Tag

than

Browsing

There are some foods that are unfairly given a bad rap by many people. Here we explain which products you are sure to have made a mistake about.

1. Potatoes

The potato. We eat them as an accompaniment to all dishes, but they are not really considered healthy. They are often labeled as fattening foods, but they are even suitable for losing weight. The potatoes have an incredibly high satiety index and are a valuable source of nutrients. The potato contains hardly any fat, but plenty of starch, fiber and, for these proportions, a lot of protein. The vegetables also contain a lot of potassium, B vitamins, phytochemicals, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.

Tip: Of course, this only applies to cooked, unprocessed potatoes. A portion of boiled potatoes with quark keeps you full for an incredibly long time and is often eaten by athletes to provide energy.

2. Eggs

There is a lot of power in eggs. They contain a lot of protein, which athletes in particular take advantage of. They also contain various vitamins, such as vitamins B, A, D and K. The key point with eggs is the natural protein that our body can fully utilize. In combination with the amino acids, the interaction is optimal, and they also fill you up for a long time.

Eggs were notorious for a long time because of their high cholesterol level, but this is only a concern for people who already have high levels in this area anyway. For healthy people this is not relevant.

3. Coffee

A morning without coffee is unthinkable for many people. It helps us to start the day fit or to get us out of the midday slump. Three to four cups of coffee are considered normal daily consumption. The drink is said to promote our performance and reduce the risk of diabetes. In addition, coffee stimulates intestinal activity, thus promoting the intestinal flora and reducing the risk of colon cancer. Even the liver function is said to be significantly improved by the caffeine drink.

4. Chocolate

It is already known to have a high magnesium content. So it is good for nerves and muscles. It helps with stress and tastes great too. Cocoa even contains iron and zinc. But the digestion also benefits from the sweets, because in moderation they have an anti-inflammatory effect and boost the metabolism. The higher the cocoa content, the healthier the chocolate. Instead of a chocolate biscuit, simply snack on a bit of dark chocolate.

5. Peanut Butter

More than just fat – the peanut butter. It sounds incredibly unhealthy at first. The newfangled, delicious, sweet spread from the USA. Unfortunately, the unhealthy stereotype also applies to some varieties, but as soon as you reach for a product that consists only of peanuts and a little salt, you are supplying your body with vitamin E, fiber and proteins. Vitamin E, for example, helps to preserve cognitive abilities, especially in older people.

6. Popcorn

Of course, this doesn’t mean the sweetened, caramel-covered XXL popcorn bucket from the cinema, but popcorn is actually not as unhealthy as many people think. However, there are also salty or natural variants. Because popcorn contains medium- and long-chain carbohydrates, which provide energy over a long period of time. The popped corn contains fiber and the volume of the grains ensures a long saturation phase, which is why it is sometimes even used to lose weight – this certainly sounds utopian to some, but many athletes use popcorn as a source of energy.

7. Corn

Even in its pure form, corn is a great food. It is often avoided due to its starch content, but it is actually packed with proteins, fiber and B vitamins. For example, corn is ideal for very thin or weak people, because the starch it contains in large quantities helps to build up weight and body mass.

8. Burritos

The Mexican dish has long since arrived in Germany and is eaten here at least as much as in its home country. However, they are not exactly considered “healthy”. But it depends on the filling, because if you adjust it, the burrito is anything but unhealthy. For example, choose brown rice, chicken, beans and avocado and this meal will give you everything you need for the day. This dish is full of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. However, you have to do without sour cream and cheese for the healthy version.

9. Bananas

Although the banana is a fruit, it is often considered unhealthy because of its high carbohydrate and sugar content. But due to its vitamin C, B6 and potassium content, it is actually very healthy. By the way, if it is a small fruit, it does not contain more calories than an apple.

10. Butter

She doesn’t have to let herself be taken away from bread. Butter contains saturated fatty acids, but also polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. As many people think, saturated fat has not been shown to be bad for heart or cholesterol.

Thanks to vitamins A, D, E, omega-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid, the butter is anything but unhealthy. The butter is just right for people with stomach problems because it is easy to digest. Due to the milk fat it contains, the food also has a positive effect on the risk of heart attack.

The aromatic-sweet spice not only tastes delicious, but is also said to have a healing effect. We will tell you here what exactly is in marjoram.

Effect of marjoram: The healing spice is beneficial

Marjoram is even more popular with many cooks than the spicy oregano. Due to the beneficial ingredients, the application is diverse according to spice experts. Marjoram does a lot, especially for digestion. This is what the aromatic herb contains:
Lots of essential oil: As with other spices, the oils are mainly responsible for the aroma, taste and healing effect of marjoram.
Tannins and bitter substances: In conjunction with the essential oil it contains, the tannins and bitter substances in marjoram are proven to fight bacteria. The spice has an antiseptic effect and therefore helps against inflammation and relieves abdominal cramps.
Secondary plant juices: Marjoram supports the body in the production of digestive juices in the stomach, bile and liver.
Vitamin C and zinc: The spice also contains vitamins that can help with colds and all the side effects such as coughs or runny noses.

One spice, many areas of application: marjoram is not only used in the kitchen

Due to the special ingredients, marjoram is not only popular in the kitchen. When it comes to health, many like to use the spice. Whether it’s a loss of appetite, flatulence and stomach problems, a cough or a cold: marjoram has a healing effect on the human body. For example, a particularly aromatic tea can be made from fresh marjoram. Our tip: For one cup, add one to two teaspoons of leaves and flowers to 150 milliliters of cold water, boil, strain and then drink at a pleasant temperature.

Classically, marjoram is a typical meat and sausage spice. Specialties such as liver sausage and black pudding, for example, are traditionally refined with marjoram. Especially in Bavaria, the herb is often used in the preparation of liver dumplings or roast pork. But the spice is also ideal for potato and mushroom dishes and gives every dish a very special taste. It is particularly recommended for use with greasy dishes. Due to the stomach-friendly, digestion-friendly effect of marjoram, you can avoid annoying stomach pains after a large meal.

In most households, oregano is probably better known as a spice than as a medicinal plant. However, the healing effect should not be underestimated. The ancient Greeks already knew how to use oregano for healing.

Particularly important: the essential oils of oregano

While only the leaves of the plant can be used for the spice, regardless of the growing season, the whole plant is used for medicinal purposes and reaches its best harvest time at flowering time. The tannins and bitter substances of the plant, as well as their essential oils, are particularly relevant for the healing effect. The latter include thymol, carvacrol, cymene and borneol.

Oregano mainly helps against digestive problems (in the stomach, intestines, liver or bile) and respiratory diseases and has a general anti-inflammatory effect in the throat and mouth. In addition, oregano oil is considered to be the most powerful natural antibiotic. The gesundheit.de platform recommends oregano tea (a teaspoon of oregano in a quarter liter of water) for various purposes:
Sweetened several times a day against coughs
Against indigestion, unsweetened after steeping for ten minutes
Against inflammation in the mouth and throat: gargle with tea

Oregano: Let it cook for a long time

Oregano is still very popular for cooking and is used as a spice in Mediterranean cuisine. It is important to note that the spice develops its flavor best after long cooking.

Proper nutrition is very important for our body, especially in winter. Why we are often more hungry in winter than in summer depends on several factors.

Reason for the increased feeling of hunger

The outside temperatures drop sharply in winter and also cause our sense of hunger to change. In summer, the heat means that we often feel thirsty and only want to eat light foods such as water-rich fruit or salad. The low temperatures in winter, on the other hand, put a lot of strain on our body: it needs a lot of energy to maintain body temperature.

This was especially the case in earlier times when our ancestors spent most of their time outside, even in winter. The body was often exposed to the high temperatures for a long time, so that it demanded more energy from high-fat and nutritious food. Our body still seems to relate to this phenomenon today, because even if we hardly spend any time outdoors nowadays, many feel more hungry than in summer. The fact that you are more hungry in winter is thanks to evolution.

In order to counteract the increased feeling of hunger, it is important to provide the body with the right amount of vitamins. If it is supplied with all the vitamins and nutrients you need, you normally no longer feel hungry. So try to continue eating as usual and only give the body a supplement of important vitamins.

The main question: eat more or not?

Your first thought might be that some love handles and belly fat can provide natural protection from the cold. This is not the most important protective factor: Above all, your body needs a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients during the cold months.

The body is rarely directly exposed to winter temperatures. Many people spend most of their time indoors in heated rooms, which is why hardly any more energy is used. Also, the amount of sport one does and the amount of work one does in winter does not depend on the time of year for most people.

So the assumption that you have to eat more is not correct. Even if, due to our history, we often have stronger cravings for a substantial meal, we should try to avoid them as far as possible: the extra calories are not needed by the body, so in most cases they only lead to greater weight. So if you don’t want to gain any unwanted pounds until spring, you should rather focus on a diet rich in vitamins.

These bodily processes take place

The body has to maintain our normal body temperature of around 37 °C even in winter. If the outside temperature is significantly lower, it becomes more difficult for the organism to regulate the temperature. After all, energy is required for this

But not only the generation of energy is a cause: The winter appetite is often of psychological origin and refers more to sweet and sugary foods. The reason is obvious: the cold and dark season creates a rather depressed, dreary mood for most people. However, if you eat sugar, a larger amount of tryptophan can get into your brain. There the amino acid is converted to the well-known serotonin. This puts you in a good mood

A dreary winter mood can not only be lifted by serotonin: The University of Texas found out that too low a vitamin D level can also have a negative effect on mood. So that you can be in a good mood in winter without a lot of sugar, it is important that your body is supplied with all the vitamins. It shouldn’t depend on how much sugar you eat.

Healthy eating in winter: tips

One vitamin that can effectively strengthen your immune system is vitamin D. The body normally produces this when it is exposed to the sun. Your body hardly gets enough sun in winter. It is therefore important to eat enough dairy products, fish, eggs and mushrooms, as these contain a particularly large amount of vitamin D. Vitamin C also plays a relevant role: If your vitamin C household is replenished, your body can better defend itself against pathogens. The vitamin is found in particularly high doses in peppers, brassicas and citrus fruits.

In the group of B vitamins, folic acid is particularly important: it effectively strengthens our immune system. If you regularly eat green leafy vegetables, beetroot, legumes or oatmeal in winter, you can cover the need well. Problems with the functioning of the immune system or an increased susceptibility to infections can also be associated with a lack of vitamin A

When it comes to minerals, zinc is particularly important in winter: it helps to maintain the normal function of the immune system. Zinc is contained in relatively high amounts in animal products such as meat, milk, fish and eggs as well as plant foods such as legumes, nuts and whole grain products.