Whether in the home office or in the office: Those who work at the PC often sit for hours. Researchers at Columbia University in New York have now found that regular short exercise breaks during the workday can be enough to offset the effects of sitting for long periods. The study showed that a five-minute walk every 30 minutes was enough to do this. Researchers say these short walking breaks can improve mood, reduce fatigue, and increase overall well-being. This is accomplished because the body is re-energized by the brief…
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“Possible at any time” – solar storm would cripple Earth
The number of massive eruptions of the sun is increasing. If such a solar storm hits Earth, we will be catapulted “back to the Stone Age.” “It’s possible at any time that a very extreme solar storm could occur, and it could have far-reaching consequences,” warns Melanie Heil of ESA’s Space Weather Mission in Darmstadt, Germany. But how bad could it get if the distant sun is hissing in our direction? Very bad! “If such a solar storm reaches Earth, it can temporarily throw us back to the technological Stone…
Read MoreDo you have to wash rice before cooking?
Rice is considered a popular side dish. But when it comes to preparation, opinions are divided: Rice is on the menu almost daily, along with potatoes and pasta. As a carb-rich side dish, it works perfectly with meat, fish, vegetables or tofu. But is it as healthy as people think, and do you need to wash it before cooking? Rice contaminated with arsenic.As the German “Ökotest” found out, some rice products from German retailers were contaminated with the heavy metal arsenic. This was found mainly in basmati rice, parboiled long-grain…
Read MoreHow to get through the winter in an energy-saving way
In times of energy crisis, it makes sense to look for power guzzlers, switches them off or replace them with more economical appliances. Even standby mode does not guarantee that electrical appliances do not consume electricity – on the contrary. Many electronic everyday helpers can also be disconnected from the power supply at night and thus save money. You can learn more about which devices to use and other electricity-saving tips here. Vent heaters: a unique key can be used to let excess air out of the radiator, leaving more…
Read MoreDo potatoes make you really fat?
Whether as baked potatoes, mash, gratin, or French fries…the potato offers a variety of preparation options. However, many people avoid eating potatoes because they think it makes them fat. However, this has been debunked as a potato myth. It has just 70 calories per 100 grams. For comparison: Spaghetti has 160 calories in the same gram number. According to InFranken.de, the potato has, in addition, many vitamins, minerals and ballast materials as well as anti-oxidants, as EatSmarter writes – but almost no fat. That comes only if one processes it…
Read MorePapaya: an exotic fruit with many possible benefits
The common papaya is a thermophilic plant of the papaya family, characterized by large edible fruits. Papaya is the fruit of Carica papaya, a species belonging to the Caricaceae family, native to Central America and now widespread in many areas of the subtropical world. Why should we eat papaya occasionally? First of all, it is an excellent source of antioxidants. These, along with the other nutrients packed into the fruit, can help protect cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. But that is not all. Papaya consumption…
Read MoreThe benefits of waking up early in the morning
Waking up early in the morning – and going to bed just as before at night – would provide significant benefits for people who can follow this habit. According to an article published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, early risers are better able to handle all the tasks of the day, with the added benefit of having health and fitness benefits.Physical activity benefitsGetting up early would encourage light physical activity, preferably outdoors. It takes about half an hour; then, throughout the day, you can reap all the…
Read MoreAstronomers discover eight super-hot stars
Using a massive telescope in South Africa, an international research team has discovered eight of the hottest stars in the universe. The surface temperature of each of the celestial bodies is more than 100,000 degrees. By comparison, the sun’s surface reaches “only” about 5,800 degrees. The team, led by Simon Jeffrey of the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland and including Klaus Werner of the Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Tübingen, had studied data from so-called subdwarfs. This is the name given to stars that evolve into…
Read MoreLeft or right? This is the side experts say you should sleep on
Side sleepers take note: A sleep researcher explains which side of the body is best to sleep on. We sleep for about a third of our lives. According to studies, the side-sleeper position, also called the fetal position or fetal position, is considered the most popular sleeping position. And not without reason, because many people find it exceptionally comfortable. But from a medical point of view, which side of the body is best to sleep on – the left or the right? Various opinions can be found on this, which…
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