Introduction

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Rob

Hello to all blog visitors. In this blog we are doing a research report for Fundamentals of Nursing. We have to show some of the health care beliefs of German-Americans and how they may differ from the cultural norm in America.


Germans really love their food and their beer. So to that end I am going to put some pictures and recipes here of German food and see how it stacks up to modern American Cuisine.

Jagerschnitzel

Pork cutlets are pounded thin, breaded, and fried, then topped with a sour cream-mushroom gravy. Yeah real yummy but probably n not best for a healthy diet.

German Chocolate Cake

OK any cake may not be the best for you but this one is pretty
high up there on the calorie list.




According to my Oma who is barely understandable and 100% German "our diet in Germany consisted of a variety of meats and meat products which were usually included in every meal, while we also indulged our sweet tooth with baked goods and cakes." Also breakfast and lunch are much larger than dinner, thought to be for metabolic purposes.

Meat and potatoes are staple foods of the typical German diet, with meat often being eaten at every meal of the day. Sausage-type processed meats are particularly common and popular in Germany. Bread, pastries and cakes are often eaten, with butter and lard the most commonly used cooking fats.(Oma)

Germans like pickled and fermented food such as sauerkraut which provides good vegetable sources ex specially during winter. (Oma)

Oma believes that German consumption of fermented foods and sour cream helps the digestion of their low-fiber diet.


Finally a further point of health contention for Germans is they consume more alcohol and use more tobacco then most other European countries. And as known beer is very high in calories particulary empty calories therefore not good for helath. And we all know smoking isn't the best way to be healthy. (Moross)

Best song ever

Of course some Germans do have great diets and are very healthy.
Some are even Lifeguards-

Amy

Health Care in Germany

 

According to (Green, Irvine, & Cackett, 2005) Germans who earn below 3,862 Euros monthly must join one of the 300 sickness funds.  Germans who make over this amount may opt out and buy private insurance or remain the state system roughly 10% are voluntarily insured.  German sickness funds must be financially sufficient and the premiums are set based on a percentage of income.  Germans are free to visit any doctor or clinic of their choosing. They may walk right in from the street or have an appointment. If one clinic is too full they just go to a different one. They do not need to have a referral to see a specialist. There are plenty to go around. Germany has 2.3 practicing specialist for every 1,000 people. 

According to (Joos, Musselmann, & Szecsenyi, 2009) More than 2/3 of the patients in Germany use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).  These treatments can be given by physicians or non-medical practitioners called Heilpraktiker.   These CAM treatments are very valuable to the family physicians and becoming the first cares for patients.  To name a few of the alternatives would be naturopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy, physical therapy, acupuncture, and herbal remedies.  A few of these are covered under health insurance such as chiropractic, naturopathy, homeopathy, and acupuncture for patients with knee and lumbar pain.

According to (American Association of Naturopathic Physicians) “Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances which encourage the person’s inherent self-healing process.”

According to (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012) “Homeopathic remedies are derived from substances that come from plants, minerals, or animals, such as red onion, arnica (mountain herb), crushed whole bees, white arsenic, poison ivy, belladonna (deadly nightshade), and stinging nettle. Homeopathic remedies are often formulated as sugar pellets to be placed under the tongue; they may also be in other forms, such as ointments, gels, drops, creams, and tablets. Treatments are “individualized” or tailored to each person—it is not uncommon for different people with the same condition to receive different treatments.”

 

German Traditions

According to (Discover German Originality, 2007) gingerbread houses are a big deal.  Gingerbread houses date back to ancient Egypt but in Nuremberg in 1693 were able to form their own trade and developing export markets with one business producing 3 million pieces of gingerbread a day in the months before Christmas.  Advent calendars are also a big thing with a month’s worth of treats hidden behind paper doors.  St. Nicholas was first recognized in Germany and became the patron of sailors, merchants, bakers, children, and students and leaves gifts in the shoes of children. 

According to (Discover German Originality, 2007) the Easter bunny came from Germany.  According to a legend there was a pagan festival Ostara that is celebrated on the vernal equinox, around March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. Ostara was named for the pagen goddess of spring Eostre.  The legend says that she once saved a bird whose wings had frozen during the winter by turning it into a rabbit. Because the rabbit was once a bird it could lay eggs and so became the Easter Bunny.  The first edible Easter bunnies were made of pastry and sugar were produced in Germany in early 1800’s. Easter hunts are large tradition in the towns and cities of Germany.

According to (German Culture, 2012) a few wedding traditions are the first dance is traditionally a waltz.  The first night friends make it difficult by doing funny things such as filling rooms up with balloons, hiding a lot of alarm clocks in the bedroom and take apart the bed.  There is also kidnapping of the bride. The friends take the bride and the groom has to search all the pubs and invite all the people there or pay the whole bill and sometimes this ends badly.  Germans wear wedding rings on the right hand and the bride and groom typically have the identical bands meaning no diamonds. The brides wedding shoes are bought from saving pennies for years. 

According to (German Culture, 2012)  some birthday traditions are you never wish a German happy birthday before their birthday no gifts, cards, or well wishes it is considered bad luck.  If someone invites you out for your birthday the whole tab is on them no exceptions.  If you live in Northern Germany and are still single on your 30^th birthday a few chores are expected of you. If you are female your friend may have you clean public door knobs with a toothbrush and if you are male you may have to sweep the stairs of a public place. These tasks are typically done to have the person dressed comically to perform these tasks. To be freed from these tasks it is as simple as a kiss from the opposite sex.  For the 16^th birthday it is common to pour flour on the head. The 18^th birthday is to crack eggs over their head. For the 25^th birthday if an unmarried man a type or garland with socks is strung outside the home around the property leading to the party and as he follows he must down an alcoholic drink every few meters. The use of socks comes from expression alte Socke (an old sock) a derogatory way of saying confirmed bachelor.  For the women its similar experience as they follow a garland of cigarette cartons or similar size carton for nonsmokers.  These single women are nicknamed eine alte Schachtel (an old box) similar to the meaning old maid. 

Conclussion

References

(2010). Morss, E. Drinking Patterns, Global and Local | Morss Global Finance. Elliott Morss: Articles on Global Finance, Entertainment and more. Retrieved October 13, 2012, from http://www.morssglobalfinance.com/drinking-patterns-global-and-local/

(2009). Retrieved from American Association of Naturopathic Physicians: http://naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=59

(2007). Retrieved October 10, 2012, from Discover German Originality: http://germanoriginality.com/heritage/christmas.php

(2012). Retrieved October 10, 2012, from German Culture: http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/aa030601a.htm

(2012). National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved October 11, 2012, from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/homeopathy

Green, D. G., Irvine, B., & Cackett, B. (2005). Civitas. Retrieved October 10, 2012, from The Institute of the Sudy of Civil Society: http://www.civitas.org.uk/pubs/bb3Germany.php

Joos, S., Musselmann, B., & Szecsenyi, J. (2009, February 12). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved October 10, 2012, from Hindawi: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/495813/cta/