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For reasons of preventive consumer protection, the vegan supermarket Veganz is recalling its product “hemp protein powder”. During controls, an increased cannabinoid content was found, which is why the items in this batch are not suitable for feeding small children.

Product recall

The article “Hemp protein powder” 200 grams with the following markings is affected by the product recall:

  • Batch: 6012 and
  • Best before date: 02.2017

Customers are asked to return goods that have already been purchased in retail stores. According to the press release from “Veganz”, the purchase price will also be reimbursed without presenting the receipt.

Increased cannabinoid content

Elevated levels of cannabinoids were found in the recalled products. The consumption of the affected hemp protein powder is therefore not suitable for small children aged two to three years and a body weight of 15 kilograms.

Carob has long been established in organic supermarkets. Carob what? The powder from the dried fruits of the carob tree contains numerous nutrients – and offers a delicious alternative to chocolate. Exactly the reason to take a closer look. Together with ChocoSan, we will introduce you to the advantages of the superfood and give you delicious tips on how to prepare it.

Origin and production of carob

Carob is the roasted and finely ground pulp of the carob fruit. They grow on the carob tree, whose best-known product in this country is probably the carob bean gum. In order to obtain carob, the ripe fruits are cleaned, broken up, and crushed. After the stalks and seeds are removed, the pulp is either dried, roasted for longer shelf life, and then ground or processed directly into syrup.

The nutritional content of carob

Carob contains hardly any sodium and fat, but a high proportion of high-quality dietary fiber. Together with the natural sugar they contain, they provide a lot of energy with a relatively small amount of calories (255 kcal per 100 g). In addition, there are vitamins A, B, and E, trace elements such as iron and manganese, natural minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as secondary plant substances such as flavonoids with antioxidant properties. Unlike cocoa, carob is also free of stimulating substances such as theobromine and caffeine.

And last but not least, carob can also have a positive effect on digestion and support the natural function of the gastrointestinal tract thanks to its high proportion of fiber and starch. In addition, carob is said to have a basic effect.

The uses of carob

In principle, carob can be used wherever cocoa powder is usually used as an ingredient. With its sweetish, caramel-like taste, carob resembles the taste of cocoa but is less bitter than it. Carob offers interesting taste variations in cakes, creamy desserts such as pudding, or in spreads. To get used to the transition from chocolate to carob, it is initially advisable to replace only part of the cocoa used with carob and then gradually increase this proportion. Since carob already contains sugar, you can also use less sweetener. This is how you save additional calories!

Curry powder is very popular around the world and can be used in many ways – from Asian wok dishes to currywurst. We tell you what you need to know about the yellow powder.

Curry powder: ingredients and their effects

Curry powder is a mixture of up to 20 different spices. Depending on the composition, the powder varies in taste from sweet and mild to fiery and hot.

Some ingredients can be found in almost every curry powder. These ensure the unmistakable taste and can also offer a variety of health benefits:
Turmeric gives the powder its characteristic color. The tuber regulates digestion and also has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects.
Coriander has an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and blood circulation-enhancing effect and prevents digestive problems such as flatulence and a feeling of fullness.
Cumin strengthens the immune system and supports digestion.
Cardamom contains essential oils that have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract and prevent flatulence.
Black pepper boosts fat burning. The contained piperine also has an antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effect.
Ginger also has an antibacterial effect and inhibits the multiplication of viruses. It can also contribute to a healthy intestinal flora and stimulates digestion.
Fenugreek naturally lowers blood sugar.
Chilli stimulates blood circulation and thus promotes digestion.
Mustard seeds support the activity of the excretory organs
Cloves help with a number of digestive problems, such as gastritis or constipation.
So you see: Many of the ingredients in the curry powder support digestion and also have an antibacterial effect. So it’s worth using the spices more often in the kitchen, not just for the taste.

The origin of curry powder

Contrary to what is often mistakenly assumed, curry powder does not come from India. The name derives from the Tamil word “kari”, which means sauce. However, the powder itself was invented by the English during the colonial period. The spice mixture should make it easier to give dishes the typical Indian taste.

In India itself, curry powder is unknown. In Indian cuisine, the spices are mainly used freshly ground. In addition, spice mixtures such as garam masala are used.

Curry herb has similarities in taste, but otherwise has nothing to do with the spice mixture that we are familiar with.

What you should consider when buying curry powder

Because of the different effects of the individual components, the following applies in principle to curry powder: the more colorful the spice mixture, the better.

However, especially in cheap versions from the supermarket, in addition to pesticide residues, there are often fillers such as:
Strength
sugar
Salt
dextrose
When buying, you should therefore pay attention to the composition of the curry powder and choose a mixture that does not contain these fillers and other additives such as preservatives. In general, we always advise you to use organic quality spices.

Storage: Once opened, curry powder loses its flavor quite quickly. We therefore recommend that you do not buy large quantities and that you store the spice in an airtight container, protected from light.

Alternatively, you can also make your own curry mixture yourself. Similar to curry paste, you simply grind the individual spices with a mortar just before you use them. This makes the mixture taste more intense and you can put it together to suit your taste.

Maca is considered the herbal secret weapon from the Andes of Peru. Since the time of the Incas, a type of cress has been growing in the high mountains, which forms a round root tuber. And this is exactly what is supposed to work wonders.

The tuber is said to be extremely nutritious, full of vitamins and minerals, rich in proteins and, when dried, have a very long shelf life. For that alone, maca root could have earned the title of superfood. But it is said to be able to do even more: the resilience of the cress species is transferred to the eater, so to speak. Maca powder has a revitalizing effect, strengthens the immune system, helps against depression and chronic fatigue. In addition, the miracle tuber is said to be the “Viagra of nature”, a herbal aphrodisiac that increases potency and fertility in men and libido in women. So much for the advertising promises made by the manufacturers of Maca powder, capsules and other products.

But is all of this really true? And what about the life cycle assessment of Andean cress? Utopia has followed in the footsteps of the ancient Incas and their “miracle roots”.

origin and botany

The Maca plant (Lepidium meyenii) is a cress species from the cruciferous family (Brassicaceae). It also grows at altitudes of over 4000 meters in inhospitable conditions. The plant is very undemanding in terms of soil, fertilization and irrigation. The annual herbaceous plant forms pinnate leaves about 20 cm long and a white to red, sometimes black, tuber. The leaves taste like the local garden cress and are often eaten in salads.

In Europe, however, maca powder from the ground root is almost exclusively available. The root is reminiscent of radish and tastes similar when fresh. However, the mustard oils are lost through drying or cooking, and the root then tastes nutty-sweet. The Maca plant is found wild in the Andes but has been cultivated as a crop for over 2000 years. With the Incas and in modern-day Peru, it is a staple food, just like potatoes are with us. Nevertheless, Maca is also used in the regions of origin as a medicinal plant and to increase fertility.

Recipes and Other Uses of Maca Root

Maca is a normal crop in Peru, and even a main part of the diet in the high mountains of the Andes. No wonder, hardly anything else grows at 4000 meters. The root tuber is harvested, washed and dried for a longer shelf life. Peruvians have been cooking the fresh or dried tubers with salt water for centuries, either in soups or vegetables. Or they grind the dry roots into maca powder. This powder tastes sweet and is therefore consumed as a sweet porridge, as a kind of pudding, as a hot drink or fermented as maca beer.

The healing effect and increase in fertility through Maca is only a pleasant, albeit intended, side effect of this diet. Unfortunately, there are very few recipes for cooking at home in this country – but simply let yourself be inspired by the Peruvians and mix the powder in hot milk or use it instead of conventional flour for baking.

Incidentally, the maca roots in the Andes are also fed to livestock, which benefit from the nutrient-rich tubers. In Europe, Maca is mainly known as a powder or in capsules. The root is considered here less as a food than as an aphrodisiac and herbal sexual enhancer.

Wheatgrass powder is a popular dietary supplement. Here you can find out what effect the so-called superfood has and how you use it.

Wheatgrass and its components

The grasses of the wheat plant are referred to as wheatgrass before they develop their typical spikes. Wheatgrass is therefore gluten-free. According to the Apotheken-Umschau, it also contains important vitamins (per 100 grams):
Vitamin C: 97 milligrams
Vitamin E: 9 milligrams
Vitamin B1: 0.4 milligrams
Vitamin B2: 1.3 milligrams
Vitamin B6: 0.9 milligrams
Wheatgrass also contains iron and the secondary plant substances lutein and chlorophyll.

How does wheatgrass powder work?

You can easily take wheatgrass in powder form. You can get ready-made wheatgrass powder in drugstores, for example. Alternatively, you can make your own by growing wheatgrass in a germination box, drying it, and then pounding it into powder with a mortar and pestle.

Studies, which have not been carried out on humans, attribute the following health-promoting effects to the superfood:
It has an anti-inflammatory effect.
The high proportion of antioxidants is said to have a preventive effect against cancer.
It can normalize cholesterol levels.
The Apotheken-Umschau also reports that the lutein contained in wheatgrass may protect the eyes. The chlorophyll, on the other hand, can support the transport of oxygen in the blood and thus contribute to the formation of new blood cells.

However, the body cannot utilize a large part of the chlorophyll in wheatgrass and excretes the substance unused. It is therefore questionable whether the health benefits of chlorophyll also apply to humans.

How to use wheatgrass powder

You can mix wheatgrass powder with water to get wheatgrass juice. However, if the taste of pure wheatgrass is too intense for you, you can also add the powder to a smoothie, yoghurt or muesli. You should not heat wheatgrass powder, as this can destroy the valuable vitamins.

Rosehip powder is obtained from the fruits of the rose and used as a local dietary supplement. You can find out more about the application, effect and possible side effects in this article.

Rose hips are the fruit of one of the most well-known plants – the rose. Many do not know that the red fruits not only look pretty, but also taste good. You can drink rose hips as a tea or process them into rose hip jam.

What is less known is that rose hips can also be processed into powder. Here we explain what rosehip powder is and how you can use it.

Note: In general, you should eat a balanced and varied diet. Then you can get all the nutrients you need without supplements. If you suspect you are lacking nutrients in your diet, seek medical advice.

Rosehip powder as a nutrient supplier

All the nutritional power of the rose is concentrated in rosehip powder. This is considered to be very rich in nutrients: rosehip pulp, for example, contains 20 times more vitamin C than lemon.

If you dry rose hips and then grind them, you get a powder. This contains many healthy ingredients such as:

Galactolipids: help scavenge free radicals in the body
Polyphenols: have a health-promoting and antioxidant effect
Carotenoids: have a cell-protecting and antioxidant effect
Pectin: belongs to the dietary fibers, supports digestion
Minerals: important for many bodily functions
Tannins: inhibit or kill microorganisms

This is how rosehip powder works

Rosehip powder is said to help against many ailments and support a healthy lifestyle.

Because it contains galactolipid, rosehip powder can help against joint pain caused by arthritis and arthrosis or rheumatism. Because galactolipid binds radicals and can help relieve pain in inflamed joints, tendons and cartilage and fight inflammation.

The galactolipid is also said to prevent calcium deposits in vessels and thus help to prevent arteriosclerosis. In this disease, the blood vessels calcify – this can lead to heart attacks and strokes, among other things.

Rosehip powder is also said to be used as a natural pain reliever. It is said to help against stomach and liver pain. It is easier on the stomach than aspirin or ibuprofen.

Rosehip tea and rosehip powder also have a slightly draining and diuretic effect. Therefore, rosehip powder can also be taken to combat urinary tract infections and kidney diseases.

Due to its high vitamin C content, rosehip powder has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. The many healthy ingredients also support the immune system and help with colds.
Note: The study situation is still unclear for many of the effects described. If you wish to take rosehip powder as a drug substitute, we recommend that you seek medical advice first.

Does rosehip powder have any side effects?

Rosehip powder is a very gentle dietary supplement. So far no side effects are known.

Because it is so well tolerated, the powder is even suitable for pregnant women.
If you consume a lot of rosehip powder, your urge to urinate may increase. You should then make sure to drink enough fluids – especially water.
Note: This article cannot replace a doctor’s visit. If you have serious health problems or are unsure about taking it, you should always seek medical advice.

When dosing coffee, you always have to look very closely. Measuring spoons can easily distort the taste. We will show you what you have to be aware of.

The dosage affects the taste

The taste and wholesomeness of a freshly prepared coffee depends on many factors – including the dosage. How much brewing time do I give the coffee and of course what is the quality of the beans used? However, what many coffee lovers like to overlook: The dosage of the coffee powder also has a significant influence on the coffee quality: If there is too little powder, the coffee quickly tastes bland and not aromatic, but too much powder can make it taste bitter and sour. We have therefore put together some tips on how to dose your coffee correctly.

Measuring spoons are too imprecise

If you buy fresh beans for your coffee in a roastery, if you are lucky you will also get a measuring spoon with it. That’s well intentioned, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be an advantage – at least for the taste of our coffee beans. Because here the mistake is in the details: Depending on the type of coffee, the size, structure and density of the beans vary. This means that a scoop of one type of coffee can contain many more grams of coffee powder than the same scoop of another type. So if you want to be on the safe side, you should weigh the coffee powder instead of measuring it with a spoon. Because: When it comes to coffee powder, the volume is unfortunately no help. It can therefore be weighed neither by spoon nor by cup.

Dose coffee correctly: Always pay attention to the weight

So we see that good coffee quality depends, among other things, on weight. The best and most accurate way to determine the coffee powder is with a conventional kitchen scale.

Now, of course, it depends on which type of coffee you have chosen and which method of preparation you prefer – whether filter coffee, stamp jug, coffee from the fully automatic machine or from the coffee machine. Mild coffee also likes to tolerate a stronger dosage in order to develop the full taste with all aromas. Stronger varieties should be dosed rather cautiously at the beginning. However, the rule here is: the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You can find your preferred starch and bean relatively quickly. So nothing stands in the way of perfect coffee enjoyment.