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Make Your Own Colors – That’s How it Works!

A guide to making your own paint. So you can produce colors yourself naturally, quickly, and cheaply. And that sustainably and without chemicals, with food from your own household!

Step by step to your own color: Producing natural colors is very easy and doesn’t take much time or money. You can store homemade food-based paints in the fridge for a few days and use them as you like during that time. The big advantage: They are naturally degradable and contain no chemical components.

1) What are colors made of?

Colors consist of three main components: pigments, binders, and solvents. Many substances that are suitable as basic components for DIY paint production can either be purchased cheaply in hardware stores (acrylic binder, white glue, etc.) or can be made in your own kitchen using simple household products.

2) Gain color pigments

Pigments can be obtained from food colors, which are available in pharmacies, or made from the food itself. You can see which food you use to achieve which color in the table below.

3) Egg as a binder – egg tempera

You can use egg tempera to bind your paint. For this, egg yolk, oil, and water are mixed together in the same ratio. The amount of oil and water can vary (less oil and more water can be used).

Any vegetable oil can be used as an oil. However, linseed oil is particularly suitable because it dries quickly. The color pigment is then worked into the mixture of egg and oil until the desired color is achieved.

To avoid lumps, small amounts of the pigments should be worked in one at a time. If the shade is too intense, the mixture can be diluted with water. Such paints from egg tempera are well suited for painting.

4) Flour as a binder

As an alternative to the egg as a binding agent, you can also use the top household remedy flour. To make such so-called paste paints, you have to heat 2 tablespoons of flour in a saucepan with 400 to 500 ml of water and bring it to a boil. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent lumps from forming. If there are any lumps, you can simply pour them off through a sieve.

Alternatively, you can add the flour directly to the colored juices. However, you have to mix this mixture very thoroughly. The more heat, the fewer lumps will form. The pigments can be incorporated into the mass once it has cooled. Again, water can be added to get lighter shades. Paints made with flour as a binder can be used well as finger paints.

5) Milk as a binder

Instead of flour and egg, you can also use dairy products as a binding agent. For such a color, which uses casein as a binder, a tablespoon of quark (alternatively milk or condensed milk) is mixed with pigments in the same ratio.

You can then stir a small amount of water into this mixture. You can then use water to correct the color tone you have achieved afterward. This color is suitable for painting walls and artistic painting.

6) Starch as a binder

To make cornstarch-based paints, cornstarch and baking powder are mixed together in equal amounts. Then twice as much vinegar is added. Then food colors or natural colorants (see table) are added. Such starch-based paints are particularly useful as water-based paints.

At a glance: This is how you can make colors yourself

To make your own paints, you’ll need things you probably already have at home. So it’s a perfect DIY that doesn’t even require you to leave the house and buy special materials. All paints consist of three elements – pigments, binders, and solvents.

You can always use water as a solvent. You can find the right home remedy as to a basis for the pigmentation of your desired colors in the table above. As a rule, different ingredients lead to the goal there, so there is a high chance that you have one of the foods you need for your favorite color at home.

You have four different classic baking ingredients to choose from as binding agents: egg, flour, milk, and cornstarch. This depends on the purpose for which you want to produce the paints. The egg is suitable for classic painting, flour for finger paints, milk for both classic painting and painting walls, and cornstarch for making watercolors.

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Create Secret Ink – Make Secret Writing Visible

We have the best recipes and tricks on how to make secret ink. We will also show you how you can make secret writing visible. With these tips, you can compete with Sherlock Holmes!

There are different forms of secret ink that you can easily make yourself. Here we would like to show you two natural formulas with simple home remedies such as lemons, onions, and milk. We also have a chemical version of making secret ink ready for you.

A popular game among children

With a look at Room Escapes, the Sherlock Holmes series, and the boom in detective games on the German board game market, it becomes clear that the age of detective joy among children and adults is far from over. A detective or secret agent party is also ideal for a theme party for children’s birthday parties. Then how cool would it be to write the invitation with a cipher as the first puzzle? You can easily do it yourself with home remedies. As? We’ll show you here.

1) Lemon or onion juice as a secret ink

You can write invisibly with lemon juice or onion juice. You can make the onion juice secret ink by peeling and grating the onion and then squeezing it through a cloth. The text and the secret writing become visible again when the paper is heated. This can be done either by ironing with a warm, not hot iron, by holding the paper to a light bulb or by placing it on the heater, by blow-drying it briefly, or by holding it briefly over a tealight. However, children should never do this unsupervised.

2) milk for cryptography

A second option is to use milk as a secret ink. You can easily take standard cow’s milk and apply it with a brush or a wooden skewer. The invisible milky writing becomes visible through the application of cigarette ash or the powdered graphite of a pencil from a pencil sharpener.

3) Make Nitrate of Cobalt Oxide for Secret Ink

Chemically you can get nitrate of cobalt oxide in the pharmacy, which you can dissolve in water to get an invisible secret ink. When heated, this secret ink appears red and when it cools down, the writing automatically becomes invisible again. In principle, the production of this secret ink works in a similar way to the home remedies lemon or onion juice.

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Glutamate – How Unhealthy Is It Really?

Glutamate is blamed for many ailments, diseases and symptoms. Because Chinese food is often flavored with glutamate, the term “Chinese restaurant syndrome” has become common when it comes to these intolerances.

There are many half-truths and myths surrounding food additives. Utopia clarifies the most important questions.

1. What is glutamate?

It is a white powder very similar to salt. And in fact they are salts of L-glutamic acid. The most commonly used of these salts is monosodium glutamate, which appears as E621 on the ingredient list of foods.

In addition to monosodium glutamate, there is also calcium diglutamate (E 623), monopotassium glutamate (E 622), magnesium diglutamate (E 625) and monoammonium glutamate (E 624). Correctly one would have to speak of “glutamates”, since there is not just one and several can be used. Incidentally, in Japan they speak of “Ajinomoto”. That was originally just the name of a glutamate product, but today it is used as a generic name like “Tempo” or “Maggi”.

2. Is glutamate a chemical product?

Although the food additive has the reputation of being “dangerous chemicals”, glutamates and their acids are completely natural products. The human body also produces these substances and they are present in many foods, such as cheese, yeast and tomatoes. Glutamic acid, the basic substance for glutamate, is an amino acid, i.e. a completely natural “building block” of protein.

However, the production of the flavor enhancer is anything but natural and the use of genetic engineering is possible.

3. What is Chinese Restaurant Syndrome?

For about 45 years, people have been reporting complaints after visiting Chinese restaurants or enjoying Chinese food. Symptoms are described as palpitations, itchy rash, headache, itchy throat, tingling or numbness in the mouth and throat, dry mouth, nausea, neck and limb stiffness, and more.

In several scientific studies, however, no connection between the intake of glutamate and the symptoms described has been observed. In many cases, the researchers were even able to demonstrate the “nocebo effect”. People who thought they were sensitive to glutamate also showed the symptoms when they only thought they were eating foods fortified with the additive. It is believed that the symptoms stem from other ingredients in the food, such as shrimp, peanuts or fish sauces.

4. Is glutamate banned?

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the consumption of normal amounts of glutamate to be harmless. This also applies to the German Society for Nutrition DGE, the Federal Office for Risk Assessment BfR, the health authorities of the USA, the EU Scientific Committee for Food SCF and other organizers. Therefore, a maximum daily dose has not even been set. Nevertheless, the flavor enhancer has been viewed critically for a long time and the European Food Safety Authority wants to re-evaluate the additive by the end of 2016. The consumer centers advise against frequent consumption.

In Germany, glutamate must be declared on the food and is forbidden in baby food and organic food. There are regulations as to how much of it can be added to a food. However, these values ​​are far apart: seasonings such as fondor may contain up to 50 percent of the spice enhancer, canned meat only 1 percent.

5. Does glutamate cause bloating and diarrhea?

Even with the symptoms of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”, neither flatulence nor diarrhea are among the symptoms reported by those affected. Anyone who observes such digestive problems after consuming food that has been seasoned with flavor enhancers must look elsewhere for the culprit. It’s definitely not the glutamate.

6. Does glutamate cause obesity and high blood pressure?

The food additive is held responsible for many things, and so it is not surprising that obesity and high blood pressure are said to be the result. However, so far no study has really been able to prove that the additive alone is responsible for obesity and the resulting high blood pressure.

It is true, however, that overweight people usually cover a high proportion of their nutritional needs with industrial foods, ready meals, seasonings and other foods containing glutamate. The cause of obesity is usually due to the choice and amount of food, not the additive itself.

7. Does glutamate stimulate the appetite?

Foods that contain glutamate appeal to our fifth sense of taste, called umami. The term comes from Japanese and can be translated as “tasty”. Umami is a hearty, full-bodied, spicy taste that some people can’t really keep their hands off.

Just like there are “sweet junkies”, the flavor of umami also appeals to some people. Anyone who counts themselves among them likes to eat foods containing glutamate more often than necessary. And this regardless of whether the substance was added to the food or is already contained naturally.

8. Does glutamate cause heart palpitations or cardiac arrhythmias?

People who are affected by “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” sometimes report heart palpitations or cardiac arrhythmias. In the syndrome described, however, it has not been scientifically proven that the symptoms are due to glutamates. It is therefore assumed that such heart problems are related to other causes, allergens or accompanying circumstances.

9. What does glutamate have to do with gluten?

Quite simply: nothing! It can be assumed that identical initial letters lead to the wrong assumption that gluten-free foods are also free of glutamate.

Gluten is a sticky protein that is found in many grains such as wheat and spelled and is easily tolerated by healthy people. Only people who suffer from gluten intolerance (celiac disease) have to do without gluten, but like all healthy people they can also consume glutamate.

10. Does glutamate give you a skin rash?

When talking about allergies and intolerances, many people quickly think of an itchy rash. So it is not surprising that glutamate should also be responsible for this. In fact, skin rash is also mentioned as a symptom of Chinese restaurant syndrome. However, like other symptoms and side effects, it cannot be attributed to the flavor enhancer according to current scientific studies. It’s usually an allergy or reaction to another ingredient.

11. Does glutamate cause headaches and migraines?

Migraine sufferers are often advised to avoid glutamate to ensure that such foods do not trigger a migraine attack. The triggers for migraines are diverse and have not yet been fully researched. Every patient knows different triggers for migraines and so it is not surprising that the food additive is also suspect. If this is the case, the same reaction should also occur after consuming foods naturally high in glutamine. In most cases, however, it is not the additive itself that is responsible for the migraine, but the time and type of consumption of the food seasoned with it.

12. Does glutamate lead to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s?

It was found that disturbances in the body’s glutamate metabolism can promote the development of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases. However, it is about the glutamate metabolism, which is completely independent of the additive supplied from the outside. Eating foods containing glutamate has only a very small effect on this.

13. Does glutamate promote cancer?

Experiments have shown that an increased level of glutamate in the blood serum can promote the development of prostate cancer. It has not yet been clarified how much of the substance has to be ingested through the diet. It is also not clear whether exogenous factors such as food can cause critically high blood serum levels in the long term.

It is likely that such harmful levels are caused by a disruption in glutamate metabolism itself and not by diet.

14. Is glutamate the same as yeast extract?

The flavor enhancer glutamate is often equated with yeast extract. It is true that yeast extract contains the amino acid monosodium glutamate along with many other amino acids. However, yeast extract naturally contains the substance, as do Parmesan or soy sauce.

Yeast extract also tastes spicy, i.e. “umami” and is a popular condiment, especially in organic foods. While yeast extract is not classified as an additive, it is added to affect flavor. At this point, one may well feel deceived by the reference “without flavor enhancer”.

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Aspartame – The Controversial Sweetener

Opinions are currently divided on sugar as a new “drug”. Many consumers are looking for alternatives that are sweet but don’t bring calories to the hips – aspartame is also often discussed. But the sweetener is controversial.

Can aspartame be a suitable sugar substitute in the diet or not? We looked at how natural the sweetener is, which foods contain it and whether the sweetener is harmful to health.

How natural is aspartame?

Basically, aspartame is a synthetically produced substance that does not occur in nature. However, it is made from two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid), which are nothing more than protein building blocks, i.e. the smallest particles that also make up the protein of your peas or grilled sausage.

In the body, every protein is broken down into its two amino acids and some methanol during the course of metabolism. Your body recognizes aspartame as a protein building block and breaks it down again into the two synthetically assembled amino acids. However, this produces phenylalanine, a substance that people suffering from the metabolic disease phenylketonuria are not allowed to ingest.
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What foods contain aspartame?

Because it does not occur naturally in food, but is produced synthetically, the sugar substitute is only found in industrially produced foods. Aspartame is used very often in sweetened drinks, such as Cola Zero or Pepsi Max. Chewing gum and many low-calorie desserts are also sweetened with it, for example yoghurt, pudding or ice cream.

Because this sweetener is not heat-stable, i.e. it loses its sweetening power when heated, baked goods or foods intended for heating, such as ready meals, do not contain aspartame.

The sweetener can also be found under other names, for example NutraSweet, Canderel, Amino-Sweet, Sanecta or Equal-Classic.

Is aspartame calorie free?

The sweetener is by no means calorie-free and has a similar energy content to sugar or sugar substitutes. The difference is that aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, so much smaller amounts are needed to achieve the same sweetness. Products sweetened with it therefore have a lower calorific value than those containing sugar or its relatives.

Some studies suggest that it promotes obesity: Scientists assume that sweeteners disrupt appetite regulation in the brain. With its sweet taste, aspartame fools the brain into believing it is being supplied with glucose – the brain’s fuel. However, the brain does not receive real sugar, but an imitation and feels cheated. It demands new glucose and thus new food – the result is weight gain.

However, other studies cannot confirm this appetite-stimulating effect. So far, the obesity-promoting effect of aspartame could neither be proven nor disproved. More independent research is needed, according to the consumer advice center.

However, sweetening with reduced-calorie sugar alternatives is often understood as an incentive to “be allowed” to eat or drink more because the sweeteners have already “saved” energy. Because of the wrong eating habits, you gain weight despite reduced-calorie sugar alternatives.

Although it is possible to save calories with aspartame, this alone does little to change personal eating habits. The purpose and aim of a diet should be to learn how to eat a healthy and balanced diet. When in doubt, it makes much more sense than replacing sugar with aspartame to avoid such foods altogether. Because even a soda or cola sweetened with this agent is anything but healthy.

Is aspartame carcinogenic?

In parts of the press, the situation seems clear: anyone who consumes aspartame will die of cancer, according to the opinion that is often published. However, there are no scientific studies that could seriously show a connection between aspartame and cancer.

For example, the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Commission, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR), the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) and the US National Cancer Institute deal with this topic again and again come to the conclusion that, according to the current state of research, aspartame is not carcinogenic.

Does Aspartame Cause Headaches?

It is repeatedly reported that aspartame is responsible for headaches and migraines. Since this accusation comes up regularly, there are always new studies, none of which have been able to clearly identify aspartame as a trigger for headaches or migraines.

The same applies to other complaints that patients like to attribute to the consumption of aspartame, such as depression, mood swings, behavioral problems, personality changes, altered motor skills, aggression, epilepsy and many other ailments.

How much aspartame is healthy?

When determining the permitted daily dose of a substance (e.g. vitamins or minerals), values ​​are set at which, according to the current state of research, lifelong, daily consumption of a substance cannot lead to health problems, even in this amount of a substance.

The allowable daily dose of aspartame varies around the world. In the EU it is set at 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, in the USA it is 50 milligrams. According to Efsa, for example, an adult weighing 60 kilos would have to drink more than four liters of aspartame-containing lemonade every day in order to exceed this limit.

Is aspartame harmful to the environment?

Most sweeteners are not metabolized and are excreted again. Although they get into sewage treatment plants via the toilet, they cannot be completely broken down there and thus pollute our ground and surface water.

It contains the sweeteners saccharin, cyclamate, sucralose and acesulfame and even serves to document the entry of impurities into mineral water: if the mineral water contains sweeteners, the source was not adequately protected from external influences. In view of the as yet unknown effects of synthetic sweeteners in bodies of water and upper groundwater layers, you should refrain from using the sweeteners mentioned.

However, aspartame is not excreted and therefore does not get into the environment, since it is broken down into its three components in the course of human metabolism, which are found in many natural foods. Only the production of the sweetener raises criticism: It is very energy-intensive and genetic engineering can be used to obtain the amino acids.

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Drink Tea – But Properly

Green tea, black tea, herbal teas – tea not only warms you up and tastes good, but is often also very healthy. In our large tea guide, you will find out what effect the different teas have, which brands are recommended, what criticism there is of cultivation and where you can get the right accessories.

The history of tea began more than 5000 years ago in China. Even then, tea was used both as a pleasure and as a remedy. Tea actually means the dried parts of the tea plant. Depending on the processing method, a distinction is made between black, red, green and white tea as well as oolong. However, infusion drinks from other plants are also commonly referred to as tea, such as herbal tea made from peppermint and rooibos or fruit tea.

Tea: an important economic commodity

The tea plant is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical high altitudes, on around 3.5 million hectares worldwide. Three-quarters of the global harvest of more than five million tons is grown in China, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Vietnam (see Statista).

Ultimately, tea was and is an important commodity. Every year, Germany imports almost 60,000 tons of tea worth over 200 million euros. According to this, we drink more than 26 liters of black and green tea and more than 52 liters of herbal and fruit tea per capita, whereby the proportion of fair-trade organic tea is likely to be small.

The different types of tea and their effects

Nettle tea: no weeds! The health-promoting effect of nettle tea has been known since ancient times. We mostly use it for cystitis. It has many other positive properties and is easy to harvest and prepare yourself.
Fennel tea: Thanks to its beneficial effects, it has been a popular home remedy for centuries. Fennel tea is used to relieve numerous ailments.
Lady’s mantle tea: Recommended mainly because of its helpful effect on women’s problems and the desire to have children. We’ll tell you what else you can use lady’s mantle tea for and what you should pay attention to when harvesting and preparing the herb.
Green tea: This tea has various effects: It is said to help you lose weight and prevent diseases. Plus it’s delicious. We reveal what is behind the effect of green tea.
Rosehip and hibiscus: Nobody thinks of rosehip or hibiscus when talking about superfood. The two plants that are native to us are quite large suppliers of vitamins and can also be used as medicinal plants in other ways. Rosehip and hibiscus: the dynamic duo in a teacup.
Ginger tea: It helps with colds – and is easy to make yourself. However, its positive effect on travel sickness, migraines and digestive problems is less well known. We will show you how you can prepare ginger tea from fresh ginger yourself and what you need to pay attention to.
Chamomile tea: The anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile tea helps with gastrointestinal problems – but there are many more uses for chamomile tea.
Matcha tea: Matcha tea was and is the best and finest tea in Japan, which used to be reserved for the elite only. The bright green, frothy infusion is still considered a cult drink.
Peppermint tea: This tea has a powerful effect. Peppermint tea wakes you up like coffee, calms the stomach nerves and cools the body from the inside, even when drunk hot.
Sage tea: helps with cough and respiratory diseases. But the tea has other effects: Even in the Middle Ages, monks and scholars drank sage tea to keep their minds fit. Here more about the effect of the natural cold remedy.
Black tea: It is popular and, in addition to invigorating caffeine, contains numerous health-promoting substances. Here you can find out what you have to consider when preparing black tea so that it can develop its full effect.

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Working from Home with a Child – Tips on Childcare

Home office with a child. For some people, that’s a terrifying thought. How are you supposed to work productively and at the same time keep the children busy in the home office? Due to the corona crisis, many people are facing exactly this challenge. We have a few tips that will make everyday home office life easier for you with children.

Some people are used to working from home and others are working from home for the first time. But now people in the home office have to support their children with their schoolwork and ideally take over the leisure activities. No doubt not an easy time for parents and children.

Tips for home office childcare

We find ourselves in a situation that requires us to work productively while caring for our children. This is not easy and can quickly become overwhelming. Not everyone is lucky enough to have grandparents or friends to look after their children. Many are dependent on daycare centers and schools. But in these times it can always happen that they close temporarily. We have collected tips for such an emergency. So that childcare and simultaneous work from homework. Also, note our useful tips for reducing stress.

1) Share childcare

It is hardly possible alone. When grandparents can take care of the kids or keep them busy for a few hours a day, that’s a huge relief. But even if there are two of you, you should share childcare. If you are both working from home, set fixed times. If only one works in the home office, it will be more difficult. Then the other should take care of the children at least for the evening hours. It’s the hardest for single parents. The only thing left to do here is often the search for suitable childcare.

2) Create a work plan for the home office

If you have children to keep busy in your home office, a work plan can be very helpful. To do this, create a work plan in which you prioritize your work tasks. Then does the most important tasks when the children are busy, for example during their media time.

3) Create time for effective work

A work plan gives you an overview of the most important tasks. Now all that’s missing is undisturbed working hours. To do this, you have to find out what your children like to do without constantly demanding your attention. You should also work in a separate room to be productive.

4) Working together with the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique leads to more productivity. So you should work in intervals. Because people can only concentrate for a short time and they regularly need a break. For this, work intensively for 25 minutes and then take a short break of 5 minutes. Your children might feel the same way. As a result, you can use the short breaks together. And if your child continues to play without a break, you can continue working after a few short breaths. Also, note our tips for more productivity in the home office.

5) Create childproof homes

If your children play and romp at home regardless, it helps if your home is safe for children. So you don’t have to worry as much about something happening. As a result, you can concentrate on working effectively. Please note our tips for a child-friendly kitchen.

6) Keep the kids busy in the home office

The biggest challenge in the home office remains to keep the children busy. Because only when the children are busy for a while can you work effectively and productively at home. But what are the options? We have collected some ideas on how your child does not get bored.

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Eating Broccoli Raw: What Speaks For it – and What Speaks Against it

Broccoli is a true power food that you can eat wonderfully raw. What “power” is in it and when should you not eat raw broccoli?

Eat broccoli raw – power food with lots of vitamins, minerals and glucosinolates

Raw broccoli contains many important vitamins and minerals that can break down during cooking. So in order to absorb as many nutrients as possible, you can eat broccoli raw. Organic broccoli is the healthiest for you and the environment.

Broccoli contains, among other things:
The minerals calcium, magnesium, sulfur and potassium,
Beta carotene – the precursor of vitamin A, as well
Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Vitamin B5.
As in other types of cabbage, glucosinolates (mustard oil glycosides) can be found in broccoli. These secondary plant substances have a positive effect on health. Anticarcinogenic and antibacterial properties are ascribed to them.

It is therefore worth trying the broccoli raw, whether in a smoothie or in a salad. Before eating, you should wash the broccoli thoroughly.
Note: For maximum vitamin and mineral retention, it is best to store broccoli in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. You should consume it promptly (one to two days) after purchase.

Raw broccoli can cause stomach pain and bloating

Because broccoli is a cabbage, some people with sensitive digestive tracts may experience abdominal pain and/or bloating when eating broccoli raw.

If you are prone to the above side effects, you can try the following:
Chew the broccoli very well.
only eat small amounts raw at first,
rather eat the florets as they are more digestible than the stalk.

If you don’t like the florets raw even after following these tips, you can blanch or steam the broccoli – possibly with the addition of a little caraway or fennel (depending on your taste). In this way, most of the valuable nutrients remain available and flatulence should be reduced.

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Finding a Good Hairdresser – You Should Pay Attention to This

A surprising number of customers are dissatisfied with the hairstyle, the service, or the costs after visiting the hairdresser. However, if you heed a few small pieces of advice, you can find a good hairdresser for yourself.

Everyone knows the problem: you move and eventually need a visit to the hairdresser. Or the regular hairdresser you’ve always been to suddenly close. What to do? Helplessly go to the first salon you come across and hope you’re satisfied? Surveys show that many customers leave the store unsatisfied. However, this can be avoided if you know how to go about your search for a good hairdresser.

Use someone else’s knowledge when looking for a hairdresser

First, you should explore yourself among friends, relatives, and co-workers. Listen carefully to the answers and pay attention to details. This allows you to roughly filter which salons come into question. If a good shop is recommended to you, feel free to test it out.

You can also look at advertisements: radio or television spots, as well as regional newspapers or advertising posters, may provide indications of good salons. But be careful, not every advertisement should be trusted blindly. Approach the matter critically and don’t let anything talk you into it.

Look at the hairdresser yourself and make experiences

If you have decided on a few salons in the pre-selection, refine your search. A first conversation with the shops of choice can be very helpful. Call them or stop by in person: ask about the prices for the hairstyle you want and don’t hesitate to ask about the service – is a head massage or a cup of coffee included in the price?

Pay attention to details in the salon: Is the shop carelessly furnished or creatively designed? If you are not able to furnish a shop nicely, you will also have problems mustering enough creativity for a beautiful hairstyle.

Take a look at the employees there: Do you like their hairstyle? The haircuts of the salon employees are often a good indication of how the salon works. If their cuts are not clean, you can actually leave the shop immediately.

Finally, give the store of your choice a chance. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the store, advice before the haircut, the execution of the cut, as well as tips and advice on the hairstyle. If you are satisfied, you have found a good hairdresser – if not, keep looking. Worth it.

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Skin Care in Winter – Protect Sensitive Skin in Good Time

Our skin is exposed to particular stresses in winter: dry heating air in the rooms, and cold winter air outside. In addition, it is supplied with less vitamin D due to a lack of sunlight and is usually cracked and dried quickly. Therefore, the right skincare in winter is important so that you can protect sensitive skin. Because with the right skin protection in winter, you can get through the cold season well.

Skin protection in winter is important

Winter means pure stress not only for sensitive skin. Because the cold lurks outside and the dry heating air inside. And both factors strain the skin and deprive it of moisture. As a result, the skin becomes dry, brittle, and cracked. While some home remedies help against dry skin, you should choose the right skincare in winter and ensure adequate skin protection.

1) The right skincare in winter

The main problem of sensitive skin in winter is dryness. Because the artificial heating air removes a lot of moisture from it, it flakes or dries out. This is where nourishing creams can help. However, it is important to use the right skincare. You protect your sensitive skin in winter with moisturizing and rich creams. Real chamomile, for example, has an anti-inflammatory and calming effect. Products with vegetable oils, such as nourishing argan oil or shea butter, also offer you suitable skin protection in winter.

2) Drink plenty of fluids

Protect sensitive skin from dryness in winter by drinking enough fluids. This way you supply them with liquid from the inside. Accordingly, drink at least 2-3 liters of water or tea per day. But you should avoid alcohol in winter because it also removes water from the body and contributes to the drying out of the skin. Likewise, avoid extensive bubble baths if you have sensitive skin. Instead, treat yourself to oil or cream baths.

3) Nutritious diet as skincare in winter

For suitable skin protection in winter, you should provide your skin with nutrient-rich nutrition. Therefore, eat salmon, nuts, or grapes for omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. Flaxseed oil or walnut oil when cooking can also support this effect. And if you want to provide your skin with lots of vitamins, you should grab pomegranates in the supermarket. In winter they are increasingly available and can be wonderfully integrated into muesli, desserts, or fruit salads. In contrast, you should reduce salty food a little during the cold season, as it draws water out of the body.

4) Proper showering and bathing

Another simple winter skin care tip is showering and bathing properly. Accordingly, you should not shower and bathe too often, as this dries out your skin. Also note that the water is not too hot, it is better to shower a little colder to protect your skin. In addition, you should use pH-neutral, moisturizing, and moisturizing products.

5) Full bath with salt as skin protection

To keep your skin firm and elastic in winter, you can take a full bath with salt. To do this, dissolve half a packet of iodized salt in the bathtub. This has an invigorating effect. Because it stimulates blood circulation and thus keeps the connective tissue of the subcutaneous tissue taut. Then your skin will renew itself faster. But after this bathing experience, you should rinse yourself off with plenty of clear water and apply lotion carefully. It can still be a fatty cream.

6) Proper skincare in winter with gentle soap

Sensitive skin is additionally stressed by soaps with a high proportion of cosmetics. Therefore use natural soaps or pH-neutral soaps in winter. Many health food stores offer a great selection of soaps based on natural ingredients. You can also find natural cosmetics products on the internet. You should only wash your hands when it is really necessary. Because too much contact of the hands with water, soap, and the washing-up liquid dries out the skin. Consequently, you should always have a good hand cream with you to care for your hands.

7) Create a room climate that is healthy for the skin

You don’t always have to reduce the humidity. In winter with dry heating air, you should ensure a skin-healthy room climate. Indoor plants work wonders. Varieties such as spider plants, Cyprus grass, and lime trees are particularly suitable, as they release around 98 percent of the water they absorb back into the environment.

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health

Instructions for Meditation – Meditate Simply and Easily

Meditation works easier than you think

Meditative thinking is still. Not the stillness of a quiet evening. It is the stillness when the thoughts completely stop with all their images, their work, and their imaginations. Meditation means letting go, sitting still, breathing, letting go, relaxing, going, and letting it happen. Try it! Meditating is easier than autogenic training. Religion is not necessarily a requirement when meditating. Nevertheless, it is important to open up and keep both feet firmly on the ground.

A simple guide to meditating

  • When meditating, I sit down in a normal chair.
  • I put both feet firmly on the floor.
  • The back is straight, the head too as if a cord were pulling it up a little at the crown.
    At first, I fix my eyes on a point in space. It can also be candlelight, which I look at for a while to calm down.
  • Then I usually close my eyes and let my weight sink completely into the chair without buckling in the back.
  • From that moment on I only pay attention to my breathing. How the breath comes and my torso and stomach expand and how the breath goes again and I let the air flow out until the process repeats itself automatically.
  • With each breath, I breathe in calm and peace, and on the exhale I release what I want to get rid of.
  • When thoughts come, I allow them but don’t hold onto them.
  • I then slowly relax all parts of my body.

  • Start at the head and then slowly work your way down to your legs.
  • I also don’t forget small details like relaxing the tongue and jaw.
  • When I’m completely relaxed and not disturbed by external sources of noise, I enter a state of relaxation that is indescribably beautiful.
  • Inner images come to light, which appears in the form of colors and states and can no longer be grasped mentally.
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