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Calcium is the most important building block for healthy bones. But you don’t have to take calcium tablets straight away to meet your needs.

Why the combination of calcium and vitamin D is crucial

Vitamin D is mainly absorbed from the sun through the skin and only a little through food. But that’s less of a problem, especially for older people. “Vitamin D3 tablets are suitable here,” reports the umbrella organization for osteology.

Good sources of calcium include dairy products such as milk, cheese and so on. If you have a lactose intolerance, you can alternatively use water containing calcium. If the mineral water contains at least 150 milligrams of calcium per liter, it may be labeled “calcium-containing”.

But some vegetables such as spinach, kale or broccoli are also rich in calcium. It should be noted that you should not boil the vegetables but steam or stew them. When cooking, the calcium would settle out in the cooking water. In addition, the calcium storage can also be well filled with legumes and nuts.

Almost everyone sees worse with age – because the eyesight decreases. But there is a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy for as long as possible. Here you can find out which foods and nutrients support your vision and prevent eye diseases.

#1 Vitamin A – Carrots, Eggs and Milk

Carrots are the classic when it comes to healthy foods for the eyes. right? no In fact, carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into valuable vitamin A.
Vitamin A is needed mainly because of its antioxidant effect, as reported, among other things. This can delay symptoms of the disease. The vitamin protects the retina from diseases and slows down the age-related loss of visual acuity.

The health portal ranks liver as a great source of vitamin A, as does eggs and milk. Beta-carotene, on the other hand, is also found in peppers, spinach and kale.

#2 Vitamin B – Fruits and Lentils

In order to function well, the eye needs various B vitamins, such as B2, B6, B12 and folic acid. Regular intake of vitamin B prevents a deficiency and an associated increase in the homocysteine ​​level in the blood

This is of great importance, because too high a homocysteine ​​level can ultimately promote “age-related macular degeneration”. This damages the yellow spot on the retina of the eye, leading to loss of vision. Furthermore, B vitamins protect against the eye disease “cataracts”.

#3 Vitamin C – Cabbage and citrus fruits

The most well-known vitamin also has an important function in the eyes. Specifically, the cells of the retina need the versatile vitamin for their work
Vitamin C also provides the eye with valuable antioxidants and provides important eye vitamins that are needed to prevent macular degeneration.

The vitamin is mainly found in fresh fruit and vegetables. Veritable vitamin C bombs are kale and Brussels sprouts

#4 Vitamin E – Oils and Nuts

Vitamin E performs a similar job to vitamin C – the antioxidants are needed to protect the eye from damage. In addition, the vitamin protects our immune system.

Oils in particular contain a lot of vitamin E: for example, 100 grams of wheat germ oil contains a good 174 mg of the vitamin. 100 grams of sunflower oil contain about 62mg of vitamin E, with rapeseed oil

In addition, various nuts are natural sources of vitamin E. Peanuts in particular are a good supplier. The vitamin is also found in fruit and vegetables, such as peppers, mangoes and black currants.

#5 Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Fish

The eyes need omega-3 fatty acids mainly to prevent retinal diseases. For example, the occurrence of macular degeneration can be prevented.

In addition, the fatty acids are also required for two functions in tear production. On the one hand for the amount of tears, as well as to improve the tear fluid.

Foods containing omega-3 are mainly oils and fish. In addition, various cooking oils, some types of vegetables – such as Brussels sprouts and spinach – or nuts and seeds also belong to omega-3 sources.

Fruit is always healthy, no matter how much? Unfortunately, this is not correct. We’ll tell you which fruit you should stay away from – because it’s not as healthy as it seems.

Is fruit always healthy? no

Daily consumption of fruit is part of every balanced and healthy diet. But you can also do a lot wrong when consuming fruit.

Nutrition organizations recommend eating at least two servings of fruit a day. To put this in perspective, a serving of fruit is roughly equivalent to one banana or two handfuls of berries. The consumer organization Foodwatch is even calling for the VAT on fruit to be abolished so that Germans can eat healthier. But not every fruit is suitable for a healthy diet. We tell you which fruits you should avoid and why.

grapes

Grapes, the millennia-old cultural fruit – not so healthy after all? According to nutritionist Jennifer Hyland of the Cleveland Clinic, the tasty fruit should only be enjoyed in small amounts, otherwise it can be harmful to your health. The reason for this is simple.

According to Hyland, grapes are simultaneously very high in sugar and low in fiber. The fact that the grapes also have such a convenient shape for snacking between meals increases the health risk even further. Due to their bite-sized size and high sugar content, there is a risk of eating a lot of grapes in a short time, which can raise blood sugar levels and thus promote illness.

But you don’t have to give up grapes because there are ways to reduce this risk. For example, instead of putting whole grapes on your plate, portion out the berries so you eat less of them. Nutritionist Hyland gives the following tip: Freeze the berries beforehand for a sweet snack that takes longer to eat.

Important: To prevent grapes from spiking your blood sugar levels, it is always best to combine grapes with a protein source such as nuts. How about a handful of Greek pistachios* with the grapes, for example?

dried fruit

Many athletes promote dried fruit or fruit bars as a healthy alternative to chocolate bars. While that’s true, there’s a catch: Many dried fruits contain unhealthy added sugars, which not only can make dried fruits a real calorie bomb, but also spike your blood sugar levels.

Dried fruits have another problem. Most of the water is removed from them during the drying process. So far, so unsurprising. However, like fiber, water is important for the feeling of satiety. Therefore, dried fruits often tempt to eat too much of them. But: If you pay attention to unsweetened variants and the portion size, there is nothing wrong with dried fruit. In general, fresh fruit is always the better and healthier choice.

Also interesting: It is not only in dried fruit that there is a lot of sugar, also in many other foods of our everyday life there are enormous amounts of calories, without most people knowing it.

fruit juice, smoothies and squeezies

When it comes to drinks, fruit comes in many different forms on our menu. Whether as orange juice for breakfast, as a supposedly healthy smoothie for athletes or as so-called Quetschie, a fruit mush snack popular with children. And these fruit drinks really pack a punch.

According to a well-known TV advertisement, a glass of orange juice covers your daily vitamin C requirement. What many people don’t know is that this glass of orange juice also covers more than half of an adult’s daily sugar requirement. The same goes for store-bought smoothies and squeezies. The sweet fruit drinks are a supposedly good way to cover the daily need for fruit. These and even unsweetened fruit juices can also raise your blood sugar level significantly.

Normally, the fiber contained in fruit ensures that the blood sugar level remains stable, but this is removed in most fruit drinks such as juices, squeezes or smoothies. The following applies here: Making it yourself is not only healthier, it also tastes much better. If you can’t avoid store-bought juice, consider adding a handful of nuts or another source of protein, according to nutritionist Hyland.

An unhealthy diet promotes the development of pimples and blemishes. Researchers have now discovered that a certain type of milk is also said to be responsible for the annoying pimples.

This milk is to blame for pimples

The research team examined the milk consumption of 225 subjects aged 14 to 19 years. The researchers found that acne was much more common among adolescents who consumed low-fat milk at least twice a day than among those who drank a dairy product at most once a week. The reason: the glycemic index, which indicates the effect of a product on blood sugar levels, is significantly higher in low-fat milk.

In addition, if the body produces more insulin, the production of male hormones also increases. These are responsible for the development of chronic inflammatory processes.
Acne patients in particular should therefore avoid high insulin levels and refrain from consuming low-fat milk. If you are not prone to skin impurities anyway, you can still use low-fat milk without hesitation.

During the lunch break, many people grab fast food – after all, there is often not much time to eat. However, there are 5 dishes that you should better avoid.

Fast food during the lunch break: because it has to be fast

Although such a lunch “to go” is anything but relaxed, it saves time and is usually delicious. The choice of the right lunch should not be underestimated. Most people leave much more time for breakfast and rethink their eating habits more often. But at midday work is pressing and people only eat because of hunger. Lunch is the prerequisite for an energetic and successful second half of the day.

In the long run, the unhealthy lunch breaks can become a habit and have some nasty side effects. Fast and stress eaters are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. These include obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. In the short term, symptoms such as bloating or heartburn can be expected.

In order to prevent the mentioned possible side effects of permanently unhealthy lunches, you should avoid the following dishes in the future:

#1Pizza

A well-known lunchtime classic. A whole pizza is usually eaten up in just 30 minutes, because the break just doesn’t allow for more time. However, our favorite Italian food should remain the exception, because it contains significantly more sodium than the average adult needs per day. Elevated sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

#2 Sandwich

Even the popular sandwich or roll is not necessarily good for our body. A lavishly filled roll with greasy sauces or cold cuts usually covers half of an adult’s nitrite and nitrate requirement. It is better to choose a vegetarian alternative or a simple sandwich – without sauces.

#3 Burgers

The burger is also a popular lunchtime dish. Most of the time, fries and a soft drink are ordered as well. In combination, the calorie value of the meal naturally jumps up quite a bit. However, with this high-fat, calorie- and sodium-rich food, overweight, diabetes and high blood pressure must be expected if consumed more frequently.

#4 Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken is loaded with fat and sodium. In general, fried meals are often viewed very critically. In very large quantities, they often lead to cardiovascular problems and can even have fatal consequences.

#5 Hot Dogs

The well-known sausage with a roll, roasted onions and sauce almost completely fills the daily requirement of saturated fatty acids for an adult. In addition, there is a sodium intake that should not be underestimated, because a high sodium content can lead to high blood pressure. This also increases the risk of suffering a stroke or developing heart failure. In addition, excessive intake of fatty acids leads to higher cholesterol levels. This increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke even more.

Better: Tips for a healthy lunch

To avoid all side effects and dishes, but still enjoy a healthy and relaxed lunch break, here are a few tips:
60-30-10 principle: 60 percent of the break time is meal time, 30 percent exercise time and 10 percent relaxation time.
Eat in peace and take your time.
Choose lots of fruits and vegetables for your dish.
Avoid toppings on white bread, prefer whole grain rolls.
Consume animal products in moderation.
If possible, avoid fast food altogether.
Do you drink much

It’s pretty easy to make your own sweets, you just have to pay attention to a few things. You can find out what these are here. You know exactly what’s in the candy you make yourself. Making your own sweets can also be fun for the whole family, where the little ones are then rewarded with candy when the work is done.

Basic substance

The basic substance for all sweets is sugar, commercially available granulated sugar works well. If you choose 250 grams, then you should add 80 grams of water and then bring the whole thing to a boil in a saucepan while stirring constantly. It is best to use a stainless steel pot so that nothing can come off the pot. The candy base is ready when the water has boiled away and the sugar syrup has thickened. The sugar will bubble a lot as it cooks and gets extremely hot, so be careful not to splash and don’t touch the sugar with your hands.

You can color this with food coloring if you want. Silicone molds are good for portioning the candy mass. You can also use a spoon to spread small portions onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After cooling for a few hours, sugar candies are formed that are still sticky. It is now advisable to roll the sweets in flour, then they lose their stickiness and it is then easier to fill them up. Another option is to sprinkle the candies with powdered sugar.

Variation of fruit candies

For the production of fruit candies, simply add approx. 80 ml of fruit juice, for example, cherry juice, to the candy base from above. The sweets are then already colored red and absorb the cherry aroma well. In order to get a more intensive fruit aroma, you can also add, for example, 3 drops of lemon aroma and approx. 80 ml of juice, for example, orange juice, to the sugar mass, boil it up as usual, and you get citrus fruit candies.

Variation cough drops

This variant of making cough drops yourself is nicely explained in the YouTube video www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoItDpxlydY. Cough drops help as an effective remedy for coughing.
Here half a cup of sugar is used, add:

  • a good handful of fresh sage leaves, alternatively 2 tablespoons of dried sage, finely ground
  • 1 tablespoon of honey, preferably organic
  • 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • optional icing sugar for dusting

Here it is recommended to first prepare the sugar mass, then remove the pan from the heat and then add the other ingredients. Then make the sweets out of it, sprinkle with icing sugar, or roll in flour to take the stickiness out.

Variation caramel candies

Caramel candies are a tasty variation. You can find a good recipe on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtpNY2by-nU.


In addition to 250 grams of sugar, you need:

  • 100ml of water
  • 2 teaspoons of honey
  • 50 ml cream
  • 1 tablespoon of butter

The sugar, the water, and the honey are then first placed in a stainless steel pot, and the candy base mass is made from this again under high heat and constant stirring. Finally, add the butter and cream to the still-boiling mass. Then the mass has to cool down for approx. 15 minutes, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes to prevent layer formation. Candies can then be formed from the mass. After cooling, which takes 4 to 5 hours, the delicious caramel candies are ready.

Lose weight without much effort? – That’s fine. Because the key to every success in losing weight is not in meager diets: A fitness expert explains why it can theoretically also work with chips and cola to let those annoying pounds tumble.

In theory, you can also lose weight with chips and cola

The calorie requirement is the index of energy that the body needs to function. However, this is not the same for every person, but individual. Nutrients are divided into three so-called “macronutrients” or “macros”. These are carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
one gram of carbohydrates is over four calories
a gram of protein is over four calories
a gram of fat over nine calories
Fitness trainer Yannick Reinlein is certain that you can fill your calorie balance with unhealthy foods. For example, you can very well lose or maintain your weight with a diet that consists only of chips. However, Reinlein emphasizes that from his point of view this is not recommended. “You can definitely lose weight with the motto calories equal calories, but whether that’s healthy is a completely different question,” he says.

According to Reinlein, there are two main reasons why you shouldn’t do this: satiety and the feeling of hunger. “50 grams of carbohydrates from potatoes or gummy bears make no difference in terms of the calorie balance, but potatoes have a significantly higher satiety effect. So you don’t have to go hungry,” says Reinlein.

After all, unhealthy foods don’t have this name from just anywhere. Logically, it’s ultimately about the calorie balance that keeps the body functioning, but similar to an internal combustion engine, it’s always important to have the right fuel for the engine in question. “It’s exactly the same as cream and salmon. Both have fat, but the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in salmon is much higher than that in cream, making it a much healthier source of fat,” explains the fitness expert.

You can lose weight by eating unhealthy foods

Especially with a diet that focuses on losing weight, it is important to change your diet and use healthy foods. True to the motto “you are what you eat”, nutrition is the lynchpin for physical well-being.

“A healthy body loses weight better than a sick one. Digestion is negatively affected by an unhealthy diet, and it can also promote the formation of inflammation in the body. Only when the body is healthy can it fully perform the function of burning fat,” says Reinlein.

Nevertheless, everyday movement should not be underestimated. Every step and every extra effort ensures that the calorie turnover increases. Consequently, if you burn a lot, you also need a higher calorie intake. Conversely, this means that you increase your calorie turnover through an increased amount of exercise and the combustion is boosted. If you then also save on calorie intake here, you will quickly lose weight. A good example of this is Bernd Stelter. According to him, he has only changed small habits, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or simply walking more every day. With success: Stelter has become a whole 25 kilos lighter!

Additional movement increases combustion

Ultimately, it is even true: Calories equal calories. But even if the body functions equally well on a diet of chips and cola as on a diet of vegetables and meat, you can’t compare it. This confirms that you can lose weight through an unhealthy diet, but that there is no guarantee that you will be healthier afterwards than before. If you also want to go one step further and lose weight as quickly as possible, you will still not be able to do with additional exercise. Nevertheless, the old rule applies here too: Patience makes perfect.

Those on a diet prefer to avoid pasta, bread and potatoes. Carbohydrates are not as bad as they are made out to be. We explain what happens to the body when we completely avoid carbohydrates.

1. Your performance decreases

In addition to fats, carbohydrates are among the most important sources of energy. If you do without carbohydrates, this will primarily be noticeable in your reduced performance. You tire more quickly, are less able to concentrate and generally feel weak and powerless.

2. You damage your digestion

Your digestion is going crazy and you are struggling with constipation? Avoiding carbohydrates may be to blame. Good carbohydrates help to strengthen your intestinal health and promote beneficial intestinal bacteria. The resistant starch in rice, wholemeal pasta or potatoes is particularly important for a good intestinal flora.

3. You lose muscle mass

Without carbohydrates on the menu, muscle mass is a long time coming or disappears again. If the body cannot fall back on carbohydrates, it uses the protein reserves. But these are exactly what you need to build muscle. The hard-earned training results? Completely free!

4. Your mood suffers

It’s not just your performance that suffers when you eat too few carbohydrates. You’re in a much worse mood too. It’s not for nothing that we get “hangry” when we haven’t eaten. Because carbohydrates not only satisfy hunger. It has been proven that they even make you happy. Food high in fat and carbohydrates activates the reward center. And that makes you happy.

In fact, everyone knows that arsenic is poisonous. But did you know that the toxin is also found in rice? In this article you will find out what dangers the substance poses to children.

How does arsenic get into rice?

Arsenic is a metalloid that occurs naturally in the ground – more or less often depending on geological conditions. Types of grain, including rice plants, absorb arsenic compounds through their roots. These get into the fruit via the metabolism.

Rice is grown in flooded fields because it thrives best in wet, humid conditions. More arsenic ends up in the rice plants via the water than in other cereals that are cultivated dry.

How much arsenic ends up on the consumer’s plate depends not only on the regional soil conditions, but also on the processing of the rice grains. Because the arsenic settles in particular on the edge of the grains.

How much arsenic does rice contain?

Consumers cannot see how much arsenic the purchased rice contains. According to the BfR, the amount of rice that an adult can eat without causing health problems has not yet been researched.

According to the Federal Institute, the average amounts of arsenic in white rice are between 0.1 and 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. Brown, so-called natural rice, contains more inorganic arsenic because the outer layers are largely removed from white rice. Higher amounts than in white rice were also measured in rice cakes and rice flakes.

Is that why children are not allowed to eat rice?

The BfR assessment, according to which it is not very likely that the consumption of rice leads to health risks, applies to all age groups: adults, the elderly as well as children and infants.

Nevertheless, the BfR recommends parents not to feed their infants and small children exclusively with rice-based drinks or complementary foods such as rice porridge. According to the experts, products such as rice cakes should also vary with snacks without rice.

In addition, the BfR points out that rice-based baby food does not meet the needs of infants anyway due to the unsuitable nutrient composition.

Does washing rice help?

It is difficult to wash out the arsenic compounds from finished products such as rice porridge or rice snacks.

For rice itself, the BfR recommends washing it in plenty of water and boiling it immediately before consumption. In the case of rice with small amounts of arsenic, some of this can migrate into the water.
The cooking water should be poured off immediately after cooking.

Arsenic-free rice coming soon?

In a study published in spring, a Chinese research team, including scientists from the University of Heidelberg, succeeded in finding a travel plant that defies dangerous arsenic.

The researchers exposed over 4,000 rice varieties to arsenic-containing water and observed their growth. Only one of the examined plants with the name “astol1” proved to be tolerant to the toxic metalloid.

The plant develops the amino acid cysteine, which is an important element for the plant’s own development of phytochelatins. These substances have a detoxifying effect and are formed by plants in response to pollutants. The neutralized arsenic is stored in the roots of the plant before it reaches the rice grains and can become dangerous to humans. Scientists consider this plant particularly suitable for agricultural use.

Due to their high sugar content, soft drinks are anything but healthy. But what happens if we really drink Cola, Fanta, Sprite & Co. every day? We show what drinking lemonade does to your health.
Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Co. are among the most popular soft drinks worldwide. For many, the soft drinks are a little luxury that you treat yourself to from time to time. But for some, the sugary drinks are firmly integrated into everyday life. Coca-Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks. But how does our body react to the daily consumption of the caffeine-containing pick-me-up?

Drinking soft drinks every day: what is actually in cola?

Even as a child, it is made clear to you that soft drinks are not particularly healthy. But what was actually in Cola? A look at the nutrient table reveals the above-average sugar content. With around 10 to 15 percent sugar and around 42 calories per 100 grams, cola is a real calorie bomb. The values ​​for other soft drinks are also in a similar range.

In addition to the large amount of sugar, cola also contains caffeine and the acidifier E338. E338 stands for phosphoric acid.
The additive provides the sour taste. Other soft drinks such as Fanta or Sprite use the acidifier citric acid (E330).

1. Soft drinks damage teeth

First of all, the obvious: We are taught from an early age that too much sugar is bad for our teeth. Harmless oral bacteria feed on sugar and excrete acid as a metabolic product.

The acid in the additive E338, which is contained in cola, can attack tooth enamel after just a few sips.

2. Blemishes caused by too much sugar

An unhealthy and sugar-heavy diet is not only reflected in our waist gold, but can also be felt on our skin. Skin blemishes such as pimples or acne are often associated with high blood sugar levels.

It has been scientifically proven that young men with skin problems have, on average, higher blood sugar levels than men without skin changes.

So if you drink a soft drink every day, you run the risk of raising your blood sugar level and thus also the risk of pimples, acne and the like.

3. Soft drinks are fattening

Bad teeth, bad skin – all the sugar in lemonade and soft drinks is poorly absorbed by the body. The weight also suffers from the sugary drinks. With 42 kilocalories per 100 milliliters, cola is one of the unhealthiest drinks of all. It does not contain any vitamins or minerals and the body needs a long time to break down the many calories.

Other soft drinks also have high calorie values. Probably the healthiest alternative is water. If the taste is too boring for you, you can switch to unsweetened tea or give your mineral water a delicious taste with freshly cut fruit.

Sugar-free soft drinks also sound tempting at first: They contain fewer calories and you don’t have to worry about the harmful properties of sugar. But the low-calorie drinks are far more harmful than we think. Our intestines in particular suffer from this.

4. Caffeine promotes cardiovascular disease

Cola is also often called a pick-me-up. This is due to the caffeine it contains. If you consume too much coffee or cola, you also exceed the maximum daily recommended amount of caffeine (400 mg per day). This can increase blood pressure.

High blood pressure is considered a risk factor for numerous diseases such as heart attacks, cardiac insufficiency and strokes.
Those who like to drink coffee should avoid energy drinks and caffeinated beverages. A combination of both can quickly lead to an overdose, which can cause long-term damage to health.

5. Bad for the bones

Coke, in particular, can also damage your bones. Why is that? Cola contains phosphoric acid (E338).
If this is taken in large quantities, the absorption of calcium in the bones can be inhibited and bone resorption is promoted.

Calicum is an important part of bone formation and crucial for our bone density. Too little calcium can also be the trigger for the bone disease osteoporosis.

Conclusion on Cola, Fanta and Co.: Enjoy soft drinks in moderation instead of in bulk

Bad teeth, bad skin, bad for the bones, harmful for the cardiovascular system and bad for the body weight: It is best to stop consuming soft drinks and cola at all – at least that’s what it sounds like. However, you should note that all of the above points relate to excessive consumption of sugary soft drinks. Everyone can safely drink a glass of cola in between without getting caries directly. The motto here is: Enjoy soft drinks in moderation instead of in bulk.

As unhealthy as the consumption of cola may be, in other areas the lemonade turns out to be a real all-rounder – for example as a de-icer, toilet cleaner or limescale remover.