Sometimes, BERTRAND is more than just a shake that contains all of the important nutrients you need. With a little creativity, it can be used as an ingredient as well. Today, we have a recipe for a quick immune system booster, which cheers you up with its vibrant Colors:
Betrand in the variant of your choice
A pinch of turmeric
A pinch of black pepper
A pinch of ground ginger
Juice from 2 to 4 oranges
Water
(A teaspoon of agave syrup, if necessary)
Add the BERTRAND powder with the pepper to the ginger and turmeric in the Green Bottle. Squeeze the oranges and pour the juice in the bottle. Fill with water and shake thoroughly. Let it rest for a moment and then enjoy.
Information about the ingredients: This shake is a small immunity booster.
Orange juice contains a lot of Vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and facilitates the iron intake into the body. Turmeric combined with black pepper has an anti-inflammatory effect and is good for the bowel. The contained ginger does not only provide an exotic and fresh taste, but protects against viruses by hindering viral replication and can therefore prevent colds.
Betrand orange and turmeric shake April 4th, 2019Christel Badtke
February and March – two inconspicuous months for some, but for most students, it's test and exam season. That means hours in the library, ages spent sitting at your desk, not much sleep and even less time for decent nutrition. Pizza and instant noodles are quick to make, but don't offer the nutrients you need to keep you focused on your notes.
Your brain is doing a lot of work during that time and it needs to be taken care of. So we've collected 5 tips to help you get through the exam period:
5 tips to you survive this time
To maintain your concentration, the main thing to remember is to stay hydrated! You should ideally be drinking two liters of water, tea or diluted juice. If you don't stay hydrated throughout the day you'll often feel weak or be prone to headaches. You're best off putting a big bottle of water within reach of your work station right away each morning. If you often forget to drink, it's helpful to use an app to give you regular reminders.
Drink enough!
Balanced Diet – A balanced diet is important, not just for your physical body, but also for your mind. Good fats and nutrients help your brain process information. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the exchange of nerve information, which makes it easier for you to learn and remember things. Vitamins A, B and C protect your brain. So instead of reaching into the freezer for a quick meal, grab BERTRAND instead. It has everything your brain needs and it's just as quick to make.
balanced nutrition
Make a plan! Does a study plan sound tedious and boring? That might be the case, but having a plan means you'll get started on time and have a better idea of what you need to get done. And that way you can split things up more easily and see when you have time for other things.
Make a plan
Sleep – We process the things we've learned much better in our sleep. That's why it's important to get enough of it. You shouldn't make the mistake of staying up studying well into the morning hours every day. Instead, you should give your body a well-earned break and make sure you're sleeping often and enough.
Sleep
And on the topic of breaks: Short breaks are important, even while you're studying. Step away from your desk and go outside and get some fresh air, for example. Get your fill of oxygen and enjoy the first signs of spring. Or enjoy a bath or an episode of your favorite TV show. It's good for the soul. But be careful not to spend too long relaxing or to turn your breaks into excuses. Ideally, use a timer and head back to your desk when it goes off.
Short breaks
To maintain your concentration, the main thing to remember is to stay hydrated! You should ideally be drinking two liters of water, tea or diluted juice. If you don't stay hydrated throughout the day you'll often feel weak or be prone to headaches. You're best off putting a big bottle of water within reach of your work station right away each morning. If you often forget to drink, it's helpful to use an app to give you regular reminders.
Drink enough!
Balanced Diet – A balanced diet is important, not just for your physical body, but also for your mind. Good fats and nutrients help your brain process information. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the exchange of nerve information, which makes it easier for you to learn and remember things. Vitamins A, B and C protect your brain. So instead of reaching into the freezer for a quick meal, grab BERTRAND instead. It has everything your brain needs and it's just as quick to make.
balanced nutrition
Make a plan! Does a study plan sound tedious and boring? That might be the case, but having a plan means you'll get started on time and have a better idea of what you need to get done. And that way you can split things up more easily and see when you have time for other things.
Make a plan
Sleep – We process the things we've learned much better in our sleep. That's why it's important to get enough of it. You shouldn't make the mistake of staying up studying well into the morning hours every day. Instead, you should give your body a well-earned break and make sure you're sleeping often and enough.
Sleep
And on the topic of breaks: Short breaks are important, even while you're studying. Step away from your desk and go outside and get some fresh air, for example. Get your fill of oxygen and enjoy the first signs of spring. Or enjoy a bath or an episode of your favorite TV show. It's good for the soul. But be careful not to spend too long relaxing or to turn your breaks into excuses. Ideally, use a timer and head back to your desk when it goes off.
Short breaks
Those were a few tips to help get you through this time. What tips do you have for the study period? What helps you get formulas, vocab or laws to stick?
5 tips for a successful study period March 13th, 2019Christel Badtke
The first month of the year has already passed by and asking about those New Year’s resolutions feels redundant. Your trainers are already gathering dust again, there’s frozen pizza waiting in the freezer for tonight and, even though you wanted to avoid the stress, you’re already back to working overtime.
It’s not too late however to change that and to shape your life the way you want it. According to statistics, eating healthily, playing more sport and having more time for yourself and friends are also the most common resolutions for 2019. Based on experience, this requires a good plan, but flexibility is also helpful for sticking to resolutions and overcoming inner temptation.
BERTRAND supports every aspect of this process: Its simple preparation alone saves you time that can be used for yourself or friends and family. At the same time, you eat in a considered and above all balanced way. Thanks to the active version containing double the amount of protein, it’s also suitable as a meal after a visit to the gym or an extensive jogging session as it provides the body with the necessary nutrients as well as healthy minerals and vitamins.
Have any questions remain unanswered?
I am happy to answer any questions you might have on this topic. Feel free to write me an e-mail. You will usually receive an answer within 24 hours.
Annika | Customer Careannika@bertrand.bio
Stick to your resolutions with BERTRAND March 13th, 2019Christel Badtke
Riding on a scooter from coast to coast across the USA? Sounds like a very exhausting adventure. Various climate conditions, thousands of kilometers. But friends Dejan Kovacevic and Patrick Oswald wanted to challenge themselves with this adventure, and even collect money for children with cancer along the way.
What has that got to do with us? Well, Patrick is taking our products with him on the journey, which both men are starting with a rucksack each, and of course their scooters. On February 27th, they set out from Frankfurt with a direct flight to Miami. They are planning to arrive in Los Angeles by March 25th. That's 27 days for approximately 5,000 kilometers. The two men will have to brave the desert, tornadoes and a variety of climate conditions. Which of course raises a number of questions, which Patrick has kindly answered for us:
1. How did you both prepare for this trip? After all, there really couldn't be a more diverse set of requirements than those which apply to this trip.
Patrick: We had a very short time to prepare with our scooters, because we only got them in January. Our main endurance training sessions consist of running.
It is definitely a bit like a Kamikaze trip, for sure.
2. Where did you get this idea to ride from coast to coast?
Patrick: It's spectacular. We did think of other scenarios, for example from the North of Europe to the South. But it's not so cool, and the climate makes it difficult. That's why it turned out to be coast to coast.
3. Why did you choose Bertrand?
Patrick: It's easy to mix Bertrand with water. It lets you have a meal with very little preparation.
If you would like to follow the two men on their trip, take a look at their Facebook page or their Instagram Profile. You can also donate to the Frankfurt Association for Children with Cancer. We wish them all the best for the rest of their trip!
From Coast to Coast March 7th, 2019Christel Badtke
Sometimes BERTRAND is more than just a shake that contains all of the important nutrients you need. With a little creativity, it can be used as an ingredient as well. Today we have a recipe that can fight your sugar cravings.
Vanilla Flavored Bertrand
Oat milk (cow's milk or other plant milk)
3-5 dates
Put the powder into the Green Bottle, cut the dates into small pieces, blend with the milk in a blender and then pour into the Green Bottle. Shake well and let sit for a minute. Enjoy.
Information about dates:
In spite of their high calorie count, dates provide a lot of important nutrients, including vitamins B and C as well as potassium. They're also full of antioxidants, which serve to protect your cells. That makes the little fruit the perfect substitute for sugar, and is a good way to curb those cravings for gummy bears or chocolate.
Recipe: BERTRAND Vanilla Date Shake February 27th, 2019Christel Badtke
Fabulous flowers and nondescript seeds that pack a punch: Flaxseeds are the food of choice when it comes to unsaturated fatty acids or vitamins. Its little seeds come from the beautiful blue flowers of the flax plant, which is native to Europe and has more to offer than many other plants. To be precise, flaxseeds have the highest content of the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha-linolenic acid. The harvested seeds are sold in three variants: whole, broken, and milled.
Flaxseeds have a slightly nutty flavor and contain about 40% fat (flaxseed oil). Whole seeds are less beneficial to the body than broken flaxseeds because they usually pass through your gastrointestinal tract unchanged. They need to be broken in order to unlock their full potential in terms of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins (vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E). The seed coat of flaxseeds contains mucilage, which swell up when combined with enough water and do a good job of regulating the gastrointestinal tract. Flaxseed oil also contributes to a healthy heart and actively protects your cells. This is due to the lignans, which are secondary plant compounds rich in antioxidants. In addition, flaxseeds are said to have anti-inflammatory effects. Why organic:
The selenium contained in flaxseeds already exhibits its property of binding heavy metals within the plant. That’s why it’s important to eat flaxseed products from certified organic cultivation and less from conventional cultivation in order to avoid plants that absorb potentially harmful substances from the soil along with the selenium contained in it.
How do they end up in the product?
We import our flaxseeds from Kazakhstan, where they are cultivated in certified organic conditions. Usually, manufacturing companies use so-called cold-pressed flaxseed oil cakes, which are a by-product of flaxseed oil production. Our flaxseeds, however, come to us as whole seeds and are broken just before we mix and fill our product. In this way, we protect the valuable fatty acids from oxidation, thus preventing the little seeds from becoming rancid quickly. By grinding the little flaxseeds in BERTRAND, we ensure that its valuable nutrients can then be absorbed optimally by the body.
Featured: Organic flaxseed February 25th, 2019Christel Badtke
Sometimes BERTRAND is more than just a shake that contains all of the important nutrients you need. With a little creativity, it can be used as an ingredient as well. Today we have a recipe for a quick breakfast:
Vanilla Flavored Bertrand
2 drops of vanilla extract
1 ripe banana
approx. 250 ml oat milk (cow's milk or other plant milk)
Toppings like nuts, cacao nibs, etc, as desired
Cut the banana into small pieces. Put the Bertrand powder into a bowl and pour the milk and vanilla extract over it, stir thoroughly with a small whisk until the powder has dissolved. Let it rest for a moment, then add the banana and other toppings and enjoy!
Information about bananas:
Bananas could be considered a miracle food, because not only are they cheap, they're also good for you. They're full of B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. The combination of the slow-burning fiber, like in muesli, and the simple carbs in a banana will also make sure you stay feeling full.
Recipe: BERTRAND Vanilla Banana Muesli March 15th, 2019Christel Badtke
Today’s article is about iron (Lat. Ferrum, FE) – an essential trace element that the body is not able to make for itself. It must enter the body through food and drink, because the organism needs this trace element, if it is to function properly
Iron plays a major role in transferring oxygen in the blood and in cell respiration. It plays an essential part in the formation of hemoglobin, which means the production of red blood cells. It also strengthens hair, nails and muscles.
Iron uptake
In short, iron attaches to various organic molecules that are found within the organism. It is found in enzymes, in hemoglobin and myoglobin and as stored or reserve iron in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin. Iron reserves are located mostly in liver cells and in the cells of the immune system.
Unlike calcium or sodium, the balance of iron in the body is regulated solely through absorption. This is because the iron that is present in the food and drinks typically consumed in Europe consists of about one-third heme (a component of hemoglobin and myoglobin). The rest of the iron from food and drink is in the form of iron (III) compounds, which are generally bound to cysteine residues of proteins. Both iron compounds form loose compounds with almost all biomolecules (except fat), and these ensure that the iron remains in solution. Heme has 6 coordination sites, 4 of which are already occupied, and so it is not capable of forming further fixed or insoluble compounds. This enables it to act as an independent absorber of other nutrients, and as such, it provides the body with almost two-thirds of the iron that that it absorbs.
Making iron absorption easier
There are factors in plant-based food that inhibit the absorption of iron, such as phosphates, polyphenols and phytates. That is why coffee and tea, for example, make it more difficult to absorb iron. Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, on the other hand facilitates absorption by converting trivalent iron (Fe3+) into bivalent iron (Fe2+). The items in the BERTRAND range always contain sea buckthorn, which acts as a stable source of vitamin C.
Where can you find this in BERTRAND?
In Bertrand the main sources of iron are almonds and linseed. But wholegrain oats and ingredients made from algae can also be sources of iron. Our organic almonds come from Spain and Italy, and they are grown using ecologically approved methods. Our linseed also comes from a certified organic producer and is brought to us from Kazakhstan. Our wholegrain oats are grown only in European fields, and the algae are harvested from the Spanish and French coasts.
The sea buckthorn is Bertrand’s purest source of Vitamin C. If you are vegetarian or vegan, it is essential to ensure that you absorb enough iron from your diet, because the body can utilize iron from animal sources much more easily than iron from plant-based foods. Even just a glass of orange juice with a meal that contains grains can be very effective.
Do you have any questions?
I am happy to answer your questions on this topic. Feel free to write me an email. You will usually receive a response within 24 hours.
Annika | Customer Serviceannika@bertrand.bio
Iron: Important for transferring oxygen and for cell respiration February 15th, 2019Christel Badtke
Yeast – an exciting microorganism that resembles a separate small universe. As a single-celled being it predominantly ferments with sugar and starch to alcohol and carbon dioxide. This results in the soft dough of bread, rolls and other pastries. There are over 700 kinds of yeast, and we decided to choose the nutritional yeast since we are not keen on the alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Though commonly known as raising agent and fermentation assistant in beer and wine, many people don't know that yeast is actually loaded with nutrients. Even the ancient Egyptians used it for their meals without knowing that it is loaded with niacin and B vitamins such as B1, B2 and B6. Important nutrients that ensure a well-balanced metabolism and support muscles and nerves The contained potassium in conjunction with sodium ensures a healthy heart and a well-adjusted fluid balance in the body.
In order to guarantee excellent quality we use organic nutritional yeast powder which we provide with a sugar source made of clean spring water and grain instead of using conventional molasses.
Why organic?
All of our products are organic since we are convinced that good quality already starts with the ingredients. The advantages are easily demonstrated through the example of our organic yeast:
The sugar source of conventional yeast is primarily made of molasses, whereas the sugar source of our organic yeast is made of grain from organic farming.
Ammonia (NH3) or ammonia salts are used in conventional yeast. The nitrogen source of organic yeast is also organic grain.
Acids like sulfuric acid and alkalis like caustic soda are used in conventional yeast in order to regulate the pH value. This regulation is not necessary with organic yeast.
Synthetic vitamins and inorganic salts are needed for conventional yeast. These substances are already sufficiently available in natural mediums.
Conventional yeast is made with synthetic defoaming agents. Organic yeast is made with organic sunflower oil instead.
In the case of conventional yeast, the washing has to be repeated several times in order to eliminate unpleasant flavors and odorants. There is no washing with organic yeast. The sterilization happens through water steam.
With conventional yeast, the waste water is heavily contaminated and hard to clean. But with organic yeast, the fermentation medium provides the basis for further products such as pre-ferment or pre-leaven starters.
How does it get into the product?
Nutritional yeast is a yeast inactivated by heat. The basis is the organic yeast cream which already features the very good nutritional profile but cannot be used yet in our product due to its consistence and activity. In order to obtain the yeast powder used in BERTRAND we need to inactivate the yeast cells first. This happens through brief heating to 55° – 60°. Should there be any surviving yeast cells, they will be subsequently inactivated due to the drying. Drum drying is used in this case. It is particularly gentle and makes the yeast cream into yeast flakes at 130° by putting a thin film of the product on the drum. The contained liquid evaporates thereby. Then the yeast flakes are grounded to a fine yeast powder with the help of a cone crusher. This powder is subsequently mixed with our other ingredients to make BERTRAND.
Moreover, yeast serves as source of protein and is therefore perfectly suited for diets low in protein such as vegetarianism and veganism. Athletes also benefit from proteins since they are responsible for muscle growth, as well.
Have any questions remain unanswered?
I am happy to answer any questions you might have on this topic. Feel free to write me an e-mail. You will usually receive an answer within 24 hours.
Annika | Customer Careannika@bertrand.bio
Featured: organic yeast February 6th, 2019Christel Badtke
The vegan diet is still one of the most controversial topics. Yet there’s actually no reason for that at all. By being aware of the food and the nutrients from food that you put in your body, you can ideally eat better and also be more mindful of the environment.
As a way of just giving this a shot, there’s the #veganuary challenge, which was created to globally promote the idea of trying to go vegan for the month of January. It has been around since 2014 and was started as a charity organization in the UK to help people throughout the world realize that going vegan is neither unhealthy nor boring. People share their experiences on social media, discuss the challenge with each other, and help each other out because being vegan definitely doesn’t need to be complicated.
For the sake of the environment, it is definitely worth taking a closer look at this diet because a kilogram of beef alone requires about 15,500 liters of water. The 14.5% CO2 emissions caused by intensive livestock farming and the clearance of green spaces for feed are other negative aspects of an omnivorous diet.
The myth that a vegan diet causes people to have less energy also continues to endure. There are a lot of examples that prove the opposite, such as competitive athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Rich Roll or Fiona Oakes. Professional athletes from Germany like professional beach volleyball player Max Betzien also eat a vegan diet.
Another big myth surrounding the vegan diet, in addition to the one about not getting enough nutrients, is that it takes a lot of effort. This assumption can already be refuted by the fact that even a simple pasta dish with tomato sauce is vegan. The vegan version of BERTRAND kills both myths with one stone, so to speak, because preparing it is very easy, and at the same time you get the exact nutrients that fall by the wayside in a purely plant-based diet, and it accomplishes all of this in a completely natural way and without artificial supplements, instead getting some help from the world of algae.
The vegan version of BERTRAND does not contain the milk powder that can be found in the classic and active versions, which is why it’s recommended to mix the powder with oat or almond milk instead of water in order to improve the flavor. For an even better and distinct flavor, we can also recommend using the fruit juice of your choice or taking a bit of extra time to cut some fruit and blend it together with the plant-based milk of your choice and the Bertrand powder in a blender to create an even more unique shake. Because with BERTRAND, being vegan is neither boring nor complicated. And there’s no need to eat grass either.
Have any questions remain unanswered?
I am happy to answer any questions you might have on this topic. Feel free to write me an e-mail. You will usually receive an answer within 24 hours.
Annika | Customer Careannika@bertrand.bio
BERTRAND supports #veganuary January 28th, 2019Christel Badtke
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