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Many people cook with butter. However, if you replace them with olive oil, you can do something good for your health. A more detailed look is worthwhile.

Butter or olive oil: (Un)saturated fatty acids – that’s how (un)healthy they are

In general, you can eat and enjoy butter in small amounts, for example occasionally on bread or when you use something for cooking. Apart from the so-called palmitic acid, it usually has no direct harmful ingredients. However, it does not promote health either – in contrast to vegetable oils. In particular, you should avoid large amounts of butter.

It is also important that you eat a healthy and balanced diet overall. The different fatty acids should be balanced.

A distinction is made between saturated and (poly)unsaturated fatty acids. Butter contains saturated fatty acids, olive oil contains many unsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be particularly healthy because they have a positive effect on blood lipid levels and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation, but are necessary for the immune system, for example. Edible fish offer ample amounts of omega-3; You can find omega-6 fats in meat and offal in particular.

Olive oil as a healthy alternative

Olive oil is generally considered healthier than butter. It is said to protect against cancer and reduce the risk of death. Olive oil can have a positive effect on cholesterol levels; so there should be fewer heart attacks in Mediterranean areas where a lot of olive oil is consumed.

It may also prevent Alzheimer’s. In addition to the consumption of olive oil, a healthy diet and the consumption of fruit and vegetables as well as an all-round healthy lifestyle play an important role, so that you are physically fit, for example. Olive oil can help you lose weight and is said to have a positive effect on your skin. Olive oil can also help you naturally cleanse your arteries. Butter, on the other hand, is more likely to get stuck in your arteries, which at worst can lead to heart disease.

There has long been a debate about whether coffee is harmful or healthy. A study now makes it clear: it depends on the type of coffee.

Filter coffee, French press or espresso: which coffee variety is the healthiest?

For a long time, coffee, consumed daily and in large quantities, had a bad reputation. It promotes cardiovascular diseases, promotes high blood pressure and also has an acidifying effect, it was said.

In their study, Willet and his colleagues were able to reveal that the right type of coffee is – on the contrary – health-promoting. Daily coffee enjoyment can therefore even prolong life. According to the research team, not the gently prepared espresso, not the coffee with the gourmet crema from a portafilter machine, but simple filter coffee is the healthiest.

In addition to finding that coffee can help you lose weight by curbing your appetite and boosting your metabolism, the scientists identified other health benefits:
Filter coffee lowers cholesterol levels
enhances the pain relief of pills
has an anti-inflammatory effect
protects against certain types of cancer (skin, breast, prostate cancer)
reduces the risk of certain liver diseases (liver fibrosis and cirrhosis)
lowers the risk of heart disease

Coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing diabetes

In an earlier study by the same research team in 2006, it was shown that moderate coffee consumption also reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes.

Coffee contains many phytochemicals such as polyphenols and alkaloids. These are important antioxidants that have an anti-inflammatory effect and protect against free radicals, which attack cell structure and are involved in the development of various diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular diseases). Coffee also contains a lot of magnesium, potassium and vitamin B3. In its overall effect, it can therefore positively influence intestinal health as well as sugar and fat metabolism.

In addition to these good ingredients, pollutants can also be produced when the beans are roasted. This is why the preparation of coffee is so crucial. Unfiltered variants, such as coffee from the French press or Turkish coffee, contain so-called diterpenes, which increase cholesterol levels.

Filter coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee

The much-praised espresso, which is brewed gently, also contains fewer, but still a moderate amount of harmful substances. Here, too, a certain amount of coffee grounds remains in the cup, which is often drunk as well. The bad LDL cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in coffees other than filter coffee by as much as 11 percent (when consuming six cups a day), the study found. Unfiltered coffee is therefore particularly dangerous for people with dyslipidemia.

If you drink filter coffee, you don’t have to worry about the quantity. A total of three to five cups a day are still considered healthy. Of course, the strength and roasting also play a role here. Incidentally, how bitter you perceive your coffee is partly dependent on your genes. Some people lack certain receptors that taste bitterness, which is why they perceive their coffee to be milder than others who have these receptors.

How do you recognize good bread? You can now buy it at discounters and supermarkets. What should you pay attention to?

Bakery and discounter: What are the differences?

Almost every discounter now has its own baking station. Fresh baked goods are baked and sold directly in the shop every day. In addition, many supermarkets have a wide range of packaged bread and rolls. But what about the quality of these products? Are they as good as the traditional bakery products?

The biggest difference is probably in the list of ingredients and the rising times of the dough. The discounters are supplied with finished, deep-frozen dough pieces. Many artificial additives and enzymes are needed to ensure that these have a longer shelf life and are particularly crispy when baked. In addition, the baked goods in bakeries and co are not prepared in peace, but quickly and as cheaply as possible. Therefore, the dough cannot rise slowly and is made to work faster by artificial leavening agents.

Traditional bakeries and some bakery chains, on the other hand, use local ingredients and prepare the dough without long transport routes. Small bakeries use good local flour and value high quality. However, this is also noticeable in the price, which is significantly higher than that of the finished products.

Quality: This is how you buy good bread

Bread from the baking station is therefore not necessarily unhealthy. It all depends on the type of bread and the list of ingredients. If you pay attention to a few things, you buy high-quality bread:
With whole grain bread, make sure that it really is whole grain bread. Many manufacturers use malt extract and caramel syrup to give the bread a healthy, dark color.
Grain bread does not equal healthy bread. Linseed, pumpkin seeds or chia seeds give the bread a healthy look. However, the bread can still be a nutrient-poor white flour product without enough fiber.
The shorter the list of ingredients, the better. Additives and sugar have no place in bread.
You can find out more about the ingredients at the bakery. Take advantage of the expert advice here so that you can find the right product for you.
Our conclusion: You can definitely buy good bread in the supermarket, but pay close attention to the list of ingredients. You decide which quality you buy and which companies or bakeries you support with it. In any case, you should consciously consume and enjoy bread and rolls.

For many, cola is a cult drink that is not only drunk as a cool refreshment, but also as a mixed drink at parties. But what effect does cola actually have on you? This is what happens after just one glass in your body.

Shocking news for all cola fans: this really happens in your body after just one glass

After all, cola is one of the most popular soft drinks, especially among children and young people. It’s no wonder, because the manufacturers’ advertising strategies seem to be working. On average, everyone drinks over 33 liters of cola a year (as of 2020). If you add the light versions, it is even more than 45 liters. Around 1.5 billion bottles are sold every day.

But what exactly is in the drink? What is it made of? The exact composition is closely guarded by the manufacturers.

But the main components are well known. These are water, carbon dioxide, flavors, colors, phosphoric acid, caffeine and sugar. And there is more than enough of the latter. A 0.2 liter glass of the dark fizz contains over 21 grams of it. And that’s more than 90% of the WHO recommended daily dose. And the light or zero version? There are artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, and a relatively large amount of phosphoric acid. Incidentally, the caffeine content is between 10 and 25 milligrams per 100 milliliters, depending on the manufacturer.

How unhealthy is cola really?

A nice ice cold cola. The taste on the tongue, the tingling of the carbonic acid. Who thinks at that moment what is happening in the body now? But maybe you should think about it a bit.

Let’s say you drink a 0.33 liter can. You’re immediately ingesting the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar. That’s already more than the World Health Organization recommends, which recommends six teaspoons. After 20 minutes, the blood sugar level reaches its peak. This causes insulin to be released, which prompts the liver to convert the sugar into fat. After 40 minutes, the caffeine intake is complete and the liver releases even more sugar. Blood pressure rises, the pupils dilate. In the brain, the adenosine receptors are blocked, which prevents sleepiness. After 45 minutes, the messenger substance dopamine is increasingly released. This ensures that we feel happiness and well-being. After an hour, the phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in the lower digestive tract, which boosts metabolism. This effect is amplified by the high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners, which drives the excretion of calcium in the urine.

After more than 60 minutes, caffeine’s diuretic properties kick in – you need to pee. And with it, calcium, magnesium and zinc, which, among other things, were intended for the bones, are excreted. Other electrolytes and of course water also leave the body. Now comes the sugar crash. You become nervous, irritable, sluggish, or all of them together. After a few hours, the caffeine crash follows. All the liquid you took in with the cola is gone. And with that, important nutrients that the body needs have literally ended up in the toilet.

Cola as a thirst quencher? These alternatives exist

If you now consider the effects that cola has on the body, what happens if you consume a lot of it over a longer period of time? Due to the yo-yo effect when it comes to sugar, the body demands more and more of it. You want to feel good, savor the happiness that dopamine brings about. And this is where the danger lurks. Too much sugar consumption can lead to obesity, diabetes and the associated damage.

The amount of 3 milligrams per day and kilogram of body weight should not be exceeded in children and adolescents. Together with the sugar consumed in large quantities, cola is therefore more than just questionable for young people.

Conclusion: Cola is not suitable as a thirst quencher. Along with fruit juices, cola is one of the luxury drinks and should therefore be enjoyed in moderation. Alternatives are spritzers or water, which you can enjoy with fruits or other ingredients as “infused water”. Homemade unsweetened iced tea can also be considered as an alternative. This turns thirst quenching into indulgence with no regrets.

The sight of yellowed, ugly, or old tiles can really ruin your day. When the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning is the outdated 1980s tiles, it’s pretty depressing. But don’t worry: Even if you don’t have the money to renovate your bathroom or kitchen at the moment, there are numerous ways that you can beautify the old tiles a little. We have summarized the best tips for pimping tiles for you here.

The simplest option: tile foil and tile stickers

Tile stickers can make boring plain tiles more exciting and hide ugly tiles entirely. The stickers combine many advantages when pimping tiles:

  • They are available in a wide range.
  • These are usually particularly inexpensive.
  • Applying the stickers is easy.
  • They are waterproof and therefore also suitable for wet rooms.
  • It can be removed without leaving any residue. It is therefore not necessary to obtain the landlord’s consent for this.

However, before you stick the foils on, you should thoroughly clean and degrease the tiles. Cleaning the tiles works with home remedies, such as a cleaner made from vinegar and washing-up liquid. So that you can easily move the stickers into the desired position, moisten the surface with water and a little washing-up liquid beforehand. In any case, the costs are kept within limits. You can find high-quality foils on the Internet for as little as one euro each. In most cases, however, they are not available individually, but only in larger quantities. This is how you can beautify your old tiles in a large project.

Coat tiles with tile paint

If you do a little research on the internet, you will quickly notice that beautiful new tiles are often much cheaper than you thought. However, if you shy away from a complete renovation, you can pimp the old tiles by simply painting them over with a special tile varnish.

Just like when applying the tile foil, you have to clean and degrease the existing subsurface beforehand. The new color is applied in two steps. First, you have to ensure that the tiles are properly primed. You can apply the paint with a foam roller. Make sure that the joints in particular are well filled.

You should apply the second layer after a drying time of twelve hours at the earliest. Ideally, you’ll sleep on it for a night before you start. If the tiles are in wet areas, there is also a third finishing step, because in this case you also have to seal the tiles. Since the tile paint is very difficult to remove, you should also clarify this measure with your landlord in advance whether you can beautify your old tiles in this way.

Plaster and paint over tiles

If you no longer value the tile look and would rather have a smooth wall surface, you can simply smooth the tiles with a spatula and then simply paint over them. Here, too, you have to clean and degrease the tiles in the first step. In addition, you must also remove the silicone joints before you putty, as the putty will not stick to them.

Hunger is not a nice feeling. It is triggered in the hypothalamus of our brain. As soon as the blood sugar level drops, it reacts. But what happens if this state is maintained for several days?

Consciously abstain from eating for five days: That sounds hard at first. You shouldn’t do it just like that and without informing yourself. There is the so-called therapeutic fasting: The withdrawal of food has positive effects on the body. In the meantime, the metabolism has to adapt strongly.

If the body is no longer supplied with food, although it is asking for it, it switches to emergency mode. He fears for his survival. First, the organism draws on its sugar reserves. These are stored as glycogen in the liver. But after 24 hours they are used up too. Next comes the egg white. It is broken down from muscles and also from the organs. The organs also lose size. At five days, however, the loss is still very small. From day four, the body falls back on the fat reserves and you start to smell unpleasant. Acetoacetic acid is produced when fat is burned. This is then transported away via sweat and breathing air.

Eating nothing: There are positive and negative effects

However, there are also side effects due to the lack of food. These include, for example, circulatory problems, headaches, freezing, water retention, sleep changes, muscle cramps, temporary visual disturbances and disturbances in the electrolyte balance.

In addition, the heart beats slower and blood pressure drops. After just a brief abstinence from food, the brain begins to produce more serotonin. Serotonin is also known as the happiness hormone. After a few days of fasting, serotonin stays in the blood for a longer period of time and your mood improves.

Under no circumstances should you just stop eating like that. If you want to cure fasting, you should get as much information as possible beforehand and possibly consult a doctor. Pregnant and breastfeeding women in particular, people with eating disorders or mental illnesses, type 1 diabetes, dementia or liver and kidney dysfunction should not fast.

High blood pressure is a widespread disease. The research team led by study leader Alexandra Wade has discovered that a certain milk product has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Study shows: yoghurt is good for blood pressure and cardiovascular system

But yoghurt and the lactic acid bacteria it contains are not only good for the intestines, but also for our heart. This is the result of a recent study by a research team from the University of South Australia and the University of Maine. The study showed how positively the consumption of the dairy product affects blood pressure and risk factors for the cardiovascular system.

Hypertension, better known in everyday life as high blood pressure, is a disease affecting more than a billion people worldwide. High blood pressure can, in turn, increase the risk of more serious cardiovascular diseases such as a stroke or heart attack.

In their study, the researchers came to the conclusion that the consumption of fermented milk products such as yoghurt, cheese or quark can lead to an improvement in the clinical picture. This is because dairy products contain micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are involved in regulating blood pressure in the human body.

Lower blood pressure with yoghurt: It’s that easy

However, yoghurt products are particularly effective because they contain bacteria in addition to the micronutrients. More specifically: “Bacteria that promote the release of proteins that lower blood pressure,” reports study leader Alexandra Wade in a press release. “The study showed that even small amounts of yogurt lowered blood pressure in people with high blood pressure,” Wade said.

The study conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a total of 915 people to examine the effects of yogurt consumption. The participants had to indicate how often they usually eat yoghurt. The research team also has different types of blood pressure

Likewise the body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar and other metabolic values. The researchers classified high blood pressure as a clinical picture from a blood pressure of 140 to 90 or higher. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120 over 80.

Yoghurt consumption lowers high blood pressure by up to 7 percent

The daily consumption of yoghurt led to even clearer results in this study. The blood pressure values ​​of subjects with high blood pressure fell by up to seven percentage points. The product has been shown to help lower blood pressure. According to the research team, the data evaluation shows a “significant association” between the consumption of yoghurt and reduced high blood pressure – but only among the participants who also have high blood pressure.

The value did not drop in the study participants whose blood pressure was already in the normal range. Of the more than 900 participants, 564 people had

Wade’s research team now wants to carry out further studies. The potential benefits of yoghurt will be examined more closely, especially for high-risk patients. But beware: Eating yoghurt alone often does not help. If you suffer from high blood pressure, try to gradually change your diet and start walking or exercising regularly.

High blood pressure is a widespread disease. The research team led by study leader Alexandra Wade has discovered that a certain milk product has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Yoghurt is what is known as a probiotic food. These contain certain living microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria or certain yeasts. These foods are considered particularly healthy, so doctors are happy to recommend them.

Study shows: yoghurt is good for blood pressure and cardiovascular system

But yoghurt and the lactic acid bacteria it contains are not only good for the intestines, but also for our heart. This is the result of a recent study by a research team from the University of South Australia and the University of Maine. The study showed how positively the consumption of the dairy product affects blood pressure and risk factors for the cardiovascular system.

Hypertension, better known in everyday life as high blood pressure, is a disease affecting more than a billion people worldwide. High blood pressure can, in turn, increase the risk of more serious cardiovascular diseases such as a stroke or heart attack.

In their study, the researchers came to the conclusion that the consumption of fermented milk products such as yoghurt, cheese or quark can lead to an improvement in the clinical picture. This is because dairy products contain micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are involved in regulating blood pressure in the human body.

Lower blood pressure with yoghurt: It’s that easy

However, yoghurt products are particularly effective because they contain bacteria in addition to the micronutrients. More specifically: “Bacteria that promote the release of proteins that lower blood pressure,” reports study leader Alexandra Wade in a press release. “The study showed that even small amounts of yogurt lowered blood pressure in people with high blood pressure,” Wade said.

The study conducted a cross-sectional analysis on a total of 915 people to examine the effects of yogurt consumption. The participants had to indicate how often they usually eat yoghurt. The research team also recorded various types of blood pressure.

Likewise the body mass index, cholesterol, blood sugar and other metabolic values. The researchers classified high blood pressure as a clinical picture from a blood pressure of 140 to 90 or higher. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120 over 80.

Yoghurt consumption lowers high blood pressure by up to 7 percent

The daily consumption of yoghurt led to even clearer results in this study. The blood pressure values ​​of subjects with high blood pressure fell by up to seven percentage points. The product has been shown to help lower blood pressure. According to the research team, the data evaluation shows a “significant association” between the consumption of yoghurt and reduced high blood pressure – but only among the participants who also have high blood pressure.

The value did not drop in the study participants whose blood pressure was already in the normal range. Of the more than 900 participants, 564 people had

Wade’s research team now wants to carry out further studies. The potential benefits of yoghurt will be examined more closely, especially for high-risk patients. But beware: Eating yoghurt alone often does not help. If you suffer from high blood pressure, try to gradually change your diet and start walking or exercising regularly.

Oatmeal is a true superfood, keeps you full for a long time and can help you lose weight. With this variant you can also boost fat burning.

Oatmeal is considered a superfood – why?

Oatmeal (Avena sativa) is tasty and versatile. As a low-gluten grain, they are also very trendy. They enhance your muesli, add the right bite to patties, can be baked into bread and rolls or provide sweet moments as delicious oatmeal biscuits. Despite their high calorie content, around 350 kilocalories per 100 grams, they can help you lose weight. In addition to the good taste, the crushed cereal grains also contain a lot of healthy nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals.

These healthy ingredients are found in oats
Complex carbohydrates keep you full longer because our body needs more time to digest long-chain carbohydrates. As a result, stomach emptying is much slower and you feel full longer. In addition, the blood sugar level rises only slowly and less insulin is required.
Dietary fibers are largely indigestible food components that swell up in the stomach and bind water. Oatmeal contains about 10 grams of dietary fiber in the form of pectin and cellulose for every 100 grams. These serve as food for the beneficial intestinal bacteria. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends that adults consume at least 30 grams of fiber per day.
Beta-glucan is a soluble dietary fiber that forms a kind of protective film on the stomach and intestinal mucosa. Studies show that beta-glucan has a positive effect on cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The oat diet has also proven to be very effective for controlling blood sugar levels. The health-promoting properties of beta-glucans from oats and barley have been sufficiently proven in studies. Corresponding health claims (health-related information) have been approved by the European Commission and included in the positive list of permitted health-related information.
Minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc, manganese and selenium provide the body with an extra portion of important micronutrients.
Vitamins, of which the high content of B vitamins stands out, support important body processes.

This is how oats become a fat burner

To boost your fat digestion, you should include oat bran in your diet, which consists only of parts of the whole oat grain. Oat bran consists of the oat seedling and the outer layers of the endosperm. It is more like a coarse, coarsely ground flour and has a slightly nutty taste. The benefits of oat bran are:
Oat bran contains 15 grams of fiber per 100 grams, which is 50% more fiber than the pressed whole grain oatmeal.
Oat bran also has fewer calories (240 to 330 kilocalories per 100 grams) than oatmeal.
Oat bran contains less fat than oatmeal.
Oat bran contains more beta-glucan than oatmeal.
Although oat bran doesn’t contain all of the oat grain, it has most of the vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber of an oat grain, but fewer carbohydrates.
Oat bran is not very tasty on its own. But you can refine your muesli wonderfully with it. To increase the protein content here, it is best to combine oat bran with yoghurt, chia seeds or nuts. This automatically reduces the proportion of carbohydrates and you support fat burning. You can achieve an additional fat burner effect by adding spices such as ginger or cinnamon. If you also mix your oat bran muesli with water instead of milk, you save even more calories. But oat bran is also very valuable as a flour substitute when baking bread or biscuits and stirred into sauces.

Tips on buying and eating oatmeal and oat bran

Prefer organic quality: In addition to the health benefits, oat bran is also a very cheap food. Even in organic quality, oat bran remains affordable and long delivery routes are eliminated due to regional cultivation. The consumer magazine Öko-Test repeatedly finds impurities in oatmeal. In addition to glyphosate, these also include mold toxins, mineral oil and nickel. Among the oat flakes rated “very good” all of the first five places were organic products.
Increase fluid intake: Oat bran swells in the stomach, so it also increases stool volume and stimulates bowel movements. That’s why it’s very important that you drink enough fluids, otherwise constipation or, in the worst case, an intestinal blockage can occur.
Increase the amount slowly: You should also slowly get your body used to the higher fiber content, otherwise digestive problems such as flatulence can occur.
Be careful with digestive problems and allergies: If you suffer from swallowing problems or constrictions in the digestive tract, you should avoid oat bran.
If you are allergic to oats, eating oat bran is also not recommended.
If you suffer from celiac disease (gluten intolerance), you can use non-contaminated, gluten-free oats, which must be marked with the crossed-out ear of corn symbol.

Finding the right stroller can be quite difficult. However, the following tips will keep you on the safe side.

Appearance isn’t everything when it comes to prams

Much more important are comfort and functionality. Is the child comfortable? Is there enough lying space (approx. 80 cm in length and approx. 35 cm in width)? You can also choose between a hard-shell stroller or a combinable stroller with a soft, removable carrycot that you can later convert into a buggy. The latter is clearly recommended if you want to save yourself the purchase of a buggy.

In addition to the lying surface, it is necessary that there is enough space to stow away diapers, baby food, any purchases, toys, and everything else that might be needed on the go. The stroller should also be stable, so you can be sure that nothing will happen if your child moves a little more violently. A special version of the stroller is the baby seat with chassis. You can transport the baby from day one and then easily remove the baby seat from the chassis and attach it to the car.

Also fully functional when mobile – brakes and suspension

Of course, driving comfort is just as important. A good suspension is therefore absolutely necessary – a soft suspension and larger wheels are advisable if you want to use more uneven roads, a slightly firmer suspension, and small wheels if you are more likely to be on asphalt, i.e. on level roads, in the city. A well-functioning parking brake is also necessary because you don’t want the stroller to roll away if you’re not paying attention for a moment.

Is the trunk of the car big enough?

Swivel slides also allow you to quickly change direction with your stroller and with height-adjustable slides you can adjust the push handles perfectly to your size. If you also own a car and plan to go on longer trips, it is also advisable to try out whether the stroller fits in the trunk before you buy it. Most sellers are so accommodating that you can try before you buy to make sure everything fits. Keep in mind that the weight of the stroller should be such that you can lift it without hesitation and also transport it over short distances (e.g. on stairs or on public transport). A well-insulated canopy is advisable so that the child can sleep peacefully and quietly. Defy wind and weather with the right cover for your stroller.

Which stroller is right for me and my baby?

It is up to you which car you ultimately choose. It is important that the stroller adapts to your needs and plans and is a safe and comfortable means of transport for your child. It is therefore essential to pay attention to the TÜV marking and/or the GS mark. In any case, the stroller purchase should be well planned. Do not save at the wrong end, because it is an investment that pays off in any case.