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Oko-Test Explains Why You Should Enjoy Strawberries Seasonally

Strawberries are a real summer highlight. Then we’re really lucky that we can enjoy Spanish strawberries as early as January, right? OKO-TEST explains why you should enjoy strawberries seasonally and why you should choose German fruit.

Thanks to large strawberry plantations in Spain, we can enjoy the red fruit all year round at reasonable prices. Actually sounds pretty perfect. But exactly the opposite is the case, as Oko-Test proves.

Strawberries are in season from May to August. However, as a rule, strawberries can be found on fruit shelves all year round as they are grown in Huelva in southern Spain. In this region, it is pleasantly warm all year round, but there is not much precipitation there. And that’s where the problem lies.

A whopping 276 liters of water are needed to grow one kilogram of strawberries. But since water is a scarce commodity in southern Spain, farmers dig illegal wells to irrigate the fields. Due to large-scale agriculture, the water consumption in southern Spain is significantly greater than the proportion that can be obtained naturally.

The consequences are dramatic: the groundwater level drops by ten meters every year, rivers dry up and many regions are threatened by desertification.

Oko-Test recommends seasonal strawberries from Germany

Another problem with Spanish strawberries is the high pesticide load. In Germany, much stricter guidelines apply and many pesticides are banned. Although Spain sells the majority of strawberries to Germany, its own regulations apply and not the German ones.

It is gratifying that the current pesticide load is lower than in previous years. However, the pesticides that are used are of particular concern as they are carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction.

The test results

A total of ten strawberries from Spain were tested in different supermarkets. Whether it’s Aldi, Edeka, Rewe, Lidl, Kaufland, Norma, Real, or Penny: All strawberries come from extremely dry regions and are contaminated with pesticides. Only in the case of the strawberries from Aldi Nord were no particularly questionable pesticides found. The overall rating was sufficient for all strawberries. Rewe’s strawberries were even rated unsatisfactory.

Oko-Test recommendations

Enjoy local strawberries. Not only are they less contaminated with pesticides, but they also taste even better. In addition, the high water consumption in Germany is less of a concern because they are grown in regions where there is no risk of desertification.

Strawberries from Spain or Morocco are ecologically extremely questionable because a large amount of water is used for cultivation.

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health

ADHD: Everything You Should Know About The Condition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is one of the most common mental disorders in children; however, it often remains for life.

Symptoms and causes of ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD in children and adults are often very diverse. They are divided into different sub-areas: in the area of ​​attention, it can often be observed that those affected are easily distracted, daydream, cannot persevere well, are very sensitive to criticism and extremely forgetful. Characteristic features in the area of ​​social behavior include impulsiveness and thoughtless action, a lack of self-control and frustration tolerance, organizational difficulties and listlessness. The motor area is limited by fidgeting, clumsiness in gross and fine motor skills and often incorrect power dosing. Further symptoms can be, for example, a mental development delay as well as rapid mental and psychological fatigue, an extremely pronounced sense of justice and a considerable ability to be influenced.

The three main symptoms of the disorder are:
An attention deficit disorder
A strong impulsiveness
Hyperactivity or extreme restlessness
Depending on how severe the symptoms are, the patients are divided into three subgroups: those who act primarily hyperactively and impulsively, those who primarily have attention deficit disorder (ADD) and those who have a mixture of both characteristics.

ADHD is generally regarded as a disorder that is congenital and usually manifests itself before the age of six. The intensity and characteristics of the symptoms change according to age: ADHD symptoms are different in infants, small children, adolescents and adults. In Germany, around two to six percent of all children are affected, and sixty percent suffer from the disease for life. Boys are usually affected more often than girls. The first signs can often be seen in infants: Affected babies cry a lot and for a long time, are often difficult to feed, are restless and sleep poorly. Symptoms are usually easier to recognize in infancy: Affected children often have no desire to play, exhibit disruptive behavior, can hardly concentrate on an activity and thus often strain the patience of their parents. Especially at school, children often struggle to cope with everyday school life and the subject matter. In many cases, a reading, arithmetic or spelling weakness is also recognized. In adolescence, ADHD sufferers mostly have a so-called “anti-attitude”: they continue to be inattentive and often unmotivated. Risky behavior, abuse of addictive substances as well as severe anxiety and depression are also characteristic of this age group. Adults, on the other hand, tend to struggle with forgetfulness, disorganization and lack of motivation. The impact of the disease on professional and social life should not be underestimated; many of those affected develop anxiety, depression, personality disorders, alcohol or drug problems.

But ADHD does not only have disadvantages: those affected are usually very creative. Once they have found something that interests them, they are often highly motivated and can fully focus on that matter. As a rule, they are also very successful in this area. Furthermore, people with ADHD are considered to be very fair, helpful and open because they often have good access to their feelings.

Researchers today assume that around 50 percent of the development of ADHD can be traced back to the genes. On a scientific level, it is assumed that ADHD is caused by faulty signal transmission in the brain. Those affected are “overwhelmed” by stimuli because the information cannot be processed correctly: unimportant information can only be filtered inadequately. The reason for this is, among other things, a disturbed metabolism of the messenger substances dopamine and noradrenaline, which normally ensure that we can be attentive, have drive and motivation. External circumstances can also increase the development of ADHD: This includes, among other things, too little attention, a lot of noise, a lack of exercise or a lot of time at the computer.

What you need to know about diagnosis and therapy

The diverse symptoms often make a specific diagnosis not easy: Firstly, not everyone affected has all the signs, secondly, it is difficult to separate the symptoms from age-appropriate behavior. In order for a correct diagnosis to be made, a specialist should be consulted. These include paediatricians and child and adolescent psychiatrists.

ADHD is determined by the specialists using questionnaires that provide information about individual behavior. The child’s motor coordination ability is examined, but also its ability to cooperate, gestures, facial expressions, language and vocalizations. As a parent, you should prepare for your visit to the doctor: Describe and observe your child’s behavior and pay attention to details such as the day of the week or the time of day. If necessary, also talk to the child’s carers in the kindergarten or school as well as to grandparents or other caregivers.

According to the international classification system ICD-10, in order for the diagnosis to be made, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and inattention must be detectable to an unusually high degree. Following the diagnosis, the child is treated individually: it is important that parents are informed and advised. Parent training or a mother-child cure can be particularly helpful when the child is a little younger. During the training, parents learn, among other things, to give the child feedback on their behavior, to provide clear structures and to harmonize their own behavior with their own instructions. It can also be helpful for parents to exchange information in forums or parent initiatives. The environment should also be informed as soon as possible in order to avoid difficulties. From school age, it makes sense to take advantage of cognitive behavioral therapy: Here, children learn to control their impulsive and disorganized behavior. The first measure of therapy is the so-called self-instruction, which takes place in five steps:

The therapist speaks “self-instructions” as a model and then acts accordingly.
The child acts according to the instructions heard.
The child directs its behavior through its own self-instructions by speaking out loud.
The child whispers the self-instruction.
The child practices the instruction in such a way that it no longer needs the instruction and can control itself without it.
If the child is extremely aggressive despite behavioral therapy or seems very restless, medication can be useful. The appropriate medication is prescribed by the therapists; mostly amphetamines like methylphenidate or atomoxetine. Which therapy is best suited for your child or you cannot be generalized; therefore it is always important to consult an expert.

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Food

Freezing Wine: How it Works and Why You Should Try it

Freezing wine: how it works and why you should try it

Freezing wine: how to do it

“In Vino Veritas – The truth lies in the wine.” So wrote the Greek poet Alkaios of Lesbos. The philosopher Plato wrote: “Wine is a gift from the gods, they gave wine to man out of mercy.” Man has been making wine from grapes for centuries. The varieties are almost innumerable, everyone will find their favorite wine. But what do you do if there is still wine left at the end of the evening? Once opened, you can’t keep it for long. The taste wears off pretty quickly. But there is an option: Freeze. However, the wine is then less suitable for drinking.

There are several variants. One of them is to put the wine in an ice cube tray and then freeze it. Then, when you prepare a dish that requires wine, you simply take the appropriate amount of ice cubes and add them. This gives the sauce a light wine note. You can also use it for baking, but here the rule is: thaw beforehand. Alternatively, if a large amount of red wine has accumulated, you can use it for mulled wine or punch. Under no circumstances should you freeze wine in the bottle, it could burst.

No matter which variant you choose: you save money and don’t have to throw away your good wine.

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Lifestyle

Secret Cell Phone Codes: Here’s Why You Should Know Them

Different codes on the phone can unlock features you didn’t know before. The codes are usually very simple.

USSD and GSM codes: you need to know that

The abbreviation GSM stands for “Global System for Mobile Communications”, USSD for “Unstructured Supplementary Service Data”. These GMS and USSD codes have existed since the first mobile phone developments, but can also be used on mobile smartphones. Each code has an individual function and can release practical features; this includes, for example, functions relating to call forwarding, the mailbox or the SIM card.

Important codes you should know

First, we have summarized some general codes for you:
*#06# Call up the phone’s serial number or IMEI
*135# Query your own phone number
**04*old PIN*new PIN*new PIN# Change PIN
**05*old PUK*new PIN*new PIN# Unlock blocked PIN with PUK
**042*old PIN2*new PIN2*new PIN2# Change PIN2
**052*old PUK2*new PIN2*new PIN2# Unlock blocked PIN2 with PUK2
*31#<phone number> Your own phone number is transmitted when you call, <phone number> must be replaced by the dialing number
#31#<Number> Own number is not transmitted when calling
*30# Activate caller ID for incoming calls (CLIP on)
#30# Switch off call number display for incoming calls (CLIP off)
*43# Call waiting on
#43# Call waiting off
**21*<number># Activate call diversion for calls to <number>
##21# Deactivate call forwarding automatically
*#21# Call forwarding status query for calls
*21# Activate call diversion automatically
**62*<number># Activate call diversion if not available on specified <number>
##62# Switch off call diversion if unavailable
*62# Switch on call diversion if unavailable
*#62# Status query of call forwarding when unavailable
**61*<number># Activate call diversion after the 5th ring to the specified number
**61*<number>*<time># Switch on call forwarding to the specified number after the specified time
##61# Deactivate call forwarding after a certain time (after ringing 5 times)
*61# Activate call diversion after a certain time
*#61# Call forwarding status query
**67*<Number># Switch on call forwarding to the specified number if the line is busy
##67# Switch off call forwarding when busy
*67# Switch on call forwarding when busy
*#67# Status query of call forwarding when busy
##002# Automatically switch off all call forwarding
*002# Activate all call forwarding automatically
##004# Deactivate all conditional call forwarding (busy, after 5 rings, unavailability)
*004# Enable all conditional call forwarding

Codes by device

Here are some codes that can be used on Samsung smartphones:
*#0*# comprehensive test menu
*#1111# software version
*#1234# firmware version
*#2222# hardware version
*#0228# Battery status and temperature
*#8999*8376263# Details about camera, product code, etc.
#*5376# delete all SMS
*#9090# Service mode UART/USB (service diagnosis configuration)
*#0808# USB settings
*#34971539# Check and view camera firmware
These work ideally with Huawei smartphones:
*#*#0000#*#* View model number, hardware version and IMEI number
*#*#6130#*#* Test menu (usage statistics, phone information)
*#*#2846579#*#* Service menu (e.g. manual upgrades and downgrades)
*#*#1357946#*#* Product code and serial number
Try these codes if you have an iPhone:
*3001#12345#* Field test mode
*#5005*7672# Show SMSC number
*#746025625# SIM Clock Stop (Power is only consumed when you actually use the SIM card)
*3370# Activate EFR mode (Enhanced Full Rate), improves voice quality during calls, battery power decreases
#3370# Disable EFR mode
*4720# Activate HFR mode (Half Full Rate), reduces voice quality, battery power increases
#4720# Disable HFR mode
*#5005*86# Show mailbox settings
*646# Query current call volume

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Lifestyle

Driving When There is a Storm Warning? Drivers Should Be Aware of This

Driving in a storm requires maximum attention, especially when driving. What dangers can you encounter?

Tips for drivers

If you are out and about in a storm, you should be particularly careful. It is important that you have both hands on the steering wheel so that you can react quickly and safely. However, you should avoid strong steering movements against the wind, because if the airflow stops quickly, you could end up in the oncoming lane, for example. Pay attention to where the wind is coming from. You can see this, for example, in the sloping trees or in the air sacs on bridges.

Drive slower than usual during a storm; the faster you go, the more you can lose control of your vehicle in strong winds. You can also increase safety by increasing the distance between vehicles, for example in the event of unexpected sudden braking due to an obstacle.

Also, be aware of where you are riding and whether your surroundings are about to change; for example on bridges or when you drive out of a tunnel, the wind will (again) push harder against your car. The following applies: Additional items such as roof boxes, bicycles or trailers offer the wind more surface to attack. For this reason you should not necessarily overtake buses and trucks; as soon as you drive out of their slipstream, you can be hit by strong gusts.

You should not underestimate unexpected obstacles and the reactions of other drivers that come with them: Sudden (heavy) rain and debris can appear suddenly. Falling bricks and branches or falling trees pose a great risk of property damage and personal injury. You should therefore avoid routes with many trees, bridges and underpasses if possible.

Tip: If the danger on the road becomes too great, you can visit a rest area. Here, too, you should pay attention to safety and choose a parking space where you are not endangered by falling branches, for example.

Insurance – What to do if something happens?

It is important to avoid unnecessary trips during a storm and not to allow damage to occur in the first place. If this is unavoidable or if the parked car is damaged, a look at the insurance documents will help. In general, insurance companies take over damage from a wind force of 8. Which insurance pays in the event of damage depends on the circumstances of the damage: Residential building, natural hazards, liability, comprehensive or household contents insurance. Then it depends on whether you have partial or fully comprehensive insurance. If possible, you should record the damage, for example via a (mobile) photo. It is also important to prevent further damage, for example by masking a broken window.

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Lifestyle

Nightlife and Partying: 10 Phrases You Should never Say to Your Bartender

As a bartender, you deal with many different people every day – and they all want something from you. Some are friendly, others flirt for a drink for free, others get cheeky. What should party guests never say?

10 phrases you shouldn’t say to bartenders

There are so many phrases bartenders hear so often they just can’t take it anymore. If you want to do your bartender a favor, you should better not say the following 10 sentences:

“Put more alcohol in the next drink, okay?” – If you personally don’t feel the alcohol, it may be more your own inhibitions than the bartender. After all, there are usually fixed mixing specifications for every drink.
“Hey dude, cool to see you again.” – Bartenders tend to see so many people on a daily basis that they probably won’t remember you.
“Man, when I was still waiting tables, I could do it faster.” – You can really offend someone with such sentences. In the end, you may be the one to suffer. Sometimes there is just a lot going on and everyone tries to do their best. Appreciation and a “thank you” can usually do much more than being annoyed.
“I drink the same as you.”- This statement is based on the cliché that every bartender also drinks alcohol in the evening. But this is not the case: not everyone who works with alcohol automatically drinks some.
“Hey, it’s my birthday. Are you buying one?” Bartenders hear this phrase so often that it’s usually never true. After all, everyone can say what they want.
“Tell me, can’t you swap out the DJ?” – The bartender usually has nothing to do with the DJ; consequently, he or she usually cannot change anything about the music in the bar.
“Hey bartender, can you actually smile?” – bartenders are often under stress or can sometimes be annoyed by the people in front of the bar. So it’s completely understandable that he doesn’t always have a smile on his face.
“Will you give me your number?” – Bartenders are generally not interested in exchanging numbers with customers. They just want to do their job – and you should respect that.
“I would have liked to have shaken my drink, not stirred it.” Often customers don’t even know the difference. In many cases they only know one drink and only make the statement to appear intelligent.
“Hey, can you store my jacket here for a moment?” – The bartender is not responsible for checking clothes. His job is to mix the drinks, not act as a cloakroom.

Instead of these 10 sentences, you can put a smile on the face of many a bartender or make the stressful job easier if you are friendly, show understanding and sometimes say “thank you”. This makes partying fun on both sides of the bar.

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Lifestyle

Caring For Cut Flowers Properly: That’s Why You Should Never Pour Fresh Water on Tulips

Tulips should never be given fresh water during water changes. Why does this damage the cut flowers?

A colorful bouquet of tulips can make your heart happy and bring the fresh scent of spring into your home. Quickly fetch a vase from the cupboard, fill it at the tap and then drape it nicely on the windowsill: You can already feel the spring mood in the apartment.

After a certain time, however, there is less and less water in the vase because the tulips have drawn it. Should I drain the water and fill in new? This would be a mistake that would make the beautiful flowers look ugly sooner.

That way you can keep your tulips for longer

If you have the impulse to give your tulips new water, caution is advised: the water already in the vase should never be poured out, instead you should only refill the vase with fresh water. Because: Fresh water gives the cut flowers new energy, it allows them to grow or bloom much faster. But that also means that they age and wither faster. With the mixture of older and fresh water, the tulips will continue to grow, but more slowly.

However, it is important to refill in good time so that the nutrient content in the water does not become too high. So check regularly how much water your tulips have left. These cut flowers in particular draw water quickly, which is why repeated watering may be necessary.

So no fresh water for tulips! If you heed this tip, you can enjoy colorful flowers for longer.

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Lifestyle

Preparing For Death: You Should Definitely Pay Attention to This

Everything that lives must die. But how can you prepare for the inevitable?

What is to be settled?

With every second that passes, the moment of death draws nearer. You suppress it, don’t want to admit it. And yet it is inevitable. Perhaps a visit to the doctor will make you realize the fact that your lifetime is coming to an end. At least now you will realize that life is finite. But can you really prepare for your death?

First of all, it is important to regulate certain things. What happens after death? Is everything settled? Here is a 7-point plan:
Store documents clearly: insurance policies, family book, bank documents and also a list of passwords for online banking, social networks or other online accounts.
Make a will: notary public or handwritten. If handwritten, this should be placed with the documents or officially stored.
Appoint an executor: This means a person who implements the will.
State your funeral preferences: How would you like to be buried?
Declare Pet Inheritance: If you have a pet, who should take care of it after death?
Bequeath objects during your lifetime: It is best to decide who should get what in a discussion group.

The last will

You don’t think about it when you’re young. But when you die, you leave something behind. This often leads to arguments. A will can help with that. It may make sense to write it earlier in life. There are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, it does not necessarily have to be written by a notary, you can write it yourself. But you have to follow certain rules here. And what are the advantages and disadvantages?

The handwritten will
can be written alone. No other person is necessary.
can be written anytime, anywhere. It will not be charged.
can be kept at home or kept at the district court (approx. €75.00).
can be changed, destroyed or revoked at any time.
may be unclear or even invalid because it was written by a layperson.
can be lost, not found or counterfeited.

The notarial will:
Legal advice and legally secure preparation by a notary.
An appointment with the notary is necessary.
The document is officially stored.
A change can be made by a notary. A revocation occurs through withdrawal from official custody.
There are notary fees for the creation and modification.
Official custody ensures that the will is found and not forged.
Married couples can draw up a joint will for inheritance.
Most often, couples with children choose the so-called Berlin will: According to this, the longer surviving inherited everything. Only after his death do the children inherit.
If the testator is very wealthy, the Berlin will can have tax disadvantages.

How do you prepare yourself for death?

But how can you mentally adjust to death? It doesn’t matter if you got a message about the approaching end.

Accept that you will die. It’s useless to quarrel with fate. You may think it’s unfair, especially when you get the news that you may not have much longer to live. You must come to the realization that everyone dies. Ultimately, there is nothing unfair about that.
Use your time. Think about what you really want. Go to places you want to see, meet people you love. Is it really important to work even more overtime just to buy yourself things you don’t need?
Eliminate misunderstandings. Remember, this may be the last time you’ll see someone. Forgive all those who have wronged you. Ask forgiveness from anyone you may have hurt.
enjoy It can always be the last meal, the last coffee, the last whiskey. Experience it consciously.
When you lie down to sleep, know that you may not wake up the next morning. reflect on your day. were you happy with it Close your eyes, breathe consciously. Smell, feel the linens, listen to the sounds of the night. And when you wake up, be happy about it. Don’t think about what awaits you that day. Imagine you are born again. take the moment
The world you wake up in will not last forever. Enjoy her. In everything she has to offer you. If you buy a new book, read it consciously. A new pen? It may be that today is the last time you will use it. Appreciate the people and things around you. Everything is impermanent.
Death comes to us all. We can’t stop it, but we can influence whether it frightens us or is ultimately what it’s supposed to be: the end of a life.

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Lifestyle

These Materials and Foods Should Never Be Placed in a Microwave Oven

If something needs to be heated up, the microwave often comes in handy. But not all materials and foods are suitable for this.

These materials are not suitable for the microwave

A microwave can be found in most households. Food can be heated easily, quickly and conveniently with this. But some materials and foods do not belong in the microwave.

The following must be observed with the material:
Make sure you only use microwaveable (plastic) dishes; otherwise the material may become deformed or plastic parts may end up in the food.
Paper or cardboard is also unsuitable due to the coating.
If you have a dish in a Styrofoam container, you should take it out of the packaging. Otherwise toxic substances can be passed on.
You should also not heat eggs in the microwave, as they can burst in it.
For soups, make sure they are covered to avoid splashing.
Aluminum foil can melt and should be removed first.
Fine china, for example with a gold or silver rim, should not be placed in the microwave.
Food that can burst is also a problem. Hot peppers and chili, in particular, can develop fumes that can spread outside the microwave.
You should also not put crockery made of metal or melamine resin or unglazed stoneware in the microwave.

Be careful with these foods

Furthermore, these foods are not microwaveable:
In the case of raw meat and raw fish, salmonella, for example, may survive. The following applies here: it is better to fry or grill thoroughly.
(Cooking) oil and (frying) fat harbors the risk of igniting. The fires cannot be extinguished with water.
Perishable foods such as egg dishes, potatoes and pasta should be fried in the pan if possible.
You can make pizza in the microwave, but it gets crispier in the oven.
Coffee can become bitter.
When water in tall, smooth vessels is removed from the microwave, it can form a bubble of water vapor that escapes explosively; the boiling liquid that can be carried away can lead to scalding.
High-proof alcohol can also ignite – or, in the case of vodka, for example, explode.
In general, the microwave is not suitable for even heating. Therefore, if in doubt, you should fry your food to avoid germs and health problems.

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Food

Spinach Should be on the Doping List

A new study confirms More strength gains thanks to spinach! That’s why the Free University of Berlin is now calling for spinach to be included in the doping list.

There is no denying that spinach is healthy: the green vegetable provides an incredible 800 micrograms of vitamin A per 100 grams of spinach – perfect for good eyesight and healthy skin. In addition, spinach contains all the important minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, plenty of iron, and vitamins A, C, and E, which have a positive effect on the nerves, healthy cells, and the immune system. In addition, the consumption of spinach promotes blood formation and gently drains the body.

New human study on the effects of spinach

The Freie Universität Berlin, in cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), carried out a human study in which the effect of a substance contained in spinach, ecdysterone, was tested (1).

The double-blind study involved 46 people who took different doses of spinach extract or a placebo for 10 weeks—neither the researchers nor the participants knew who was taking which dose. The maximum dose of ecdysterone was 800 milligrams, which is about 6.6 kilograms of spinach.

At the beginning and end of the study, the muscle mass and the strength of the classic bench press were determined for all test participants. There was a clear difference here: The subjects who took ecdysterone for ten weeks had a significantly higher increase in muscle mass. Bench press performance also increased significantly, which confirms the performance-enhancing effect of the spinach ingredient.

Will athletes now be banned from leafy greens?

Since the substance ecdysterone can lead to a significant increase in muscle mass and strength in connection with the sport, the researchers at Freie Universität Berlin recommend including ecdysterone in the doping list, since a large amount of spinach can act as a classic doping agent. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which supported the study financially, ultimately decides whether this case will actually occur. One of the hurdles that could arise with such a ban is doping control: Here it should be possible to check whether the athletes have taken ecdysterone tablets or simply eaten a lot of spinach.

The scientist Maria Parr explains: “The lower dose in our experiment, i.e. two capsules per day, corresponds to around 250 grams to four kilograms of spinach leaves per day, depending on the variety. This is the amount you would have to eat every day for ten weeks to consume the same amount as some subjects in our study. In order to achieve the effect of the higher dose administered, one to 16 kilos of spinach would have to be consumed.”

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