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It sounds too good to be true: losing weight without dieting can work. We show you which foods stimulate fat burning.

Lots of vitamins and minerals: grapefruit as a true super fruit

It is a real vitamin bomb: the grapefruit. The healthy fruit tastes bitter, but contains a particularly large amount of vitamin C, which promotes the development of connective tissue. The grapefruit owes its color to the dye lycopene, which also makes tomatoes red, for example.

The B vitamins contained in grapefruit, which are particularly important for the development of amino acids, i.e. protein building blocks, also boost the metabolism. The dietary fiber pectin leads to a feeling of satiety and also has a positive effect on blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, most of the pectin is found in the skin and core of the fruit.

Furthermore, grapefruits also contain many minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphate. Minerals are important for the body, but some of them have to be ingested through food.

Hot spices reduce cravings

Hot spices are also very healthy. The healing effect of the ginger root, for example, has been known in Asian medicine for centuries, according to NDR, and not only helps as a tea for colds. A study from New York proves that the root in water also helps with weight loss.
In food, hot spices such as ginger or chili lead to less cravings for salty, fatty and sweet foods.

The hot substance capsaicin in the chili pepper has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, as do the substances gingerol and shogaol contained in ginger. According to the Lucerne Health Center, the spiciness contained in chili increases

The vitamins and minerals contained in ginger in addition to the pungent substances, including vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron, are located directly under the peel.

Coffee: Germans’ favorite drink as a calorie burner

Coffee is the favorite drink of the Germans. Whether at work, at home or in a restaurant, on average everyone drinks 162 liters a year. The substances contained should even help with weight loss.

The caffeine in the beans stimulates the so-called thermogenes and, similar to the hot substances in ginger and chili, also boosts fat burning. According to the information platform, coffee should even relieve sore muscles after exercise. But be careful: Too much coffee can also have negative effects and harm the body.

Almonds as a power fruit

It has been known for a long time that nuts are said to help you lose weight. But in addition to walnuts, sweet almonds in particular are particularly good fat burners. Almonds are often counted among the nuts, but they are a plant species of the rose family. The core of the stone fruit is the almond, which botanists therefore count as a fruit.

The fruits contain many vitamins E and B, minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc as well as valuable vegetable proteins and roughage. These ingredients and unsaturated fatty acids fill you up without the body absorbing many carbohydrates.

Buttermilk: Slimming through bacteria

The low-fat milk product, which is a by-product of butter production, gets its typically bitter taste from the addition of lactic acid bacteria. Buttermilk has less than 1% fat and is rich in minerals and vitamins.

With around 232 milligrams, just 500 milliliters cover more than 20 percent of the daily calcium requirement recommended by the German Society for Nutrition. This stimulates the breakdown of body fat and thus helps with weight loss. According to the Association for Independent Health Advice, calcium suppresses the production of the hormones calcitriol and parathormone in sufficient quantities, which means that the body stores less fat and fat loss increases.

Are you looking for the perfect summer drink? Then you should try this ginger elderflower lemon ice tea with honey. The alcohol-free refreshment tastes delicious and is really healthy. Here is the recipe.

Recipe: Ginger-lemon iced tea with honey and elderflower

You need this for one liter of iced tea
A thumb-sized piece of ginger
Three to four tablespoons of elderflower syrup*
A tablespoon of honey
juice of a lemon
It’s that easy
Wash ginger and cut into thin slices
Pour a liter of boiling water over it and let it steep for at least 10 minutes
Add elderflower syrup, honey and lemon juice
Remove pieces of ginger, stir, allow to cool, add ice cubes and enjoy
A few more tips
You can peel the ginger, but you don’t have to – just wash it
The longer you let the ginger steep, the more intense or spicier the tea will be
If the iced tea tastes too sweet according to the recipe, simply reduce the amount of syrup and honey accordingly

By the way: You can easily grow ginger in a pot or in the garden yourself. Cut a thumb-sized piece with a “bud” off a ginger root, soak it in water overnight, and plant it the next day, about an inch deep. Water regularly and after just a few months you will have your own ginger plant at home, whose bulb you can harvest and eat as soon as the leaves turn brown. I’ve tried it myself, it works – even if the tuber harvested was admittedly not very large.

Drilling without dust – collect dust when drilling with the drill. When drilling holes, dust and dirt from the drilled hole tends to spread around the drilling location on furniture and floors. With our tips, you can prevent this problem and save yourself the hassle of cleaning.

1) Collect dust when drilling with a vacuum cleaner

You can prevent dust and dirt from spreading on the floor and furniture after drilling if you hold the vacuum cleaner tube of the switched-on vacuum cleaner very close to the drilling location while drilling with the drill. In this way, all the dust is already removed during the drilling process and does not cause dirt on furniture or the floor. Also, see our article on removing dust stains from walls and avoiding common vacuuming mistakes.

2) Wet rag to catch dirt

If you want or need to drill dirt-free and there is no vacuum cleaner or there is no electricity, there is a simple and free alternative: Use a damp cloth, towel, or similar. While drilling, you press the wet fabric under the drill – without touching it, of course – against the wall. The dust sticks to the wet fabric. This is an easy way to catch the dust. A helping hand can’t hurt here either.

3) Collect dust with masking tape and paper

Another alternative to drilling without spreading dust throughout the apartment is to use masking tape and folded paper, for example from a collage pad.

4) Professional helpers against drilling dust

A professional way of avoiding dust when drilling is offered by special attachments for the drill or between the drill and the wall. They are not expensive and you can easily use them to ensure a dust-free environment when using the drill.

A dream for many: unlimited food. However, unhealthy snacks promote obesity. However, the right food can be consumed at any time and in large quantities without a guilty conscience. We’ll show you what they are.

#1 Blueberries as a snack alternative

Whether as a snack in between or in the evening in front of the TV: blueberries are a healthy alternative to chips and chocolate. With just 42 kilocalories per 100 grams and numerous nutrients and plant substances, many of them can be eaten without hesitation. The berries also taste particularly delicious in salads or smoothies.

#2 Zucchini as a spaghetti alternative

You can definitely eat your fill of zucchini too. Zucchini noodles have now established themselves as a good alternative to spaghetti. 100 grams of the green plant contain just 17 kilocalories, so you can eat a good portion without a guilty conscience.

#3 Popcorn – the best snack in front of the TV

Popcorn is also a great snack. However, it is important that the popcorn is prepared by yourself and that excessive addition of sugar and oil is avoided. The delicious corn can be prepared in no time at all in a pot with a lid or an extra popcorn machine.

#4 Cauliflower as a versatile alternative

Granted, cauliflower isn’t for everyone. However, there are only about 25 calories per 100 grams of vegetables, which makes them a great alternative to high-calorie foods. Another advantage: the vegetables can be prepared in many different ways. So you can not only make a snack out of it, but also make a pizza crust or replace couscous.

#5 Edamame – the delicious Japanese specialty

Edamame are young soybeans and most people know them from the sushi restaurant. 100 grams of the beans contain only 122 calories and fill you up faster and longer due to the rich proteins. They taste particularly good in pasta or salads, but they are also a good alternative to chips as a snack between meals.

Make your own deodorant quickly and easily without aluminum. You can easily make sustainable alternatives to sweat and unpleasant odors yourself at home. Because these are effective and good for your skin.

The public debate about the danger of deodorants containing aluminum is known to many and it has not been conclusively clarified how dangerous they actually are. But a homemade deodorant with well-tolerated ingredients is just as effective and is becoming increasingly popular. So we’ll show you how to make it.

Why use a homemade deodorant?

Deodorant has become an indispensable part of everyday life. Because this should avoid sweat and unpleasant odors. We use it every morning and often in between. But again and again, it is discussed whether the ingredients are dangerous. The aluminum contained often got a bad reputation. Because it’s supposed to be carcinogenic. It is also associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Although it has not been finally clarified how dangerous it is, making a deodorant yourself is always worthwhile. Because you should also avoid other ingredients in store-bought deodorants. As these antiperspirants often contain parabens, triclosan, or emulsifiers. And these are not good for your body. That’s why we’re going to show you how you can make your own deodorant in the future.

How to make a deodorant yourself?

There are several ways to make your own deodorant. Everything is possible from roll-on to spray. And the nice thing is that you usually only need a few ingredients. You probably have these at home. Otherwise, they are easily and cheaply available in the nearest drugstore or on the Internet. So nothing stands in the way of you and your self-made, effective deodorant. You also make a small contribution to environmental protection in the household.

1) Make your own roll-on deodorant without aluminum

One of the easiest ways is to make your own roll-on deodorant without aluminum. And you only need 3 ingredients. These include water, cornstarch, and the popular home remedy baking soda. If you like, you can add a few drops of tea tree oil or another essential oil. This gives your deodorant a great scent. Here’s how it works: Heat the water in a saucepan and add the cornstarch. Then mix it all together until you get a thick liquid. Then let everything cool down and add the baking soda and essential oil. Finally, stir well and pour the finished liquid into a roll-on deodorant. Your homemade deodorant is ready.

2) Recipe for a homemade deodorant cream

A deodorant cream is just as well suited as a deodorant substitute. So your deodorant without aluminum is quickly made yourself. You only need baking soda, cornstarch, and the miracle cure coconut oil for the production. The baking soda protects you from unpleasant odors and prevents bacteria from multiplying. And the coconut oil gently cares for your skin and also has an antibacterial effect. Here’s how it works: First, bring the coconut oil into a soft, liquid form. So that you can stir the other ingredients into it. Then pour the mixture into a container and let it cool down. Now you can apply your homemade deodorant with your fingers. Also, note useful home remedies for removing deodorant stains.

Ingredients needed

  • 15 g coconut oil
  • 25 g baking soda
  • 20 g cornstarch
  • 10 drops of essential oil (optional)
  • 10 drops of tea tree oil (optional)

3) Make a spray deodorant yourself

You can also make a spray deodorant quickly and easily. For this, you need a spray bottle in which you can put the liquid. You also need water, baking soda, and the effective miracle cure tea tree oil. Then mix all the ingredients together and your deodorant is ready without aluminum and other harmful ingredients. And you can use it on the go. In addition, it is super cheap to manufacture. Also, note our tips for making your own shampoo.

With only 3 ingredients

  • 100ml of water
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 10 drops of essential oil

4) Make deodorant from herbs

For even more natural on your skin, you can simply make your antiperspirant from herbs. But that requires a little patience. Because you first have to extract the active ingredients from the herbs. To do this, chop the herbs of your choice and put them in a lockable container (it should be 2/3 full). Then fill the container with the all-rounder vinegar and let it work for four weeks. You should place it in a warm and sunny place. Equally important is that you shake it gently every day. After four weeks, pass the mixture through a sieve and fill it into a spray bottle. You can also add a few drops of essential oil. Take a look at our recipes for making peelings yourself.

Ingredients and suitable herbs

  • herbs of your choice
  • Vinegar
  • volatile oil

The low-carb diet is neither healthy nor effective: numerous researchers have proven this in a large-scale study. But cutting out carbohydrates can actually have harmful side effects.

Low-carb has no benefits, my science experts say

“Weight loss in people eating a low-carb diet is not very different from weight loss in people eating a balanced carbohydrate diet,” writes study lead author Celeste Naude of Stellenbosch University in Cape Town.

The researchers also monitored the diets for their effects on changes in heart disease risk and increases in LDL cholesterol (so-called “unhealthy” cholesterol) over a two-year period. The result: There were few if any differences between the diets. “Both in patients with and without type 2 diabetes,” explained Naude.

The German Diabetes Society (DDG) also explained in advance of the publication that low-carb is neither the best nor the healthiest form of a diet. The DDG stated: “Since December 2021, the motto for diabetics is that weight loss strategies should be based on individual preferences

Even as a preventive measure, “low carb” is not an option

The result of the review was already foreseeable in advance. Several previous studies from previous years produced comparable results. The result was almost unanimous: “There is no difference between losing weight with low-carb or high-carb.” obese subjects after 12 months comparable to that of a low-fat diet.”

With regard to obesity and diabetes prevention, the low-carb diet does not seem to be really suitable. The research group of the American cardiovascular society National Lipid Association (NLA) wrote in a journal in 2018: “Based on the verified evidence, low and very low carbohydrate diets are not superior to other dietary approaches for weight loss.”

The statement accompanying this opinion stated that there would be little data on long-term efficacy and safety. American researchers have a similar opinion. “Physicians are encouraged to consider the findings discussed in this scientific opinion when advising patients on low-carb diets.”

“The side effects of the low-carb diet are only now becoming public,” said the former DGE President

Professor Stefan Lorkowski, Head of Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Jena, wrote in the medical journal “It is attractive, but naive to believe that simply changing the ratio of carbohydrates and fats is sufficient. Rather, it depends on their nutritional quality and, above all, their energy balance.”

Professor Alfred Wirth agrees. The former president of the German Obesity Society explained: “Almost all studies show that a low-carb diet is not superior and that the energy deficit is particularly important when it comes to weight loss.” Both researchers criticize the increase in LDL cholesterol in particular in low-carb diets as critical to health.

The former President of the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) Helmut Hesekers already criticized in 2019: “The long-standing demonization of carbohydrates is suddenly exposed by trendsetters as a big mistake. Atkins, South Beach, Hollywood Star, Mayo, Logi and Paleo diets – evolution or Harvard – are not only exposed as ineffective, worse: Instead, long-overlooked or denied side effects such as bad breath, muscle cramps , nausea and headaches came to the fore.”

After a long day at school, the children are happy to finally come home. But the unpleasant homework is usually already waiting there. Whether homework makes sense or not has been discussed for a long time. But whatever your opinion, many children and parents find doing homework tedious and stressful.

Why is there homework?

A first step for doing homework stress-free is to know what it is actually useful for. Homework should help the children to memorize something better. Looking up, repeating, and completing the tasks independently not only promotes concentration and stamina. Homework can also increase thinking skills and self-confidence, as well as promote creativity. However, the tasks at home must be done stress-free and with joy.

Doing homework made easy

If you want to help your child to make their homework a success, use the following tips. These can help reduce frustration and stress on both sides. It is also clear that some children do their homework and learning is easier than others. The respective subject can also be decisive. Nevertheless, you should always have understanding for your children if things don’t go so well.

1) Self-organization is important

Homework serves to deepen the subject matter and consolidate what has been learned through repetition. Children learn to work independently and in a structured way and to organize themselves. It helps the teacher to get an insight into the level of knowledge and the problems of the child. But this form of organization must first be learned and internalized.

  • Order on the desk is the be-all and end-all. It’s difficult to learn between lots of toys and loose sheets of paper and your child will be constantly distracted. When everything has its place, you can study in peace.
  • Homework books make organization easier. These can also be held if children are not yet able to read and write. Different colors are simply assigned to the different compartments. Then the respective color of the subject can be entered in the exercise book.
  • Making weekly plans can be helpful for older students who have more complex homework to do over a longer period of time. This way you don’t lose track and avoid having to do too much homework at once.

2) Create the right learning environment

Children need a quiet, tidy environment to learn. Therefore, the first thing to do is create order so that they feel comfortable in their learning environment. A bright, friendly place without a running TV or computer is the prerequisite for stress-free learning. It is best to ensure that your child sits comfortably and healthily. Movement breaks every 20-30 minutes also promote concentration and maintain health.

3) Proper time management for doing homework

Appropriate time management when learning is good for you and your child. However, the right time for learning and for homework is individual. You should therefore find out in advance what time is best for your child and clarify the following questions:

  • Talk to your child about when they would most like to do their homework. Then, during the conversation, point out that it’s great when things are done because there’s still time to play extensively. Also, keep an eye on the whole week to pick out the best times.
  • Between 1:30 pm and 4 pm is the best time to do homework. Then there is still something left from the day. However, learning right after eating is not recommended, as your child will then be less able to concentrate. So better wait another half hour.

4) Questioning and listening

The best way for parents to help their children with their homework is to ask questions and listen. So if your child gets stuck, have the problem described to you. Then try to ask relevant questions and help your child to find the right solution by listening. Then it feels understood and gets a sense of achievement. In the long term, this leads to better learning success and more productivity. Approaching your child with impatience, negativity, and anger is less helpful.

5) Creative homework aids

Various aids and learning materials can help children to learn better through play. Your child can try out and apply what they have learned with the help of drawing boards, chemistry kits, puzzles, and online learning aids. Materials such as index boxes and cards, mind maps, or puzzle books can also give the otherwise tedious learning a different facet. Also, note other useful tips for successful learning.

6) Making mistakes when doing homework

There is a lot of truth in the saying “You learn from your mistakes”. Especially when it comes to experiencing and processing your own mistakes. So keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if your child doesn’t do their homework perfectly. It’s much more important that you try.

  • Making mistakes is not a bad thing and the teaching staff in the school should not know the level of knowledge of the parents but that of the child. Therefore, school children should largely do their homework on their own. The mistakes made can be used to clarify questions that are probably also on the minds of some other children in the class.
  • Be around when your child is doing homework. If they don’t know what to do or don’t understand the task at hand, they can ask you for help. Sitting next to it usually causes discomfort. To discuss the tasks after everything is done. This way you can help better and explain if necessary.
  • It’s nice to get compliments! So when a task is done well, or you see your child’s extra effort and progress, give them praise and show that they did everything right. What motivates and makes you proud.
  • However, if a child has persistently severe problems with learning, is very demotivated, and cannot concentrate on the tasks, these problems should not be ignored. Then it is best to talk to the teaching staff because frustration at school can have many causes.

Many people like to use sugar alternatives. Sweeteners are particularly popular. But appearances are deceptive: despite their good reputation, sweeteners harbor many health risks.

Risks of sweeteners: Experts advocate complete avoidance

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), less than ten percent of the daily energy intake should consist of sugar. Many people often consume far more sugar than they should and switch to artificial sweeteners, which, at first glance, appear to be a good alternative. But the chemical sugar substitute can cause unpredictable physical problems. Experts like Dr. Mark Hyman, doctor and best-selling author of the New York Times, even advocates a complete avoidance of any sweeteners.

Sweeteners are synthetically produced or natural substitutes, for example from sweetener plants for sugar, which are a lot sweeter. Sweeteners do not provide any food for caries-causing bacteria because they are not metabolized by the oral flora. Aspartame, stevioglycosides and sodium cyclamate are examples of sweeteners found in foods. Sweeteners have no or few calories, but taste about 10 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar. Sounds very tempting, but is not really healthy.

However, sweeteners are very often confused with sugar substitutes. Sugar substitutes are – in contrast to sweeteners – suppliers of energy. They contain 2.4 calories per gram, making them about half as “heavy” as sugar. The substitutes and also sweeteners are well suited for diabetics because, unlike sugar, they do not affect insulin and blood sugar levels.

That’s why sweeteners are so bad for you

Researchers looked at the consumption of low-calorie sweetened beverages in a study that found it was associated with higher total energy and sugar intake in children. Using 7,026 children who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey over five years, the researchers were able to evaluate nutrient intake from sweetened beverages compared to water consumers.

According to this study, sweetener consumption was associated with more total calories and added sugars. Based on this finding, researchers question the benefits of low-calorie sweetened beverages for weight management in children and adolescents. Large amounts of sweetener can thus change the entire metabolism and promote unfavorable weight gain, even if the sweetener itself contains almost no calories.

Since the composition of the intestinal bacteria changes as a result of the artificial sweeteners, weight gain can occur. Regular consumption of sweeteners also increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Sweeteners are also laxative, addictive, and can trigger migraines and skin rashes. And they are also suspected of being carcinogenic. So it seems the healthier option is to stick with “real” sugar and reduce sugar intake to a healthy amount.

Omit sweetener: These delicious sugar alternatives are available

While most properties of sweeteners are certainly compelling, over-consumption can lead to serious side effects. Therefore, you should not overdo it with the low-calorie sweetness and rather use natural sweeteners such as agave syrup or honey.

For many foods that contain sweeteners instead of sugar, you might choose the sugar variant, such as herbal candies or soft drinks. If you generally feel like eating something sweet and also want to do something good for your health, then simply grab an apple or a banana instead of unhealthy snacks or use agave syrup, maple syrup or coconut blossom sugar instead of sweeteners.

Other foods that do not contain any harmful sweeteners and still taste sweet:
dates
raisins
honey
dried fruit
bananas

Washing children’s hair can become an ordeal if they don’t want to. There can be many different reasons why a child does not want to bathe or wash their hair. That’s why we’ve collected useful tips on how to wash your hair without stress.

Clever hair washing without shouting and tears

Washing hair is often a problem for young children, as they often don’t like having water and shampoo running down their faces. It is also possible that they completely refuse to take a bath. The reason for the refusal of bathing and hair washing is the children’s sensitive sense of balance.

By closing their eyes and nose, they quickly panic and lose their sense of direction. The shampoo can also trigger burning eyes. So overall not a great experience. But there are ways to make the matter appealing to your child:

1) Bathing and washing hair together

Get in the bath with your child and wash your hair first, allowing the child to rinse your hair. Hold a washcloth over your eyes as you rinse. Then it’s the turn of the fur of a bathing animal. Finally, it is your child’s turn and they can protect their eyes with the washcloth alone. Also, read helpful tips on bathing babies.

2) Provide sufficient distraction when washing children’s hair

If you want to massage your child’s hair with shampoo, first distract your child with a water toy. You should also use other small games in the bathtub that include rinsing off your hair. In this way, you take away your child’s fear of washing their hair.

3) Put on diving goggles when washing your hair

Rinsing your hair as a diver, with diving goggles on your eyes and a snorkel in your mouth: that’s fun! As a result, you avoid the critical situation in which your child gets water running down their face and panicking. You should also protect your children from dangers in everyday life

4) Wash hair like at the hairdresser

Likewise, it may be more comfortable for your child if you wash their hair like at the hairdresser. So put your child on a chair in front of the sink or the kitchen sink. Then let him tilt his head back. As a result, the water only comes to the back of the head and does not run into the eyes. Also, note tips for gently caring for your hair in winter.

If you shave frequently, you run the risk of not doing your skin much good. Nevertheless, skin irritation, burning, itching, and red spots can be avoided. If you use the mildest possible treatment methods when shaving your beard and help the skin to regenerate itself.

Tips on how to shave properly

Frequent shaving damages the skin’s protective barrier and can cause facial irritation that can cause severe burning, itching, or just an unsightly red color and pimples. However, this is usually not due to the shaving itself, but to the pre-and post-treatment of the skin. These problems can be eliminated with a few simple tricks. Also, note our home remedies for razor burn.

1) Cleanliness is the top priority

The cleaner the razor blade, the fewer skin problems you will get from shaving. And if you know that, you can already eliminate a major source of danger. After every shave, the smallest particles of skin, soap, dirt, and other impurities stick to the blade and cannot be washed off. If these come into contact with the smallest wounds on the shaved skin, pimples or impurities can form. To avoid this, the blade should be disinfected before each shave. There are special liquid solutions and UV devices for this purpose. The shave can only be successful with a really clean blade.

2) Water, soap, and lotion only

Before shaving, you should treat the skin as well as possible with warm water. To do this, take a cloth soaked in water and place it on your face. The heat penetrates the skin and opens the pores. The warm water also causes the whiskers to soften slightly and the skin to become more elastic. The shave can therefore be softer and without injuries.

Soap the beard areas well. Avoid aggressive shaving soaps, instead, use mild skin soaps or try homemade soaps with natural ingredients. These put less strain on the skin when shaving than shaving soaps do. It is best to use caring soaps made from natural products that are greasy (e.g. with milk or honey). This cares for the skin while shaving.

3) Close pores after shaving

After shaving, immediately close the skin pores again. If you previously opened them with warm water, now close them with cold water in the same way. Quiet freezing. This will prevent dirt from getting into the pores and irritating the skin. Instead of drying off, let the cold water soak in for a few minutes. Now apply a gentle lotion and massage it into the skin.