Healthy vegetables are, unfortunately, often more expensive than frozen croquettes. So how can you maintain a healthy lifestyle as cheaply as possible? Stock up on healthy staples you use often. Buying in bulk saves money in the long run, especially for things you’ll always need — like brown rice, whole wheat flour, and whole grain…
Fiber is important — everyone knows that. But what exactly is it?Dietary fiber is a collective term for a group of carbohydrates that are not digested in the small intestine. Our food doesn’t contain just one type, but a mixture of many different fibers. Fiber mainly comes from the cell walls of plants. So only…
We seem to taste food with our mouth, but taste mainly happens in the brain. How does that work?Taste is a combination of all our senses: hearing, touch, smell, sight, tasting with the tongue, and our expectations about how food will taste. Each of us has a unique sense of taste. About one-third of people…
Research has shown that packaging materials may contain harmful substances that can disrupt hormone balance. These substances are called EDCs — short for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. EDCs can cause various health issues, such as infertility in women, reduced sperm quality in men, certain types of cancer, obesity, and an increase in diabetes. Even small doses…
Flatulence — everyone experiences it from time to time. It’s quite annoying, especially in company. Certain foods can promote gassiness. Legumes, especially beans, are a prime example. Beans contain carbohydrates that are not completely digested. These carbohydrates reach the large intestine unchanged, where they are fermented by the gut flora, resulting in extra gas formation.…
For many, chocolate is a relaxing treat. But then the panic sets in: news reports say that chocolate might disappear? The cacao tree produces fruits that contain beans. These beans are ground to make cocoa butter and cocoa. Due to climate change, the cacao tree could become extinct. It’s a sensitive plant: the air and…
Are you always hungry? Or not at all? Here’s a breakdown of how hunger actually works.Hunger is influenced by several factors, but it mainly comes down to mental triggers and hormones. Mental: Stress uses up a lot of energy, and your body responds by increasing appetite. Stress also rises when you don’t sleep well. In…
There was a lot of discussion this month about pesticides on fruits and vegetables. Here’s everything you need to know. Pesticides are used to prevent grains, fruits, and vegetables from being eaten by pests. These substances are often chemically formulated. The plant is sprayed with the product, but the substance usually breaks down due to…
How can you prevent wilted lettuce and spoiled fruit?You can use many products longer if you store them properly. How does that work again? Store potatoes, onions, and tomatoes outside the fridge in a dry, cool place. Keep ethylene-producing products (bananas, avocados, kiwis, tomatoes, melons) away from ethylene-sensitiveitems like apples, broccoli, carrots, and lettuce. Use…
Exercise offers many benefits, and one of them is how it changes the way your body stores fat. Especially for people who are overweight, physical activity brings several additional advantages. Being overweight can lead to insulin resistance, meaning the body has more difficulty handling high sugar intake. Over time, this can result in diabetes. Not…
Sustainable food is tastier, healthier, and better for your peace of mind. That’s what more and more people believe. The trend of eating sustainably continues to grow. In 2016, spending on products with the following labels increased by 26%: ASC, Organic, Better Life, Fair Trade/Max Havelaar, MSC, Milieukeur, Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified, Label Rouge, Free…
Gluten-free products are not always healthier. The Dutch Consumers’ Association compared different versions of the same products. It turns out that the gluten-free variants often contain less fiber, more salt, and more sugar. For example: gluten-free pancake mix contains twice as much salt as the regular 6-grain mix, and gluten-free crackers provide only a third…
