International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated worldwide today, 8 March 2025, under the United Nations theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This annual observance celebrates women’s achievements and calls for action for gender equality. In Houston, Texas, various events are marking the occasion. The Greater Houston Partnership hosted the “Rise to the Top Luncheon,” featuring Gretchen Watkins, President of Shell USA, as the keynote speaker. The Museum of Fine Arts is spotlighting women’s contributions, and Discovery Green is hosting an all-day festival with food, music, and discussions.…
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Lent: These are the things you absolutely must bear in mind when fasting!
If you follow the right rules, fasting can be refreshing, invigorating, and liberating.Myth 1: You only lose water when fastingYes, much water is lost at the beginning – that’s normal. But fasting can also burn fat if you do it right. It is important that you drink enough and don’t fall back into your old eating habits straight after fasting. Otherwise the yo-yo effect will be here before you can say “break the fast”. Myth 2: drink, drink, drink!You can go without food for a while—without liquids, it becomes critical.…
Read MoreWashing your hands with soap is most effective
Whether you wash your hands with cold or warm water makes no difference. The decisive factors are the duration of the washing process and the use of soap to remove pathogens as effectively as possible. Hand washing is an important measure to prevent communicable diseases such as gastrointestinal infections and respiratory diseases. However, for respiratory infections, only a recent publication by the German Society wrote for General and Hospital Hygiene.“It can also be observed time and again that washbasins in public toilets are often only equipped with cold water, users…
Read MorePope Francis is supplied with oxygen
After suffering from pneumonia, Pope Francis had to go through two respiratory crises again at the beginning of the week. The head of the Church’s state of health has since been “stable.” The 88-year-old spent another quiet night without any further incidents, according to a Vatican bulletin on Thursday morning. The Pope’s breathing was again supported overnight with a noninvasive mechanical ventilator. Pope Francis is being supplied with additional oxygen. This is done partly with a breathing mask and partly through cannulas. According to Vatican sources on Thursday, the Pope…
Read MoreApple cider vinegar: Miracle cure or overrated trend?
Are there health benefits to consuming apple cider vinegar, or should we view the claims skeptically? What’s actually in apple cider vinegar?As the name suggests, apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apples. The main component – apart from water – is acetic acid, which is produced when bacteria ferment the sugar in the apples. This process also leaves behind other compounds that give the vinegar its characteristic taste. “It’s often used in vegan cooking because it offers a particular flavor profile,” explains nutritionist Evangeline Mantzioris from the University of…
Read MoreWhy you shouldn’t wash towels at 60 degrees
Anne Grete Rasmussen, also known as “Fru Grønn”, has 25 years of experience in the cleaning industry and is now urging people to rethink their washing habits.According to Fru Grønn, you don’t need to wash your bed linen as often as many people think:“It’s actually fine to wait until the third or fourth week before you put your bedding in the machine,” she says, pointing out that this applies to healthy people. However, if you are ill, have asthma or something similar, the situation may be completely different. Towels at…
Read MoreThe color of the banana: A key to taste and nutritional value
The color of a banana reveals its ripeness and how its ingredients can affect your health. According to Girlfriend, each stage offers unique benefits from green to brown bananas. Green bananas: the source of starch Green bananas, which are still unripe and firm, contain particularly high levels of resistant starch. This acts like fiber, reaching the undigested large intestine and supporting intestinal flora there. In addition, resistant starch stabilizes blood sugar levels and promotes a long-lasting feeling of satiety. Pectin, a soluble fiber in green bananas, contributes to better digestion.…
Read MoreWhy you shouldn’t clean your ears with cotton buds
Earwax protects the ear canal. The sebaceous glands on the skin produce this mixture of fats to keep the skin’s pH value low, making it harder for germs to survive. The protective layer also traps tiny foreign bodies that have no business in the ear. Lard in the ear, therefore, has nothing to do with a lack of hygiene. It only turns brown when it comes into contact with air. The risksUnder no circumstances should you try to remove the wax from your ear with cotton buds. “It doesn’t work,”…
Read More“Too many harmful substances and sugar” in rice and corn cakes
Rice or corn cakes are considered a healthy snack, especially for children. The Association for Consumer Information (VKI) tested 22 products – eight rice cakes, seven children’s rice cakes and seven corn cakes, most organic. The results were disappointing: “Two of the children’s products scored ‘good’, three of the rice cakes and one of the corn cakes.” On the other hand, two organic rice cakes were only “less satisfactory” due to their contaminant content. The products were purchased in organic stores, discount stores, drugstores, and supermarkets. The majority of rice…
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