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Make oat milk yourself – this is how it works: This plant-based milk is for everyone who is looking for an alternative to cow’s milk or nut milk. You can make your own oat milk with just three ingredients. This is full of valuable nutrients and provides you with many vitamins. Try it out – we’ll show you how quickly and easily you can make your own oat milk.

Healthy Flakes

Oatmeal is extremely healthy because it has a high-quality nutrient composition and complex carbohydrates keep you full for a long time. They contain a lot of dietary fiber, which ensures good digestion, as well as unsaturated fatty acids.

They are also said to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Blood sugar levels don’t rise as much after eating oatmeal, which helps prevent cravings. A good reason to make your own oat milk.

The small flakes also contain a lot of minerals, trace elements, and vitamins as well as iron, zinc, folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, copper, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Not only a hit in porridge

If you want to integrate the delicious flakes into your diet, you don’t necessarily have to eat porridge all the time. You can also make your own oat milk! This is not only a good milk alternative but also another plant-based milk that can add some variety to the diet.

Whether due to lactose intolerance or because no animal products are to be consumed, oat milk can be used as an alternative to cow’s milk along with almond milk and the like. But be careful: oats contain gluten, so they are not suitable for people with gluten intolerance.

If you make the oat milk yourself, vary the amount of water as you like, depending on how thick or creamy you like the milk.

Homemade oat milk also scores with few ingredients – and you can sweeten and season as you like. The finished oat milk will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three days. Alternatively, you can boil the milk again and fill it hot into airtight bottles – this way the oat milk will last longer.

Make your own oat milk

The ingredients for 1 liter:

100 g tender oat flakes
1 liter of water (or to taste)
pinch of salt

Preparing the oat milk:

Put the rolled oats and salt in a bowl, cover with 1l of cold water and stir briefly. Let the oat flakes swell for about 5 minutes and then puree them with a hand blender or in a blender.
Place the puree in a nut milk bag (or linen cloth), drain the liquid into a container, and squeeze the mixture well so all the liquid comes out.
Finished! Now you can sweeten or spice it up as you like, for example with dates, cinnamon, or vanilla.

Lifestyle

Nightlife and Partying: 10 Phrases You Should never Say to Your Bartender

As a bartender, you deal with many different people every day – and they all want something from you. Some are friendly, others flirt for a drink for free, others get cheeky. What should party guests never say?

10 phrases you shouldn’t say to bartenders

There are so many phrases bartenders hear so often they just can’t take it anymore. If you want to do your bartender a favor, you should better not say the following 10 sentences:

“Put more alcohol in the next drink, okay?” – If you personally don’t feel the alcohol, it may be more your own inhibitions than the bartender. After all, there are usually fixed mixing specifications for every drink.
“Hey dude, cool to see you again.” – Bartenders tend to see so many people on a daily basis that they probably won’t remember you.
“Man, when I was still waiting tables, I could do it faster.” – You can really offend someone with such sentences. In the end, you may be the one to suffer. Sometimes there is just a lot going on and everyone tries to do their best. Appreciation and a “thank you” can usually do much more than being annoyed.
“I drink the same as you.”- This statement is based on the cliché that every bartender also drinks alcohol in the evening. But this is not the case: not everyone who works with alcohol automatically drinks some.
“Hey, it’s my birthday. Are you buying one?” Bartenders hear this phrase so often that it’s usually never true. After all, everyone can say what they want.
“Tell me, can’t you swap out the DJ?” – The bartender usually has nothing to do with the DJ; consequently, he or she usually cannot change anything about the music in the bar.
“Hey bartender, can you actually smile?” – bartenders are often under stress or can sometimes be annoyed by the people in front of the bar. So it’s completely understandable that he doesn’t always have a smile on his face.
“Will you give me your number?” – Bartenders are generally not interested in exchanging numbers with customers. They just want to do their job – and you should respect that.
“I would have liked to have shaken my drink, not stirred it.” Often customers don’t even know the difference. In many cases they only know one drink and only make the statement to appear intelligent.
“Hey, can you store my jacket here for a moment?” – The bartender is not responsible for checking clothes. His job is to mix the drinks, not act as a cloakroom.

Instead of these 10 sentences, you can put a smile on the face of many a bartender or make the stressful job easier if you are friendly, show understanding and sometimes say “thank you”. This makes partying fun on both sides of the bar.

Lifestyle

Cleaning Windows: With This Unusual Means, Your Windows Will Be Clean

Cleaning windows with window cleaning agent – anyone can do that. We reveal the trick how detergent ensures streak-free windows and white window frames.

Clean with detergent – this is how it works

Yes, you heard me right. Detergent not only makes the laundry shine clean again. Fabric softener is a real miracle cure for streak-free windows. To do this, simply fill the cap of the packaging with fabric softener and mix the amount with three liters of water. The windows are then cleaned with this liquid in the usual routine. This not only makes the windows shine. The ingredients in the fabric softener also ensure that rainwater rolls off the window glass. Who knows, maybe you won’t have to clean as often afterwards.

Fabric softener for streak-free windows – that’s not all. Because with detergent you can also get the window frames clean. This time we’ll use the washing powder that everyone probably has at home. This also saves you the trip to the shop if the actual window cleaning agent is empty. Detergent powder is particularly suitable for white window frames that can no longer be cleaned properly with normal cleaning.

The procedure is simple: moisten a cloth slightly and put a small amount of the white washing powder on it. The window frame can then be cleaned with it. Isn’t that enough? Then simply repeat the process again. The bleaching content of the powder not only ensures white laundry: after use, the frame will shine in wonderful white again, which makes you want spring.

Lifestyle

Already Dangerous? Why Your Dog is Panting – and When You Should See The Vet

When your dog pant, it’s nothing unusual at first. However, there are certain signs of a panting dog that you should seek advice from your veterinarian.

Why do dogs pant?

Dogs lack the ability to sweat because they hardly have any sweat glands on their bodies. A few are located in the area of the paw pads and the nose. Dogs regulate their body temperature to a large extent through the upper respiratory tract, which includes the pharynx, nasal cavity, larynx, and trachea. Panting allows dogs to bring cooler air into their bodies, cooling themselves from the inside out. Panting increases the exchange of air between the mouth and the trachea. The sense and purpose of panting is therefore only in the increased evaporative cooling, which is caused by the constant draft. This eventually lowers the body temperature. Dogs breathe much shallower than humans and the increased saliva production, commonly referred to as “drooling,” prevents the tongue from drying out.

This type of cooling has other advantages for dogs:
Dogs can actively control the breathing rate when panting and thus the degree of cooling.
When panting, your dog does not lose vital salts through the skin, as is the case with sweating.
Panting does not produce odors, which could create disadvantages among conspecifics that communicate via scents. Because in addition to the sense of sight, hearing and touch, dogs also come into contact through scents and transmit messages.
Depending on the size, breed and physique of the dog, the amount of panting varies. Smaller dogs have an easier time regulating their temperature due to their physique and lower body volume. So they don’t have to pant as often and as much as their larger conspecifics. Larger dogs, on the other hand, have to pant a lot more to keep their bodies from overheating. Heavier drooling is also common.

With short-headed dog breeds, which include pugs, Pekingese or bulldogs, for example, heavy panting can occur even with little physical exertion. Their reduced turbinate and the resulting shortened airways make it difficult for them to breathe and pant. As a result, they have fewer opportunities to regulate their body temperature by panting. If your dog is one of these dog breeds, you should keep an eye on your dog when he’s panting so he doesn’t overheat. Before you get a dog, you should find out about the characteristics typical of the breed so that you do not unknowingly expose it to stressful situations.

When is panting normal in dogs?

Even a dog’s body needs to cool down after a long walk, an hour of agility training, or mantrailing, but it lacks the ability to sweat. This means that dogs cannot use the evaporative cooling that occurs when sweating on human skin like we humans can. They can shed a little sweat through the pads of their paws and the nose, but the cooling effect is very small and not enough to regulate body temperature. The low level of perspiration through the paws is primarily used to leave scent marks (pheromones) for conspecifics. When panting, dogs breathe shallowly and rapidly, up to 300 times per minute. This accelerates the evaporation of water on the tongue, in the mouth and in the upper respiratory tract. This effect helps your dog normalize its body temperature.

Tip: If you have a puppy or older dog, make sure he doesn’t overexert himself. The cardiovascular system could possibly be overtaxed. Make sure your dog always has fresh water available and offer him cool treats like watermelon or dog ice cream in the summer.

In addition to heat and physical exertion, emotions can also lead to increased panting. For example, if your dog is very happy when you come home or when he meets his playmates, it can upset him emotionally. Conversely, dogs can also experience stress when they feel overwhelmed in certain situations. Experts speak of a skipping action in which dogs, for example, scratch, bark or pant when they are stressed.

Many dogs also develop great fears of thunderstorms, lightning, or loud noises. In addition to volume, dogs also seem to sense a drop in pressure during thunderstorms. Darkening skies and gusts of wind can also frighten them. This can even lead to panic attacks, which are usually accompanied by rapid panting.

Tip: The most important thing is that you keep calm yourself, because your dog will sense your insecurity. Try to free your dog from the stressful situation as quickly as possible and have a calming effect on him. Move calmly and behave normally.

Intense sniffing is one of the favorite pastimes of many dogs. Hunting dogs, civil protection dogs or mantrailing use this ability to track down game, save people or set tracks. However, it also requires a high level of concentration in the dog and causes the salivation to be stimulated. Dogs can absorb significantly more scents through increased panting, but this also means a lot of effort.

Tip: Your dog performs at its best when it comes to nose work, which is why you should give your four-legged friend enough rest breaks after training.

If you experience these symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice

If your dog has been exposed to high temperatures and has been in the sun for a long time, it may have suffered from heat stroke. In addition to high outside temperatures, high physical stress through dog sports, running on a bike or being locked in overheated cars can also be reasons for heat stroke. Then, in addition to the strong panting, the following symptoms appear:
Vomit
Diarrhea
balance disorders
apathy
cramps
In the event of heat stroke, the entire dog’s body is affected. Due to the severe overheating, the dog tries to pant more and more to lower its body temperature. However, he loses more and more fluid, which means that the blood becomes more concentrated and can no longer flow through the body as quickly. The heart then has to do more work and severe circulatory problems can occur, which can lead to loss of consciousness and shock. In the worst case, dogs can also die from heat stroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate emergency care.
Important: Never leave your dog in a heated car. The inside temperature rises extremely quickly when exposed to sunlight and within a very short time the dog can no longer compensate for the heat.

gastric torsion or poisoning
If your dog shows other symptoms in addition to panting, such as restlessness, increased salivation and pale mucous membranes, it can also be a life-threatening stomach torsion or poisoning.

Gastric torsion is an absolute emergency that requires veterinary treatment within a few hours. The impending constriction of the blood vessels, as well as the entrance and exit of the stomach, is life-threatening. This prevents digestive gases from escaping and allows the stomach to inflate like a balloon. In addition to the stomach, other internal organs can also be affected, which is why immediate surgery is indicated.

Poisoning in a dog is also an emergency. Because if there is no treatment, dogs are threatened with long-term consequential damage or even death. The symptoms that dogs show when poisoned depend on the type and dose of the poison. In addition to panting, the following symptoms can also occur:
Vomit
fast or irregular pulse
restlessness
apathy
constricted or dilated pupils
Important: If you suspect poisoning in your dog, you should first try to calm your dog down. Also make sure that the airways remain free and bring the dog into the stable side position. If possible, you can bring a sample of the dog’s poison or vomit to the vet for testing.

Dogs can also react to heart problems with increased panting. If the heart no longer provides its full pumping capacity, the dog’s body can no longer supply every cell with sufficient oxygen. The lungs can also be affected by heart problems if fluid builds up in the lung tissue. This can result in the dog not getting enough oxygen.

Other symptoms that may indicate a heart or lung problem include:
Cough
Strangle
listlessness
Collapse
Pale or bluish gums
Attention: Panting in combination with pale mucous membranes can also indicate anemia, i.e. anemia or poor circulation.

Cushing’s syndrome is a disease of the endocrine system that results in increased cortisol levels. Poodles, dachshunds, miniature schnauzers, terriers and boxers are particularly affected: If your dog shows the following symptoms in addition to excessive panting, you should take it to the veterinary practice:
Excessive thirst and urination
hair loss
Bloated stomach
Other causes of increased panting in dogs:

Allergic Reactions: In an allergic reaction, dogs can sometimes become short of breath, lethargic, or vomit.
Infections: In some cases, infections can cause pneumonia. In addition to panting, your dog will then develop breathing problems, coughing and possibly a fever.
Pain: Dogs are particularly good at hiding pain. First signs can be, for example, when your dog is restless and panting when he would normally relax. If severe exhaustion, a lack of movement or vomiting also occur, this can indicate pain.
Overweight: If your dog weighs too many kilos, his organism will also be under more strain. In addition, lighter movements are difficult for him. This can also manifest itself in increased panting. Since obesity in dogs can also cause secondary diseases such as arthrosis, diabetes or heart problems, you should discuss with your veterinarian how your dog can best lose weight.

Conclusion

In summary, the following points should be observed:
Dogs can regulate their body temperature by panting. High outside temperatures or physical exertion can trigger panting in dogs and is not initially a cause for concern.
Make sure your dog always has access to fresh water, because panting causes him to constantly consume fluid.
Some dog breeds pant particularly often. This is especially the case with short-headed dog breeds, as their airways are shortened, making it harder for them to breathe.
The size of the dog also plays a role, as large dogs have more body volume.
In addition to physical causes, psychological factors such as excitement, nervousness and stress can also lead to dogs panting more often.
If your dog is panting for no apparent reason, it could be due to illness, upset stomach, poisoning, fever and pain. You should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
If, in addition to heavy panting, other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, balance disorders, apathy or cramps occur when the outside temperature is high, this can indicate life-threatening heat stroke. Then you should immediately take your dog to a cool place and definitely consult a veterinarian.

Food

Make Your Own Banana Bread

This banana bread is the perfect combination of super moist, cinnamon-sweet, and crunchy crumble topping. Due to the sweetness of the bananas, sugar can optionally be omitted. We’ll show you how easy it is to make this banana bread yourself.

Banana bread with sprinkles

Once again the banana has become too ripe, but you shouldn’t throw away the good one! Because you can conjure up a wonderful and juicy banana bread from ripe bananas. And we’ll add one more thing: crispy crumbles with cinnamon.

This banana bread has everything a treat needs. Due to the natural sweetness of the bananas, you can also completely do without sugar in the dough, optionally of course without the crumbles if you want it even healthier. But sometimes it can also be a little treat!

Coarsely chopped nuts can give banana bread an extra crunch. This is how you combine many healthy ingredients: bananas, nuts, buttermilk, and cinnamon. The fruity delicacy tastes just as good warm from the oven as it does when chilled – the 15 pieces are gone faster than you can say “cinnamon banana bread with crumbles”.

The recipe for the banana bread

For the banana bread

1 egg
80 g sugar (optional)
1 tsp vanilla sugar
115g butter
250 buttermilk
2 ripe bananas
260 g wholemeal spelled flour
½ g salt
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

For the sprinkles

40 g powdered sugar
60 g wholemeal spelled flour
4 tablespoons melted butter
½ tsp cinnamon
Salt
Besides that
Butter for greasing the mold

Preparation steps

In a large bowl, combine the egg, sugar (optional), and vanilla sugar using a hand mixer. Add the butter and mix until a fluffy mass is formed.
Add buttermilk and bananas.
In a second bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Gradually pour the flour mixture into the liquid mixture.
Optionally, mix a few chopped nuts (e.g. Brazil nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts) into the batter.
Grease a mold and dust with some flour. Pour in the batter and preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
For the crumbles, melt the butter and mix with the powdered sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix with your hands and pour over the dough in the mold as a fairly coarse crumble.
Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Lifestyle

New Beauty Trend 2022: How Acid Should Care For Your Hair

Long and healthy hair is still the ideal of beauty for many women and men. But conventional shampoos often do not bring the desired success, which is why alternatives are worth a look.

Hair shampoos in the test – that says Stiftung Warentest

Stiftung Warentest regularly examines several shampoos and compares them in terms of effectiveness, the cost factor and the environmental aspect. In 2020, 18 shampoos and hair soaps were tested, including seven natural cosmetics. A total of 14 performed well, three were satisfactory and one was just sufficient. Big price differences were still noticeable, the products cost between 1 and 38 cents per hair wash. A shampoo, on the other hand, turned out to be a sham.

A new trend is currently noticeable, so-called “hair soaps*” made from oils or fats “saponified” from lye are becoming increasingly popular. In principle, such solid shampoos work no differently than liquid shampoos, they have only been deprived of water and then formed. Most liquid shampoos performed well across the board, while hair soaps performed slightly worse. The problem, however, is that these can form whitish residues when washing. The result is swelling hair that is difficult to comb. A rinse made of vinegar and water, also known as an “acidic rinse”, helps against this so-called “lime soap”. This form of hair washing has been propagated, among other things, since 2014 as the so-called “No poo” movement, which originated in the USA and today has numerous followers and groups worldwide. There are several forms of exercise, one of the most popular being washing your hair with vinegar.

But how healthy is acetic acid for hair and scalp? Does it even damage the hair in the long run and what can you do about the acidic smell?

Beautiful hair: the “no poo” movement

“No poo” simply means to wash your hair without shampoo. Shampoos are said to damage the hair, and the substances and chemicals they contain can potentially make you sick. There is also concern that conventional shampoos remove the scalp’s natural oils, thereby drying out the hair and scalp.

The movement emerged in 2014 and today there are various forms of it. One group rejects any means for the hair and only cleans it with water. Another group uses baking soda in place of shampoo and apple cider vinegar as a supplemental conditioner. The third group consists of self-mixed remedies, for example made from rye flour, eggs, clay or beer.

Since the current beauty trend in terms of hair care products is propagating apple cider vinegar, this technique is briefly presented below. Because the scalp is naturally slightly acidic (hair pH is around 5.5, well in the mid-range), acidifying hair is all about lowering the pH of the scalp and hair. This care treatment is intended to give the hair strands more shine and smoothness and to prevent the hair from charging by closing the cuticle layer and smoothing the hair structure. Numerous external influences can also negatively affect the natural pH value of the scalp and hair, which is why it is advisable to avoid using products with a basic pH value such as children’s shampoos, industrial hair masks and conditioners, cleaning shampoos and hair coloring products and to use natural products instead . What is meant here is above all the “sour rinse” (rinse = English for conditioner), which is used like a conventional hair conditioner

Preparation of the “sour rinse”

The preparation of the conditioner is simple and uncomplicated. The first treatment can also start with a tablespoon of vinegar. For this purpose, the hair is washed with normal shampoo beforehand, whereby a hair care product made from organic and natural ingredients should promise more success, since the chemicals contained in normal shampoos are said to damage the structure. After washing the hair, the acidic rinse is poured over the hair, which does not have to be rinsed out again. Once the hair dries, the vinegar smell will dissipate. If the smell is too strong, a few drops of essential oils can help. In addition to apple cider vinegar, other types of vinegar such as balsamic vinegar, herbal vinegar and lemon juice or citric acid can also be used. Be careful with citric acid, half a teaspoon is enough.

Another non-chemical, vinegar-based hair treatment is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. The shampoo is made from the apple cider vinegar and water, and the neutralizing solution is made from the baking soda and water. Instead of the shampoo, the hair is washed with a baking soda solution to neutralize the scalp and to loosen the oil from the scalp. The sodium hydroxide solution makes the skin alkaline, which then has to be balanced out with the acetic acid.

Even if this procedure is simple and good for the hair, the smell is a disadvantage. In terms of combability, the vinegar treatment is not necessarily recommended for all hair types and is particularly suitable for straight hair. In the case of hair with natural frizz and curls, however, combing it out afterwards is very painful. Another glaring problem with using baking soda is that baking soda can actively damage the scalp and hair. Also, the natural pH level could be compromised by the highly alkaline baking soda, which can lead to scalp and hair damage over time.

problem

So one of the most popular “No Poo” methods is acidifying your hair with a vinegar solution. As mentioned, there are pros and cons here. Anyone who likes to use natural care products and can handle them well should rely on a conditioner with vinegar. However, there is not enough evidence of how beneficial this procedure is for the entire hair structure in the long term. The effectiveness of other forms of care such as egg or beer rinses against problems such as dandruff, itching and dryness has not yet been successfully confirmed.

Although there was a time in Europe when body odors were highly regarded and even encouraged by a lack of personal hygiene, most people are now used to noticing pleasant smells in their counterparts. The natural body odor is less socially acceptable today and is suppressed or covered up with all conceivable methods. Without sufficient care, the hair also begins to smell unpleasantly after a few weeks, since the scalp sebum smells like rancid butter after a while. Some people are very prone to greasy dandruff and irritated scalps, which are made worse by winter and stress. If such a predisposition is present, it is even necessary to use a medicinal shampoo with an antifungal substance. This can prevent certain organic germs from growing. If you fail to do this or if you don’t wash your hair at all instead, it can develop into a massively itchy scalp surface covered with a shell-like crust of scales, from which more and more hair gradually falls out.

Some popular “no poo” methods have been shown to actually damage and irritate the hair and scalp. The oil residue on the scalp can change and oxidize, causing the oil to break down into foul-smelling by-products and causing an itchy and flaky scalp. In fact, pH is not the only reason for hair health, while some problems such as skin irritations, dandruff or allergies can be treated with a pH-adjusted shampoo, it is not the solution to all hair problems. Dermatologists continue to give the all-clear when it comes to naming the body’s own fat production on the scalp as a reason for not shampooing, because the body produces the same amount of scalp fat relatively constantly, regardless of how often and intensively the hair is treated with a conventional shampoo to wash.

Conclusion

Dermatologists are concerned that nowadays hair is washed too often and products with inappropriate ingredients are often used. In particular, allergy sufferers and people with a sensitive scalp should avoid certain ingredients (such as dyes and preservatives, cocamidopropyl betaine, parabens or silicones). Although silicones make the hair shiny and supple, there is a risk of clogging the open scalp pores and follicle openings, so that a reasonable exchange of substances through the scalp can no longer take place.

Hair specialists recommend using a mild shampoo* to wash your head every 2-3 days. In addition, the water should not be too hot, lukewarm is fine. A moderate heat should also be used when blow-drying. The use of organic products can be added as a supplement, for example in the form of a night cap with olive oil to strengthen dry or flaky scalps.

The best remedy for clean hair and a well-groomed scalp is still a good shampoo and conditioner. Modern shampoos are designed to remove scalp oils and dirt without attacking the natural layer of moisture. That is why it is even important for the scalp and hair to get rid of excess oil regularly.

health

Study Shows This is What Happens to Your Body When You Smoke Cannabis

Smoking cannabis has different effects on the body. Researchers have now investigated whether there is also a risk of thrombosis.

Cannabis: what happens in the body?

As the University of Saarbrücken announced, the scientists compared the blood cells of three marijuana smokers with those of three non-smokers. All test subjects are in their mid-30s. Prof. Kaestner and his team observed that the red blood cells swelled immediately after contact with the cannabis active ingredient dronabinol – more so in people who regularly smoked marijuana than in non-users.

Dronabinol – also known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – stimulates a specific ion channel on red blood cells during smoking. The channel called TRPV2 regulates the uptake and release of certain messenger substances into and out of the cell. Cannabis consumption increases the concentration of sodium ions in the blood cells, which means that more water is absorbed. This causes the cell to swell.

However, the situation does not last long. Within an hour, the cells returned to their original shape. According to Prof. Kaestner, however, the risk of thrombosis for cannabis smokers increases slightly during this time. Because the blood cells are larger and rounder, they tend to get stuck in small capillaries. In addition, when smoking cannabis, the vessels constrict, which also increases the risk of micro-thrombosis.

Scientists: health risk is unclear

According to the German Society for Angiology (DGA), in the event of a thrombosis, vessels such as veins are blocked by a blood clot. Leg and pelvic veins in particular can be affected. If a clot forms in these areas, there is a risk of the clot being carried through the bloodstream to the lungs. A pulmonary embolism is imminent. Various factors can lead to thrombosis. One danger is, for example, prolonged lying down, for example during a hospital stay. In this case, thrombosis stockings prevent vascular occlusion. However, the tendency to thrombosis can also be inherited.

The disease can be fatal. According to figures from the DGA, around 100,000 people die every year in Germany as a result of a pulmonary embolism. This is the third most common fatal cardiovascular disease after heart attack and stroke. If thrombosis is suspected, action must be taken quickly. As a first step, the patient is injected with an anticoagulant substance. This prevents the clot from growing and leading to a pulmonary embolism.

Prof. Kaestner cannot say that the observations of the Saarbrücken researchers actually pose an immediate health risk. This question was not part of the study.

health

Itching After Showering: You Can do This if Your Skin is Irritated

After a nice warm shower, they suddenly appear – red spots on the skin. Many people then complain about itching. The causes of this are usually harmless and can be remedied with simple tricks.

Red spots and itching: High temperature and alkaline shampoos as triggers

The skin can react sensitively, especially after a long, hot shower. To counteract this, lower temperatures can be tested. “Some have such a threshold temperature,” explains dermatologist Philipp Babilas. This temperature should then not be exceeded or fallen below – in this way the red spots can be avoided in many cases.

Another possible common cause is the shower gel, to which the skin is overly sensitive. This can manifest itself in two ways: In addition to red spots, many people often complain of itching after a long shower.

Shower gels often have a high pH value to which the skin reacts sensitively. Switching to pH-neutral soap can help and prevent itching. The shower process itself should also not be too long and too hot, otherwise the natural protective film will come loose. It’s also healthier for the skin after a shower to be gently and gently blotted. “Strong rubbing is unhealthy for the skin in the long run”

Lifestyle

Sharpen Knives: This is How You Bring Your Blunt Knives Back Into Shape

Cooking is simply more fun with a sharp knife. But how do you properly sharpen your knives? We’ll tell you.

Why do knives become dull?

Blunt knives should always be sharpened. But how does it even come about? The wrong cutting technique, a surface that is too hard or cleaning in the dishwasher are absolute no-go’s when dealing with knives. Do you already feel caught? We show you five mistakes that you should avoid in the future. Because, as is so often the case, prevention is the be-all and end-all.

If your cutting boards are made of marble, glass or stainless steel, i.e. very hard materials, these increase material wear. The harder the surface, the quicker your knife will become blunt. Wooden or plastic boards are better suited.
The wrong material to be cut, i.e. very hard food such as frozen products and bones, will damage your knife. It is best to use a kitchen cleaver for such purposes.
The wrong cutting technique also leads to accelerated blunting. High-quality kitchen knives should not be used for chopping. Instead, try to use loose and smooth cutting movements.
Stay away from the dishwasher! Improper cleaning can also damage your knife. Knives don’t handle the heat and harsh chemicals well at all. Instead, you should wash your cutting tool by hand with a mild detergent immediately after use. But you shouldn’t wait too long with it, because if the knife is left in the wet for too long, there is a risk of rusting.
Incorrect storage can also shorten the life of kitchen knives. They are best stored separately or in a knife block.

Sharpen knives at home – can I do that?

Sharpening takes practice because doing it wrong can ruin knives. Not all types of sharpening are equally suitable for beginners. If you have little or no experience, you should use a grinding machine, as it is relatively easy to use. Grinding on a whetstone delivers a particularly precise result, but this requires practice. As is well known, no master has fallen from the sky and that also applies to knife sharpening. You can definitely learn it if you are not completely untalented with your hands and you will be able to see learning progress after a short time. However, if you have two left hands or simply don’t have the time to sharpen your knives yourself, you can alternatively have this task done by professionals. Sharpening services are becoming increasingly rare these days, but if you have found a grinder, you can also have scissors, tools and garden equipment repaired there.

Sharpen knives – whetstone or sharpening steel?

Grinding with the sharpening steel

Sharpening steels are more suitable for maintaining sharpness than for actual sharpening. With them you can get your knife ready for use again quickly, but they cannot replace a basic sharpening of the blade. A basic distinction is made between two types of sharpening steels – the exciting and the straightening. Exciting sharpening steels made of ceramic or diamond remove some material from the cutting edge and thus ensure roughness. However, these sharpening steels bring only short-term success. If you want to keep your blade sharp for a long time, you should use a sharpening steel made of metal. No matter which sharpening steel you have chosen, you should make sure that it is harder than the knife to be sharpened.
When sharpening with the sharpening steel, make sure to maintain the correct cutting angle, i.e. the angle between the blade and the steel, of 15-20 degrees. The speed at which you carry out the sharpening movements is entirely up to you, just make sure that you guide the entire cutting edge along the sharpening steel. If you have aligned the angle correctly, you can now start the sharpening process. To do this, pull the knife down along the steel and repeat this on the back to sharpen the blade from both sides. You can repeat this process five to ten times, depending on the sharpness you want.

Sharpen with the whetstone

If your knives don’t cut ideally despite using a sharpening steel, you have to find another solution. The most well-known way to sharpen a knife is also the best way – for a great result with a whetstone you can get your knives particularly sharp again. This is also very flexible, because there are different stones for each grinding phase, from coarse to very fine. A sharpening stone* not only ensures a long service life for your knives, you can even use it to sharpen the knives thinly.

However, a sharpening stone also has disadvantages. On the one hand, a perfect result takes time and, on the other hand, sharpening with a whetstone requires a high degree of skill. If you change the angle even slightly during the process, it can destroy the result. For passionate grinders, however, there is no way around the grindstone. For beginners, it is advisable to use a knife sharpener guide*, which helps to keep the angle. Some sharpening stone sets* already have the guide included.

Sharpening stones differ in their grit: the higher the grit, the finer and sharper the result. With a little practice and a fine grit, you can achieve razor-sharp results. For knives that have been sharpened a lot, the so-called “thinning out” of the knife is also recommended. This will adjust the sides, which are becoming thicker and thicker as a result of the sharpening, and you will immediately enjoy your knife more. When choosing the grit of your sharpening stone, you should be guided by the degree of wear and tear of your knife. To sharpen very worn and blunt cutting tools, choose a coarse grit of 200 to 400. For normally worn knives, a grit of 800 to 1000 is recommended. If you want to fine-tune your blades or polish them, a grit of 3000 or advised from 6000.

When it comes to whetstones, a distinction is also made between water stones and oil stones, with the respective liquids forming a film on the surface. This not only reduces friction, it also prevents particles from getting stuck in it. To soak the water stones, place them in a water bath for about 15 minutes. You can tell whether they are ready for use when no more air bubbles rise. The stone must also be kept moist during sharpening, because only then can the necessary grinding sludge form, which sharpens the blades gently and at the same time very intensively.

More ways to sharpen your knives

Sharpening rods for quick sharpening

Sharpening rods are suitable for anyone who wants to keep their knife sharp. With a quick grip on the sharpening rod* you can keep your knives sharp and save yourself the hassle of sharpening with a whetstone etc. However, the sharpening rods are not suitable for sharpening knives that are already blunt or thinning knives. That’s why you should pay attention to regular grinding.

Pull-through grinder for everyday knives

Pull-through grinders* are probably the easiest way to sharpen your knives. They are very easy to use: just insert the knife, pull it out and you’re done. Repeat this process a few times depending on how hot you are. However, these sharpeners are only suitable for everyday knives. You won’t get your knives very sharp with it, since the cutting edge will always be a little frayed. The sharpness does not last long either, so regular sharpening is also recommended here. For the everyday kitchen knife, however, this is completely sufficient.

electric grinders

Electric grinders* are for those in a hurry. They are visually reminiscent of the pull-through sanders and are just as easy to use. The result of the electric grinder is definitely impressive and is even significantly better than that of the hand-operated colleagues. But: Electric grinders remove more material than e.g. whetstones, which can shorten the life of your knives.

Which method is suitable for which knife?

The sharpening stone, in particular the Japanese water stone, is the ideal tool for sharpening Japanese knives. If the grinding is carried out regularly and you value extreme sharpness, we recommend a grit of 1000. We speak of polishing stones from a grit of 2000 and up and can use this to sharpen the knives. The sharpness can be increased in this way, but the result is shorter than that of a basic grind.
European knives are comparatively more robust than Japanese ones. A sharpening steel is sufficient to sharpen these rather insensitive knives. This straightens the blade again and again and thus ensures a smooth and sharp cutting edge, but after a while a basic sharpening is also necessary for European knives.

Can you sharpen a knife with plates?

Not everyone has sharpening stones, machines or sharpening steels at home. With plates and cups it is of course quite different. In order to give you a material and wallet-friendly method of sharpening knives, we asked ourselves: What is the truth of the myth of using plates to get knives sharper? In fact, it works! To do this, pull the blades off the rough underside of your ceramic dishes several times. Of course, this DIY cannot replace the professional methods with whetstones and the like, but it does bring a small amount of success.

Lifestyle

Learning Languages Made Easy: 5 Tips on How to Quickly Improve Your Language Skills

Whether for school, work or just because: learning languages is important for many people. But it’s not that simple – or maybe it is? Here are five tips on how you can easily improve your language skills.

#1 Podcasts, Series, YouTube and Co.

One of the easiest and most popular methods, especially among the younger generation, is to watch series or films in the original language. In particular, because puns and inside jokes are not lost. It has the positive side effect that you learn new words and phrases in a playful way without realizing it. If the original language is not the target language, you can of course switch films and series to the desired language. This is very easy to do with streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.

But even if you don’t want to spend money on the television services, you can easily immerse yourself in the language with the help of YouTube videos or podcasts. There are YouTubers from almost every country in the world who film and upload videos in their native language. Whether vlogs, cooking videos or specific language learning videos. The “genre” doesn’t matter in learning as long as you’re actively listening. This can lead to great difficulties in understanding, especially in the beginning. This can be remedied by subtitles, which can be generated automatically for many videos.

Podcasts also offer audios on a wide variety of topics in different languages. For example, you can easily improve your language skills on the way to work or when going shopping. Special podcasts that specialize in language learning can be particularly interesting here. The Coffee Break Podcasts, for example, upload short audio files on various topics that you can use to learn the language bit by bit. There are also a growing number of news podcasts designed to speak extra slowly and clearly to make it easier to understand.

#2 Read, read, read

If television and podcasts are not for you, you can easily read in your desired target language. Nowadays, the internet makes it very easy to find books, newspapers, etc. in all languages. If you don’t mind reading on your phone, tablet or computer, there are some apps that also offer many books in different languages. Amazon’s Kindle, iBooks or eLibrary from your local library offer a variety of e-books that you can even read on the go. A particular advantage of reading online is that you can quickly and easily look up words that you do not yet know in your target language in the dictionary on your mobile device.

Of course, conventional books have the same effect as e-books and can also help to better memorize vocabulary and proverbs due to their special reading experience.

Above all, reading promotes your vocabulary, but grammar is also learned particularly well here. Because by repeatedly reading a wide variety of phrases, tenses and sentence constructions, they can be internalized particularly well.

#3 Exchange and language trip

Exchanges and language trips are also very popular when learning a new language. Some students have the opportunity to take part in a year abroad or an exchange while they are still at school. After graduating from school, it makes sense to do a gap year while going abroad or to do a semester abroad during your studies. But not only young people should take advantage of these opportunities. There are numerous agencies that offer language trips for people of all ages.

Living with a host family during this time helps immensely to develop language skills. You also learn a lot about the culture and lifestyle of the residents in the host country, which can also have a positive effect on learning behavior.

#4 language tandem

If an exchange or a language trip is too expensive or doesn’t work for other reasons, you don’t have to do without direct personal exchange with people from the target country. Language tandems are a cost-effective and interactive alternative. Such tandems are often offered by schools, adult education centers or universities. But you can also quickly find people with whom you can work together on social networks such as Facebook or Instagram.

In such a cooperation, two people who want to learn each other’s mother tongue come together and exchange ideas. It is usually arranged in such a way that people meet about once a week for an hour and then speak the respective language for half an hour. However, everyone could also speak the respective target language and correct the partner if a mistake is made. There are no limits to the execution of the exchange, it is best for you to find out for yourself how you can get the greatest benefit from it.

#5 Language Learning Apps

As with almost everything, there are numerous apps for language learning that can help you. In addition to the book apps mentioned above, there are also special language learning apps that teach you the language in a playful way. Duolingo and Babbel, which offer their services for countless languages, are particularly well-known and popular here.

With step-by-step learning and goal setting, the apps provide a good learning atmosphere with reminders and rewards. All areas that are important for languages are also learned here: listening, reading and speaking are specifically tested in the individual exercises so that you get fit in all areas.

Learning languages: It’s all in the mix!

Speaking, reading and listening are essential in language learning, so a mix of all is best to learn your target language the fastest. However, one should not overdo it either. At the end of the day, having fun is the most important thing, because without having fun, the whole thing is only half as effective!