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Brussels Sprouts are Healthy: That’s Why You Should Eat the Regional Winter Vegetable More Often

What makes Brussels sprouts so healthy is not only plenty of vitamin C. When bought regionally, the winter vegetable is also a sustainable food.

Brussels sprouts belong to the cruciferous family and have been cultivated in Europe for around 200 years. At that time, farmers in Belgium began to grow the cabbage variety – which is why the florets are also called “Brussels cabbage”.

Brussels sprouts are a particularly digestible variety of cabbage that usually does not cause bloating or abdominal pain. Its strong aromatic flavor becomes milder after the first frost: then the sugar content increases and the cabbage tastes sweeter and less bitter. But whether strong or mild – Brussels sprouts are always healthy.

Brussels sprouts: Healthy thanks to vitamins and minerals

Numerous important vitamins and minerals make Brussels sprouts healthy (data from the USDA per 100g):

Vitamin C (85 mg) strengthens the body’s defences. 100 grams of Brussels sprouts contain about 85 milligrams of vitamin C.
Vitamin B-6 (0.2 mg) strengthens the immune system, among other things.
Vitamin A (38 micrograms) primarily supports bone formation, the skin and visual performance.
Vitamin K (177 micrograms) regulates cell growth and is important for blood clotting. Attention: Vitamin K inhibits the effect of vitamin K antagonists, which are contained in some medicines. If you are taking such medications, you should not consume too much vitamin K.
Potassium (389 mg) controls the transmission of stimuli in our muscles.
Calcium (42 mg) strengthens our bones and teeth.
Iron (1.4 mg) primarily transports oxygen in the blood.
According to research by the NDR, the vitamin C content in frozen Brussels sprouts is higher than in fresh ones. It depends on what “fresh” means. If you harvest Brussels sprouts in your garden and process them directly, the vitamin C content will be higher than fresh Brussels sprouts that have been stored in the cold store for some time and have been transported.

Brussels sprouts as part of a healthy diet

Not only the high amount of vitamins and minerals make Brussels sprouts healthy. It also contains other substances that promote our health:

Bitter substances stimulate digestion and soothe the gastric mucosa. They can even relieve mild abdominal pain.
Together with iron and vitamin B, folic acid (folate) promotes healthy blood formation.
Studies indicate that Brussels sprouts may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

With just under four grams of protein and fiber per 100 grams, Brussels sprouts not only provide important energy, but also fill you up in the long term and get your digestion going.

So it pays to include Brussels sprouts in your diet. Especially in winter it is an important supplier of health-promoting substances: it is one of the few regional vegetables that are still growing.

Brussels sprouts: Healthy and sustainable winter vegetables

Healthy Brussels sprouts are in season from November to January. It is a good alternative to vegetables that have to be imported from warmer regions in winter. However, only around 15 percent of the Brussels sprouts in the supermarket come from Germany. The rest comes mainly from the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain and France. Regional Brussels sprouts have a low carbon footprint, making them a sustainable food.

Tip: When shopping, pay attention to where the Brussels sprouts come from. At weekly markets or in organic supermarkets you can often find fresh Brussels sprouts on a stick from local farmers and you can shop regionally.

Cook Brussels sprouts properly

Its valuable ingredients make Brussels sprouts so healthy. To preserve them, you should prepare Brussels sprouts as fresh as possible. When buying, make sure that the florets are firm and light green. At room temperature, the florets wilt quickly. They will keep in the fridge for several days if you wrap them in a damp cloth.

Before processing Brussels sprouts, first remove yellow or loose leaves. Then you should clean the Brussels sprouts, remove the stalks and cut them in a cross shape. This way they cook evenly. Then you can prepare the florets:

Blanch Brussels sprouts: Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and add the Brussels sprouts. Leave it in the boiling water for about three minutes. Then drain it and let it cool in ice water for another three minutes. You can freeze blanched Brussels sprouts.
Boil and prepare Brussels sprouts: Place the florets in a saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Then turn down the heat and put a lid on the pot. After five to seven minutes the cabbage will be al dente.
You can process the cooked florets as you wish – let yourself be inspired by our healthy Brussels sprouts recipes, for example.

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Austria

Gulasch: A hearty beef stew with onions, paprika, and various spices, often served with bread or dumplings.

Introduction: What is Gulasch?

Gulasch is a traditional Hungarian dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is a hearty beef stew that is loaded with onions, paprika, and various spices, which give it a unique and irresistible flavor. The dish is typically served with bread or dumplings and is a perfect meal for colder days.

Gulasch has a rich history that dates back to the 9th century when Hungarian shepherds started making the dish to keep themselves warm during the harsh winters. Over time, the dish became so popular that it spread throughout Europe, and today it is a staple in many households across the continent.

Ingredients and Preparation of Gulasch

Gulasch is a simple dish that can be made with just a few ingredients. The key ingredients include beef, onions, paprika, and various spices. To prepare the dish, the beef is first seared in a pot until it is browned on all sides. The onions are then added and cooked until they are translucent. The paprika and spices are added next, along with enough water or beef broth to cover the meat. The dish is then simmered for several hours until the beef is tender and the flavors have melded together.

There are many variations of gulasch, and some recipes call for additional ingredients such as potatoes, carrots, or tomatoes. Some recipes also call for the addition of sour cream or vinegar to give the dish a tangy flavor. Regardless of the recipe, gulasch is a dish that is sure to warm you up on a cold day.

Serving and Variations of Gulasch

Gulasch is traditionally served with bread or dumplings, which are perfect for soaking up the flavorful broth. However, some people also like to serve the dish with rice or noodles. Gulasch is a versatile dish that can be served for lunch or dinner and is perfect for feeding a crowd.

There are many variations of gulasch, and each one has its own unique flavor profile. Some recipes are spicier than others, while some are milder. Some recipes call for the addition of beer or wine, which can give the dish a rich and complex flavor. Regardless of the recipe, gulasch is a dish that is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

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Lifestyle

How Often Should I Wash My Towel? Proper Bathroom Hygiene is so Important

The towel in the bathroom stays fresh and clean for a long time? – Not even close. Disgusting secretions, bacteria, fungi and more collect in it after a short time. Here’s how often you should wash your towel.

How often change the towel? That depends on the purpose

Already after the first use there is a lot going on on your towel: bacteria, fungi, dandruff, salivary secretion, anal secretion, urine secretion. There are also many other germs from the bathroom that can get onto the cloth. Last but not least, a small splash from the toilet. If you’re wondering when to wash your towel, you need to differentiate between what kind of towels you’re talking about—bath towels, hand drying towels, and so on. The consumer advice center advises washing towels at 60 degrees in general – then more germs are removed than with a 40-degree wash cycle.

How often you should wash the different towels:
Bath Towel: On average, it’s a good idea to change your bath towel after you’ve used it 3-5 times. Let it dry well every time after you use it.
Hand towels: You should also change these towels every few days. Especially if you use the towel several times a day or even with other people. If you are away from home a lot, you can also extend this period.
Washcloths: Washcloths are often used intensively, for example to cleanse the face or to remove make-up. Therefore, you should change them daily or simply after each use.
Sports towel: The same rules apply here as for the shower towel. If you forget a damp sports towel in a sports bag, you should change it afterwards.

“A damp towel starts to live at some point”: Drying is important

The microbiologist Philip Tierno from the New York “School of Medicine” advised in the “Welt”: “After each use, the bath towel should dry completely.” According to the expert, the microorganisms that form in damp towels can otherwise quickly end up on our skin.

There is no need to fear damage to health, but it is still not good for the skin to use a damp towel: “A damp towel starts to live at some point,” explains Tierno. The result: pimples and other impurities can appear.

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Food

Isomalt: Why Sugar-free Candies are Often Not Calorie-free

What is Isomalt? Where is the sugar substitute found and why is it considered “sugar-free” even though it has calories?

When it comes to sweets, many people turn to a sugar-free alternative – it’s better for the teeth and supposedly calorie-free. Unfortunately, this is often not true: Isomalt, for example, is a common sugar substitute in sugar-free foods – and it is actually sugar-free, but by no means low in calories.

What is Isomalt?

Isomalt is a sugar substitute (more precisely: a sugar substitute) and has the E number E953. In nature, the sugar alternative occurs, for example, in sugar beets. Isomalt is odorless, white and crystalline. The sugar substitute is also available in liquid form.

Isomalt for the food industry is produced from normal beet sugar in two processing steps:

In the first step, isomaltulose is extracted from the beet sugar with the help of enzymes.
In the next step, isomalt is obtained by hydrolysis – the splitting of chemical compounds by water.

What foods contain isomalt?

Isomalt is used in the production of many sugar-free and low-sugar foods: candies, baked goods, mustard, sauces, jams and desserts. Since isomalt only slightly affects blood sugar and insulin levels, it is particularly suitable for diabetics and is contained in many diabetic foods. It is used in corn flakes for its technical properties to improve the crunch.

In addition, isomalt is used in pharmacy and in animal feed production. And in technical applications, Isomalt is used as a stabilizer (e.g. in the production of PVC), plasticizer, adhesive or binder.

Identification: How do I recognize isomalt?

The Food Information Regulation of 2014 regulates the labeling of isomalt: sweeteners and sugar alcohols – to which isomalt belongs – are summarized under the term “sweeteners”.

Foodstuffs containing sweeteners must be labeled “with sweetener(s)”. In addition, the sweetener must also be included in the list of ingredients. For isomalt, for example, this could look like this: “sweetener isomalt” or “sweetener E 953”.

Why is isomalt “sugar-free” and still has calories?

Isomalt has almost the same sweetening power as normal sugar and can be processed in a similar way. However, anyone who assumes that “sugar-free” foods – which contain isomalt – are also calorie-free is wrong. Although isomalt has only half as many calories as sugar, it is still two calories per gram. So if you’re watching your calorie intake, don’t be misled by the “sugar-free” description.

However, isomalt has a lower glycemic index (GI) than regular sugar. The GI indicates how a carbohydrate-containing food affects blood sugar levels. A score below 50 is considered low. An index of two to a maximum of nine was found for isomalt in various studies. This means that, in contrast to normal household sugar (GI = 68), isomalt is more suitable for diabetics and people who want to lose weight.

Isomalt: tooth-friendly sugar substitute

Compared to normal sugar, isomalt is also significantly better for the teeth: It forms very little acid because it is not metabolized by the microorganisms in the mouth due to its stability. Isomalt has only a very low potential to trigger caries and is considered to be tooth-friendly.

Alternatives to isomalt

Isomalt has clear advantages: it is tooth-friendly, has a low glycemic index and only half the calories of regular beet sugar. However, don’t let the term “sugar-free” fool you: Many sugar-free foods are not also calorie-free. And the sugar substitute has another disadvantage: in large quantities, isomalt can have a laxative effect.

A calorie-free sugar alternative is erythritol. It is made by fermenting grape sugar. Like isomalt, it has only a minor effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. However, this sugar alternative is truly zero-calorie.

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