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Grow Porcini Mushrooms in Your Own Garden

Porcini mushrooms are one of the most popular mushrooms on our menu. Year after year, their full aroma attracts many mushroom pickers to the neighboring forests. Even if such a walk in the forest offers not only full baskets but also relaxation, it would be great if we could also grow the popular porcini mushrooms at home.

Grow porcini mushrooms

The bad news first: while button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms and many other mushrooms can be grown easily at home or in your own garden, this is unfortunately not yet the case with porcini mushrooms.

Porcini mushrooms belong to the so-called mycorrhiza fungi, i.e. they absolutely need the community of living plants for the development of their fruiting bodies. Without this community, the underground mycelium will grow, but no fruit with the distinctive brown hat will be visible.

Mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies

What we commonly refer to as a fungus is actually just the aboveground fruiting body of a huge underground network, the mycelium. These cells of the fungal mycelium, which can hardly be seen with the naked eye, extend over long distances like a net in the soil or, in the case of tree fungi, penetrate entire trunks of wood.

In breeding, mushrooms are provided with a suitable growth substrate. This can be soil, wood shavings or even coffee grounds. In mushroom growing kits, this substrate is already inoculated with the appropriate mushroom mycelium.

Mushroom growing in the garden

For mushroom cultivation in the garden, holes are often drilled into old trunks or blocks of wood into which wooden dowels inoculated with mycelium are inserted. Alternatively, in addition to the dowels, a suitable substrate is also supplied in mushroom growing sets, which enables cultivation on or in the ground. For ideal growth you should choose a shady and slightly damp location and then be patient. It can take three to six months for the mycelium to spread.

It’s faster with the mushroom growing sets for the home. Here the first mushrooms can sometimes be harvested after less than two weeks. However, since the breeding ground in the mushroom boxes is limited, this is the end after two to three harvests, while forest mushroom cultures can be expected to produce delicious mushrooms in the following year as well.

Growing porcini mushrooms in the garden

Even if there are no growing kits for porcini mushrooms, it is not ruled out to grow porcini mushrooms in your own garden. However, your garden should be more of a small oak or spruce forest so that there is even a chance of colonizing a porcini mycelium. As with truffle cultivation, you can try to inoculate the soil around living oaks and spruces with unwashed mushroom pieces that still contain enough spores. With a bit of luck and a lot of patience and the right weather conditions, there may be success in the years to come. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can at least console yourself with little namesakes – the stone mushrooms.

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Lifestyle

Tips for Simply Keeping Your Home Clean

With our tips on keeping your home clean, you can keep your home much cleaner and thus prevent large dirt traps. This makes housework easier and saves time.

Cleanliness in the apartment

Where people live, it also gets dirty. Most housewives know the problem. As soon as a room is clean, you can start all over again. However, there are some housewife tips that help to make cleaning faster and easier.

Prevent dirt and grime: shoes stay outside

A lot of dirt sticks to shoes and of course, it automatically ends up in the apartment. Then the apartment can stink and unpleasant odors have to be neutralized. However, dirt that has been brought in does not necessarily have to be the case. In the future, the shoes will simply be taken off directly in front of the apartment door. If there is no space for a shoe rack, it can be placed in the hallway of the apartment. But the shoes are carried into the apartment, and a lot of dirt remains right in front of the door.

Order: no empty-handed walk

It’s a real nuisance when things are lying around everywhere and it automatically looks messy as a result. However, if you train yourself to never go empty, you can quickly get the problem under control. Just put everything away straight away. Grab the empty coffee cup on the way to the kitchen. All necessary movements can usually be combined with other gears. That way, tidying up happens on the side and doesn’t take up even more time. It is clever to use a laundry basket to help you. Then you can put the collected things in there and bring them to their place.

Establish a fixed order

The order has a positive effect on well-being. But this only works if everything in the household has a fixed place. Chaos cannot arise in the first place if everything is put back in its place immediately after use. This requires a bit of discipline at first, but it becomes noticeable relatively quickly. Of course, the entire household has to be sorted for this. But the effort is definitely worth it.

Remove dust collector

Of course, decoration always has an effect on the ambiance. And there is nothing wrong with a few nice decorations. But the more that stands around, the messier it often looks. Of course, dust also collects on decorative objects. Dust collectors should be avoided as far as possible. Especially those that you’re not attached to anyway. Sort out thoroughly once and you save time wiping the dust.

Remove small stains and impurities immediately

Of course, there is no getting around the weekly major cleaning. Smaller stains and dirt should always be removed immediately. Even if it’s just a spot on the work surface. Swipe over it once and it looks completely different. And it doesn’t all accumulate.

Plan to relax

The household is quite nerve-wracking and exhausting. It is certainly important that it is clean on your own four walls. Every now and then the budget can also be ignored. It is important for the soul to sit in a stable hammock from time to time and simply take a break. After that, you can continue with the household chores with renewed vigor.

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Food

Foods Containing Calcium: This is How You Cover Your Needs

Calcium is an essential mineral. It must be ingested through food. You don’t necessarily need milk for this, because many plant foods also contain calcium. You can find out what these are here.

Calcium: That’s why it’s important and that’s how much of it we need

The vital mineral calcium, together with phosphorus, is the most important building material for our teeth and bones. According to the Association for Independent Health Advice (UGB), 99 percent of the calcium in the body is in these hard tissues, the rest in blood and other tissue. There are also other functions that calcium performs in the body:

stabilization of the cell walls
Participation in the transmission of stimuli from nerves and muscle cells
Participation in the digestion of carbohydrates
important for the formation of some hormones
enzyme activation
The UGB explains that we excrete an average of 300 milligrams of calcium every day through sweat, urine and stool. To make up for this loss, we need to get calcium from food.

Guide values ​​for calcium intake per day:

Infants: 220 mg to 330 mg depending on the exact age
Children: depending on the exact age 600 mg to 1200 mg
Adolescents: up to 19 years 1200 mg
Adults: 1000 mg
Pregnant and lactating women: 1000 mg
Adolescents in particular should therefore ensure that they have an adequate supply of calcium.

Dietary calcium intake

However, the absorption of calcium from food is not always optimal. According to the UGB, the body only absorbs around 20 to 40 percent of the calcium contained in a mixed diet. Some factors that influence intake are age, gender, hormonal balance or the composition of food.

For example, some plant compounds can inhibit the absorption of calcium from food. These include phytic and oxalic acid, which are found in rhubarb, spinach and beetroot. Together with calcium, these plant substances form complexes that are difficult to dissolve and cannot be utilized by the body as well. Coffee, alcohol, salt and protein also promote the excretion of calcium.

Another important factor that influences the absorption of calcium is vitamin D. Without sufficient vitamin D, adequate calcium intake is not possible. Vitamin D can be made by the body in the skin if it is exposed to enough sunlight. In winter, this can be a problem, especially in our latitudes.

Tip: In the winter months, it can be a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement after consulting a doctor, so that calcium absorption is also improved.

If the body does not get enough calcium, a calcium deficiency can occur with the following symptoms:

muscle cramps
tingling on the skin
Skin changes, such as dry patches of skin or eczema
Impaired horn formation, which can lead to hair loss and brittle nails
Cardiovascular problems, such as circulatory weakness or cardiac arrhythmia
Digestive disorders such as diarrhea
If the calcium deficiency lasts longer, osteoporosis can occur, i.e. decalcification of the bones.

Calcium sources: Not only milk, but also plant foods
Calcium in food cannot be fully absorbed by the body. That’s why it’s difficult to give exact recommendations for consumption that you can use to cover your calcium needs. It is advisable to eat a variety of different foods that contain calcium.

Also make sure that your vitamin D requirements are covered and have a doctor examine you if you suspect a calcium deficiency. You can compensate for a slight calcium deficiency by eating more foods containing calcium. If the deficiency is severe, a calcium supplement may be recommended.

Calcium is mainly found in the following food groups:

Dairy products
legumes and cereals
vegetables
nuts and seeds

Calcium-rich foods: dairy products

When shopping, choose dairy products that carry a recognized organic seal, so that you support species-appropriate animal husbandry.

Calcium content in mg per 100 g of food according to the umbrella organization for osteoporosis support groups:

Emmental (45%): 1200 mg
Parmesan: 1100 mg
Gouda (45%): 800 mg
Edam (40%): 800 mg
Goat cheese: 700 mg
Whole milk: 120 mg
Camembert (45%): 600 mg
Buttermilk: 109 mg
Sheep cheese: 500 mg
Mozzarella: 480 mg
Kefir: 120 mg
Yoghurt (3.5%): 120 mg
Low-fat quark: 90 mg
Tip: If you buy plant-based milk alternatives, make sure they are fortified with calcium.

Foods containing calcium: legumes and cereals

For example, there are so many mg of calcium in 100 g of the following legumes:

Soybeans: 200 mg
Chickpeas: 120 mg
white beans: 115 mg
Tofu: 100 mg
green beans: 60 mg
You can also find some calcium in cereals. There are so many mg of calcium per 100 g of food:

Amaranth: 200 mg
Quinoa: 80 mg
Oatmeal: 50 mg
Wholemeal spelled bread: 24 mg
Tip: Soak dried legumes and raw grains overnight before cooking. In this way you reduce the content of phytic acid, which can inhibit the absorption of calcium.

Foods containing calcium: vegetables

Green leafy vegetables in particular can provide you with a good supply of calcium.

For example, there are so many mg of calcium in 100 g of the following foods:

Kale: 210 mg
Broccoli: 185 mg
Arugula: 160 mg
Spinach: 120 mg
Fennel: 110 mg
Leek: 80 mg
Kohlrabi: 70 mg
Tips:

You can improve calcium absorption from vegetables by blanching them. This reduces the content of oxalates and phytates in vegetables, which inhibit calcium absorption.
Incidentally, fruits also contain some calcium, for example dried figs (190 mg calcium per 100 g) and olives (95 mg calcium per 100 g).

Calcium-rich foods: nuts and seeds

Adding nuts and seeds to your meals can further increase the calcium content.

This is how many mg of calcium is in 100 g of the following nuts and seeds:

Poppy: 1450 mg
Sesame: 730 mg
Almonds: 250 mg
Hazelnuts: 220 mg
Walnuts: 85 mg

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Lifestyle

What You Can do With Your Organic Waste: 4 Ideas

Vegetable and fruit peels, seeds and coffee grounds all too often end up in the organic waste – although you can still use them all.

Each year throws in the trash about 80 kilograms of food. In addition, in the organic waste container, the least attention is paid to proper separation. It’s time to take a closer look at what we’re throwing into organic waste, and it’s really the least ough least ough.

Just eat the shell

With many types of fruit and vegetables you can eat the peel without hesitation. Apples and pears are no surprise candidates, but many people don’t know that the peels should even be eaten here, as they contain up to two-thirds of the vitamins.

Beetroot, kiwi, khaki, carrot and fig – with all these varieties you can save yourself the peeling. The peels of oranges are not poisonous, but due to their thickness they are not particularly digestible either. Hokkaido pumpkins also do not need to be peeled. And even the mango can be eaten with its skin.

However, you should definitely make sure that it is organic vegetables and fruit. Because conventional fruit is often contaminated with pesticides – up to 100 times more than organic, with kiwis the values ​​were even up to 3000 times higher.

Pull plantlets from shoots

If potatoes, onions, garlic and ginger are stored for a longer period of time, they form small sprouts that are all too often cut off and end up in organic waste. Instead of throwing them away, you can easily grow new plants from them: To do this, cover the white end piece in a container with about 1/3 of water and place it on the windowsill. After just a few days you will have a little seedling.

You can either chop it up and eat it in a salad, for example, or plant it properly. There will probably not be an onion harvest, but at least a beautiful, white onion blossom. However, be careful: If the sprouts of a sprouted potato are already very large, then eat neither the sprouts nor the potato – they form the toxic substance solanine. Garlic and sprouted onions, on the other hand, are harmless.

Plant or eat avocado seeds

Also not really productive, but at least nice to look at: A self-grown avocado tree. To do this, either plant the core of the avocado directly in the ground or first put it in a glass of water. With the second method, the core should be about halfway into the water. In a sunny spot with regular water, it will start to germinate after a few weeks. When a long root has developed, you can transplant the core into a flower pot.

What many do not know: the avocado seed in particular contains numerous healthy nutrients, valuable fiber and amino acids. They help fight high cholesterol. Nevertheless, the core ends up in the garbage far too often. You can also easily make tea from it or use it as a topping for salads and smoothies: Wash the core well, dry it, chop it up with a grater and roast it on a low level.

Coffee grounds: face mask, fertilizer, shampoo

This is how easy it is to make a nourishing peeling mask from coffee grounds: Mix five teaspoons of cooled coffee grounds, one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of olive oil. Apply the face mask and leave it on for 30 minutes. For an additional peeling effect, rub the mask with warm water when washing it off.

Fertilizing with coffee grounds is also known: enrich the potting soil with one or two tablespoons before planting, so the soil gains additional nutrients. Of course, this also works with plants that have already been used or in larger quantities in your own garden.

But even apart from its use as a face mask and fertiliser, the coffee grounds can do a number of things: for example, neutralize the smell of the refrigerator because it absorbs ambient odours. Or make your hair shiny. Simply leave the coffee grounds in your hair for ten minutes and then rinse them out thoroughly. You can also use leftover coffee grounds to dye fabric or Easter eggs, or use them as a grill cleaner with a sponge.

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Lifestyle

Feeding Cats: This is How You Feed Your Cat Sustainably and Healthily

The choice of cat food is huge. But how can you feed your cat well and sustainably? We give you tips on what you should consider.

Feeding the cat: nutritious nutrition for four-legged friends

Cats need a lot of nutrients that they can only get from food. The composition of a balanced cat menu consists of:

high-quality animal proteins,
fats,
phytonutrients,
vitamins,
minerals and
Water.
Carbohydrates are difficult for cats to digest. This is also one of the problems with conventional cat food: grain is often added to it, which can cause problems for cats. Of course, this isn’t the case for all cats, as many cats’ stomachs have become accustomed to even small amounts of grain over time

Ingredients for the cat food: what goes in it?

There are many foods that cats absolutely cannot tolerate: dairy products, onions, garlic, strong spices, grapes, raisins, caffeine, alcohol and chocolate. Under no circumstances should these products end up in the feeding bowl.

The composition of purchased cat food is particularly problematic. In principle, it doesn’t matter to your cat whether it’s “meat waste”, but it depends on the proportions. Too many hooves, claws or feathers can harm your cat just as much as too much grain, fat or meat components. Category 3 animal by-products may be further processed into animal feed, but are not suitable for human consumption. The quality of conventional cat food is therefore often inferior and enriched with additives, sugar and flavor enhancers. The cat can become really dependent on it. For this reason, your cat is better cared for with organic food. Here the quality is assured and the ingredients are sometimes even specified in exact quantities.

In addition to incompatible ingredients, there can also be residues of antibiotics and mercury (especially in fish) in cat food – even more reasons to use organic quality or even to prepare your own cat food.

Avoid cat food waste

If you buy cat food regularly, there is also a lot of packaging waste.

With dry food, you can buy as large a quantity as possible in one sack. If this is too much for your cat alone, you can simply share it with one or another cat owner in your circle of acquaintances.

For large cans of wet food, you can try reusing a matching lid from another product and using it to seal the can when you put it in the fridge. There are also bowls with lids, so that you can divide the large can into them immediately after opening and pre-portion everything.

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health

The 11 Best Medicinal Plants From Your Garden

Herbs in your garden are a pure delight. Its flowers attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies, they exude a heavenly fragrance and inspire new taste experiences in the kitchen. Some herbs can be the salt in the soup – or even replace it. Herb beds are usually easy to care for, hard-wearing and productive. And that’s not all – if you want to heal minor illnesses in a low-threshold way, you’re well advised to grow a few essential herbs in the garden. Some medicinal herbs also find their place on the balcony and windowsill. We have put together our top eleven medicinal herbs that should not be missing from your medicine chest.

Thyme – Small herb with well-documented medicinal properties

Thyme is indisputably a must-have among Mediterranean herbs. The herb with the small wiry leaves conjures up Mediterranean flair in your vegetable and potato dishes. In the garden, for example in the herb spiral and on the balcony, thyme makes itself popular because of its willingness to bloom and its trouble-free thriving. But the herb is not just a delicious spice in the kitchen.

Thyme has been used as a remedy for all kinds of ailments since ancient times. Its essential oils, such as thymol and carvacrol, have an antibacterial, antibiotic, expectorant, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect. These effects of thyme have now been well documented in studies.

Relieves airways, relieves spasms and relaxes the intestines

A thyme tea has an antibacterial and antiviral effect against infections of the upper respiratory tract. The antispasmodic effect also relieves the bronchial tubes. Thyme tea can also be good for the stomach. In the case of flatulence and menstrual cramps, it calms things down again. Drink a well-strained tea made from 2 teaspoons per cup of thyme in three cups throughout the day to allow the healing effects to unfold.

A thyme steam bath lets skin impurities disappear quickly and gently, because it has an antibacterial effect without destroying the pH value of the skin. You can also make a strong decoction of 100g thyme in half a liter of water, let it cool down and dab blemishes with it.

Real chamomile – Yellow tea against bad pain

The clear yellow tea from the white-feathered flowers is considered the health tea par excellence. It lives up to this reputation because the plant, which has been used for thousands of years, can alleviate a wide range of ailments. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Chamomile grows on barren, poor garden soil or in herbal soil in window boxes and tubs.

Inflammation of the gums or a sore throat can be alleviated with chamomile with a gargle solution. A tea can also be of good service if it has been steeped for a long time and is drunk in small sips throughout the day.

Chamomile blossom tea also develops an antispasmodic and antibacterial effect in the gastrointestinal tract. A decoction of chamomile flowers added to the water of a sitz bath can relieve minor genital infections and hemorrhoids.

Rosemary – The power of the coast for your muscles

Rosemary, the “rose of the sea” is relatively undemanding and grows in the dry zone of herb beds or in tubs and pots on balconies and terraces. Rosemary can grow relatively tall outdoors, up to two meters. Short-snouted insects like bumblebees and bees love the bluish flowers. We humans appreciate the bitter-spicy taste as a basic seasoning for soups and stews. The essential oils of the needles have a circulation-enhancing and warming effect. Rosemary loosens muscle tension, helps with rheumatism, muscle and joint pain and gives the circulation a boost.

Green Sud is also good on the head

Make a rosemary brew to harness its effects. To do this, strip the needles from the branches and put them in a pot with water. 100g of needles are enough for one liter of water. Let it simmer for twenty minutes and then pass it through a sieve. You can add the brew to your bath water.

20 g rosemary boiled with 250 ml water and poured with 250 ml cold apple cider vinegar results in a strengthening hair tonic that soothes your scalp and smells extraordinarily well.

Taken internally, rosemary aids in digestion. Add it to particularly fatty foods to aid in digestion.

Lavender – Violet happiness and calm for your nerves

The silvery stems and leaves of lavender and its purple flowers are the epitome of Provençal summer. Its distinctive sweet-fresh scent has been used in perfumery for centuries. You can plant it in the garden to border beds or to give a border of perennials a rustic look. It attracts bumblebees, bees and butterflies and keeps aphids away from other plants. But lavender also has its place in the herb bed. Lavender is an herb that has a beneficial effect on the nerves and psyche. According to studies, the essential oils contained in lavender, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids affect the nerve receptors in the body. The release of the stress hormone norepinephrine is inhibited and the body releases more of the happiness hormone serotonin. The mere scent has a delightful effect.

Sleepless nights? Only for the moths!

A lavender bag under the pillow ensures a peaceful and deep sleep. You can also make lavender tea from two teaspoons of dried flowers or add it to other tea blends. Lavender tea calms the nerves, clears thoughts and alleviates fears and depressive moods.

Indoors, the dried flowers will repel moths from closets.

Meadowsweet – Sweet pain reliever from the meadow

You may know Meadowsweet from walks along streams or wet meadows. The perennial grows up to two meters tall, has pinnate leaves and flowers in white racemes. Meadow hay with meadowsweet spreads a characteristic, cinnamon-like sweet fragrance. You can collect meadowsweet in the wild, but it is definitely worth cultivating the plant in your herb bed as well. Due to its height, however, the herb is not so well suited for containers or window boxes. The real meadowsweet has many healing effects that have long been known in folk medicine. It contains substances that have an astringent effect on the mucous membranes. This helps against colds. However, the high content of salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid methyl ester is particularly noteworthy. Together, these two substances have a pain-relieving and fever-reducing effect similar to that of aspirin.

Gentle drainage

Meadowsweet tea is also said to have a diuretic effect. The whole plant, i.e. stems, leaves and flowers, is used for medicinal purposes. You can make a meadowsweet tea by steeping a tablespoon of the chopped plant parts in a cup of boiling water. Then let the infusion steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Then pour everything through a fine sieve. Meadowsweet tea should be drunk as hot as possible to increase the sweat-inducing effect.

Sage – Bitter leaves against viruses, bacteria and fatty foods

Real sage is another typical Mediterranean herb, which thrives well in our latitudes and overwinters without any problems. It grows bushy and branched as a pretty purple flowering semi-shrub in our herb garden. The slightly felty silvery leaves taste bitter and aromatic.

Sage is a culinary herb that goes particularly well with hearty and greasy dishes. Its bitter substances stimulate bile production and help with fat digestion. The antimicrobial properties are used in the kitchen to preserve oily and fatty foods.

Not only is sage valuable for your medicine chest, but also because it contains thujone and camphor. Both substances are antibacterial and partially antiviral and are effective against inflammation in the mouth and throat with a sore throat. Prepare a tea from fresh or dried sage leaves. Ten leaves are enough for a cup of water. You can drink the tea or make a stronger infusion to use as a gargle solution. Anyone who likes to produce natural cosmetics can add sage to homemade deodorants, because it inhibits excessive perspiration.

Calendula – Rich orange is not only delicious, but also healing

The marigold blooms bright orange and lush as an insect magnet in your garden. The flowers not only enrich your beds for decoration, but also your diet with their edible, slightly salty-bitter petals and your herbal pharmacy with their healing powers. Their content of plant pigments, flavonoids and carotenes has an antibacterial, expectorant and wound-healing effect. Calendula officinalis, as it is called in Latin, is a traditional cottage garden plant that was used as a weather prophet in earlier times. It is believed that the weather will be nice when the flowers open in the early morning.

Since the 12th century, marigold has been used in herbal medicine to alleviate and heal skin complaints, gynecological disorders and as an antispasmodic. The flavonoids, glycosides, saponins and mucilage it contains are said to have a disinfecting, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and analgesic effect.

Refine tea and dishes with marigolds

You can use the pretty colored leaves of the marigold as an ornamental herb in tea mixtures and potpourris. They can be used as a substitute for saffron in many dishes. Whole flowers adorn salads and also taste great. You can pickle the marigold buds in vinegar and then eat them like capers.

In medicine, among other things, marigold ointment or wraps are used especially for dry skin and in wound healing. You can easily make a marigold soap yourself. The yellow-orange color of the flowers can also be used to dye rice or Easter eggs, for example.

Flowers for smooth skin and light legs

Marigold helps heal skin injuries and wounds by promoting cell renewal and protecting the wound from inflammation and bacterial attack. In addition, marigold promotes blood circulation and thus works against muscle and joint problems as well as heavy legs. The marigold also has a firm place in natural cosmetics. Marigold moisturizes dry, cracked or irritated skin and promotes the renewal of skin cells.

The marigold blossoms are used medicinally because they contain the important active ingredients for the skin, muscles and joints. Harvest and dry the marigold flowers as soon as they first bloom. Early picking also stimulates flowering.

Congestion in the veins, which leads to fluid accumulation and swelling, can be relieved with calendula ointment. The “heavy legs” disappear because the marigold has a stimulating effect on blood circulation and the lymphatic system. Fluid transport is improved and swelling can subside more easily.

Parsley – Healing outside the box

Yes, you read that right! Parsley, the evergreen and evergreen among kitchen herbs, can also be used as a medicinal plant. The main use of parsley is its dehydrating effect, which you can use internally and externally. Fresh parsley provides you with a high dose of vitamin C for your immune system. Fasting cures are supported by parsley tea because the tea has a strong draining effect. Add three handfuls of chopped parsley to half a liter of boiling water and let it simmer and steep for a few minutes.

Strong voice through green Sud

Drink the tea in sips during the day and stop the dose in the early evening so that you are not woken up at night by the urge to urinate. Parsley is said to help break down and flush out toxins from the body. The draining effect is also said to counteract high blood pressure. Externally, you can use parsley to minimize cellulite. Wraps made from the chopped parsley are said to do this.

Incidentally, a course of parsley tea is also suitable for intercepting a budding urinary tract infection. If you have to talk a lot or even sing, you can drink a low-dose tea that is lightly sweetened with honey to strengthen your vocal cords.

Peppermint – Coolness and relaxation for body and mind

With its sweet freshness, mint is the ultimate summer herb. Cultivating real peppermint in the garden is easy and always worth it. The herb spreads luxuriantly on damp locations that are not too sunny (install a root barrier if necessary!) and is more versatile than almost any other. Whether you use it to refine sweet dishes or teas, make syrup from it, season salads and dressings with it or add it to delicious cocktails – mint refreshes and creates a pleasant coolness.

Tasty and healing on top of that – mint calms the intestines

In addition, it also has some healing properties. The areas of application of the medicinal plant are primarily the gastrointestinal tract. Its essential oils strongly stimulate bile production, which initially gives a boost to fat digestion. Starting from the bile, the entire digestion is then facilitated. Mint oils can lessen or reduce bloating. Yoghurt dips with mint go perfectly with meat dishes and all dishes with legumes. Anyone suffering from irritable bowel problems can get relief with two cups of fresh peppermint tea a day. Mint oil has a cooling effect and can relieve tension headaches. A strong brew made from peppermint leaves also has the same effect if you place it on cotton balls and dab your forehead and temples with it. Symptoms of colds and runny noses are alleviated when you treat yourself to a mint steam bath. Peppermint is also used for muscle and nerve pain.

Lemon Balm – Magical aroma brightens the mood

Lemon balm is a grateful herb that branches out like a bush and thrives luxuriantly in almost any soil. Lemon balm takes center stage in the herbal spiral. It can also be planted in balcony boxes and tubs, but then it has to be kept small by cutting and dividing. The jagged, heart-shaped leaves of lemon balm give off a scent of fresh, tart lemon peel and can often serve as a substitute for the more expensive exotic lemongrass. You can process lemon balm into cold soft drinks and soothing tea. The flowers are small, white and inconspicuous, but very popular with bees.

Various substances in the essential oil, such as citral, geranial, neral and citronellal, are responsible for the scent of lemon balm. These oils are also responsible for the healing properties of lemon balm. You can use lemon balm leaves to calm down and improve mood against a number of psychological complaints. Lemon balm can also relieve indigestion. Lemon balm is even antiviral to a small extent. A tea made from its leaves can stop or alleviate the onset of a cold.

Arnica – Full flower heads have a gentle decongestant effect

Used as a medicinal plant for centuries, arnica was in some cases completely eradicated in nature due to excessive collection. Today, the wild collection of arnica, which occurs on acidic, poor meadows, is forbidden. In order to still benefit from the effect of the plant, you can plant it in your garden.

The healing effect of arnica against swelling, bruises and bruises is well documented for external use. In homeopathy, arnica is also used internally, but you should not take any plant parts from the arnica itself, because then it has a toxic effect.

Worth the wait

It is not very uncomplicated to plant arnica in the garden. Above all, well-drained, acidic and lean soil without waterlogging is important. Cultivation indoors towards the end of winter in February is also required. You can then plant the seedlings in May after the last frosts. You then need a little more patience, because arnica grows slowly and can only be used three years after rearing. When the time comes, you can make a tincture from the flowers, which can be further processed as needed. Add 100 ml spiritus dilutus from the pharmacy to 10 g arnica flowers. Shake the mixture daily for a week. Then pour the liquid through a fine sieve and into a small apothecary bottle. To make poultices with it, you need to dilute the solution at a ratio of 3:10. You can also use the tincture to make mouthwashes that have an antiseptic effect. The dilution is then 1:10. It is important that you do not swallow the solution! Children and those who are allergic to daisy family should refrain from using arnica altogether.

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Cooking Tips

Bake Your Own Bread with a Bread Maker

What could be more delicious than a nice piece of fresh bread? We Germans can call ourselves quite spoiled in this respect: where else can you find so much choice of different types of bread? But baking your own bread with a bread maker is also becoming increasingly popular.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s wheat or mixed wheat, grain, spelled or pure rye bread. There is the right bread for every taste. And if you want to bake your own bread, that’s no problem either. Because now baking with a bread maker has become very easy. But which model is really good?

Bake your own bread with lots of options

The first people to bake bread were the Egyptians. And even today, the number of people who now bake their own bread is increasing. Interested people exchange tips and recipes on social networks. The trend towards baking bread yourself is becoming increasingly popular. There are also more and more shops and online providers that offer a wide range of accessories for baking bread. Consequently, we will show you three variants of how you can make your own bread. You will also learn about the advantages of a bread maker.

1) Simply bake bread in the oven

If you want to make your own bread, you can easily get a baking mix from the supermarket. Then you can bake them in the oven according to the instructions and in a loaf pan. But if you’d like to have it customized and don’t want to use ready mixes, you can now find many different recipes for bread on the internet. Like the following video. In addition, also note our tips for storing bread and rolls correctly.

2) Delicious bread from the stone oven

Some even go so far as to buy a special stone oven (usually outside for the garden or terrace) in order to be able to prepare their bread or pizza in a particularly stylish way. In the long run, you not only have tasty and fresh bread, but it is often cheaper to make it yourself than at the bakery. And if you sometimes wonder where to put all the bread, read our tips on freezing and baking bread.

3) Bake your own bread with the bread maker

The bread maker, also known as the bread maker, does a good job. Because with it you can easily bake your own bread. In addition, you know what is in your bread and it is always fresh. For many who regularly bake their own bread, the bread maker has become an integral part of the kitchen. And there are good reasons for that, for example, it can reduce energy consumption and consequently you can save electricity.

How does baking work with a bread maker?

Since making your own bread with a bread maker is much easier and faster, the modern models are very popular in the home. The desired ingredients are filled into the integrated baking mold of the machines. In the middle of this baking pan is a dough hook, which then mixes the ingredients into a dough. The necessary resting time for the dough is also regulated automatically. Then the required baking process takes place. Depending on the quality of the device, you can adjust the degree of browning differently. Some appliances even have a timer function that you can use to program the start of baking. Also, note our basic recipe for gluten-free bread.

The best bread makers from the internet

The advantages show that purchasing a bread maker is worthwhile. But which one is right for you? We have the following a selection of the three best baking machines:

The all-rounder Panasonic bread maker

This bread maker comes with several useful components. These include measuring cups, measuring spoons, baking pans, and much more. You can use this to bake bread of different sizes and set any degree of browning. In addition, this device has a timer function and is easy to use.

Price-performance winner Unold bread maker

This model is not only convincing with its design. With this machine for baking bread yourself, you can use many different programs and sometimes make jam or pasta dough. You can also set the degree of browning and pre-program the baking time. It is also a device with a viewing window and is suitable for gluten-free bread. And last but not least, this bread maker is reasonably priced.

WMF Kult X bread maker for lovers

Anyone who knows WMF appreciates the quality. It’s the same with this bread maker. Because it has 12 different programs and a timer function for fresh bread in the morning. You can also use this to set three degrees of browning and keep your bread warm for 60 minutes. In addition, it convinces with its low wattage of 450 and is, therefore, a little more environmentally friendly than the other models.

Advantages of the bread maker for the home

Many wonders if a bread maker is even necessary. Because it is another device that takes up space in the kitchen. And yet the purchase of a baking machine can be worthwhile. Consequently, we have collected the most important advantages over baking bread yourself in the oven and bought bread for you. In addition, note our tips for healthy baking.

  • The bread is always fresh, unlike store-bought bread. And if you love your breakfast bread, you can taste the difference between homemade and ready-made bread.
  • Homemade bread contains no unknown ingredients and additives. Bread often contains additives that are supposed to make it last longer.
  • The production takes place according to individual taste. Consequently, you can add your favorite spices or delicious pumpkin seeds.
  • Making bread is faster and easier with a bread maker. This means less effort is required and you save time.
  • Baking with a bread maker is cheaper. The purchase is a bit expensive, but the long service life of the devices ensures that baking yourself is worth the price.
  • The bread-making does not need to be supervised. This means you can do other important things without having to constantly check the baking process.
  • The bread maker is environmentally friendly and economical to use. Because it requires less energy than your oven and you save energy costs.
  • Used to make different types of dough. So you can also use it to make your pizza dough or dough for cakes.
  • The baking temperature can be optimally regulated. As a result, you don’t run the risk of the bread drying out.
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Lifestyle

Vegan or Vegetarian: How to Deal with Questions About Your Lifestyle

As a vegetarian, do you even get all the nutrients? As a vegan, don’t you have to do without a lot? As a vegetarian, can you still…? If such questions sound familiar to you, you can find out here how to deal with them in a relaxed manner.

Your diet is your decision. And if you don’t want to talk about it, you can tell the person you’re talking to in a friendly manner. But: You can use such questions as an opportunity to arouse interest in plant-based nutrition and break down prejudices. A few general tips:

Don’t take questions as criticism. Maybe your counterpart is just curious.
Eating is an emotional issue. You will feel this when the relevant questions trigger something in you. Nevertheless, always remain factual, avoid accusations and do not appear “proselytizing” – this is how your arguments reach your counterpart best.
The principles of so-called non-violent communication help to formulate concerns clearly and precisely and promote a successful exchange.
For the other person, too, your own diet is probably an emotional matter. Therefore, good arguments do not necessarily lead to a change of mind. And even if a person has a positive opinion about sustainable eating, they still may not act on it: this phenomenon, where good intentions and actual action diverge, is known as the attitude behavior gap.

However, if you make good arguments, treat others with respect, and are patient, you may see an increase in interest in your lifestyle over the coming weeks, months, or years. The following sections provide ideas for answers to common questions.

Why do you have to eat veggie schnitzel?!

Not all vegetarians eat veggie schnitzel and not all meat eaters despise tofu sausage. And of course nobody has to eat tofu mince and vegan sausages. You can eat very well vegetarian or vegan without meat-like alternatives. However, if you enjoy the hearty taste or the meaty texture, you don’t have to do without it.

Incidentally, language has a major impact on whether things are perceived as desirable. If you’re trying to convince someone to try a vegetarian product, describe it in a way that gets them interested. If you think it’s “super delicious”, don’t hide it behind a shy “tastes pretty good too”.

It’s still harder for vegans to live healthy, right?

Of course, vegans (and to a certain extent vegetarians too) have to take a close look at nutrients and supplement certain substances such as vitamin B12. Meat eaters tend to be less concerned about their diet, but that too comes with risks:

According to the consumer center, men consume on average almost twice as much meat as recommended. Women are at the highest recommended limit with an average of 600 grams. High meat consumption can have health consequences: For example, scientists at the World Health Organization (WHO) classify processed meat products such as salami, ham or sausages as “carcinogenic”. Unprocessed red meat is considered “probably carcinogenic”. The risk depends heavily on how much of it you eat.

Note: Sensitive groups such as children, pregnant women and the elderly must pay particular attention to their diet. If you are unsure whether a diet is right for you, seek medical advice.

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Cooking Tips

Grow Your Own Coffee – This is How You Can Grow Your Own Coffee Plant

The sowing of a coffee plant is possible all year round. Cultivation works best with fresh seeds, which ideally can be taken from the ripe coffee berries. After they have been separated from their somewhat harder shell and the silver skin that encloses them, they can then be planted about a centimeter deep in the ground. It makes sense to plant each bean in its own pot. Head cuttings can be obtained from a coffee bush and planted directly in soil. A sufficiently warm location is important in both cases. If the plant is large enough and has adequate root development, it can be transplanted into a larger pot.

Now a mixture of soil and substrate is good for you, as constant moisture should be guaranteed. Further repotting is usually required at most every two to three years. Soft rainwater is best for watering. A slightly acidic soil, which favors growth, can be achieved by occasionally adding lemon juice. Tropical and subtropical plants such as the coffee plant from Ethiopia should also be sprayed with water every day if possible, as this allows them to absorb moisture through their leaves. Warm summer rains are good care for the shrub, which otherwise cannot tolerate outdoor temperatures. In the colder months, you should water your Coffea less, but keep the humidity as high as possible.

The coffee plant likes temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees, making it the ideal houseplant. In winter, it also tolerates slightly cooler temperatures of around 12 to 15 degrees. A significantly colder environment or drafts should be avoided. It does well in a light location, not exposed to direct or blazing sun or cramped by other plants. You can prune your coffee plant irregularly if a bushier growth is desired.

It can take a few years for the plant to flower for the first time. A brush can be used to help pollinate the flowers so that pollination occurs evenly. But then coffee cherries, the fruits of the coffee plant, also grow. The green berries turn red within 8 to 12 months and can finally be harvested. If you do not want to roast the coffee beans obtained in this way or if the yield is too low, you can of course use them as new seeds and thus increase your local plantation.

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Cooking Tips

Coffee Smoothies – Avocado, Banana & Co in Your Coffee

Proper nutrition can be difficult, but thank God there are healthy smoothies! They taste good and provide our body many valuable nutrients. But what if we tell you that you can combine your favorite guard drink with it? Even better!

We want to help you find your new go-to coffee smoothie recipe. Of course, there are no limits to you and your imagination, but everyone has their taste preferences. There are so many options, be it smoothies with fruit, green smoothies, vegetables smoothies or low carb smoothies for losing weight – why not a coffee smoothie.

Coffee smoothie with banana recipe

1 large cup of coffee
1/2 cup of whole milk (or almond mich for vegan version)
2 bananas
2 tablespoons of peanut butter (optional)
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
2 TL honey (or natural sweetener)
Pinch
Ice cubes
Chia seeds

Avocado coffee recipe

1 ripe avocado
250 ml of almond milk
150 ml of coffee
1 tablespoon of honey
2 TL cinnamon

Coffee smoothie with coconut water – recipe

1 frozen banana
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
125 ml coconut water
1 teaspoon almonds (ground)
1 espresso
All of these ingredients are mixed together in the mixer – and this delicious coffee smoothie is ready.

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