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You can eat this oversized raindrop! Raindrop cake is the name of the latest food trend from Japan and is said to be THE alternative to cake. It’s vegan and has 0 calories – no wonder, after all, it consists only of mineral water and agar-agar. EAT SMARTER introduces the Raindrop Cake.

Raindrop Cake: vegan & low in calories

The Raindrop Cake is currently triggering a real hype on Instagram, Facebook & Co. While it reminds some of a breast implant, others think the cake looks like a sip of water in space.

In fact, the Raindrop Cake consists of mineral water and agar-agar. This makes it vegan, low in calories, and a lighter and more colorless version of the currently trendy freakshakes or macaroons. But can the transparent drop taste good?

Raindrops to eat

Foodies who are currently vacationing in Japan or New York and visiting the street food markets there naturally don’t want to miss out on this food trend: They report that the raindrop cake melts on the tongue as soon as it is eaten with a spoon. So the consistency is great – but the taste is not particularly innovative, because mineral water and the vegetable gelling agent agar appear neutral.

To add a little more sweetness to the mix – which is what you usually expect from a cake – the Raindrop Cake is served with coconut blossom syrup and toasted soy flour. Chef Darren Wong invented the raindrop to eat and took it back to New York after a trip to Japan as inspiration. The light Raindrop Cake is now available there for about 8 dollars.

The recipe for the Raindrop Cake

The ingredients for 2 servings:

  • 300 ml still mineral water
  • 1 tsp agar agar
  • 3 teaspoons coconut blossom syrup (or agave syrup)
  • 3 tsp soy flour (toasted)

The preparation:

  1. Boil still mineral water in a saucepan and dissolve agar in it according to package instructions.
  2. Boil the liquid on low heat for about three minutes. Then pour into two bowls and place in the fridge for about two hours to set.
  3. Pour the finished Raindrop Cake onto a plate and serve with the coconut blossom syrup and the roasted soy flour.

Fluffy, high in protein, filling – these attributes describe the quinoa pancakes perfectly! Instead of commercially available flour, protein-rich quinoa and almond flour form the basis for low-carb breakfast happiness. Topped with Greek yogurt, nuts, and berries, these pancakes are a real protein bomb and won’t leave those annoying cravings in the first place. Make quinoa pancakes yourself: We will tell you the quick recipe in this article.

Served golden brown in 20 minutes

Still, have quinoa from last night? Great! Simply process the rest into fluffy low-carb quinoa pancakes the next morning. Together with low-carb almond flour, Greek yogurt, and other favorite toppings, you can bake a wholesome breakfast in no time.

If you like it more chocolaty, you can also prepare the quinoa pancakes with de-oiled cocoa powder – there’s nothing wrong with a dollop of maple syrup on the cakes either. A meal that will delight not only fitness fans!

Quinoa pancakes are so healthy

Homemade quinoa pancakes not only bring variety to the plate but also lots of protein. And that is known to keep you full for a long time, preventing food cravings and boosting fat loss at the same time.

To round off the perfect breakfast, the homemade quinoa pancakes are topped with the sweetest berries of the season and crunchy walnuts. This provides secondary plant substances, valuable omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins and minerals. Make quinoa pancakes yourself: preheat your pan and look forward to a large and healthy portion of breakfast happiness!

Make your own quinoa pancakes

The ingredients:

  • 200 g quinoa (cooked)
  • 100 g almond flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 3 egg whites
  • 100 g Greek yogurt
  • 1 vanilla pod (Mark)
  • 125 grams of blueberries
  • Coconut oil for frying

The preparation:

  1. For the low-carb quinoa pancakes, mix the quinoa, almond flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
  2. In another bowl, cream together the egg white and yogurt. Then add to the quinoa mixture and fold in the pulp of a vanilla pod and the blueberries.
  3. Heat some coconut oil in a pan and add two tablespoons of quinoa batter to the pan for frying. Turn after about three minutes and cook on the other side until golden brown.
  4. Enjoy the low-carb quinoa pancakes together with Greek yogurt and berries.

Ahh, who doesn’t love it: a crispy slice of pizza with melted cheese. It’s hard to say no to that. But if you follow a low-carb diet, you can quickly remove the Italian delicacy from your menu. But there is no reason for that! In addition to the cauliflower pizza, there is also the zucchini pizza, which is low in carbohydrates and delicious at the same time!

Low carb pizza

Just because you eat low-carb doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a delicious pizza. You just have to know how to bake the low-carb pizza. And the zucchini pizza is perfect for that. Flour out, zucchini in.

Zucchinis are popular in low-carb cuisine because they have a very low carbohydrate content. In addition, they are also very low in calories and contain little fat: just one percent! It also contains a lot of potassium, magnesium, and iron.

A slice of the cheesy zucchini pizza contains just 90 kilocalories and you can of course get creative with the preparation. This is the basic recipe for a low-carb zucchini pizza, but if you want to add even more low-carb ingredients, there are no limits here.

The recipe for the low-carb zucchini pizza

For 1 pizza

  • 1 large zucchini (each approx. 300 g)
  • 1 egg
  • 125g mozzarella
  • 50g grated Parmesan
  • 5 tbsp tomato sauce
  • clove of garlic
  • chili flakes
  • Salt
  • pepper
  • basil

Preparation steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees and line the baking tray with baking paper.
  2. Place a kitchen towel in a colander. Wash and grate the courgettes and put them in the kitchen towel in the colander. Salt the zucchini mixture and leave to stand for about ten minutes. Then wring out the cloth with the zucchini firmly.
  3. Mix the zucchini mass with the egg, 50 grams of mozzarella, and the Parmesan to form a dough.
  4. Place the zucchini dough on the baking sheet and press it into a round shape, the base should be relatively thin. Bake the zucchini base in the oven at 200 degrees (top/bottom heat) for about 20 minutes.
  5. Now season the tomato sauce with salt, pepper, chili flakes, and some garlic. After 20 minutes turn the pizza base over and spread the seasoned tomato sauce on top. Scatter the remaining mozzarella over the pizza and bake for 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

The low-carb diet is still a very popular diet. Numerous blogs and accounts deal with this topic and are constantly producing new low-carb recipes. So does Melanie from Low Carb Delicacies. In an interview with EAT SMARTER, she reveals how she got started with this diet, which low-carb tips she has for sticking with it, and her favorite recipes.

How did the idea for “low carb delicacies” come about?

My account was first an account where I documented my own weight loss journey. After a while, I started to try my own recipes and they were very well received and so my account grew relatively quickly. Now you can find delicious, simple, and healthy low carb recipes that are suitable for the whole family at “Low Carb Delicacies”.

Why are you eating low carb?

I had heard over and over again that it is better to avoid carbohydrates in the evening. And so I just tried it out. For me, low carb is not just a diet to lose weight. I just feel better when I eat low carb. For example, before low carb, I had problems with headaches (at least three to four times a week very badly), but I haven’t had them since. I also feel fitter and bursting with energy.

How did you get into cooking in the first place?

I only taught myself to cook after I left home. Luckily, the sense of good taste seems to be in my genes, or rather it was instilled in me by my family. A lot went wrong in the beginning because I hadn’t dealt with the subject of cooking and baking at all before. I had to teach myself a lot and gained experience through learning by doing.

How would you briefly describe your nutritional philosophy?

My food should not only be healthy but also enjoyable.

What are the biggest difficulties with a low-carb diet?

That there are still relatively few alternatives outside of your own kitchen – at least here in a rather rural area. For example at the bakery or in restaurants. Of course, there is often a salad, but these are usually not only boring but also much more expensive than the high-carb alternatives.

Do you have to be strict with yourself to eat like you?

Strict is perhaps the wrong word, but in order to lose weight, you need a certain amount of stamina, even with low carbs.

What ingredients can’t you do without in a low-carb kitchen?

My low-carb tip is xylitol. Xylitol is my favorite sugar substitute (so far), because I still love to eat sweets. Plus cauliflower, it makes a great substitute for so many products (I love cauliflower rice as a side dish, for example).

What’s your low-carb tip for ingredients that are the hardest to substitute?

Actually, I think that there is a good substitute for almost everything. But if I have to name something, it would probably be potatoes. Of course, kohlrabi & co. can be prepared in a similar way, but the consistency of potatoes is difficult or impossible to replace with a low-carb variant, which is simply due to the lack of starch.

What is your favorite dish from “Low Carb Delicacies”?

With over 500 recipes, that’s not an easy question to answer, but we always enjoy eating the Cheeseburger Calzone.

What question do you get asked the most?

“Why am I not losing weight despite low carb?” – There can be very different reasons for this. Often the mistake is that you eat low carb but still eat too many calories. Other reasons may be unknowingly consuming more carbs than you think or simply not being able to break old habits.

What low carb tips do you have for low carb shopping?

My tip for low-carb shopping: Don’t be fooled by light products. They often contain less fat but more sugar. It is best anyway to buy products that are as natural as possible and for everything else the list of ingredients should be studied carefully. It also helps to write a shopping list in advance so that you don’t get tempted to buy something unsuitable.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My breakfasts are usually not particularly creative, I mostly eat Greek yogurt with berries, nuts, seeds, spirulina, and xylitol. I like it and it’s very tasty. At lunchtime, I eat homemade protein bread, salad, and sometimes the leftovers from dinner. In the evening we have something warm here, so it can be a little more creative here and I often try out new recipes (which of course end up on my blog straight away).

When it comes to sports, unfortunately, I’m not a role model – I’ve tried again and again, even ran regularly for a while. But anyone who has followed me on Instagram from the beginning knows that unfortunately, I let the topic slide too often. Thanks to our little daughter, I’m on the move quite a bit now.

In your opinion, what makes “low carb delicacies” so successful?

I think my readers could answer that question better. But one reason could be that I blog what I feel like. I don’t cook/bake to emulate certain trends but to enjoy something tasty afterward. Fortunately, the readers seem to like it just as much as I and my family does.

What low-carb tips can you give to all those who want to change their diet?

Don’t get discouraged too quickly. Not only does it seem hard at the beginning to do without bread, pasta & Co., but everything also seems incredibly complicated before the conversion. But you will quickly notice positive effects and that after a bit of getting used to it is not that difficult after all.

Low carb marble cake? That’s fine! Because this cake is actually low in carbohydrates and therefore has a few calories less than its classic colleague. Instead of flour, ground almonds are used here. And the result is really impressive: A light, fluffy cake that is reminiscent of childhood days. EAT SMARTER shows how to make the low-carb cake yourself.

Bake low carb

In a low-carb diet, carbohydrates are avoided completely or for the most part. Especially when it comes to low-carb baking, you are often faced with the question: Which low-carb alternatives are there?

Cakes based on quark or cream cheese are very suitable. But it shouldn’t always be a creamy cake. So if you want a classic low-carb cake, you can replace the flour with coconut or almond flour, for example, which is sometimes quite expensive. We simply used ground almonds for this recipe.

Of course, the normal sugar must also be left out for low-carb cakes. Examples include stevia and xylitol.

Xylitol as a sugar substitute

Although xylitol is a pure carbohydrate, Zucker is suitable for a low-carb diet. Fatty acids are mainly formed from xylitol, which is not metabolized as quickly as glucose (simple sugar). Therefore, it can be used well by diabetics.

Unlike sugar, the blood sugar level rises very little after consuming xylitol, which relieves the pancreas. Nevertheless, xylitol has no negative impact on lipid metabolism and blood lipid levels. Due to the constant blood sugar level, there are no food cravings, as these are usually caused by a drop in blood sugar levels. Therefore, xylitol is very suitable as a sugar substitute for low-carb cakes.

The recipe for the low carb marble cake

For 15 pieces

  • 100 g xylitol
  • 50 grams of butter
  • 6 eggs
  • 250 g cottage cheese
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 vanilla beans
  • 220 g ground almonds
  • 1 pinch of baking soda
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 2 tbsp baking cocoa

Preparation steps

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. Grease the loaf tin (or Gugelhupf tin) with a little butter or oil.
  2. Set the eggs and egg whites aside. Wash the lemon in hot water and grate the zest, then scrape out the vanilla beans.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the butter and xylitol until creamy. Gradually add the egg yolks.
  4. Now stir in the quark, lemon zest, and vanilla pulp.
  5. Add the ground almonds and baking soda to the batter and mix well to form a batter. Beat the egg whites with salt until stiff and carefully fold into the batter.
  6. Divide the dough in half and mix one half with the cocoa powder.
  7. Put the light dough in the mold and the chocolate part on top. Mix the batter with a wooden skewer or knife to create the typical marble cake pattern.
  8. Bake the cake for about 45 minutes and let it cool down a bit. Serve warm or cold.

Low-carb diets are trending. But not only the kilos disappear with the diet, but also the life expectancy. In a study, US researchers found that people on the low-carbohydrate diet die up to four years earlier.

Diet: Carbohydrates are not the problem

The result of the study: It is not the few carbohydrates that lead to increased mortality, but the alternative diet and the resulting increased consumption of animal proteins and fats. So if you eat them instead of pasta, bread and potatoes, you can die up to four years earlier.

But low-carb can also be positive: If you eat more vegetable fats and proteins than animal fats, mortality falls. You live longer. According to the researchers from Boston, the amount of carbohydrates is also decisive for life expectancy: “Our results show a relationship between life expectancy and carbohydrate intake. Life expectancy is greatest in people with 50 to 55 percent carbohydrate intake,” the scientists conclude.

The low-carb diet is neither healthy nor effective: numerous researchers have proven this in a large-scale study. But cutting out carbohydrates can actually have harmful side effects.

Low-carb has no benefits, my science experts say

“Weight loss in people eating a low-carb diet is not very different from weight loss in people eating a balanced carbohydrate diet,” writes study lead author Celeste Naude of Stellenbosch University in Cape Town.

The researchers also monitored the diets for their effects on changes in heart disease risk and increases in LDL cholesterol (so-called “unhealthy” cholesterol) over a two-year period. The result: There were few if any differences between the diets. “Both in patients with and without type 2 diabetes,” explained Naude.

The German Diabetes Society (DDG) also explained in advance of the publication that low-carb is neither the best nor the healthiest form of a diet. The DDG stated: “Since December 2021, the motto for diabetics is that weight loss strategies should be based on individual preferences

Even as a preventive measure, “low carb” is not an option

The result of the review was already foreseeable in advance. Several previous studies from previous years produced comparable results. The result was almost unanimous: “There is no difference between losing weight with low-carb or high-carb.” obese subjects after 12 months comparable to that of a low-fat diet.”

With regard to obesity and diabetes prevention, the low-carb diet does not seem to be really suitable. The research group of the American cardiovascular society National Lipid Association (NLA) wrote in a journal in 2018: “Based on the verified evidence, low and very low carbohydrate diets are not superior to other dietary approaches for weight loss.”

The statement accompanying this opinion stated that there would be little data on long-term efficacy and safety. American researchers have a similar opinion. “Physicians are encouraged to consider the findings discussed in this scientific opinion when advising patients on low-carb diets.”

“The side effects of the low-carb diet are only now becoming public,” said the former DGE President

Professor Stefan Lorkowski, Head of Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Jena, wrote in the medical journal “It is attractive, but naive to believe that simply changing the ratio of carbohydrates and fats is sufficient. Rather, it depends on their nutritional quality and, above all, their energy balance.”

Professor Alfred Wirth agrees. The former president of the German Obesity Society explained: “Almost all studies show that a low-carb diet is not superior and that the energy deficit is particularly important when it comes to weight loss.” Both researchers criticize the increase in LDL cholesterol in particular in low-carb diets as critical to health.

The former President of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) Helmut Hesekers already criticized in 2019: “The long-standing demonization of carbohydrates is suddenly exposed by trendsetters as a big mistake. Atkins, South Beach, Hollywood Star, Mayo, Logi and Paleo diets – evolution or Harvard – are not only exposed as ineffective, worse: Instead, long-overlooked or denied side effects such as bad breath, muscle cramps , nausea and headaches came to the fore.”

Coconut flour is gluten-free, high in fiber and low in carbohydrates. We explain what is important when baking with coconut flour and what you should pay attention to.

Coconut flour can be an alternative to wheat flour. Those with celiac disease and a sensitive digestive system will equally benefit from coconut flour. It is gluten-free, low-carb, high-fiber, low-fat and cholesterol-free. It is used in a variety of healthy recipes. For example in cakes, smoothies, sauces, soups, spreads and desserts.

To obtain coconut flour, the fresh flesh of the coconut is dried, de-oiled and then ground into flour. Since coconut flour has traveled a long way and the coconuts used are usually harvested and processed by hand, it is important that you use fair, organic products.

In most recipes you cannot substitute coconut flour 1:1. This is mainly because coconut flour is very absorbent. One option is to replace just a portion of the wheat or whole wheat flour with coconut flour. You can easily replace a quarter of the flour with coconut flour without having to change the rest of the recipe. But there are also ways to completely replace the flour.

A commonly mentioned variant is to add one egg for every 30 grams of coconut flour. Depending on the quantity, however, this can lead to a fairly high number of eggs, which unfortunately neutralizes the positive property of coconut flour to be low in cholesterol. Another option is to increase the liquid content. You have to add water, oil and (plant) milk accordingly until the dough has the desired consistency.

The easiest way is to look for recipes that are specifically tailored to use coconut flour. We show you how to bake delicious brownies with coconut flour.

Baking brownies with coconut flour: the ingredients

The brownies are not only gluten-free, but also vegan and sugar-free. This makes them ideal for a vegan or gluten-free diet. You need the following ingredients:
115 g ground almonds
30 g coconut flour
60 grams of cocoa powder
1 tbsp baking powder
140 g agave syrup
120 g vegetable margarine
7 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

Bake brownies gluten-free

Mix almonds, coconut flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in a bowl.
Mix the margarine and agave syrup together until the mixture is foamy.
Add the applesauce to the margarine and agave syrup while stirring.
Now stir in the dry ingredients.
Place the batter in a springform pan or on a small baking sheet.
Bake the whole thing at 175 °C top/bottom heat for about 40 minutes.
Let the cake cool down well and then cut it into pieces.

After intestinal diseases it is sometimes necessary to resort to low-fiber foods. This allows the digestive system to recover more easily. Here you can find out which low-fiber products are particularly suitable.

Low-fiber foods should be the exception rather than the rule, because fiber is fundamentally the basis of any healthy diet. This is because fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system as it stimulates bowel movements.

When are low-fiber foods useful?

With certain complaints and illnesses, the gastrointestinal tract is so overwhelmed that high-fiber food can have a negative effect on digestion. This applies, for example, to gastrointestinal infections and many other diseases of the digestive tract, but also after certain operations. The digestive system is often so weak at first that you have no appetite and do not eat any solid food for a few days. Especially after such days, you should slowly get your intestines used to solid food.

In such situations, high-fiber foods would be out of place and would likely lead to bloating and stomach cramps. You should now resort to so-called “light foods”, i.e. foods that contain little fiber and are easy to digest. You should also make sure you drink enough fluids. It is best to use warm water or herbal teas.

Low-fiber foods: list

You should now avoid foods such as legumes, whole grain products and raw vegetables in particular. Suitable foods are e.g.:
White bread or rolls
mixed bread
zwieback
Noodles (not whole grain!)
white rice
Cornflakes (not whole grain)
bananas
stewed fruit
applesauce
Potatoes (without skin)
carrots (cooked)
Cucumbers (peeled, seedless)
zucchini
tomatoes
eggs
Dairy products
Vegetable oils (e.g. sunflower, olive and rapeseed oil)
butter

Animal products are low in fiber – but not recommended

In general, all animal products are very low in fiber. As part of a light diet, however, you should only include them in moderation or eliminate them completely, as they are often difficult to digest due to their fat content. In addition, meat and fish are anything but sustainable and should therefore only rarely be on the menu, if at all.

You should only use vegetable oils very sparingly and, for example, only add one or two teaspoons to your potato and carrot puree. Because fats are difficult to digest. If you would like to eat fruit, you should steam or boil it (except for bananas) in some fruit juice beforehand. Alternatively, you can use applesauce or other fruit puree – this is more digestible.

Natural home remedies for low blood pressure help you raise your blood pressure in a gentle way. Too low blood pressure has negative side effects.

Treat low blood pressure

Many people in Germany suffer from low blood pressure. Although low blood pressure is not nearly as dangerous as high blood pressure, many unpleasant disruptions in everyday life can also occur with low blood pressure.

If the blood pressure is too high, consider home remedies for high blood pressure. These will be discussed in a separate article. Here you will find all the causes, tips, and home remedies that you need to consider if your blood pressure is too low and that can help you.

Symptoms of low blood pressure

Blood pressure below 100/60 causes a feeling of tiredness and sluggishness. Severe dizziness is the main symptom of low blood pressure. Dizziness usually occurs in the morning or when getting up.

Affected people feel dizzy and their eyes often flicker. Fatigue can also be a sign, as can fainting spells. But increased irritability, lack of concentration, ringing in the ears, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, depression, and constant tiredness can also be signs of low blood pressure.

However, dizziness can also have causes other than low blood pressure. For this reason, we have also collected home remedies for general problems with the circulatory system. There you will find more tips, also against other causes of dizziness.

Low blood pressure – what to do?

If your blood pressure is too low, natural home remedies can help. Although they do not replace a visit to the doctor, they can be used in addition to alleviating the symptoms. If you suspect that you are suffering from low blood pressure, then go to your family doctor and have yourself thoroughly examined.

1) Salty foods

If you suffer from low blood pressure, then it is advisable to eat salty things. Always season your food properly, eat licorice, or nibble on pretzel sticks in between. Make sure you eat enough salt because salt increases blood pressure.

2) Caffeine

Drink caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, or cola. You should only drink coffee and cola in moderation. However, tea can be consumed throughout the day. It’s best to make a good mix of everything – for example coffee in the morning, tea and a glass of Coke at noon, coffee or tea in the afternoon, and only tea in the evening. Caffeinated foods help raise your blood pressure.

3) drinking

If your blood pressure is too low, you should always drink enough. Make sure you drink at least two liters a day. Even three to four liters a day would be better. Unsweetened teas, light fruit juice spritzers, and water are ideal for this.

4) contrast showers

Contrast showers help you against low blood pressure. Here you always alternately shower with warm and cold water. You should always end the contrast shower with a cold shower. If a full-body shower is too much for you, you can limit the alternating shower to just your legs.

5) Sauna

A visit to the sauna can work wonders for low blood pressure. After each visit to the sauna, you should cool down immediately and quickly, for example with a cold bath or – if available – ice cubes. This increases blood pressure. After cooling down, you should rest for 10 to 30 minutes and drink enough.

6) Regular exercise

Regular exercise also ensures that low blood pressure is permanently raised. The sport is usually irrelevant. Nevertheless, top performance should not be aimed for, but rather endurance sports should be practiced. We have collected suitable sports for you both in summer and in winter.

For example, an hour of leisurely cycling is ideal for getting your blood pressure going. On the other hand, cycling at full power for a quarter of an hour only has a short-lasting effect. Hiking, running, and swimming are also good for health and good for fighting low blood pressure.

Exercise and sport are important points in the fight against low blood pressure. All endurance sports such as running, jogging, walking, swimming, or cycling are ideal. If you are no longer able to exercise, always try to get up slowly and calmly and go for a walk. Always do as much as you can and don’t overtax your body.

7) Lie higher at night

If you struggle with low blood pressure, especially in the morning, it may indicate that your blood pressure is dropping as you sleep. Then pack more pillows under your head at night. This prevents a drop in blood pressure at night and ensures a healthy Sch