Each month, Weekend will pose a different question to be debated by a series of female Emirati columnists. This month, we ask Noura Khoori:
What are the best ways to improve the overall health of UAE citizens?
It is every individual's responsibility to seek sound information and educate themselves on all health levels. Building a strong foundation of knowledge is of utmost importance; this is to avoid being swayed by inferior health trends and subsequently falling victim to the influence of relentless, misleading advertisements.
Get into the mindset of making nutritionally smart food choices and building sensible eating habits. This starts with you! One predominant "problem" most affluent societies suffer from is eating out of impulse or habit, for reasons other than real hunger (socialising, restricting meal times to certain times of day, etc).
Speaking of society, the widespread prevalence of various food outlets is not making self-restraint any easier for the public. Perhaps the Government, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, should stipulate that more health food chains open up instead of the typical fast-food ones: salad bars and cafes serving whole fresh foods made with natural ingredients will be a contemporary addition to the repertoire of food outlets in existence.
Statistics in the UAE of obesity and type-2 diabetes, often lifestyle-related and largely avoidable, are alarming; it is time stringent plans were put into place to prevent such conditions rather than to treat them later.
Many people erroneously think that exercise is only mandatory in a weight loss programme, and that "thin" people are exempt from it. Physical activity is for everyone. Focus on mixing up between aerobic exercises (that get the heart and lungs pumping) and strength training for muscle stamina and bone health.
Mothers, aim to breastfeed your babies for the recommended two years of age. It is not only the normal, ideal source of nourishment for an infant, but builds into their bodies resilience to common illnesses and paves the way for a healthy, normal development of body functions.
Young children should never be force-fed; parents need to instil in their children the respect for their own bodies and to listen to the cues their growing bodies are giving them with regards to hunger and satiety. Treat foods (for children and adults alike) are just that: occasional samplings of indulgences preferably enjoyed with the guidance of informed parents in the early years.
Besides caring for the physical body, you can do your "self" a favour by nurturing your soul and mind. Simple acts like journaling, meditating in solitude, enjoying the company of family and friends, being active in the community and finding outlets for daily stresses contribute greatly to peace of mind and a general sense of self-satisfaction. Plan your own unique holistic approach to your overall well-being, and put it into action this year.
Noura Khoori is an Emirati homemaker and mother of three children. She is a volunteer lactation counsellor with La Leche League International and a writer of Arabic children's books.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
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