protein deficiency has these effects on the psyche

Mood swings: In addition to physical signs, psychological symptoms can also indicate a protein deficiency.

Mood swings are particularly typical. But a lack of concentration, exhaustion, tiredness and dissatisfaction are also common among those affected.

Depression: In extreme cases, a severe lack of protein can also cause serious mental illnesses such as depression.

Medical ad

vice important

Anyone who suspects that they are suffering from a protein deficiency should seek medical advice and a medical examination. The risks of an untreated deficiency include digestive problems or a weakening of the respiratory and heart muscles. In Germany, the deficiency occurs comparatively rarely, the daily protein requirement is usually exceeded. Therefore, caution is advised, because even a permanent excess of protein is not healthy.

It is often diseases such as eating disorders, gluten intolerance, a dysfunction of the thyroid gland or tuberculosis that promote a lack of proteins. Excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse can also lead to this.

Resolving a protein deficiency depends entirely on the cause. “If illnesses are the trigger for the deficiency, you obviously have to treat them very differently than a deficiency caused by insufficient nutrition. If the protein deficiency is due to an eating disorder, you should talk to both your family doctor and a therapist.”

Furnishing a new apartment does not always have to be expensive. Little tricks can often have a big impact. Thus, your home furnishings will be affordable but beautiful. A simple decoration of the apartment will help you create a more comfortable atmosphere.

Decorate your home with creative home accessories

There are times when money is tight and yet you want to redecorate your own apartment. Many families and single parents have to save money and cannot afford expensive designer pieces for their home furnishings. And you don’t have to. Because special individual pieces and decorations for the apartment can be found cheaply at flea markets and second-hand shops. You can also make many ideas for decorating yourself. Therefore, we have collected some tips that want to let off steam creatively. In addition, note clever ideas for redesigning and redesigning the bathroom.

1) Use mirrors for optical magnification

Mirrors visually enlarge the living spaces. In addition, they conjure up nice mirror effects with daylight or with light sources in the dark. And as a rule, people perceive the reflection in the room as very harmonious. Consequently, you can improve the effectiveness of your rooms very cheaply by hanging mirrors and also making small apartments appear even larger. In addition, note our home remedies for cleaning mirrors without streaks and ideas for beautifying old mirrors.

2) Furnish your apartment with inexpensive plants

Green plants in particular create a pleasant and lively atmosphere in living spaces. But plants and pots are not always cheap. Therefore look for offers in the garden center or at the weekly market. It gets even cheaper if you observe the offers of the food discounters. Because every week one of the big discounters, such as LIDL, has various indoor plants on offer. In addition, you can also buy cheap artificial plants on the Internet, and also note useful tips for cleaning artificial plants. Or look for offshoots that are often given away on eBay classifieds.

3) Set color accents with decoration

decoration of your apartment is not so monotonous, you can set farm accents. You can use beautiful colorful bed linen, towels, or pillowcases for this. You should also pay attention to offers here. Or color in great cushion covers yourself. Then these color accents bring a breath of fresh air into every room. Also, note ideas for homemade sea decorations.

4) Buy decorative wool skins

Fur carpets are also trendy and these decorative furs give a natural feeling of living. It does not always have to be real and expensive skins from sheep or cows. Because now there are good and cheap imitations. These match almost any floor covering. As a result, you can furnish your apartment comfortably and conjure up a particularly cozy atmosphere. Other carpets can also bring a breath of fresh air into the home.

5) Furnish your apartment with vases and decorations from nature

Another creative idea is to place floor vases as a highlight in empty and bare corners. You can then fill them with large bushes, wood, branches, and bowls from nature. In winter, at Christmas time, such decorative items are very popular with Christmas ornaments and decorations such as fairy lights. You can also decorate them with homemade Easter decorations at Easter. In addition, also read how to clean narrow and narrow vases.

5) buy discounted furniture on sale

You don’t need expensive and modern furniture for a beautiful interior design. It is important that the overall picture of the decoration and apartment is consistent. In order to achieve a coherent overall picture, regularly monitor offers and discount campaigns from the big furniture stores. You can also look specifically for reduced goods or exhibits in the furniture stores. These are usually almost like new and cost up to 50% less than the list price. You can also save when buying furniture with online vouchers. Online furniture stores such as IKEA are suitable for researching furniture on the Internet with many discount offers. In addition, note our clever storage space ideas.

6) Freshen up old furniture with adhesive foils

You can also conjure up new living ideas from old furniture with adhesive foil. In this way, old furniture can be brought back to life from the bulky waste and with little money. After you have saved a suitable piece of bulky waste, you can organize a nice afternoon of handicrafts with your children. You can creatively design the old furniture with adhesive foils.

7) Make creative wall decorations and wall tattoos yourself

You can also design creative wall decorations and wall tattoos yourself with little money. Here you can let your creativity run free. To do this, buy Dc-fix adhesive film and cut out the mural you want, e.g. you can cut out flowers or a skyline. You can also create a great mural for the children’s room by projecting an image onto the wall with a projector and tracing it.

Do your children love it when you read them stories or look at picture books with them? But you don’t always want to read the same books or buy new books every week? Then the solution is very simple! Visit a library, alone or with your children, and borrow the books.

Children’s libraries

Many libraries offer a large selection of good children’s and youth books but also picture books for the little ones. Borrowing has many advantages: You can always offer your children new reading material that is tailored to their interests (which can change quickly with children). Especially with small children, it is often not worthwhile to buy many books yourself, since the enthusiasm for a book usually does not last that long. Once you’ve bought the book, it quickly sits on the shelf unnoticed.

Benefits of borrowing books

Your child can also learn to take care of someone else’s property because after all, other children also want to read the books from the library. Last but not least, you save a lot of money, since borrowing is usually free of charge and usually only an annual fee has to be paid to the library – and even this is low for small children, in some libraries children can even borrow books for free.

Children’s media in libraries

By the way: most libraries not only lend out books but also DVDs, CDs, and computer games – which should be interesting for older children.

Christmas is just around the corner every year. But the festival is usually expensive. Because gifts, food, Christmas tree, and decorations are expensive. So how are you supposed to celebrate Christmas when you’re short on cash? We’ve collected tips on how to save money this Christmas.

Tips for a cheap Christmas party

Low-income families, in particular, mostly families with only one income and several children, face major challenges every Christmas. Because they too want to have a nice Christmas party. But how can you serve a delicious meal, set up a Christmas tree, and at the same time make all the children happy with the gifts they want without spending a fortune?

And what do you do when the Christmas bonus, if you still get it at all, has been planned for half a year for an urgent car repair? We’ve collected a few ways to help you have a merry Christmas even when money is tight.

1) Celebrate Christmas with an inexpensive banquet

While most will throw up a traditional Christmas dinner, it’s not a must. After all, most children prefer their favorite dish, spaghetti bolognese, to a feast of roast meat, dumplings, and vegetables. And if we are honest, the delicious dessert is usually the highlight for children. And a delicious dessert can be prepared cheaply. For example, you can cheaply create a delicious quark dish with additional powder. Or often a delicious chocolate cake is enough for dessert.

2) Homemade Christmas presents

For most parents, not being able to afford great gifts is heartbreaking. And of course, it is normal that not every wish can be fulfilled, this is not possible even with higher-earning families. If it is possible for you, you should try to fulfill a larger or smaller heart’s desire for each child, even if there may only be one present. You can also give away homemade Christmas gifts. So you can cheaply produce and give away great room fragrances, massage oil, baking mixes, or edibles. Or use the following tips to make your children happy anyway:

  • Share costs with other family members. Because if grandma and grandpa, as well as uncles and aunts, want to give something as a present, you can do well together and fulfill larger wishes. And that doesn’t just work for children’s gifts.
  • Giving away valuable time. In stressful everyday life, there is often little time to consciously take time for others. Humans are social beings who need an exchange. So give some of your time. Then take a walk through the forest, have a coffee or watch a film together.
  • Used items are often in good condition. On the Internet, you can find many well-preserved things for a small price. So you can make others happy despite the lack of money. You can also find used laptops or cheap mobile phones here.
  • Start saving early. If you put something aside every now and then throughout the year, it can be used for great gifts at Christmas. So do without the coffee to go or for sweets at the checkout for the children.
  • Gift hunt all year round. If you know what your children or friends want, you can look for offers and sales all year round, there might be something suitable. In addition, it is better than just getting presents shortly before. So you avoid stress at Christmas.

3) Inexpensive decorations to celebrate Christmas

A suitable decoration is also part of the Christmas party. But this is also very expensive in retail or on the Internet. So take some time and make edible Christmas decorations, for example. This can still be used afterward and tastes delicious. You can also decorate the Christmas tree with this Christmas decoration. Use cookies, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, or anise stars. Then let your creativity run free and you can celebrate Christmas in a relaxed manner.

4) Prioritize being together

A truly harmonious get-together can make Christmas a very special event. Away from the stress of everyday life, sitting together and watching the children unwrap their presents by candlelight can be very satisfying even with little money to back you up. Maybe a single friend would be happy about an invitation to the Christmas party. If charity and harmony are in the foreground, then material things quickly become secondary for a while. You should treat yourself to this time because the stressful everyday life comes back quickly enough on its own.