Wissen · Nährstoffe

Was ankommt, nicht was draufsteht

Neun Kapitel über das, was wir täglich zu uns nehmen: welche Form der Körper aufnimmt, was sich gegenseitig blockiert, und warum die Menge selten das Problem ist. Ehrlich, belegt, verständlich.

Hinweis: Alle Inhalte dienen der Aufklärung und Bildung. Sie ersetzen keine ärztliche Diagnose, Behandlung oder individuelle Beratung. Bei Beschwerden oder vor der Einnahme von Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln sprich bitte mit einer Ärztin oder einem Arzt.

Chapter 1 · The False Sugar

Sweet. Quiet. Systematic.

The problem is not sugar itself, but its refined, isolated form in quantities for which our bodies were never built.

25 g
The WHO recommends a maximum of free sugars per day (ideal).
90 g
stehen in Deutschland rechnerisch pro Kopf und Tag zur Verfügung - 33,2 kg im Jahr
3.6 ×
Above the recommendation, mostly unnoticed, hidden in finished products

Diseases associated with high sugar consumption

Strength of scientific evidence · qualitative classification according to meta-analyses & WHO
caries

very strong

Obesity

very strong

Type 2 diabetes

strong

Fatty liver (NAFLD)

strong

Cardiovascular system

strong–medium

gout

medium

depression

growing

Cancer risk

growing

Same sweetness, different body

Blood glucose response (schematic) over 2 hours

0 min60 min120 minhighØ

Lemonade / Refined sugarWhole apple

Why the difference?

The "right" sugar never comes alone

The fruit contains sugar packaged, in fiber, water, vitamins and phytochemicals. This packaging slows absorption, satiates, and nourishes the microbiome.

Refined sugar is the same substance. without packaging: Er flutet das Blut, zwingt die Bauchspeicheldrüse zu Insulinspitzen - und der Absturz danach ruft nach der nächsten Dosis. Ein Kreislauf, den die Natur nie vorgesehen hat.

Number 1 · Germany

The number increases every year.

Two lines, twenty years. Green: how many adults in Germany have diabetes. Orange: how many are severely overweight. Both are rising continuously.

0 %5 %10 %15 %20 %200320102017202412,2 %19,7 %5,8 %10,3 %

severe obesitydiabetes

In 2003, approximately one in 17 adults had diabetes. Today it is one in 10.

9.3 million.People in Germany have type 2 diabetes. Around 2 million more are unaware of it.
1.400New diagnoses. Not per month, but every single day.
12 million.are expected by 2040 if everything continues as it has been.

Source: Robert Koch Institute, German Health Report Diabetes 2026.

Number 2 · In the body

What a bottle of soda does to you

Your body has to break down an apple first. You don't have to break down a soda. The sugar is already liquid and goes almost directly into the bloodstream. That's the whole difference.

  1. ImmediatelyThe bottle contains 53 grams of sugar. That's the equivalent of 18 sugar cubes. You'd drink that in two minutes. You'd never eat it.
  2. After 30 to 60 minutesYour blood sugar is at its peak. The more liquid the food and the less fiber it contains, the steeper the rise.
  3. After 1 to 2 hoursYour body releases insulin to bring the level back down. If your metabolism is already overloaded, this takes significantly longer.
  4. After 2 to 5 hoursNow things can go downhill: cravings, fatigue, difficulty concentrating. And you reach for the next sweet treat. The cycle begins again.
  5. After a few weeksIn a study, young men drank almost 0.8 liters of soft drink daily for seven weeks. Afterwards, their livers accumulated twice as much fat as before.

A single drink a day is enough to keep your body permanently in a state of emergency.

Source: German Diabetes Association, Professional Association of German Internists, University of Zurich (2021).

Number 3 · Hidden Sugar

Where the sugar really sits

A sugar cube weighs 3 grams. The World Health Organization recommends a daily intake of about 25 grams, or 8 cubes. Green means: still within limits. Red means: over the limit.

Cola, 0.5 l
53 g
Crunchy muesli, 100 g
21 g
Orange juice, 200 ml
17.6 g
Fruit yogurt, 150 g
15 g
Iced tea, 250 ml
11–22 g
Muesli bar, 25 g
9 g
Hazelnut-nougat cream, 15 g
8.4 g
Ketchup, 25 g
5.7 g
Honey, 1 tbsp (21 g)
≈17 g
within the 8 diceover and beyond

Half a bottle of cola contains 18 cubes. This more than doubles the daily target, even before breakfast.

Source: Sugar list of LAG Berlin (2024), Consumer Advice Center NRW, WHO. The value for iced tea varies greatly depending on the brand.

Number 4 · The most common mistake

It's not just about the weight

Many people think: sugar makes you fat, and being fat makes you sick. So, staying slim should be enough. Studies show otherwise. Even when you factor out body weight, the risk remains elevated.

+18 %One more case of type 2 diabetes per glass of sugary drink per day. Even after factoring out weight, the increase is still +13 percent.
+9 %Higher risk for heart and circulatory system, also per glass per day.
23 %10% of adults in Germany have fatty liver disease without ever having drunk much alcohol.

Source: Review articles in BMJ (2015) and in Nutrients (2021), guideline of the DGVS.

Sources: WHO Guideline „Sugar intake for adults and children“ (2015) · DGE Nutrition Report · Meta-analyses including Te Morenga et al., BMJ 2013. Curves shown schematically.

Liquid gold

Honey is not a sugar substitute. It is a food in its own right.

Wer Honig nur als süßen Aufstrich sieht, verkennt ihn. Er ist eines der ältesten Heilmittel der Menschheit - und das ist keine Romantik, sondern Aktenlage. Im Ebers Papyrus, Honey appears in hundreds of recipes in an Egyptian collection dating from around 1550 BC. In Ayurveda, it has been considered a distinct class of substances for millennia, while in Traditional Chinese Medicine it serves as a carrier that unlocks the effects of other herbs. Archaeologists have even found honey in the tombs of pharaohs that had remained unspoiled for over three thousand years.

And today he is in the operating room

The most remarkable thing about honey is not its past, but its present: Medical honey is an approved medical product in Germany. Kliniken setzen ihn bei chronischen, schlecht heilenden Wunden ein, bei großflächigen Verletzungen und bei Wunden, die mit antibiotikaresistenten Keimen wie MRSA besiedelt sind. Kein Naturheilmittel-Marketing - eine reguläre Zulassung.

Please do not confuse: This medical-grade honey is specially sterilized. Honey from a jar should never be applied to an open wound. - er ist nicht sterilisiert und kann Keime eintragen. Was in der Klinik gilt, gilt nicht in der Küche.

But only the real one deserves the name

And this is where it gets uncomfortable. Worldwide, approximately Seven times more honey is consumed than produced.. This gap isn't filled with bees. It's filled with sugar syrup, with dilution, with offcuts.

The label gives it away. Steht dort „Mischung von Honig aus EU-Ländern und Nicht-EU-Ländern“, hältst du zusammengekaufte Ware aus aller Welt in der Hand - verschnitten und erwärmt, damit sie streichfähig bleibt und sich maschinell abfüllen lässt. Genau diese Wärme kostet ihn das, was ihn ausmacht: Enzyme, Pollen, Aroma- und Begleitstoffe. Übrig bleibt goldfarbener Sirup.

The beekeeper's label states where it comes from. - oft bis zum Standort der Völker. Kalt geschleudert, nicht hocherhitzt, nicht feinstgefiltert. Dass er mit der Zeit fest wird, ist kein Makel, sondern der Beweis: Nur unbehandelter Honig kristallisiert.

The varieties. Acacia honey stays liquid for a long time because it is particularly rich in fructose. Rapeseed honey sets quickly and becomes spreadable. Forest honey is dark and tart because it doesn't come from blossoms, but from honeydew. And Manuka aus Neuseeland trägt eine MGO-Zahl auf dem Glas, die seinen Methylglyoxal-Gehalt angibt - je höher, desto gesuchter und teurer.

There's one thing we still owe you.

Wir sind erklärte Anhänger des Honigs - und gerade deshalb sagen wir dir auch das: Honig besteht zu rund 80 percent sugar, And the World Health Organization classifies it as a free sugar. Therefore, the 25-gram recommendation mentioned above also applies to it.

100 g

Zucker in 100 g Haushaltszucker - der Vergleichswert.

80 g

Sugar in 100g of honey. The rest is mostly water.

68 g

Sugar in 100g of date syrup, also a free sugar.

This isn't a contradiction to everything that came before, but rather the instruction manual. Honey isn't something you eat by the spoonful because it's healthy. It's something you... targeted einsetzt - und dann bitte in einer Qualität, die den Aufwand wert ist. Weil er durch den hohen Fruchtzuckeranteil süßer schmeckt als Zucker, kommt man ohnehin mit weniger aus.

Practical: Do not stir into boiling hot tea. Only when the drink has cooled to a drinkable temperature will it retain its original properties. And honey should not be included in the diet of infants in their first year of life.

Sources: Ebers Papyrus (around 1550 BC); World Health Organization, Recommendation on free sugars; Institute for Apiculture at Humboldt University of Berlin; German Honey Ordinance; specialist literature on wound care with medicinal honey.

Chapter 2 · Two Bodies, Two Worlds

Your body eats with you.

Left: a person who is separated from pure nature ernährt. Rechts: derselbe Mensch - mit Konservierungsstoffen, Emulgatoren und Industriezucker. Scroll und vergleiche.

A balanced diet

energy

Stabile Energie über den ganzen Tag - der Blutzucker bleibt ruhig.

against

Sugar spikes, crashes, and the famous afternoon slump.

Colon

A diverse microbiome, nourished by fiber and bitter substances.

against

Emulsifiers and preservatives have been proven to disrupt the intestinal flora.

skin

Klares Hautbild - Antioxidantien schützen die Zellen.

against

Sugar glycates collagen (AGEs): impurities, premature skin aging.

immune system

Starke, ausgeglichene Abwehr - Entzündungen werden reguliert.

against

Silent inflammations smolder permanently in the background.

Sleep & Mind

Restful sleep, stable mood, clear thoughts.

against

Restlessness, cravings, and mood swings in sync with blood sugar levels.

industrially characterized

Simplified comparison based on the available research on ultra-processed foods (including the NOVA classification, Monteiro et al.; Chassaing et al., Nature 2015 on emulsifiers). Not medical advice.

Chapter 3 · Understanding Supplements

Not all magnesium is created equal.

Auf der Packung steht „Magnesium“ - entscheidend ist aber die Connection behind it. It determines how much your body actually absorbs and where it has an effect.

Well-filled

90

Bisglycinate

Nerves · Sleep · Stress

An die Aminosäure Glycin gebunden - sehr gut verträglich, hohe Aufnahme, beruhigende Begleitwirkung. Ideal am Abend.

Well-filled

85

Citrate

Muscles · Digestion

Schnell verfügbar und gut belegt. Regt zusätzlich die Verdauung an - bei empfindlichem Darm niedriger dosieren.

75

Malate

Energy · Fatigue

An Apfelsäure gebunden, die im Energiestoffwechsel (Citratzyklus) mitspielt. Beliebt bei Erschöpfung - eher morgens.

70

L-Threonate

Brain · Memory

Die einzige Form, die die Blut-Hirn-Schranke gut passiert. Spannend für Fokus & kognitive Gesundheit - aber teuer.

65

Orotate

Heart · Vessels

Bound to orotic acid, traditionally studied in cardiology. A niche formulation with interesting research findings for the heart.

Economy version

15

oxide

– kaum verwertbar

Die billigste und häufigste Form im Drogerieregal. Aufnahme nur ~4 % - der Rest wirkt abführend. Viel Pulver, wenig Wirkung.

Score = relative classification based on bioavailability, tolerability, and available studies. Sources include: Firoz & Graber, Magnes Res 2001 (Oxide ~4 %) · Walker et al. 2003 (Citrate vs. Oxide) · Slutsky et al., Neuron 2010 (Threonate). Individual absorption varies.

Chapter 4 · The Team Behind the Scenes

Vitamin D3 never works alone.

D3 holt Kalzium ins Blut - aber erst K2 It shows him the way: into the bones, not the arteries. Two vitamins, one task.

Vitamin D3

Open the door

D3 (Cholecalciferol) steuert die Kalzium-Aufnahme aus dem Darm und reguliert über 200 Gene - von Immunsystem bis Stimmung. Im Winter bildet die Haut hierzulande kaum welches. Öl-basiert einnehmen, denn D3 ist fettlöslich.

Vitamin K2

Directs traffic

K2 (idealerweise als MK-7) aktiviert Proteine wie Osteocalcin, die Kalzium in den Knochen einbauen - und Matrix-GLA, das es aus den Gefäßwänden fernhält. Ohne K2 kann hoch dosiertes D3 Kalzium am falschen Ort ablagern.

Sun / D3Calcium into the blood
+ K2 (MK-7)directs specifically
Bonestrong & dense
without K2Vascular calcification

Often usefully combined; typical supplementation 1000–2000 IU D3 + ~100 µg K2 (MK-7). Consult a doctor if taking blood thinners (vitamin K antagonists). Sources include: Maresz, Integr Med 2015; van Ballegooijen et al., Int J Endocrinol 2017. Not medical advice.

Chapter 5 · The right fat

It's not about more, it's about the relationship.

Our diet provides plenty of omega-6, but hardly any omega-3. The ratio has completely reversed. ~2:1 often today 15:1 - und Omega-6 im Übermaß befeuert stille Entzündungen.

15:1Omega-6 : Omega-3

Not all Omega-3 sources are created equal.

Pflanzliche Quellen liefern ALA - der Körper wandelt davon nur wenige Prozent in die aktiven Formen EPA und DHA um. Direkt verfügbar sind sie aus Fisch und Algen.

algae oil EPA + DHA, vegan
direct
Fish oil EPA + DHA
direct
Fatty fish Salmon, mackerel
direct
Linseed oil only ALA
~5–10 %
Walnuts only ALA
~5 %

Bar = proportion of directly available active omega-3 (EPA/DHA). Pay attention to freshness (Totox value) and an algae alternative for a vegan diet. Sources include: Simopoulos, Biomed Pharmacother 2002 (ratio) · EFSA recommendations on EPA/DHA. Not medical advice.

Chapter 6 · Sweetness without sugar?

Sugar-free does not automatically mean harmless.

Süßstoffe sparen Kalorien - doch manche irritieren das Mikrobiom oder halten die Lust auf Süßes wach. Es gibt better and worse Paths.

sweetener
calories
Classification
The most important
SteviaVegetable
0 kcal
Well suited
From the leaves of the stevia plant. No effect on blood sugar; look for pure steviol glycosides, not mixtures.
Erythritolsugar alcohol
≈0 kcal
Well suited
It is hardly metabolized and very well tolerated. Ideal for baking. In large quantities, it has a mild laxative effect.
Xylitolsugar alcohol
~2.4 kcal/g
In moderation
Gut für die Zähne, aber darmreizend bei höheren Mengen - und hochgiftig für Hunde. Achtung im Haushalt mit Tieren.
AspartamSynthetic
≈0 kcal
Controversial
Classified as "possibly carcinogenic" by the IARC in 2023, but considered tolerable in normal amounts. We prefer to avoid it.
SucraloseSynthetic
≈0 kcal
It's best to avoid it.
Heat sensitive (baking can produce byproducts); recent studies suggest disruptions of the microbiome.
Honeynaturally
~304 kcal/100 g
In moderation
Naturally sweetened with enzymes, antioxidants, and trace elements, it's the best choice among natural sweeteners. However, it remains real sugar: use sparingly and do not heat above 40 degrees Celsius, otherwise the enzymes will be destroyed.
agave syrup„"naturally"“
~310 kcal/100g
Sugar trap
Klingt gesund, ist aber sehr fruktosereich - belastet die Leber ähnlich wie Industriezucker. Ehrlich betrachtet kein Fortschritt.

This classification serves as a guideline, not a prohibition. The best approach remains to lower the overall taste threshold for sweetness. Sources include: WHO guidelines on sweeteners (2023); IARC/JECFA on aspartame (2023); Suez et al., Nature 2014 (microbiome).

Chapter 7 · Gut & Microbiome

The root is located in the intestine.

Billionen Bakterien verdauen, was wir selbst nicht können - und beeinflussen Immunsystem, Stoffwechsel und sogar die Stimmung. Ihr Futter: Fiber and variety.

30 g
The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends the following amount of dietary fiber per day:
18 g
On average, we in Germany actually consume
30
verschiedene Pflanzen pro Woche - Richtwert für ein vielfältiges Mikrobiom

Sources of dietary fiber

Content in grams per 100 g · rounded
Chia seeds

34 g

linseed

27 g

Lentils (cooked)

16 g

oatmeal

10 g

wholegrain bread

8 g

broccoli

3 g

This nourishes the intestines

  • Dietary fiber from vegetables, legumes, whole grains
  • Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, kimchi
  • Polyphenols from berries, herbs, olive oil, cocoa
  • Vielfalt - viele verschiedene Pflanzen statt immer dasselbe

This puts a strain on the intestines

  • Emulsifiers & additives from ultra-processed products
  • Lots of sugar and refined white flour
  • Excessive alcohol
  • Constant snacking without breaks for digestion

Sources include: German Nutrition Society (DGE) reference value for dietary fiber (30 g/day); American Gut Project (diversity/„30 plants“); Chassaing et al., Nature 2015 (emulsifiers). Educational content, not a health claim.

Chapter 8 · Bioavailability

Nicht was du isst - was ankommt.

The central theme of this page: Nutrients only work if the body absorbs them. The right combination Often, more than quantity matters.

combination
effect
Effect
The most important
Iron + Vitamin Ce.g. lentils + bell peppers
reinforced
significantly ↑
Vitamin C significantly increases the absorption of plant-based (non-heme) iron.
Turmeric + black pepperCurcumin + Piperine
reinforced
significantly ↑
Piperine increases the otherwise very low curcumin absorption many times over.
Vitamin D3/K2 + Fatfat-soluble vitamins
necessary
Mit einer fetthaltigen Mahlzeit einnehmen - sonst bleibt die Aufnahme gering.
Iron + Coffee/Teatannins
inhibits
Gerbstoffe blockieren Eisen - mit rund einer Stunde Abstand trinken.
Calcium + iron simultaneouslycompetition
competes
Take high doses at different times, not with the same meal.

Sources include: Hurrell & Egli, Am J Clin Nutr 2010 (iron) · Shoba et al., Planta Med 1998 (piperine/curcumin). General knowledge, not an individual recommendation.

Chapter 9 · Iron & Vitamin B12

Two that many are missing.

Especially with a plant-based diet, a closer look is worthwhile: iron is absorbed less well by plants, B12 It is found almost exclusively in animal sources.

How well iron is absorbed

Approximate absorption rate depending on source & combination
Heme iron (meat, fish)

≈ 25 %

Plant-based + Vitamin C

≈ 15 %

Plant-based (non-heme)

≈ 8 %

Plant-based + Coffee/Tea

≈ 3 %

Eisen - clever kombiniert

  • Sources: Lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, rolled oats, spinach
  • Always combine with vitamin C (bell peppers, lemon, berries).
  • Drink coffee/tea at different times
  • Unbalanced diets and heavy menstrual bleeding increase the need for

Vitamin B12 - nicht raten, messen

  • Virtually only found in animal products (meat, eggs, milk)
  • Vegan/vegetarian: targeted supplementation (no „organic by chance“)
  • Speicher hält lange - Mangel zeigt sich oft erst spät
  • If in doubt, have your blood values checked by a doctor.

Intake rates are approximations and vary individually (storage capacity, demand). Sources include: EFSA reference values, Hurrell & Egli 2010. This does not replace a medical diagnosis.