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3 Tricks for More Environmental Protection in the Household

Environmental protection has been an issue for years. Because many of our ways of life have a negative impact on our environment. To change that, we have collected simple tricks to protect the environment in the home and in everyday life. This allows you to make your life more sustainable and protect the environment every day in the future.

Many people want to do something good for the environment. But don’t know exactly what helps. It doesn’t always have to be a hybrid car or a solar system on the roof, even small changes in your everyday life can have a big impact.

What is environmental protection?

In today’s world, we have to deal with a multitude of environmental problems. These include climate change, water scarcity, and air pollution. And also famine, species extinction, plastic waste, etc. The causes of the environmental problems are well known. These include a growing world population, increased resource consumption, and consumer behavior. In order to eliminate or counteract these problems, we must protect our environment. This is the only way we can protect our planet for our children. In the following video, you can see the two scenarios of what our future world could look like.

Protect and protect the environment in everyday life

It turns out that environmental protection is very important. Global action is essential. And politicians also have to initiate a few things here. But you too can protect the environment in your everyday life and household with simple tricks. With this, you can do something good for the environment and your children and do your part to limit environmental problems. At the same time, you can also save money. Also, read our tips for saving money in the household.

1) Buy the right way and protect the environment

What does real shopping mean? Now we can already protect the environment when shopping. Because not all products that we find in the supermarket are good for the environment. Some have been transported long distances or their production caused a lot of greenhouse gases. That’s why we’ve put together an overview of the most important shopping tips. In addition, read our savings tips when shopping.

  • Shop local. Because products from the local area save transport routes and consequently greenhouse gases. You also support regional producers.
  • Buy seasonal groceries. Non-seasonal produce must be flown in from abroad or grown in heated greenhouses. And that causes more CO2 emissions.
  • Eat more vegetables than meat. Since the production of meat and dairy products produces more greenhouse gases, it is advisable to eat mostly vegetarian food.
  • Pay attention to organic quality. Organic products come from organic farming. And this is more compatible with our environment than the other productions.
  • Plan your purchases well. A meal plan can also ensure that you throw away less or that the food goes bad. This saves you money and doesn’t take up unnecessary space.
  • Drink more tap water. Since our tap water is usually of good quality and is available in one way or another, it saves unnecessary transport routes. If you can’t do without carbon dioxide, buy a bubbler at home. Also, read about the advantages of a soda maker.

2) Environmental protection by avoiding plastic

When shopping, you can also make sure that you buy food and products with little packaging waste. Because many products are packaged unnecessarily. You should definitely avoid plastic. As a result, we have collected some tips for you on avoiding plastic in everyday life. Please also note our ideas for making your own shower gel without plastic, making your own deodorant without aluminum, and making your own natural cosmetics.

  • Avoid microplastics in cosmetic products. Buy certified natural cosmetics instead.
  • Use clothes for a long time or buy second-hand.
  • It is best to use your own reusable bottle.
  • Avoid unnecessary single-use plastic products.
  • Go shopping with fabric tote bags.
  • Avoid to-go drinks.
  • Buy fruit and vegetables in bulk.
  • Visit stores without packaging.
  • Separate the garbage at home.

3) Protect the environment while doing housework

There is hardly any other area where you can do so much for the environment as with housework. And this starts with the right cleaning agents. Because many of these chemical compounds are harmful to the environment and can even get into the groundwater. Therefore, you should use sustainable cleaning products based on natural substances in the household and thus protect the environment. Consequently, you can use the following home remedies and tips to clean your apartment:

  • Use of baking soda in the home.
  • The popular baking powder for cleaning.
  • Natural cleaning with the household remedy vinegar.
  • Clean with citric acid.
  • Make your own natural detergent.
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Lifestyle

Look More Attractive with Sexy Clothes & Great Colors

Who doesn’t want an attractive and sexy appearance? Our useful tips for looking more attractive with sexy clothes and great colors will help you.

Sometimes you don’t think you’re so bad, but often enough you’d rather look the other way when you look in the mirror. It is not that difficult to increase your own attractiveness. Sexy clothes and great colors can often work wonders.

Any woman can appear more attractive

Do you usually wear comfortable and practical clothing? Preferably in the most inconspicuous colors possible? Then you should try to change your clothing style a little. Try a tailored blouse or a fashionable, tight-fitting T-shirt instead of a cozy baggy jumper. And leave the comfortable wide pants with the elastic band in the closet and put on a sexy pencil skirt instead.

Then trade in your old sneakers for a pair of pretty high heels and then look in the mirror again. You’ll look a lot more attractive. And if you now think: Sexy is only something for willowy models, then you were wrong. Because even if you don’t have a model figure, you can wear sexy fashion. Emphasize your advantages, such as a nice décolleté or nice round buttocks, and show what you have. This can distract you from the parts you don’t like. Also, read clever fashion tips for chubby women.

The right colors make you more attractive

Do you know the colors that make you look particularly attractive? Just try on different colors in the store. And above all, dare to use the colors that you have always neglected in the past. Do you usually wear gray or dark blue, mud-colored, or other inconspicuous tones? Perhaps a bright red suit you particularly well, or a powdery light blue. Test it out and if you’re unsure, ask a really good friend for color advice. You can also identify colors that flatter your skin tone. In addition, learn more about choosing elegant evening dresses.

Sexy does not equal cheap

Many women confuse sexy clothing with cheap-looking clothing. It’s true, sexy clothes can look cheap too. But dressing sexy doesn’t mean that the beautiful décolleté goes down to the navel, the skirt looks like a wide belt and laced boots are worn up to the thigh. If you want to enhance your appearance with sexy clothing, you wear sexy fashion that is stylish and of good quality at the same time. The tight skirt that ends just below the knee can look much sexier than the mini skirt that is too short.

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Cooking Tips

Boiling Beetroot: This Way You Have More of it

Beetroot also tastes delicious when boiled. We’ll show you how to quickly and easily preserve the fresh vegetables. So you can still enjoy beetroot after the season.

Beetroot can not only be combined in a variety of salads or as a side dish, but is also a real vitamin bomb. Vegetables are in season from September to November

Boil beetroot: You need these ingredients

For 3-4 mason jars you need the following ingredients:
1 kg beetroot
1 small onion
400ml of water
200 ml balsamic vinegar
20 grams of sugar
1 pinch of salt
cloves
peppercorns
10 g fresh horseradish
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger

Boil beetroot: this is how it works

Wash the tubers thoroughly with water and remove the leaves.
Boil the beetroot in a closed saucepan with water and add salt.
Let the beetroot cook for about an hour over medium-high heat.
Take the tubers out of the water and rinse them with cold water.
The skin should now peel off easily. Slice the peeled beets. Warning: beetroot juice can stain heavily. So it is best to wear gloves when you process the tubers.
Peel the onion and
Set the beets aside and bring the water to a boil with the vinegar, salt, sugar and onions in a saucepan.
Peel the horseradish and the
Put the beetroot in screw-top jars that you have rinsed out with hot water beforehand
Add horseradish, ginger, cloves, onion, and pepper to taste.
Fill the glasses with the brew.
Sterilize the jars by placing them in a pot of boiling water for about half an hour. The glasses should be half covered with water and not touching each other.
Take the glasses out of the water and let them cool. Beetroot can be kept for several months in a dark, cool place.

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Lifestyle

Eat Intuitively: How to Become More Mindful When Eating

Do you want to get away from annoying diets and nutritional dictatorships? Then you should eat intuitively and pay attention to the needs of your body. We’ll explain what’s behind it and how you can do it.

Eat intuitively: That’s what it’s all about

Behind food, groceries and nutrition is a powerful lobby that influences politics, science and the media. A flood of information about healthy nutrition, unhealthy foods and fattening foods reach us every day. No wonder your head is spinning. Eating intuitively could be a way out of this vicious cycle.

Eating intuitively – or mindfully – means eating consciously. Away from the decoupling of nutrition and your own instinct, back to full body control in the sense of body awareness: When are you really full? What are you in the mood for right now? what does your body need These are probably the sticking points of the nutritional method of intuitive eating.

Intuitive eating is also traded with mental health and self-awareness. This type of diet promises a feel-good weight without dieting.

This is how you eat intuitively

Stress, commercials, frustration, depression and just the sheer overabundance of food can easily overwhelm your senses. It often doesn’t seem so easy to “simply” listen to your body and your inner voice.

To eat intuitively, you should:
build new positive patterns and discard old habits.
Observe and follow natural hunger and satiety signals.
Questioning habits/self-reflection: Ask yourself what is really good for your body.
Are you hungry or do you want to eat for other reasons (distraction, habit, environment, emotional state)?
Signals: Your stomach should not be tense, but give you a pleasant feeling of fullness.
Tips from science: switch off technical devices, collect your thoughts and focus on the meal, use your senses and taste, smell, feel. Eat slowly.
The basis for intuitive nutrition is body awareness. You can train your mindfulness in a targeted manner.

Possible difficulties and limitations of the diet

Intuitive eating initially requires discipline. In order to follow your inner voice, you must direct your attention from the outside in. Self-confidence plays a major role here – on the one hand as a prerequisite and on the other hand as a consequence of intuitive eating. This is where the limits of intuitive eating come into their own:

What about the people who suffer from eating disorders?
What about those people who suffer from other mental disorders and find it difficult to act intuitively?
How do you escape social constraints that regulate eating habits (e.g. everyday family life, work life, stress) without turning away from society?
Science, books (e.g. “Intuitive Essen” by Uwe Knop) and mental training courses deal with these questions, which want to show how you can break patterns and listen to yourself better in today’s consumer society.

Eating is a highly social and sensitive matter. In the course of individualization, everyone has to know for themselves what they like and want to eat. However, this only works in social classes that are not in precarious and starving conditions. In a way, eating intuitively is a luxury that not everyone has access to.

Intuitive eating as a recognized method?

Science also shows that eating intuitively has its limits. Studies such as “Self-compassion and intuitive eating in college women” show a direct connection between emotional or psychological state and eating habits. The above points are supported by the study. Ultimately, a stable personality and a high level of mindfulness are prerequisites for successful intuitive eating.

Nevertheless, you should not give up trying, but work on noticing your own body condition in order to feel good. At the same time, the study shows that intuitive eating made it easier for the subjects to accept themselves.

Scientifically, however, the intuitive form of nutrition has not yet been sufficiently researched. So don’t get discouraged and try it yourself. You have nothing to lose, right?

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Food

Sustainable Coffee Drinking: Facts and Tips About Beans, Filters and More.

Filter, espresso, cold brew: coffee is cult – but is it also healthy? When are beans fair trade? What can you do while drinking coffee to protect the environment? Here are the most important facts about sustainable coffee enjoyment.

Is drinking coffee healthy?

100 ml of coffee contains an average of 50 mg of caffeine – a natural stimulant that stimulates our circulation and metabolism: the heart beats faster, blood pressure rises and we become more alert and receptive again. Because of this effect, coffee is one of the so-called “legal drugs” – and is very popular among students, office workers and even athletes.

But like any drug, coffee has all sorts of side effects and can even become addictive: as soon as the body gets used to the regular intake of caffeine, drinking coffee becomes less and less effective – and if you stop drinking coffee, withdrawal symptoms can occur. Those who consume too much often suffer from insomnia, headaches or are generally irritable and nervous. The European Food Safety Authority recommends a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day – i.e. no more than 800 ml.

Caution: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be particularly careful about how much coffee they drink – babies are also supplied with caffeine, but are much less able to break down the substance than an adult.

5 tips: How to drink your coffee more sustainably

In addition to the Fairtrade seal, there are numerous other ways to make drinking coffee in the morning a little more environmentally friendly:

Coffee to go: Many drink their coffee on the way to the office – and buy it in paper cups with a plastic lid at the nearest bakery.
Anyone who brings their own coffee from home saves money and can decide for themselves what kind of coffee ends up in the cup. However, if you don’t want to do without the brewed coffee from your regular baker, you can ask where he gets his beans from.
On the go without a thermos mug? Then keep an eye out for Recup: The reusable coffee mugs are already widespread in many big cities – you can take them with you for a deposit of 1 euro and return them to the nearest branch with Recup mugs. There they are washed and sent to the next customer.
Small regional roasting houses with hand-distilled varieties have sprung up in large numbers in recent years – you can also find them in your big city. The advantage: Here you can drink high-quality coffee, in which the roasters have invested a lot of time and love – and you can taste it too. Most of the varieties are even organic and fair trade. Get your beans from a local roastery and support quality over bulk.
Drinking less coffee is doing the environment a big favor. Coffee cultivation is anything but resource-friendly: 140 liters of water are used for one cup. So only drink coffee occasionally – this way you can appreciate the aromatic drink more and feel the effect more intensively again. Coffee withdrawal will also do your body good.

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Food

Carrots and Their Nutritional Values: Vitamins, Calories and More

Thanks to their nutritional values, carrots are considered extremely healthy: they are rich in vitamins and minerals, but low in calories. The yellow beets not only provide your body with beta-carotene, but also with many other nutrients.

Carrots are versatile in the kitchen: They are popular as raw vegetables and salads, cooked as an accompaniment to many dishes and pureed to make delicious soups. They make a cake particularly juicy. Even more varied than the preparation options offered by carrots are their nutritional values. Carrots aren’t just “good for the eyes,” as you probably learned from your parents – they do a lot more for your health.

The nutritional values ​​​​of the carrot include many vitamins

Carrots are particularly rich in vitamins. Above all, they are known to contain larger amounts of the provitamin beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which plays an important role in seeing things like light and dark. Carrots are also a good source of numerous other vitamins. According to the Apotheken-Umschau, 100 grams provide the following nutritional values ​​on average:
Folic Acid – 15 mcg (micrograms)
Beta carotene – 9800 mcg
Vitamin B1 – 0.07 mg
Vitamin B2 – 0.05 mg
Vitamin B6 – 0.27 mg
Vitamin E – 0.5 mg
Vitamin C – 7 mg
Because they contain vitamin C, carrots can help boost the immune system against pathogens. This is confirmed, for example, by a study on the health effects of carrot juice. Vitamin A, on the other hand, not only has a positive effect on vision, but is also good for the skin. The same applies to vitamin E. Carrots are said to ensure a healthy complexion, improve skin impurities and prevent skin aging.

The nutritional values ​​of carrots also include antioxidants

With vitamins C and E, carrot nutritional values ​​also include antioxidants. Studies have shown, for example, that carrot juice increases antioxidant levels and can therefore play a role in preventing cancer. Antioxidants protect against free radicals. These are substances that damage the genetic material in the cells if they occur in too large numbers and can thus possibly lead to cancer. Beta carotene also has an antioxidant effect.

Carrots are healthy

Whether raw, cooked or as juice: carrots not only provide vitamins, but also a wide range of different ingredients. They are therefore particularly healthy. Their nutritional values ​​also cover a high proportion of various minerals. According to Apotheken-Umschau, 100 grams contain on average:
Potassium – 330 mg
Sodium – 60 mg
Calcium – 35 mg
phosphate – 35 mg
Magnesium – 15 mg
Iron – 0.4 mg
Zinc – 0.3 mg
In addition, carrots are a high-fiber vegetable: raw, they contain 3.6 grams of fiber per 100 grams. Fiber is good for digestion and blood pressure, among other things.

Carrots have good nutritional values ​​but are low in calories

Basically, carrots are considered a low-calorie vegetable. However, the exact values ​​differ depending on how you prepare them – sometimes even significantly.

According to the nutritional table, 100 grams of fresh carrots have an average of 25 calories.
Carrot juice is also low in calories: With 100 milliliters you consume an average of 22 calories.
The situation is different with dried carrots. As is often the case with dry products, the calorific value here skyrockets to 194 calories per 100 grams.

Do cooked carrots have different nutritional values ​​than raw?

In the case of canned carrots, on the other hand, the calorific value even drops to 14 calories per 100 grams. In principle, cooked carrots have fewer calories than raw ones. Nevertheless, they do not necessarily make you slimmer: For one thing, we often prepare them with oil or butter, which of course increases the calorie count of the entire meal.

On the other hand, the so-called glycemic index (GI) is higher in cooked carrots than in raw vegetables. The glycemic index measures the effect of carbohydrate-containing foods on the blood sugar level: the more sugar they bring into the blood, the higher the corresponding value. Raw carrots have a GI of just 16, while cooked carrots have a GI of 49. While that’s still considered low, the difference is still noticeable.

However, the validity of the glycemic index is controversial. For example, the nutritionist Stefan Weigt points out that the measured values ​​always refer to 50 grams of carbohydrates. Because carrots basically contain hardly any carbohydrates, you would have to eat a whopping 800 grams of them to actually get a GI of 49. The measurement results are also often inaccurate and can vary greatly from person to person.

Does Fat Boost Carrot’s Healthy Nutritional Values?

It is often said that carrots can only develop their full health benefits together with oil or butter. It is true that beta-carotene is fat-soluble – which means that the body actually absorbs more of it in combination with fats.

However, a recent study has shown that how thoroughly you chop the vegetables has an even greater impact on the nutritional values. In the experiment, sliced ​​raw carrots released only three percent of their total beta-carotene into the body. Pureed carrots, on the other hand, provided 21 percent and cooked puree (e.g. in the form of soup) as much as 27 percent. However, added oil could increase these nutritional values.

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Food

Healthy Plum: Calories, Nutritional Values and More

Plums are low in calories and very healthy. Because the nutritional values ​​​​of fresh plums are quite good and make the fruit a healthy snack for the summer.

Plums: calories and all nutritional values

Plums are one of the most popular summer fruits. The elongated, violet plums are ideal for preserving and for various dishes (see below). The calories and nutritional values ​​differ depending on whether the plums are fresh or dried.

Nutritional values ​​for fresh plums:
Calories: 46 calories
Protein: 0.7g
Fat: 0.28g
Carbohydrates: 11.42g
of which sugar: 9.92g
Fiber: 1.4g

Dried plums: nutritional table

Nutritional values ​​for dried plums:
Calories: 240 calories
Protein: 2.18g
Fat: 0.38g
Carbohydrates: 63.88g
of which sugar: 38.13g
Fiber: 7.1g
Plums have significantly fewer calories than, for example, grapes (68 kcal/100g) and also significantly less sugar (grapes: 15.4g/100g). This makes the plums very healthy.

At around 86 percent, plums have a higher water content than other types of fruit. You should take this into account when using it, for example when baking a plum cake. Here it can make sense to pre-bake the base, because the plums lose liquid and the cake base may not rise.

Effect of plums on health

In recent years, scientists have repeatedly examined plums and analyzed their effects on health.

Animal experiments in 2005 proved that dried plums are effective against osteoporosis. However, it is still unclear which ingredients are responsible for this (study).
In plums – especially in dried plums – there are larger amounts of sorbitol. This is the natural sugar alcohol in fructose, which can lead to digestive problems.
Plums contain the messenger substance serotonin, which is also known as the “happiness hormone”. It lifts the mood and ensures well-being.
Scientists have also detected the hormone ghrelin in plums, which is otherwise only produced by animals. It stimulates the appetite – also in humans (study).
In a fairly small study, scientists found that plum juice increased cognitive performance in rats. This effect did not occur with dried plums.

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Lifestyle

Create More Feel-Good Atmosphere and Relaxation for Your Home

Everyday life is often characterized by stress and hectic. Relaxation at home and rest are usually forgotten. But with little tricks, you can create a more comfortable atmosphere at home and give your soul and body a break.

Tips for creating a feel-good atmosphere

A feel-good atmosphere prevails in a place where you feel comfortable and can relax. It is an environment in which one likes to linger. To make your home such a place, use simple tricks. Because even small changes in your own four walls can create a feel-good atmosphere and bring relaxation into your home. Especially in a strictly organized everyday life, you need a place where you can relax and wind down. Then the energy tanks are recharged and you are ready for a new day. So now is the best time to remodel your living room. We have put together the simplest tricks for you:

1) Evening rituals provide more relaxation

If you are occupied with everyday life, it makes sense to look for evening rituals after work is done. Because these ensure more relaxation at home and a successful end to the day. This includes the so-called Me-Time. This means that you take time for yourself and do something good for yourself. So read a book, spa at home and take a hot bath with bath salts, use a cleansing face mask or eat delicious food. The main aspect is that you can take time for yourself and switch off without any stress.

2) Feel-good atmosphere through warm apartments

It is not always easy to have a comfortably warm apartment, especially during the cold season. Because high heating costs mean that people prefer to leave the heating off or turn it on the back burner. However, cold apartments promote stress and also lead to health-endangering situations. Therefore, you should not save at the wrong end and cleverly reduce heating costs without having to freeze.

3) Pleasant light warms the soul

The lighting design in your apartment is also crucial for a feel-good atmosphere. You should avoid too bright and glaring light. Instead, provide warm and cozy light sources, for example candles or fairy lights. Indirect light can also be cozy and provide more relaxation at home.

4) Make room fragrances yourself

A smelly apartment does not invite you to relax. Therefore, you should neutralize bad smells quickly. In contrast, beautiful scents have a relaxing effect on our souls. So you can create a pleasant oasis of well-being in your home with a soothing lavender scent or a mild vanilla scent. There are a variety of great fragrances on the market and you can also make your own room fragrance yourself. It’s cheap and sustainable.

5) Create a place with personality

You should enjoy being in your home. So it can help if you give your home a little bit of your own personality. Accordingly, you could decorate your wall with your own photos or pictures you have painted yourself. You can just as well spice up old furniture and give it your personal touch. In this way, you bring your very own feel-good atmosphere into your apartment.

6) Indoor plants provide coziness

You don’t necessarily have to have a green thumb to bring some green into your home. Because there are now many artificial plants that look very real and good. But real houseplants also bring coziness into your home. You can let your creativity run free and distribute the plants throughout the apartment. Placed on the floor or in the corner, hung or on a shelf, they look good anywhere. But remember that different plants require different care, you should consider this when watering the plants.

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Rice Germ Oil: Application and Effect in The Kitchen, Cosmetics and More

Rice germ oil is still relatively unknown in this country. The sustainably produced oil can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen and cosmetics.

How is rice germ oil obtained?

Rice germ oil is obtained from rice bran. Rice bran is the seed coat, embryo and pericarp of the rice grain. The rice bran is the part of the rice grain that is husked away in the production of white rice. By processing the rice bran into rice germ oil, the actual waste product can still be recycled.

Depending on the rice variety, rice bran contains between 16 and 32 percent oil, which can be either pressed or solvent extracted. It is important for the production of high-quality rice bran oil that the oil manufacturer processes the rice bran as quickly as possible after it has been husked.

Rice bran naturally contains fat-splitting enzymes, lipases. Lipases release individual fatty acids that give the oil a rancid taste. To prevent this, the rice bran is briefly heated to 130 degrees Celsius to deactivate the fat-splitting enzymes. Not only do enzymes decompose at this temperature, vitamins are also lost.

What are the ingredients of rice germ oil?

Native rice germ oil is rarely found commercially because it has a very distinctive smell. Refined rice germ oil, on the other hand, is almost odorless with a slightly yellowish hue. In the course of refining, the oil manufacturer removes the unwanted free fatty acids from the rice germ oil.

But ingredients that are said to have a positive health effect are also lost in the process. For example, refined rice germ oil has less than five percent of its original gamma-oryzanol content. As an antioxidant, gamma-oryzanol protects the body from free radicals and is used to improve blood lipid levels due to its cholesterol-lowering effect. The proportion of vitamin E also decreases in the course of oil refining.

The composition of rice germ oil is similar to that of argan oil. The dominant fatty acids are oleic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid. All of these fatty acids are saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Rice germ oil has only a small proportion of oxidation-prone polyunsaturated fatty acids, so it can be kept for up to twelve months.

Where is rice germ oil used?

The cosmetics industry often uses rice germ oil in sunscreens and skin protection creams. For this purpose, the refined rice germ oil is again enriched with the y-oryzanols lost during refining. These protect the skin from the sun by absorbing UVA and UVB rays. The likewise high proportion of phytosterols ensures that rice germ oil is also effective against skin irritation and itching. Rice germ oil can also be used to make soft soaps with a creamy foam.

You can also use rice germ oil in the kitchen as frying oil. Because it’s refined, it can be heated to high temperatures, so you can use it to sear and deep-fry food. Rice germ oil is relatively tasteless and is therefore particularly suitable for the production of mayonnaise.

From a sustainability point of view, rice germ oil is recommended because it is a recycled waste product. In order to avoid long transport routes, you should make sure that the rice used was grown in Europe and processed into oil there. Despite everything, domestic oils such as rapeseed oil remain better than rice germ oil.

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Corn Starch: Uses, Specifics, Substitutes, and More

You may be familiar with cornstarch as the main ingredient in custard powder. But the tasteless white powder can do much more than just thicken the pudding. You can find out more here.

What is cornstarch?

Cornstarch is a white powder that is also commonly sold under the name cornstarch. As the name suggests, corn starch can be obtained from corn cobs. To do this, the corn is first placed in a saline solution for several days. It is then finely ground and the cornmeal is passed through a silk fabric. This allows the bran and other flour components to be filtered out. Starch is not soluble in water, so over time it settles to the bottom of the remaining starch-water mixture. The excess water is then drained off and the starch dried.

Cornstarch is just one of many forms of starch. Starch powder can be obtained from all plants with a high proportion of starch. In addition to corn starch, potato, wheat and rice starch are widely used. All are tasteless white powders that are similar to use.

The only difference between the different forms of starch is their composition. Starch is a mixture of two carbohydrates, amylopectin and amylose. Corn starch is characterized by a comparatively high amylose content of 27 percent. Amylose is less able to bind and hold water than amylopectin. Because of this, pastries made with cornstarch tend to stale faster than those made with tapioca or potato starch.

How to use cornstarch in the kitchen

You can use cornstarch in a variety of ways in the kitchen. Puddings and creams can be made with cornstarch, since starch forms a firm gel after cooling. Supermarket custard powders typically consist of cornstarch mixed with sugar, salt, and flavorings. You can also easily make your own pudding at home by thickening gently simmering milk with cornstarch and seasoning to your liking. In the refrigerator, the thick sauce then thickens into a firm pudding.

But cornstarch is not only suitable for desserts: You can also use it to thicken sauces. To do this, mix the corn starch with a little water and then stir the starch water into the gently simmering sauce. Always make sure to add the starch gradually. If you stir in too much cornstarch, your sauce will take on a pasty and gummy consistency.

Cornstarch keeps dumplings in shape and protects them from drying out

Corn starch is also suitable as a binding agent for dumplings and meatballs. The starch binds water and holds the dumpling mass together. The starch molecules in the cooking water or frying fat then gelatinize and form a protective layer through which water can only escape with difficulty. This keeps the dumplings and meatballs juicy and fluffy.

In Asian cuisine, sliced ​​meat is marinated with starch in almost every dish. Sliced ​​​​meat is usually gently pre-cooked or fried in hot oil before frying. As a result, the starch on the surface of the meat becomes gelatinous and the meat remains juicy when it is subsequently fried with the remaining ingredients. Tofu can also be turned in starch before frying so that it becomes particularly crispy.

You can easily replace cornstarch with any other cornstarch. If you are looking for a different binding agent, you can find out in our article on cornstarch substitutes which alternatives are available and how you can use them. The alternatives presented there include psyllium husk, locust bean gum, agar agar and guar gum.

Waste paper can be recycled with the help of cornstarch

Corn starch is also an important raw material for the production of paper and cardboard. Paper contains about 0.15 percent starch. Starch is used as a filler in paper production: it must always be added when working with waste paper. As more and more waste paper is processed, the demand for corn starch continues to rise.

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