Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

naked

Browsing
Food

Naked Oats: This Type of Grain is so Healthy

Naked oats are closely related to the conventional oat grain, but are considered even healthier. Here you can find out what characterizes this type of grain and how you use it.

Naked oats and regular oats: That’s the difference

Naked oats belong to the genus of oats. This is a special breeding of the type of grain in which the grain is only loosely surrounded by a very fine husk. Unlike conventional oats, the indigestible grain husk falls off completely during threshing. Hulled grain varieties such as oats or spelt, on the other hand, have to be dehusked before further processing, which can easily damage the grain. Naked oat grains (and thus the seedling) remain intact after threshing, which is why they are particularly good for germinating. Naked oats are therefore also known as sprout grains.

Despite its special properties, naked oats are rarely cultivated because the grain is more susceptible to diseases and the yields are significantly lower compared to other varieties. Cultivation areas are mainly in Central Europe, where naked oats also grow wild, as in Portugal and Greece.

Superfood Naked Oats: The Nutritional Values

Naked oats basically contain the same nutrients as classic oats, but there are larger amounts of some valuable ingredients in the grain. A study published in 2016 by the Latvian Grain Research Institute found that naked oats contain more protein, unsaturated fatty acids, fiber and beta-glucans than regular oats. According to the study, the content of vitamin E is also higher in naked oats. The carbohydrate content, on the other hand, is lower than that of classic oatmeal.

Beta-glucans have numerous health-promoting properties. According to the Society for Nutritional Therapy and Prevention e.V., they regulate blood sugar levels and keep you full for longer. In addition, according to Harvard Public Health School T.H. Chan helps to build up the intestinal flora and prevent indigestion. Dietary fibers are important for a functioning gastrointestinal system and, according to the DGE, probably prevent certain lifestyle diseases. They also keep cholesterol levels low.

At around seven grams per 100 grams, the fat content of naked oats is also slightly higher than that of normal oats and is significantly higher in comparison to other types of grain. Unsaturated fatty acids are very healthy and are needed by the body.

Davert gives the following nutritional values ​​for 100 grams of organic oatmeal:

Calories: 332 kcal
Carbohydrates 55.7g
Protein: 10.7g
Fat: 7.1g
Fiber: 9.7 g
Tip: It is best to always buy organic oatmeal, as this protects you from chemical-synthetic pesticides and supports ecological agriculture.

How is naked oat used?

Naked oats are used in a similar way to regular oats. It is most commonly found in the form of oatmeal, which can be eaten raw or cooked. Alternatively, you can also buy the grain whole and process it further, for example to make fresh grain porridge. You can also serve the whole grains cooked as a healthy side dish: let the grains soak in twice the amount of water for a few hours and then cook the oats in the soaking water until they are done. That takes about three quarters of an hour. Like classic oats, naked oats are also gluten-free, but can be contaminated with gluten during harvesting or processing – look out for the word “gluten-free” if you have celiac disease. The grain is therefore only suitable for baking to a limited extent, as the binding gluten protein is missing.

You can also enjoy naked oats in the form of sprouts. The sprouted grains taste good, for example, as a topping for muesli and yoghurt or in salads. If you want to grow oat sprouts yourself, you should definitely use naked oats, as the grain remains intact after harvest and is still viable. Sprouted oat grains contain more vitamins and minerals and are even healthier than rolled oats, according to Harvard Medical School. One of the reasons for this is that they contain little phytic acid. Phytic acid binds the minerals and prevents the body from absorbing them.

Grow your own oat sprouts: this is how you do it

First, you’ll need a sprouting jar (a jar with a strainer lid that allows air to get in and the water to drain off easily). You can find tips on how to make a sprouting jar yourself in our guide.
Add about 2 tablespoons of whole oats to the jar. Also check that the grains of naked oats are undamaged, otherwise they will not germinate. Half a cup of grains yields about a cup of sprouts.
Fill the glass with cold water, swirl and pour off the water.
After the grains are rinsed, add about three times the amount of cold water (in relation to the grains). Let the naked oats soak in a warm place for about 5 hours. A temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius is ideal.
After the soaking time, discard the water and rinse the sprouts again with fresh water.
Place the sprouting jar upside down in the drainer and leave it in a bright place for about two days. You should avoid direct sunlight. Rinse the kernels with fresh water at least twice a day during the germination period.
The sprouts are ready to eat after around two to three days. Rinse again with cold water beforehand. The sprouts will keep in the fridge for about two days.

Keep Reading
By
health

Expert Advises Women: It’s Better to Sleep Naked Now – That’s Behind it

Forget pajamas and underwear – sleeping naked is far healthier, preventing disease and even mobilizing fatty tissue. An expert recommends women in particular to sleep better naked.

Expert advises: women should better sleep naked – for this reason

Since the tight-fitting underwear restricts the ventilation of the intimate area, women in particular should sleep without panties at night. In addition to hormonal changes, very frequent washing or inadequate toilet hygiene, tight underwear, which is worn primarily at night, can trigger symptoms of illness in the vaginal area.

According to the Dutch gynecologist Alyssa Dweck, women in particular, who are more likely to have infections in the genital area, are recommended not to wear underwear at night. The fresh air makes it harder for fungi to multiply and thus prevents infections.

However, if you sleep naked, you have to change the bed linen more often. Bacteria are transmitted significantly more from bare skin than from pajama fabrics and underwear. That is why it is recommended to change the bed linen once a week so that the bacteria do not multiply so quickly.

Heat can cause diseases such as fungal infections

Yeast fungi are known to multiply with heat and moisture. The female intimate area can thus provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to spread. Especially if you wear tight trousers and underwear not only during the day but also at night, the intimate area gets almost no air.

Three out of four women will have a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives. In some cases, the disease keeps coming back. 90 percent of a fungal infection of the vulva and vagina is caused by the yeast Candida albicans, in rarer cases it is other types of Candida. These symptoms of an infection in the genital area can be mild to severe:
Mild to severe itching inside and outside the vagina
Burn
Redness and swelling of the vagina and labia
The feeling of being sore
Yellowish white discharge
Small injuries in the intimate area
pain during sexual intercourse
Burning when urinating, as the urethra can also be affected

Don’t want to sleep naked? You should note that

Many people feel uncomfortable sleeping naked or freeze easily. Under these circumstances, the gynecologist recommends loose sleeping clothes such as loose nightgowns or cotton pants that are particularly airy. Nevertheless, the more naked the better. However, if you freeze at night, you should not wear thick socks, but rather grab a hot water bottle*. It cools down over time and can be kicked out of bed more easily if it gets too warm.

More tips:
Loose boxer shorts instead of briefs, it is better to wear loose boxer shorts
Loose instead of tight clothes
Don’t wear underwear underneath your pajama bottoms
Swap underwear for a thicker blanket
Avoid sleepwear made of polyester or other synthetic fabrics
Prefer cotton or silk sleepwear
Conclusion: Sleeping naked can be very pleasant, especially in warm months. If you’re cold, you can always get a second blanket. Definitely worth skipping pajamas for. Not only will this benefit your health, it may also lead to more fun in the bedroom!

Keep Reading
By
Food

“Naked Eating”: Unpackaged Fruit and Vegetables as a New Trend

“Food in the nude”: With this new trend, a supermarket chain in New Zealand offers all its fruit and vegetables without plastic packaging. The reactions are amazing.

New World leads by example

Plastic bags have been gone from most supermarkets in New Zealand for some time. The government also approved an exit for all retailers from July 1, 2019. The supermarket chain “New World”, the New Zealand counterpart to EDEKA, even goes one step further.

Under the title “Food in the nude” (in English: “Naked food”), New World has declared war on unnecessary plastic packaging: In the branches, almost all fruit and vegetables are offered unpackaged. This project is another step toward Zero Waste.

Food in the nude is also financially worthwhile

Nigel Bond, the owner of the New World store in Bishopdale, Christchurch, was initially unsure whether the move away from plastic could have a negative impact on sales. But on the contrary: the project inspires customers and sales have even increased. “After we introduced the concept, we found that spring onion sales had increased by 300 percent. We saw a similar increase in silver beets and radishes,” reports Nigel Bond.

Eight of the nine supermarket branches located on New Zealand’s South Island have also implemented the project.

New World is also testing other alternatives

Some New World stores offer the option to bring your own cans to reduce plastic waste. Butchery products and seafood can thus be packed and transported in their own cans. However, this option is currently only available for these foods, because the preparation and cooking of these products enable hygiene standards and food safety to be maintained. With other foods, however, you have to look at this more critically. According to Brendon Jones, the owner and operator of a New World branch in Howick, this action is progressing slowly.

In addition, other alternatives to conventional packaging are being tested. Plastic bags are being replaced by paper bags and fiber-based food containers are being made. In this way, products can be sold without plastic.

New World proves that there are good alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. At the same time, they show that a rethink is not only important for consumers, but also for suppliers and supermarket operators in order to really change something.

Keep Reading
By