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Vitamins Obtained When Preparing Vegetables

Get tips on vitamins when cooking vegetables. Fresh vegetables should be a daily part of our diet. Because it contains many important vitamins and minerals. There are various tricks and methods to ensure that these are retained. We have collected them for you.

Because many vitamins are heat sensitive and water-soluble, they can disappear during cooking or frying. Therefore, you should only cook vegetables for a short time. Or better yet, steam it. This is how many vitamins are preserved. You can find more tips on getting the important vitamins in the following article.

Why are vitamins so important?

Vitamins are complex organic molecules. Except for a few, the human body cannot produce vitamins itself, but it needs them. Because vitamins fulfill vital functions. Accordingly, they are important for a functioning metabolism, the protection of skin and mucous membranes, and a functioning immune system. In addition, they are important for bone health, and mental health and help against spring fatigue.

Get tips on vitamins

Since they are so important to our bodies, we should be careful to preserve them when cooking, freezing, or other processing. But when cooking, it can quickly happen that the vitamin-rich vegetables overcook, so that the valuable ingredients are lost. The following tips will help you to prevent this. In our further article, you will also find out which vitamins are in which foods.

1) Raw vegetables are rich in vitamins

Instead of cooking vegetables as a side dish, you can make a salad to go with the meal using fresh ingredients. In this way, the valuable ingredients are not lost. But as already mentioned, some vegetables are better digestible when cooked. And since many vitamins can only be properly absorbed by the body in combination with fat, the salad dressing should definitely contain oil. Find out which vitamins are important for women.

2) Vitamins preserved when cooking

You should only cook vegetables for a short time with a little water (al dente) and not keep them warm for long, otherwise the valuable ingredients will be lost quickly. Since many vitamins are water-soluble, you should prepare vegetables in the steamer. Because the steam cooks it gently and the vitamins do not disappear in the cooking water. If you don’t want to buy a steamer, you can buy special steamer inserts for the saucepan online.

3) Freeze vitamin-rich vegetables correctly

Vitamins can be preserved by freezing vegetables. So you can freeze it yourself or use frozen vegetables and feed yourself rich in vitamins. It is important to freeze the vegetables as soon as possible. To freeze the food properly, you should cut it up into small pieces, blanch it briefly and then shock it in ice water. Then it goes into the freezer. Also, note our instructions for freezing meat.

4) Observe correct storage

Proper storage is crucial to prevent vitamin loss in fruit and vegetables. But the faster you eat the fruit and vegetables, the more vitamins you take in. Proper storage is not easy, as different varieties require different storage locations. For some, it should be cool and dark. While others cannot tolerate the cold and lose valuable ingredients as a result. Therefore, find out beforehand how best to store your vegetables.

5) Dry vegetables and protect vitamins

Dried fruits and vegetables have a longer shelf life. In addition, it can be very nutritious, as important minerals and trace elements are preserved during drying. However, vitamins can also be lost, which is why vitamin-preserving freeze-drying can be advisable. Also, note our other tips on drying food.

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Lifestyle

Planning a Baby Shower – When is the Right Time?

As is so often the case, the idea came from the USA, but it is also very popular in this country: More and more pregnant women want to celebrate a baby shower! The upcoming arrival of the baby is celebrated with the female friends of the pregnant woman. We have collected the best baby shower ideas and baby shower planning tips.

When is the baby shower?

Such a party usually takes place before birth. Since many people struggle with morning sickness in the first few months of pregnancy, a later date is usually chosen. You should also not set the date too soon before the birth. Because if the baby comes earlier than expected or the pregnant woman has to go to the hospital earlier because of complications, the party will, unfortunately, be canceled. So the mother-to-be should be surprised in the last trimester of her pregnancy. As a rule, a baby shower 6 – 8 weeks before the birth makes sense.

How to plan a baby shower correctly?

A baby shower is all about celebrating the upcoming arrival of the baby. Then there is delicious food, such as cakes, finger food or salads. And together, games that often have to do with the baby can be celebrated. In addition, the pregnant woman enjoys gifts for the baby and everything is nicely decorated. So a nice evening among friends. To ensure that the organization of the baby shower is successful, we have collected creative ideas for you.

Where is the celebration?

Since the friends want to be among themselves, most celebrate at home. Either with the pregnant woman or with one of the guests. If you don’t have enough space, you can also rent a room or, if possible, celebrate in the garden.

Planning food for the baby shower

First, you should invite the guests and set a suitable date with them. Then it’s time to plan the baby shower. Providing food is important as it is a big part of the party. There is usually a great cake, maybe even with the name of the child. Donuts, muffins, or other sweets can also be provided. You can also provide various salads, such as pasta salad, potato salad, and dips with finger food. It is best if everyone brings something with them, it makes the work easier. However, also note a healthy diet for pregnant women. But back to the cake. You can order great cakes online, but they’re not always cheap. Therefore, many make a cake themselves.

Baby shower party games

So that there is no boredom in between, there are great games for the baby shower. Of course, you can use existing games and play Tabu or UNO, which were used at other planned parties. But here are also wonderful games related to the baby. You can also find great sets and templates on the internet here. Then you can buy them or print them out. For example, here is a city, country, baby. It works almost like a city, country, or river, but here are the categories: baby clothes, baby food, baby toys, etc. There are also playing cards where the players guess the baby’s name or assign the baby’s characteristics to the respective parent. In addition, you can play the following games for the planned baby shower:

  • Guess waist size
  • Assign baby photos
  • advise baby porridge
  • paint onesie
  • Fill out the friend book
  • predict due date

Ideas for a beautiful decoration

Furthermore, decoration is a must for many. Here you can let your creativity run free and decorate the apartment as you wish. But now there are already ready-made sets for baby shower decoration on the Internet. This usually includes garlands, balloons, and streamers. You can also order matching plates and mugs. This makes planning a baby shower super easy. And the good thing is that this decoration is available in many different colors and designs.

What gifts for a baby shower?

As a rule, the guests of the pregnant women bring gifts that they can use for the newborn baby after the birth. They can be very different gifts. Some give diapers, burp cloths, baby clothes, or pacifiers as gifts. Others give baby toys, blankets, or vouchers. The best thing to do is to find out inconspicuously beforehand what the parents-to-be still need for their baby’s initial equipment.

What speaks for a baby shower after the birth?

Of course, there are also some reasons that speak for a baby shower after the birth. Parents often opt for this variant in order to offer guests the opportunity to get to know their newcomers right away. In addition, it is often easier for guests to choose a gift for the baby if their size, gender, and name are known. Also, note useful tips on pregnancy and how you can give the gift of joy with beautiful birth cards.

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Food

Cucumber Tastes Bitter: When to Stop Eating it

If the cucumber tastes bitter, caution is advised. We explain to you how long the vegetables can be kept, where the bitter taste can come from and when you should stop eating cucumbers.

That’s why cucumbers sometimes taste bitter

Originally, cucumbers were rich in harmful bitter substances, the cucurbitacins, which are typical of the pumpkin family. Modern breeds now contain very few of these bitter substances. That’s a good thing, because according to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE) they can be toxic to humans in higher concentrations.

Cucumbers from the supermarket are usually not bitter. If you grow cucumbers in your own garden, they may develop bitter substances, for example due to incorrect fertilization. The cucumbers then taste bitter.
This can also be the case if you buy home-grown cucumbers that have been incorrectly fertilized at an organic farmer’s market or in an organic store.
If a cucumber tastes bitter, you should stop eating it. Symptoms such as stomach cramps or diarrhea can occur if you consume too many of the harmful bitter substances.

Shelf life and storage of cucumbers

Cucumbers are sensitive to cold. It is therefore best not to store them below ten degrees Celsius, otherwise they can become watery and soft.

If you want to store cucumbers in the fridge, use the crisper drawers. It is usually not as cold there as in the rest of the refrigerator. Otherwise, store the cucumbers in a cool room with high humidity.
It is best to eat the cucumbers fresh. If you can’t use them fresh, you should only store them for a few days before using them.
Cucumbers are not suitable for freezing. They lose their structure in the process and become mushy when they thaw again.
Cucumbers are sensitive to ethylene. Therefore, do not keep them with fruits like apples that emit ethylene or they will spoil faster.
When buying cucumbers, make sure they aren’t bruised or damaged if you don’t want to use them right away.
In principle, as long as the cucumbers don’t taste bitter, are too mushy or moldy, you shouldn’t throw them away. You can also roast or stew slightly older cucumbers as a side dish or use them in a cucumber salad.

Cucumbers belong to the gourd family and originally come from northern India. They have about 97 percent water content and are very low in calories at twelve kilocalories per 100 grams.
Healthy ingredients such as provitamin A and various minerals are located directly under the skin of the cucumber.
You should therefore not peel cucumbers, just wash them thoroughly. When buying cucumbers, also pay attention to organic quality so that no synthetic pesticides and other pollutants get into your body.

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Food

These Vegetables Are Healthier When Cooked Than Raw

Vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals and other valuable substances. However, you should cook some types of vegetables to really benefit from the nutrients.

Anyone who pays attention to a healthy and balanced diet should eat as much fruit and vegetables as possible. However, how much the body has of the nutrients depends on the preparation. Some vitamins and minerals only become optimally “bioavailable” when heated, i.e. they can be absorbed by our body. These include, for example, vitamin A and vitamin E

1. Carrots

Carrots contain a lot of beta-carotene, which is good for the heart, circulation and skin, among other things. However, the body has difficulty absorbing the beta-carotene from raw carrots. It will be easier if the roots are cooked. Cooking causes the cell walls of the carrot to swell, allowing the beta-carotene to dissolve better.

In order to get as many nutrients as possible, you should only wash the carrot and not peel it. The bowl contains a particularly large number of valuable substances. In order for the body to be able to process the beta-carotene, it also needs some fat, for example a drop of olive oil.

2. Pumpkin

The same applies to pumpkins as to carrots. The plants also contain a lot of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body

3. Tomatoes

From a botanical point of view, the tomato is a fruit vegetable – in our kitchen it is mainly used in salads or sauces. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, a carotenoid responsible for the red color. The substance has an anti-inflammatory effect and also has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. Thanks to its antioxidant effect, it protects the cells from free radicals.

However, tomatoes have comparatively thick cell walls, making it difficult for the body to get to the lycopene. Cooking breaks down the cellular structures and makes the substance easier to absorb. Although this also reduces vitamin C, lycopene is much more effective than vitamin C, especially as a free radical scavenger.

4. Spinach

Most people eat spinach cooked anyway, but the plant is also often used raw in salads and smoothies. However, spinach contains oxalic acid, which can be harmful in large amounts. Oxalic acid also prevents calcium absorption. The heat from cooking breaks down oxalic acid.

Cook gently

In principle, the following applies to vegetables: it is better to cook them gently so that as many of the sensitive nutrients as possible are preserved. Also, don’t throw away the liquid that’s left over after cooking. It contains some of the vitamins and minerals and can be used well for soups or sauces.

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