Living Healthy in Kuwait

Homemade Aloe Vera Hair Treatment

2011-11-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we were gardening with the kids, when my son Yousef came to me holding a cut up part of an Organic Aloe Vera plant from our garden.

"I want to put this on my hair mommy!" he said. I was surprised! How did he know that Aloe Vera is good for the hair? So I did a bit of research and found a nice treatment mix. Aloe vera is said to make the hair smoother and stronger, and is used as a natural conditioner.

Here's the mix I made:

Added a little bit of organic olive oil, with some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Cut up the Aloe Vera plant to get the inner gel inside. It's crystal clear and gel-like and very very juicy! Put them all together in the blender and it will end up like this:

Add it evenly all over the hair and let it sit for an hour. While I was applying to Yousef's hair, I was very surprised to find out that this wasn't his first time to apply aloe vera on his hair LOL!!!!!!! He took an aloe vera plant from the garden before, peeled off the skin and rubbed it on his hair while taking a shower! I guess gardening and farming runs in his genes, just like his dad! :)

First Day of School Lunch Box

2011-09-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on my previous post:

Taiba's Lunchbox:

1. Wholewheat tortilla bread filled with organic peanut butter and bananas
2. Green Apple
3. Cucumbers

Yousef's is exactly the same, except his tortilla bread is stuffed with :

Grilled Salmon.
Marinade:

Onions, garlic, organic rosemary (from our garden), freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper. Marinate overnight.

I made Zaater (Oregano) Pastries for tomorrow, and there are only 6 left because my husband was raiding the fridge last night LOL! (3alaih bel3afya) Here's the recipe:

Recipe:

2 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon yeast
1 tablespoon milk
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sage
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil

Combine warm water, milk, and yeast in small bowl and let sit 5 minutes.
In larger bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt and seasoning ingredients.
Mix in wet ingredients and knead until a dough is formed.
Allow to rise in warm area for 1/2 to 1 hour- cover with aluminum foil and damp cloth.
Preheat oven to 445-460 degrees farenheit.
Divide dough into small balls and roll out, make sure it's not too thin.
Spread Oregano + Olive Oil Mixture on top and heat in oven 10-12 mins.

Final note, this year I bought them really awesome name tags for their bags and lunchboxes, as well as name stickers, from a really cool lady who was in an exhibition at 360 Mall during Ramadan. You can order from her online at www.zaristicker.com, check out the kids name tags:

Back to School with Super Healthy Lunchboxes

2011-09-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

It's my favorite time of the year again! Kids are starting school, and I just love dropping them off on the first day and getting to meet their teachers and seeing them get together with their friends! But you know what the best part about back-to-school is?? It's when my kids get to walk into the classroom with full pride and confidence that they have a healthy lunch box to show off to the whole class! I'm hoping they will inspire others to follow the same path.

So what's on the menu for the first day of school?

For my son Yousef, who loves fish, it's going to be Marinated Salmon (grilled) with tomato sauce in a homemade wholewheat tortilla bread, cucumbers, a banana, and freshly squeezed orange juice to drink.

For my daughter Taiba, it's going to be Organic peanut butter with banana slices in a homemade whole wheat tortilla bread, cucumbers, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Each will be taking a stainless steel water bottle, because we all know how very important it is that kids stay hydrated throughout the school day!

Here's how to make the Tortilla Bread, it's super easy and you can fill it with your kids favorite HEALTHY filling, I have to add that it was a huge success, as i caught my husband (the night mouse) munching on one thinking I wasn't looking LOL!

Ingredients: (makes 18-20)

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil(I used olive oil)
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup warm water or 1 cup milk (I used water)

Directions:

1. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.

2. Add oil and mix with your fingertips to combine.
3. Add the milk or water, working the liquid into the dough until a sticky ball forms.
4. Wrap in plastic and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
5. Divide the dough into 18-20 balls (for small tortillas) or 16-18 balls for larger ones, cover them again with a damp cloth for about 10 mins.
6. Lightly dust a counter or pastry board with flour & roll out each ball of dough into a circle
7. Heat a dry griddle or heavy skillet over high heat for 5 minutes. Cook the tortillas 30 seconds on each side or until the dough looks dry and a few brown spots form on both surfaces. Don't overcook them so they don't be hard.

Enjoy! Tomorrow I will post a picture of what the lunchboxes look like.

Ramadan Mubarak: Ask About Your Medications!

2011-08-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

Wishing all my readers a Happy and Blessed Month! Here's a very important message for those of you who take medications:

Have questions about your medications? Not sure what to do about your medications while you are fasting? Come visit us at the Avenues Mall nearby “Payless” and “Boots Pharmacy” closest to parking #7. “Ask about your Medications” is an outreach campaign sponsored by the Dasman Diabetes Institute Clinical Pharmacology Department and starts today August 5th, and tomorrow August 6th from 8:30 pm to 1:00 am. Come speak to an experienced pharmacist about all of your concerns!! We look forward to seeing you there!

Watch Out For Those Nuggets!

2011-06-12T04:22:00.000-07:00

As usual, I've been reading the book "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan (yeah, I love that book so much that Rana Al-Omani calls it Noura's Bible LOL!) and, again as usual, I've been walking around and spitting out shocking information I read to the people around me. The other day I was at work and my co-workers were shocked at what I read about chicken nuggets and they asked me to write about it so they can share it with their friends who are in denial about fast food. Also been asked by my friend Beeks to write something so that she can share it with mothers who believe it's ok to feed their kids fast food on a regular basis.

So, here it is my friends:

Chemical Nuggets

Among the chemicals added to a chicken nugget are sodium aluminun phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and calcium lactate. Those are antioxidants that keep the fat in the nuggets from spoiling. Something called dimethylpolysiloxene is an anti-foaming agent. It is added to keep foam from forming when the nugget is fried. Dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected cause of cancer.
Then there is also something called tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ. This chemical is made from petroleum and is either sprayed directly on the nugget or the inside of the box it comes in. Its job is to "help preserve freshness". TBHQ is a form of butane (lighter fluid). Eating a single gram of TBHQ can cause "nausea, vomitting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse". Ingesting five grams of TBHQ can kill you. But the goverment allows food makers to spray a tiny amount of this on your food to preserve it.
Source: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan.

And, if you'd like to see the whole process live, here's my favorite Jamie Oliver Video to help you visualize ;)

A Diabetes Success Story in Kuwait

2011-06-09T02:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I introduced you to Rawia, and today i'm going to introduce you to her cousin, another young lady who has become a regular at Rana's Zumba and Fitness Classes. It's not a surprise that she is Rawia's cousin, seems they are influencing each other in positive ways :)

Meet Muneera, a 19 year old diabetic. I also met Muneera at Zumba, but didn't know she was diabetic until I saw her holding an insulin pen before class. Again, I was impressed, a young girl who is battling with a life-long disease is earning her health through physical activity. I see a lot of diabetic patients in the clinic, many of them don't realize that if they started to exercise, it would help them live a normal healthy life. Muneera is a classic example of this. Here is her story:

"I discovered i was diabetic when i was 5 years old. It was hard for me at first because I was a kid and i wanted to eat everything like any other kid. When I turned 14, my health became so bad that I ended up sleeping in the hospital every month for a week so the doctors could help me control my blood sugar levels. I was so lazy and sad, and I would always ask my mother, "Why me? Why is all of this happening to me?!?" My mom was very worried and sad about me and she tried to help me but i was lazy and i didn't wanna move; I was sleepy all the time.

When I turned 17, I lost a lot of weight because of my uncontrolled blood sugar levels. My high blood sugar affected my eyes. I couldn't read or watch TV without glasses. The doctors told me that if I didn't help myself and try, they won't be able to do anything for me. They told me that high blood sugar levels affect the nerves of the body, the eyes, the kidneys and if I left it uncontrolled like this, my kidneys will stop working.

So, I went to a gym for a month but it was so boring I couldn't continue. After a long time of thinking I heard about Zumba Fitness and I searched about it and read a lot about it. So I said to myself, ok let's give it a shot and try something I never tried before. And I tried it. It was so much fun and I loved it and the girls there and it really helped me! I have never felt better in my whole life. My diabetes is getting better and better everytime. My mom, doctors, and me are so happy and I really hope I can continue until my blood sugar is perfect. I also began to control myself with food, by eating 3 meals a day and snacks in between."

Muneera's HBA1C levels went down from 11.7 to 8.8 over a period of 3 months :) That is definitely an achievement worth a grand applause.

Diabetes is a very common disease in Kuwait. If you are diabetic, or have a family history of diabetes, being healthy and fit is the key to your happiness :)

Have a sweet day!

Building a Healthy Future Generation

2011-06-08T03:28:00.000-07:00

Hi readers! I know it's been a while again, I've been busy...AGAIN! I have read some comments on previous posts and will get back to you very soon.
Going to @RanaFitness 's studio (check her out here, she's awesome!) regularly, I have noticed that there is an increase in the number of youth who exercise regularly, and that really makes me happy and proud! I'm glad that our future generation is realizing the importance of physical activity in their lives. This week, however, it struck me that many of them are probably not eating as healthy as they could be. And this week, I discovered that the main reason is, they are simply unaware taht what they're eating is not healthy!

I'd like to introduce you to an amazing young lady, Rawia. When Rawia first started coming to Zumba, I was so impressed with her physical fitness. Most 18 year olds her age are busy shopping at malls, however Rawia comes to exercise regularly. What's even more amazing about her is her will to learn about anything and everything! She always asks informative questions, participates at charity events and other community events. Recently, she has been asking me about nutrition.She sent me a picture of her breakfast the day before yesterday, which looked like this:

Rawya was very surprised when i told her that her breakfast was not healthy. "But how?! There's cucumbers and tomatoes!
"What about the sausages?" I asked.
"What's wrong with sausages?! I gotta have protein!" She replied.
I began to explain to her how sausages are highly processed food, high in sodium, and the meat used isn't really actual meat, it's the leftovers like fat, skin, body organs, etc. She was in shock!
So the next day, Rawia suprised me, I didn't expect her to make a change so fast. She sent me a picture of her improved breakfast, check it out:

Rawia switched from sausages to boiled eggs, and from white toast to brown toast :) I went on to ask her why she uses cream cheese? She said that it's "Low in cholesterol". I explained that many labels can be deceiving and just because something says it's healthy it doesn't always mean so :) I really love how Rawia is eager to make a change in her lifestyle and I can't help but wonder how many more youngsters out there want to be healthy but don't really know how!

Nutrition education is just as important as disciplinary education, remember that if you are raising children. Making small, baby-step changes is the key! Teach them to eat right so they will grow into healthy adults :)

Have a good day!

Compost: Make your own and conserve!

2011-01-27T03:23:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since I posted something I really have been very busy. Since the weather is awesome these days for gardening, I thought I would interview my husband Nawaf, who is a great gardener, and have him talk a little about composting. So here it is, as Nawaf says it:

In today's world there are so many chemical-based fertilizers that can be beneficial but at the same time harmful to the soil. Why are they harmful?

1. They increase the amount of salt in the soil
2. They concentrate on 3 things: nitrogen, phosphate and potassium as nutrients which are enough for the plants to grow but not enough for the plant to provide sufficient nutrients for us such as zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, etc
3. Synthetic fertilizers can sometimes burn the plant because they're too concentrated, whereas natural products are very balanced.

Going back to nature is the solution! Did you know that you can make your own fertilizer at home in your own backyard? Yes, it's called composting! And, it's very easy! All you have to do is:

1. Use kitchen scraps and leftovers, such as fruits, vegetables, cut grass, etc.
2. Find a place in your garden designated for gathering your compost.
3. The rule of thumb is to mix 25% of green based (fresh leaves) leftovers and 75% brown leftovers (dried leaves).
4. Make sure the temperature of the compost pile is 25-30 degrees Celsius after mixing.
5. Make sure that it's moist- it should be covered.
6. Leave it to sit for 2-3 months.

You can take a look at your compost and watch it slowly decompose. You know what's so amazing about natural compost? It has an earthy smell! Not the nasty smell of chemical fertilizers!

Some beneficial items to add to your compost: coffee beans (high nitrogen content), egg shells (high calcium content).

Would love to hear feedback from people who have tried :)

Here are some pictures of our compost bin, and of our organic produce:

Our compost bin.

Our natural compost

The kids cleaning up the garden after pruning the tomatoes and adding the waste to the compost pile.

Organic Brandy Wine Tomatoes.

Organic Elephant Garlic

Organic eggplants and melon

Organic Cinderella Pumpkin

Nawaf also has a Gardening Group on Facebook, where everyone can share useful gardening information and photos, click here to join.

Kuwait Hope: Share Your Story and Help Others

2010-12-27T02:38:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I know it's been forever since I wrote something. I really have been very busy, but I'm checking in here today to let you know about a very important project that Dasman Institute is working on. I am really liking the change that they are making and I really wish them all the best in their goal to make Kuwait a healthier place.

Currently, they are organizing a "Hope" section for their website, a place where people who have diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity etc, can share their experiences and help eachother. To let eachother know that there are others out there experiencing the same thing. I am definitely going to share my obesity challenge and maybe even talk about what I have discovered about Hypothyroidism.

Give Kuwait Hope, by sharing your personal story:

http://hope.dasmaninstitute.org/

World Diabetes Day in Dasman Diabetes Center - Don't miss it!

2010-11-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

Diabetes is one of the leading diseases here in Kuwait, whether you are diabetic or have a family member or friend who has it, it's very important to be aware of Diabetes and be well educated about it to know how to prevent yourself from getting it and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle if you do have Diabetes.

I am so happy to announce that Dasman Diabetes Center in Sharg are organizing World Diabetes Day this Thursday, with the details as follows:

Come join us at Dasman Diabetes Institute as we observe the World Diabetes Day.

This is a family event open to the public. Everyone is welcome, diabetic and non-diabetic. The event consists of various interesting activities including:

Complementary medical screening / tests

Complementary Nutritional Consultation

Interactive Gallery

Celebrity Kuwaiti Chef Adlah Al Sharhan will host a healthy cooking demo

Takht Sharqi and Traditional Kuwaiti Musical Band

Magic show and face painting

Snacks and refreshments.

Local Kuwaiti Urban Dance Group; ELECTRIK CREW

The purpose of this event is to promote awareness, education and prevention of diabetes. We hope to see you and your families there.

The event will take place on Thursday, November 25 · 4:00pm – 9:00pm

Hope to see you all there :)

ZUMBA Master Class in support of Breast Cancer Awareness! Come Party in Pink!!

2010-10-14T03:50:00.000-07:00

Guess what! It's Breast Cancer Awareness month! And what better way to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness than to PARTY IN PINK with Rana Al-Omani at next week's ZUMBA MASTER Classes! The event will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, 20-21st October from 6-8pm at the Women's Cultural Social Society.Ladies only! Don't forget to wear pink!

You Are What You Eat

2010-10-01T22:07:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the book "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollen, a book I seriously recommend that everyone should read. It basically talks about where our food comes from; the food that you see in the grocery store. I knew about a lot of it before reading, but I was quite shocked at quite a few things.

One of the things, I feel I really need to mention. In the book, he talks about where our meat comes from. When it comes to cows, they are taken away from their mothers at the age of 2 months. The mother weeps in pain for the next several months because she needs her baby. Meanwhile, the calf is taken to an Industrial cow farm, where it is kept in a very crowded area, unable to even move, and fed corn. Cows are not made to eat corn, their bodies were designed to eat grass. So this corn that they eat affects their stomach, and the bacteria in their stomach. This bacteria begins to multiply and obviously makes them sick. So, what do our wonderful Industrial farmers do to prevent it from getting sick? That's right, my friends, you got it! They start injecting the poor cow with antibiotics. Now of course, the cow doesn't start eating corn right away because cow's don't like corn. So they basically reach the point of starvation before they finally give in and eat the corn because it's the only thing available for them to eat.

Now let's talk about the crowded area part. The cow's are basically on top of each other with no space to move. And guess what??? They are standing knee-deep in their own cow poop! And if that didn't gross you out and make your heart break into pieces for those poor cows, brace yourself for what you're about to read! When it's time to kill those cows, do you think those lovely Industrial farmers even bother to wash the cows? Heh! No way :) They are brutally killed in these "mashing" machines, skin, bones, and POOP all together :) Yes, my dear readers, I really felt the need to tell you, that the lovely ground (minced) meat that you buy from the market may very well contain cow poop in it :) Wait wait!! Don't stop reading!! It gets even better !!! If that cow is still sick, even after the massive amounts of antibiotics it gets, guess what??? The bacteria it's infected with comes out with the poop, and where does it land?:) That's right!! In YOUR plate!!

I don't know if you watched the movie Food, Inc., Michael Pollan is one of the producers. There was a Registered Dietitian in the documentary, who lost her beautiful 3 year old son from contaminated ground beef. They were having a lovely barbecue and making burgers. The poor boy ate a contaminated burger which had the cow poop that was infected with E.Coli. Yes, he passed away.

Oh, and let's not forget about the chickens. The poor chickens are injected with growth hormone, so that they can grow to the right size within 2 months. By that time, their body is so big, but their organs are still not matured to fit their size, and so they actually suffocate to death, unable to move or carry their own weight. Then, our amazing Industrial farmer comes along, picks up the dead chickens, and sends them to be cleaned and ready for the grocery store. Now, to all my muslim readers out there.....is that chicken even HALAL??? Do you really think people who treat animals this way will even CARE to kill them in Halal way?? It really is very easy to write something on a label, even if it isn't true!

So, what am I trying to get at? You are what you eat! KNOW where your food is coming from! THINK about what you're eating!The only way our market will change, is if we DEMAND a change. We deserve better, and most importantly, our children deserve a CLEAN, FRESH, HEALTHY future. It starts with YOU.

Back to School: What is in YOUR kids' lunchbox??

2010-09-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

Summer's up! We're back to school! It's been a while since I posted something, mainly because I've been so busy getting ready for Eid, School, etc! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I hope you're ready for a new and exciting school year, filled with healthy lunchboxes and physical activity for your kids :)

I was very very excited to see signs and posters all over my kids' school, promoting healthy lunchboxes. What would fit the criteria of a healthy lunchbox? Here are a few tips on how to tweak what you've got into something better:

1. Go Brown: get rid of that useless white bread/toast. White bread and toast are processed, and during the processing, the bran/grain, which is the most important and nutritious part, is removed!! To make a long story short, eating white bread/toast/flour is just the same as eating sugar! Calories without much nutrition, and our children are at a very crucial stage where they need maximum nutrition!

2. Go Lean with the Protein, choose legumes: Beans, such as chickpeas, peas, red kidney beans, etc are called power foods because they contain protein (important for growth) AND complex carbohydrates! These high fiber foods are sure to keep your child full til they're home for lunch! Let's not forget their nutrient content! You can serve hummus with whole wheat bread, instead of a highly processed, high sodium content luncheon meat (mortadella, hot dog, etc).

3. Skip the sugar-packed juice, Go for the Fruit: unless you make the juice fresh at home, with no added sugar, it is best to serve your child the fruit itself. Ready juices that are sold in the market are really just sugar with water! Unless it says 100% juice, which will also have added sugar to it. Eating the fruit itself will add the benefit of fiber.

4. Send plenty of water: what's wrong with drinking plain water? It's the best drink you can ever have! Teach them while they're young to love water, and to drink an average of 1.5-2 liters a day!

5. Veggies, Veggies, More Veggies Please!! Teach your child to LOVE veggies by putting a VARIETY of COLORFUL veggies in their lunchbox, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower...dare I say radish?:)

DON'T:

1. DON'T send croissant to school with your child. Many people think that croissants are a healthy option. Croissants are loaded with butter (a saturated fat), and are not a healthy choice.

2. DON'T send soda or soft drinks, like we mentioned before, these drinks are just pure sugar and water. These drinks will not help your child get the nutrients they need to concentrate in class and are known to make children hyperactive.

3. DON'T send potato chips or chocolate or sweets. These are processed, high in fat, and low in nutrient content.

4. DON'T send chicken nuggets, processed meats such as hot dogs, or fried foods.

Let your child BE the example of healthy! Trust me, the others will follow.

And finally, always try to send a "waste free" lunch box. This means try to reduce or completely remove anything that gets thrown in the garbage, such as plastic bags, tissue paper, juice cartons, etc. It is our responsibility to teach our children to care for OUR environment. Let us teach them to love our Earth :)

Wishing you all a very successful and exciting school year!

Ramadan Health Campaign!

2010-08-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

Check out Jumana's Latest Post on a Health Campaign for Ramadan!!

Way to go Athoob! One of the most critical times for eatng habits is during the Holy Month of Ramadan. People should use this time to reflect on themselves in terms of religion, as well as in term of their health. As Allah Sob7anah wa ta3alah asked of us to be moderate in everything we do, including food. Instead of indulging in fatty and sugary foods, we should use this time to eat healthy foods, and learn to say NO THANK YOU when we are full.

One more thing I would like to add that is VERY important. If you are planning to go walking or to exercise during Ramadan, it is very important that you do so AFTER eftaar time because it is extremely dangerous to exercise or walk when you haven't had any water. Dehydration can cause serious conditions. An important aspect about exercise is that you should ALWAYS drink water, before, during, and after exercise. Don't put yourself at risk, exercise after eftaar :)

Wishing you all a Happy Holy Month :)

Just because it's "FDA Approved", doesn't mean it's forever safe!

2010-08-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

Think before you eat!
Most of these cereals are just pure sugar anyways! Our children need nutrient-rich, healthy, NATURAL foods.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution - How to Make Nuggets

2010-08-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

I Hope this video inspires you to quit fast food ! It's one of my favorites. I showed it to my kids, and they were utterly shocked and disgusted. You may not get the same reaction, since kids are too young to understand about quality of food, but at least they will know, at least you got the message across and with time, it will click in their heads!

Would love to hear reactions of your children, please write me a comment and tell me what was your child's reaction!

Feeding The Kids Workshop- Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters

2010-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while, but I've been busy preparing for my first workshop! Although I posted this a bit late because seats are already fully booked, stay tuned for more workshops. If you're interested in registering for next time, send me an email with your name and number and I'll keep you in mind for next time!

ZUMBATHON, 16/06/10: Party For A Good Cause!

2010-06-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

Get ready to party with Rana Al-Omani and Amani Abbasy this coming Wednesday, 16/6/10 with the first ZUMBATHON event in Kuwait at the Women's Cultural and Social Society, Khaldiya. For more information on how to get tickets, visit the Zumba Q8 website! All proceeds from this event will go to Al-Amal Club, caring for Kids with Cancer. What more can you ask for?? You'll be doing a good deed just by having loads, and loads, and LOADS of fun!

What is Zumba? It's a latin-dance workout, that has helped me lose 30kg in less than a year! You can read my Zumba Story by Clicking Here . What's so great about Zumba? It doesn't feel like a work out! Honestly, it feels like a party! You'll be having fun while burning away that extra fat! I'm the type of person that gets bored at gyms sometimes, and I have been practicing Zumba for a year now, and I ALWAYS look forward to going to class, to this very day!

Start your fitness journey, by joining the ZUMBATHON! See you there :)

Ditch Those Diet Pills and Get That Body Moving!

2010-06-01T23:32:00.000-07:00

Lately, I'm getting asked a lot about diet pills, whether it's at work, or when I go to workout, or when I meet friends or family. Every single time someone asks me about diet pills and how some doctor or dietitian has prescribed it to them, I think to myself, "Really!! Isn't it about time that this diet pill trend is OVER? Why can't people see the light??"

Yes, my friends, I have considered many times not to talk about this topic because it is sensitive, but it's about time somebody says something. If a doctor or dietitian prescribes you a diet pill or "supplement" that will aid you in your weight loss, then take it from me (an honest dietitian who doesn't care about your money, but about your health and well being) you are being cheated! Yes, cheated! Diet pills can have serious side effects and can cause heart problems, and there have been marked deaths due to diet pills. Is it really worth your life?

Some diet pills act as neuro-suppressants. What does that mean? It means they block activity from the hypothalamus (a part of your brain responsible for releasing certain hormones) to supress your appetite. Does that sound safe to you?

Diet pills sound like they're too good to be true, they make you lose wieght without effort. Well, here's a wake up call to those of you who use them: they are simply NOT true! They might make you shed a few pounds, then what? They are just a short term solution to a long term problem!

And what about all the emotional eaters out there who take neuro-suppresant pills? You think that will work with them? Emotional eaters eat whether they feel hungry or not! Why risk serious health complications?

If you want to live a healthy life, and look greater than you've ever looked before, all you have to do is eat the right foods, and exercise. Nothing is gonna burn off that fat except exercise. There is no "diet" or "food" that will "burn" fat. Nothing burns fat but exercise.

So, work that body, and forget about those useless pills :)

Here's a really good article that puts things into perspective about diet pills, hope you fnd it useful:

click here

Are You Eating Your Emotions?

2010-05-26T01:11:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Noura, and I am an Emotional Eater. What is an emotional/binge/compulsive eater? It's someone who eats during their weakest emotional point. Sometimes, this develops into eating when feeling every and any emotion: happy, sad, lonely, excited, etc. Emotional eating usually results from the process of which the brain associates a positive feeling that resulted from eating during a low point. Usually these foods are very high calorie foods and sugary. Emotional eaters sometimes just eat whatever is infront of them. They don't have to be hungry. They eat to feel better, not realizing that once they are done with the binge eating, they will only end up feeling worse and with the feeling of guilt added.

I really like this diagram because it explains nicely the cycle of what's going on in an Emotional Eater's head.

Food and emotions are very related to each other, and once a person reaches this stage, it can get out of control, and lead to obesity. How can you regain control? It's all in your head! All you have to do is be determined, be aware of what you are doing. Realize that you have a problem, and seek professional help if you need to. The first step is admitting you have a problem. Once you are ready to realize that, things will start to flow positively. I can be of great help to you if you are an emotional eater, because I have overcome my problem.

I decided to talk about this today, because yesterday was the first time I reached a very weak emotional point since I had lost my 30 kilos. I started to think about the huge bucket of ice cream that was once my heaven and escape out of stress. I also thought about all kinds of chocolate that I was once addicted to. I thought about fast food. Then it hit me. Why was I thiking about those things? I've already been there, I've already done that, and I already know that it is a very ugly road that will only lead to depression and obesity. At that point, I knew that I am now in total control of my eating habits. I am pracitising, successfully, what I preach. I know it works. And it can work for you too. You can overcome emotional eating, forever! Start today, begin a much happier, healthier life :)

Once upon a time, when I felt stressed, I would do this. Yesterday I realized, even if I WANTED to do that, there's nothing but healthy food in my refrigerator anyway :P So whatever it is I plan to eat away at, I know it's not gonna be as harmful as the fatty high calorie, high sugar content junk food! :) Start by doing that, eradicate the junk food from your house, so when you have that urge, it won't be easy to access the damage :)

These are some of the emotions an emotional eater may be feeling before an episode of bingeing on junk food.

Does this look familiar to you? It looks very familiar to me. I used to sit infront of the TV or laptop, and watch my favorite shows, and eat away without even thinking. Many of my patients suffer the same, they just don't realize that it's a condition that can be stopped.

Don't resort to food when you feel down. Infact, do the exact opposite, go exercise :) Exercise releases stress and negative feelings, that's a scientifically proven fact. So, don't eat your emotions, work them out ;)

Thriving Garden: Summer Gardening

2010-05-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

Guess what? It's summer time, and Nawaf is gardening again, with passion! What's in our garden for the summer? Look for yourself:

Organic Eggplants. I couldn't believe it when I saw these, they looked UNREAL! They looked and felt like plastic eggplants! So shiny and soft, it was just unbelievable! And they tasted fantastic! We have never tasted eggplants that rich in our entire lives! And no, I'm not exaggerating! Looks like the summer is going to offer us better stuff than spring! And who would have thought that plants can withstand this heat?:)

One of many organic melons we have been enjoying over the past couple of weeks. On the inside, they are a very bright orange color, I need to take a picture of that soon! Taste? Amazing!

I have been very busy being a mom on vacation in the past month which is why I haven't posted anything on my blog, but I am back now, and looking forward to sharing so many things :)

I'm very proud to also post the following picture, which I received from one of my readers who took my pizza recipe and created a wonderful twist to it by adding mushrooms and rocca leaves :) Thank you Abrar :) :

Quoting from her email:
"mashooooooooooooora waaaaaaaaaaaayed
this first time i make pizza :)
my husband he enjoyed alot and my son"

Living Healthy in Kuwait in The Grow Your Own Blog!

2010-05-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

I am so proud to announce that my beetroot salad recipe (made with beetroots from our organic garden) has been posted on The Grow Your Own Blog . Even more proud that this recipe is the first Kuwaiti recipe to be posted there :)) Check it out, click here . The Grow Your Own Blog was created to support people from all over the world who cook using their home grown produce.

Have been slow on posting lately because I am on vacation and spending lots of time with kids before going back to work! Some exciting posts coming soon :)

School Lunchbox Preparation Over The Weekend

2010-04-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Many of us working moms hardly have any time to get anything done during working days. So, how do we make sure our kids are getting healthy homemade lunches at school? Easy! Prepare it over the weekend! Doesn't take much time at all! Here are a few things I prepared this weekend for my kids lunchboxes this week:

Green Hummus. Added some chickpeas, tahini paste, garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, chopped parsley, olive oil, and avocados (that's what gives them the green color), and a dash of salt. Throw them all into the blender, and voila!

No sugar added Date Bread in the shape of cupcakes :) These make a great nutritious addition to the lunchbox.

Oregano (زعتر) Crusty Bread, made with whole wheat flour. The kids love them so much, they couldn't resist taking a slice each before I could take a good picture :)

Also made the whole-wheat pizza, which you can find here. It's one of my kids favorites!

You can place the hummus and date bread in the fridge, and the oregano and pizza in the freezer and use daily for the week! Saves you a lot of time, and you can go to work feeling happy that your kids will be eating your homemade food at school :)

Healthy Banana Oat Cookies

2010-04-13T04:25:00.000-07:00

Made this over the weekend using organic oats, banana, ginger, and cinnamon. Taiba and Yousef are enjoying them in their school lunchboxes this week :)

Interview with Al-Yaqatha Feedback

2010-04-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

From this week's Al-Yaqatha issue, appreciation from the readers. Thank you to Safaa Ibrahim from Egypt for your kind words :)

Healthy Potato Chips and Vegetable Grill

2010-04-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Taiba and Yousef love to eat potato chips (crisps), and as we all know those packaged potato chips are very unhealthy, so what was my solution to tackle this issue? Easy! I made my own potato chips! How did I do it? Even easier! Check the ingredients below:

Ingredients:

4 Saudi Potatoes, very finely sliced into circular shapes

2-4 Tablespoons white vinegar(according to your taste)

1-2 Tablespoons Natureland Organic Sunflower Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

-Combine all ingredients together in a bowl.

- Line a sheet of aluminum foil in the oven and spread the potato chips evenly over the foil, making sure they don't get on top of each other.

- Bake until chips become crispy and golden.

- Allow to cool and gently peel off crisps from foil so that they don't break.

And voila!! Enjoy!

The children were also very excited because the whole family spent time in the kitchen together yesterday, as Nawaf decided to cook too! What did he cook? Look ahead:

Eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and asparagus in the oven! So super easy, just cut up the veggies and sprinkle Balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste, put it in the oven, and voila!

The Kitchen is a great place for you teach your children how to eat healthy, spend some time in there as a family, and see the amazing results!

Wake Up Call To All Parents

2010-04-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of Oleana Boutique, and recent, Oleana posted a very important video on her blog which I would like to share with all my blog readers as well. It's very eye-opening, and I hope it touches you the way it touched me, click here to go to Oleana's post and watch the video.

Tribute To My Uncle, Bader Nasser Al-Houti, May His Soul Rest In Peace

2010-04-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing on my blog in the past week because a great tragedy happened in our family exactly last week. There I was having lunch with my in-laws, when my sister called and gave me the "sad" news, although I feel that the word "sad" is an extreme understatement.

My dear uncle, Bader Nasser Al-Houti had passed away Thursday night (March 25th, 2010), on his way to Khairan, in a car accident. It was very hard for me to believe because less than 5 years ago, we had lost his angelic daughter, Hanan Al-Houti who was about to turn 25 years old, may their souls rest in peace.

Both my uncle and his daughter were very special people, charismatic, and do-gooders, each in their unique way. Hanan was always seeking world peace and ways in which she could help make the world a peaceful place. Uncle Bader always helped the poor. The world really lost two very special people, and I hope not in vain.

Kuwait, how many more accidents and deaths have to occur before something is finally done about the traffic situation here? How many more families have to lose their loved ones? Wreck-less drivers, if you don't care about your own life, at least respect the lives of others.

Not a day goes by without me seeing a car accident on the road. We need to become more responsible as citizens. We need to make a change. Fasten your seat belt, drive safely, and make sure your children are seated safely with their seat belts fastened- I have seen countless cars with children sticking their heads out of the window, or jumping around in the backseat. Save their lives, by taking a little bit of extra time and caution.

Allah yer7omek ya Khaly Bader, you will be truly missed, but never, ever forgotten.

Our Interview with Al-Yaqatha Magazine: March 27th Issue- Get your copy now!

2010-04-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

We Proudly made it on the front cover!

It may be difficult to read these scans, so get your copy of the lates issue of Al-Yaqatha magazine and read the whole article! It's Volume 42, March 27th 2010 issue.

My Zumba Story: How I Changed From Couch Potato To Totally Fit!

2010-03-25T01:36:00.000-07:00

When I was on my quest to become a healthy individual (Read that story here), I knew that exercise was one of the most important and essential factors to being healthy and fit. At that time, it was very difficult for me to exercise because of my obesity. I started out by walking everyday, but I knew that wasn't enough because I needed to increase my metablosim more, especially because I have hypothyroidism, a disease that slows down the body's metabolism and makes it more challenging to lose weight.

My friend Rana Al-Omani always used to tell me to join her Zumba (A latin-dance work-out) classes because they were so much fun and I wouldn't feel as if I were working out. But, I was too shy and embarrassed to go. Why was I shy? First of all because of my weight; I used to avoid going out as much as possible so people would stop commenting about my weight. Secondly, because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the class since I was so unfit.

One day , I decided to go and give it a try. And that was when my love story began with Zumba classes! Although I was unfit, I really enjoyed the class, and started to go every class. And I must say that if it weren't for Rana and her fitness classes, I wouldn't have been able to become the 30kg-lighter, fit person that I am today. And the best part is that the atmosphere is so friendly, there's no need to feel shy because you'll feel right at home!

It doesn't matter where you are on the fitness line, Zumba is a great workout for everyone, and the best part about it is that you don't feel like you're working out! It feels more like a party!

So, if you're someone who is looking to be fit, or just looking for a fun way to exercise, join Rana's Fitness Studio, she really is the best Fitness Instructor I know ! Thank you Rana for all your help, and for making me healthy and fit :)

Are Your Kids Getting Enough Sleep?

2010-03-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

When you're out shopping at night, or maybe hanging out at the Avenues, have you noticed how there are a large number of young children out and about during those late hours? Haven't you wondered, when do those kids actually go to sleep?

In my clinic, I see many patients (kids) who don't get enough sleep. Some of them sleep at 1:00am or even 2:00am, and they have to be up by 6:00am to get ready for school! Of course, these kids also end up having a nutritional problem because our sleep cycle is an important part of the healthy living connection. Lack of sleep is related to obesity because during those hours when you're supposed to sleep, you'd be eating!And most likely, the types of foods chosen during those late hours are fast foods and junk foods.

A teacher at my son's school was telling me how some of the students (in KG) end up sleeping through most of the school day, because they sleep very late the night before. And I remember last year when I went to Yousef's school concert, one of the boys just collapsed on the floor and slept through the entire concert- ON STAGE!

School age kids need between 10-12hours of sleep, and without it, they will lose the ability to do well in school and concentrate. Sleeping early and getting enough sleep allows your child to be emotional happy as well, and gives them a chance to socialize better at school.

Why limit this experience to your kids? You need enough sleep as well! At least 8 hours a day! Sleeping early is not a frequent practice here in Kuwait. Some people laugh at me when I tell them that I sleep between 9:00pm and 10pm every day. Try it, it will make a huge difference in both your life, and your kids' life! Be the example you want your kids to follow, and they will follow right along!

More Weekend Cooking

2010-03-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

What was on the menu this weekend?

It's truffles season (aka fage3 in Arabic), and what better way to have a healthy dinner than a nice truffles with homemade tomato sauce? I used the tomatoes from our organic garden to make the sauce...it was yummy yummy good!

My kids love pizza, and I hate junk food and fast food...so how can I compromise? Look below:

My very own home-made whole-wheat pizza, all ingredients made from scratch: the dough (made with whole wheat flour), the sauce (made with organic tomatoes from our garden) and organic cheese was used for topping. And it gets even better, NO SUGAR, NO OIL, NO BUTTER was used in this recipe! And, finally, the kids LOVE it! Want the recipe? Just write me a comment with your email and I'll send it right to you! :)

Baby Friendly Feedback!

2010-03-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I want to express my big thanks and gratitude to all the amazing feedback I received about the breastfeeding campaign. It makes me so proud that so many people are supporting this good cause and are interested in helping and spreading the word!

Some of you were wondering about the mothers in the pictures. Yes, all four of them are exclusive breastfeeding mothers who have breastfed their babies for a minimum of 1 year. Infact, all of them breastfed more than 1 year and 6 months! :) Something we all should feel very proud of!

For those who asked about including your pics, in order to maintain the credibility of our campaign, we accept pictures of mothers who have breastfed for 1 year or more.

Again, thank you for all the positive support, I greatly appreciate it :)

Breastfeeding Campaign: Calling All Mommies!

2010-03-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

Are you a breastfeeding mommy? Or, do you have older kids who were breastfed when they were younger? Please help us support breastfeeding by sending me your picture for our breastfeeding campaign in the oil sector. You and your baby can be just like the breastfeeding mommies below :

Zahra and her sweet son Yousef.

Mariam and her adorable son Saud.

Zainab and her angelic boy Abdullah.

Lujain and her little Princess Muneera.

I'd like to thank all four mommies for supporting me in my quest to make Kuwait a Baby Friendly country, and a special thanks to Mariam Al-Salem, a very dedicated mommy, who took the time and effort to design these beautiful posters for me.

Thanks again ladies, you are The Example of successful breastfeeding mothers.

If you would like to include your picture in our campaign, please email me your picture, we would love to include you! :)

Email: nmarafi@gmail.com.

Homemade Lavender Oil

2010-03-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

Our organic Lavender bush is growing very nicely, and what better way to enjoy it than making an aroma of Lavender Essence with its budding flowers? It's very easy!

Ingredients:

Lavender flowers (they could be dried or ripe it doesn't matter)
Almond Oil

Preparation:

Crush the flower petals very well and put in a jar.
Fill the jar with almond oil and seal well.
Cover with a towel and leave in a dry warm place for 2 weeks.

Enjoy!

Be a LACTIVIST: Working for a Baby Friendly Kuwait

2010-03-10T00:53:00.000-08:00

When Hanan was 4 months, I used to take her out with me wherever I go. I used to walk in the Mishref walking area for an hour, visit my mother or sister, and occasionally I would go to the Avenues to do some shopping.
One day I was at the Avenues with my family, and by the time we got there, Hanan needed to feed. Ofcourse, I knew that in Kuwait there was no such thing as a "breastfeeding area" where mommies can breastfeed their babies in a comfortable environment, while their older children would play in a play area right infront of them. But, my poor husband Nawaf had no idea. So, he asked one of the employees at a store if there was a baby feeding room. The employee replied enthusiastically, "Why don't you just sit on this chair and I can hold her while you prepare the milk?"

"Umm....actually, I'm breastfeeding her," I replied. The employee looked shocked and perhaps a little embarrassed, but she kindly offered me a changing room that I could use. I was very suprpised to see that many people in Kuwait are not used to seeing mothers breastfeed. They are accustomed to seeing mothers sitting on a chair and bottlfeeding their babies.

Sometimes, I used to use the prayer rooms as well. One time, I had an appointment in a hospital, and Nawaf asked again for a breastfeeding room. There was none, ofcourse, and we were both very disappointed at the situation here. Hospitals, at the very least, need to provide mothers with a breastfeeding area. I remember we had to wait a very long time there and I ended up using the bathroom to breastfeed Hanan!

In some countries, there are breastfeeding areas in every mall, in parks. Providing this service to the public will help promote mothers to breastfeed their babies. Afterall, nobody wants to feel embarrassed for doing something that is only natural!

At work, we are currently working on becoming a baby Friendly Hospital. Part of becoming certified is to perform interviews with mothers who have delievered in the hospital. Today, I interviewed a mommy who I am so proud of because she had a cesaerean delivery, and her baby was in the ICU for the past 2 weeks, but she managed to pump out her milk and her baby is actually being exclusively breastfed!

I really hope that all hospitals in Kuwait become Baby Friendly and help mother become successful breastfeeders. I also hope that Kuwait as a country becomes Baby Friendly, to raise a healthy, strong, disease free future generation. Let's start from the roots, and work our way to the top!

Be a Lactivist, support a healthy lifestyle by supporting breastfeeding!

Veggie Burgers for Kids! Say NO to Fast Food!

2010-03-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

Do your kids love fast food? Nuggets? French Fries? Do you wish you can get them to stop? You've probably tried so many times to get them to stop eating junk food, only to discover that they got it from somewhere else anyway!

Well, if that's how you feel, don't worry, you're not alone! Most of us suffer from the same situation! Even with my tremendous efforts to get Taiba and Yousef to eat healthy foods, they still ask for the unhealthy ones, such as fast food or chocolate or potato chips. Hanan doesn't count because I gave her healthy foods from the start and now she developed a preference for healthy foods- a very good tip for new mothers! The older your child gets, the more difficult it will be to teach them to eat healthy because they would have already developed their sense of taste and preference.

Whenever Taiba and Yousef ask me for junk food, I always repeat to them why it's unhealthy to eat those foods, and I try to give them a healthier choice instead. This weekend, I once again had to face the insisting demand on fast food!

"Mommy, can we eat McDonald's for lunch today? Please!!" started Taiba.
"Yes!! We want McDonald's!" Yousef supported.
"Remember what we said about fast food the other day?" I replied, hoping I will succeed in convincing them without disappointing them!
"Yes mommy, you're right. It's fried food, and they fry the food in old oil!" replied Taiba.
"Excellent, Taiba you're such a smart girl! I'm so proud of you!! For that, you get to choose whatever toy you want to buy today!" I replied, with GREAT enthusiasm.
"I don't like fast food! Fast food is bad, mommy! I'm a healthy girl!" she replied, encouraged.
"I DON'T CARE! I LOVE fried food!" Yousef replied, disappointed.
This was the most challenging part for me! Convincing Yousef takes a lot of skill LOL!
"OK! I have a great idea Yousef! How about we make our own burgers and potatoes at home? But I'm going to need a lot of help, I'm not a strong girl. You're a very strong boy, do you think you can help me make burgers and potatoes in the kitchen?" I asked, really hoping that he would go with it!
"Yes! I'm a strong strong boy! I can help you!" he replied.
He ran to get his cooking apron. I was so excited! Of course, I didn't tell them that we were about to prepare Veggie Burgers, because that would have made them lose interest.

Off we went into the kitchen, where I showed them the adzuki beans and the chickpeas. They were surprised to see that hamburgers can also be made from beans, not just meat! They helped me measure the beans out, remove the garlic from its peel, and they discovered that onions make your eyes tear if you stay too close while cutting! We set up the dishes, the fruit and vegetables, the cups for water, and the whole wheat burger buns! We mashed up the beans together and formed them into burger shapes. The entire experience was tons of fun for both them and myself! When we were done, Yousef said "Mommy, I really really love you to cook!" A tear rolled down my cheek when I heard that.

Both Yousef and Taiba ate up their veggie burgers and truly enjoyed them! What they enjoyed most was that they helped in making them. Allowing your child to help in the kitchen is a great activity to teach them how to eat healthy, and it also gives them a sense that they are an active member of your family. They feel important when you give them tasks to do in the home, and they are the most important members of your family! Teach them to be an active part of your household- Independence is learned even at their very young age!

So, you're probably wondering what the veggies burgers looked and tasted like. Let me tell you, the taste was superb! As for what it looked like, well, I'll let you be the judge:

Veggies Burger made of organic Adzuki beans and organic Chickpeas. Topped with organic lettuce (from our garden), Yeo Valley Organic Mild Cheddar Cheese (yeah that yellow stuff on top of the lettuce), and home made guacamole sauce. Side dish: Herb roasted potatoes, that according to Yousef, "Taste yum yum yummy better than French Fries!"

Finally, I'd just like to say, although it may seem hard not to give in at times, always remember, you are the parent, and that means you are in control! Be the example you talk about, show them the right way, and eventually, they will respond. Don't be too pushy, it might push them away and cause them to react the opposite way- show them in a way that would interest them, like making smiley face out of fruits or veggies.

Every day is a challenge for parents who want to feed their kids healthy food: at school, at home, and when visiting others. I, too, am facing these daily challenges, and every night before I go to sleep, I think about the good I managed to accomplish with my kids today, and throw out the bad because I know that I will never give up on making their lifestyle a healthier one, and I hope all parents out there feel the same way too. Part of our parenting, and I believe the most important, is the responsibility of teaching our children how to live a healthy life - in my eyes, it's equally as important as teaching them manners.

What did you teach your child today about healthy eating? It's never too late to start! :)

Say NO to Plastic! Re-usable? Fantastic!

2010-03-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that some grocery stores in Kuwait are now sporting re-usable, eco-friendly grocery bags? I feel so proud that our country is starting to take action towards a healthier, happier, and cleaner environment! Some of you may think, "I'm just one person, it won't make a difference if I use these bags or not!"
Well, let me tell you, you'd be surprised at how many plastic bags and products you're consuming on a daily basis! Water bottles? Plastic sandwich bags for school lunches? Juice cartons? The list goes on! Look in your house and kitchen, and think about what changes you can make to save our environment.

Why are plastic bags harmful? (Source)

Plastic bags litter the earth. Once they are used, most plastic bags go into landfill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up littering the environment. Once they become litter, plastic bags find their way into our waterways, parks, beaches, and streets. And, if they are burned, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.
Plastic bags kill animals. About 100,000 animals such as dolphins, turtles whales, penguins are killed every year due to plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and therefore die. And worse, the ingested plastic bag remains intact even after the death and decomposition of the animal. Thus, it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.

Plastic bags are non-biodegradable.The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.

What about plastic water bottles? Did you know that if they were exposed to excessive heat, or if they were placed in the freezer, they release toxic chemicals into the water- which you end up drinking!

So, what can you do to help?

1. Start using eco-friendly shopping bags! A few weeks ago I proudly purchased mine from Geant, and used them. Not only did I help the environment, the bags were actually easier to use than plastic bags!! I even used them at Sultan Center, and was so happy and proud when the employees who help at the cash register knew how to load them with groceries in a very neat and tidy manner!

2. Use stainless steel water bottles for you and your kids, instead of the plastic ones! Taiba and Yousef love their stainless steel water bottles and proudly boast about them at school! Infact, some of Taiba's friends followed her path!

3. Buy re-usable sandwich bags- there are plenty of colorful ones that you can find here. I'm not sure if they can be found locally in Kuwait, if you do know of a place that sells them, please let us all know by commenting on this post! Or, you can use paper bags instead!

4. Teach your children to save water and electricity and educate them about the environment! A child learns best from his parents, so be the example! Take them grocery shopping with you and teach them how to shop wisely!

5. Try to reduce the amount of garbage bags you use.

6. Recycle when you can, and try to buy recyclable products!

7. Talk to your kids' school. Ask them if there is a way they can help reduce the number of sandiwch bags used at school. Maybe they can have a school policy to stop using plastics? When schools see that the parents are interested in such things, they will take action!

It's easy, just follow this motto: Recycle, Reduce, Re-use!

You can make a difference. Infact, you are the difference!

Healthy Cooking- My Menu Over The Weekend

2010-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Having a lot of knowledge doesn't always mean you know how to apply it. Doctors become good at what they do through years and years of practice and experience. The same goes with nutritionists or dietitians. As a dietitian, I have a vast amount of knowledge about healthy eating, healthy cooking, and how to live a healthy lifestyle, but I haven't applied it to my life until recently. So, please allow me to share with you my practices and experimentation in my own kitchen, and please do feel free to share your own healthy experiences or to use and discuss healthy cooking methods you may have or you might see on my blog. I, too, am learning!

This was the beetroot salad I made for a family lunch. I used the organic beetroots from our garden to make it. It's very easy to make! Beetroots need to be cooked before eating, so here's a good tip: instead of boiling them in water, and losing all their nutritional value, try baking them in the oven, covering them with aluminium foil so they don't dry up .Or, you can try a pressure cooker. I recently bought a pressure cooker, and I am very pleased with its results! Pressure cooking allows you to cook faster, and saves all the nutrients in the food you're cooking!

Banana Spelt Bread, using organic spelt flour, and NO SUGAR was used in this recipe :) Tasted very nice and sweet though because the bananas I used were very ripe.

This is a mexican-spice flavored curry I made, it had naturally fed chicken pieces, organic lima beans, organic adzuki beans, organic carrots from our garden, portabello mushrooms, and organic quinoa. Served over organic brown rice. I only used 2 teaspoons of olive oil in this recipe. In Kuwait, we tend to use lots of oil in our cooking, without even realizing it- not to mention the other fats and oils we add to food such as salad dressings, mayonnaise, etc.All this fat is added calories, then we wonder why we gain weight! Also, it's very important to consider the types of fats and oils you use in cooking. Animal fats, such as butter and ghee are called saturated fats and they are harmful to the body because they increase the risk of heart disease due to the fact that they clog arteries. Palm and coconut oil are also saturated fats and should be used sparingly. The other type of harmful fat- and is even more dangerous and harmful than saturated fat- is trans-fat. Trans fats are also known as the hydrogenated fats because when making them, a hydrogen bond is added to an oil to make it solid at room temperature. This gives it a longer shelf life, which is better and cheaper for manufacturers, but harmful and deadly to the consumers! Trans fats are also used because they give a certain taste and moistness to food, especially cakes and biscuits and you will find that most of the cookies and biscuits and baked goods and pastries that are sold in grocery stores and restaurants are made using trans fats! This is why it's always better to cook at home- at least you know what you're putting in your food!

This is the Saudi corn I made for the kids dinner yesterday. I used the pressure cooker to cook it, and it tasted and smelled so much better than boiled corn! Like I mentioned before, pressure cooking helps preserve nutrients in food.

Organic Chickpeas foe the kids' dinner. Beans are a very useful and nutrient-packed food, and what's great about them is that they're a combination of both complex carbohydrate and protein- so you're getting the full package in one! If you have kids, teach them to eat beans more often, they're a great source of fiber! Examples of beans are lentils, green peas, black beans, white beans, foul, black eyed peas, adzuki beans, mung beans, and the list goes on! You can make curries out of them for lunch!

I always make sure my kids are getting enough fruits and veggies every day! Cucumbers have become a must for them with every meal- they love it and ask for it! Strawberries are also a favorite of theirs! Fruits and veggies are loaded with important anti-oxidants!

If you liked any of the recipes you say, write me a message, and I'd be happy to share my recipes with you!

This post was entered into the "Grow Your Own" roundup, created by Andrea's Recipes and hosted this month by House of Annie.

The Organic Garden: How it all Began

2010-02-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

This is a Beetroot Salad I made yesterday using the Organic Beetroots from our garden

Yesterday, I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I've always been known as a "city girl" who's afraid of insects and being out in nature because I might dirty my hands, etc. Yesterday, was the official announcement that I have become a totally different person! I wanted to make beetroot salad to go with the healthy lunch I prepared for my family. Knowing that we had beetroots in our organic garden, I decided to go out there myself and harvest them, instead of waiting for my husband to do it. So, I went out there and began to harvest the beetroot, with the help of my son Yousef (yes, he actually help me, not the other way round LOL). I have to say, it was one of the best experiences of my life! I had so much fun harvesting, and cutting the leaves off and then putting them in the soil compost, I don't mind doing it everyday!

If you read my post about Our Organic Cherry Tomatoes, you might be wondering, how did we even think of starting an organic garden? My husband, Nawaf, loves gardening, as well as taking care of animals. Ever since he was young, he would garden with his mom and dad, and he always had pets to take care of, such as his beloved parrot Kitco who used to sleep on his pillow every night! He taught her how to speak, and she even used to recognize his voice over the phone and would call for him whenever she heard his voice on the phone. Kitco came with Nawaf from the States where he studied, and she used to go on road trips with him!

When we got married, Nawaf set up a beautiful salt water aquarium in our living room and was very dedicated to taking care of it. At some point, we decided to change our living room so he had to give the fish tank away to build a new fish tank that would fit the new design. Meanwhile, he started to pay more attention to his other hobby: gardening. Two years ago, he turned our garden into a beautiful, colorful place that everybody enjoys to sit in. He also created a little pond with fish in it.

Our Organic Parsley is ready to eat!

When I had given birth to baby Hanan, I was going through a big change in my life as well, and I had discovered the world of organic and healthy living. At first, Nawaf was hesitant and felt that this change in me would be a challenge. But then, he saw how healthy eating changed my life and transformed me from an obese individual, to a healthy and physically active person! That inspired him to read about organic gardening. He bought books from the internet and learned how to make his own organic soil from scratch. He bought organic seeds online and began experimenting. He learned that every fruit and vegetable has its season, and although Kuwait is a dry desert, it's very possible to grow many fruits and vegetables here by season!

My organic lavender bush is beginning to bloom. I plan to make Organic Lavender Oil out of the buds.

Nawaf was very successful in his gardening, and the best part about it was that my children, Taiba and Yousef helped him harvest and grow the plants. He taught them gardening terms, such as "harvest", and they know the uses of gardening tools. Our son Yousef enjoys harvesting and he does it almost every day. Yousef also collects excess food waste and throws it into our soil-compost; he understands now that nothing we eat goes to waste because it is used in our soil compost- our very own recycling tool!

This cat is always snooping around the pond to try to catch some fish!

After publishing an article in a newspaper, Catherine, the very kind lady who worked very hard to make Cafe Organica, was very interested in our garden as well. She was very kind to offer to help us expand our garden, to support a healthy cause in Kuwait. We are very grateful to her for her kindness and appreciation, and we really hope that we can help other people make Kuwait a healthier, greener place.

The Fat Dietitian: A Story of an Ongoing Battle with Weight-Gain

2010-02-23T01:21:00.000-08:00

I've always been a skinny girl; I used to eat whatever I wanted without having to worry about putting on any weight. During college, I remember telling my cousin how I couldn't understand why "fat" people are fat; the rules of losing weight are so simple, all you have to do is follow them! She would always say, "But, Noura, it's not easy to follow them when you love eating chocolate and candy. It's hard to let go. What if you gained weight? Put yourself in their shoes. Will you be able to give up eating chocolate?"

"Nonsense," I replied. "Dietitians aren't supposed to gain weight, my professor always says that we have to set the example, otherwise how would people listen to our advice? It's like a doctor who smokes!"

"So you're saying that fat dietitians are bad at their jobs? Poor dietitian! What if she can't help it? What if she tried but couldn't?" she said.

"It's her fault for putting herself there in the first place!" I replied, with determination.

"Careful what you say, Noura, one day you might regret it!" said my cousin.

Her final sentence was one that I would never forget. It rings in my ears everyday. Fatima was right, 8 years later and I completely regret what I told her. Infact, I have changed into a completely different person. What happened? I experienced what being fat felt like. I went through the difficulties of fighting those urges to eat junk foods, and I am so glad that God gave me the opportunity to experience this because now, I understand what my patients are going through and I have real solutions that I have tried on myself.

So how did I go from being Miss Skinny to being a Morbidly Obese Dietitian? It all started when I moved back to Kuwait, after graduating from college. I only began to realize how active my lifestyle was in the USA when I moved back here. During college days, I used to walk to campus everyday, half an hour going, half an hour coming back, and the in betweens where you have to walk from campus to campus and building to building. I also used to walk to the grocery store on weekends, which is a 35 -45 minute walk, and we had an easily accessible gym which I used. I hardly had time to think about food and what to eat, so my mind was pre-occupied with studying and activities, not food!

When I came back to Kuwait and got married and got a job, everything changed. First of all, getting around here has to be by car, mainly because the weather doesn't help most of the year. Secondly, I noticed that in our culture, every social event has to involve food. People gather in homes to eat, they go out to eat, their first hour at work invloves ordering from the nearest Fatayer place and eating away, followed by another order from another restaurant during lunch break. At home, food is cooked with massive amounts of oil, and not just any oil: saturated fat- one of the two very harmful fats. And the most harmful fat, which is trans-fats is also used widely in baking, especially in restaurants and bakeries because transfats give a moist texture to the bread or cake. And, did you know that even the biscuits and cookies we eat (most of them) are prepared using trans fats? Transfats are very harmful to the body becuase they increase risks of coronary heart disease and they are not essential to the body. Manufacturers make them by adding a hydrogenated bond to oil so that it solidifies, and having them in this form increases the shelf life of products that are cooked using trans fats. An example of a transfat is Margarine. Many people believe that it is a healthy substitute to butter, but infact it's even more harmful than butter itself!

So, there I was, trying to adjust to the lifestyle here in Kuwait after being away for 5 years. Soon after, I got pregnant and that was when the roller coaster ride began! I was eating what everybody around me would eat, and unconsciously, I began developing an addiction to food. After having my first baby, I became very depressed because of my failure to breastfeed exclusively, please click here to read my article about my experience with breastfeeding. Food became the only thing that makes me feel good, especially sweets!

After having my second baby, I had gained 25kg. I started getting remarks about my weight, and people began to tell me that a dietitian shouldn't be this fat!I felt very pressured and attempted to go on a diet. Even though I had all the knowledge, I followed the wrong path! I went on a crash diet and lost all that weight in only 3 months! I practically starved myself. I knew I was doing the wrong thing, but my goals were not to be healthy, my goals were to just lose weight so that people would stop pressuring me. Ofcourse, this method doesn't work, and many of my patients do follow this method, and I can tell you through professional and personal experience, that crash diets, fad diets, quick fixes, pills; they simply don't work! Why? Because eventually you will get bored, and you will go back to your old ways because these quick fixes are exactly what the words mean: QUICK fixes! You can't last on something temporary for the rest of your life. I eventually developed Iron deficiency anemia because of my unhealthy method of weight loss.

Eventually, my body did get exhausted, and I let go of the diet and the weight just came right back as easy as ABC! And to top it off, I got pregnant. My addiction to food and sugary foods became even worse after the crash diet and I was just trapped in a whirlpool. I became so depressed, especially because I was pregnant and obese, I reverted to binge eating for comfort! There wasn't a second that went by during the day when I wasn't thinking about food. I would think to myself, how did I get myself into this? Where did it all start?!

After giving birth to my third baby, my main concern was to successfully breastfeed her and I set asside my weight issue. By that time I was 30 kilos overweight! I still had an addiction to food, and I did keep binge eating.

One day, I was looking at old pictures, and I saw a picture of myself which was only 5 years old. I looked in the mirror, and couldn't believe what I saw. I would always avoid looking at myself in the mirror so I wouldn't get even more depressed (a classic habit that many people who are battling weight issues do). That's when it clicked in my head that I really need to do something. Even my sister, who never used to comment about my weight started to tell me that I need to do something about my weight because it was getting serious.

This time, I did it the right way. What was the key ingredient? Determination. It's all in your head! If you want to do something, you will find a way to do it. I started very slowly so that I wouldn't get bored or feel the urge to binge eat again. First, I changed the type of food I was eating. Instead of eating fast food, and fried foods, I started eating oven baked and boiled foods. I still ate the same quantities, just changed the method of cooking. I also, very slowly, replaced chocolate and sweets, with nuts and whole grains to give me the feeling of being full. I drank lots and lots of water instead of juices that are loaded with sugar and calories.

With time, I managed to quit sugar and sugary foods completely. It took me 2 months, and by just doing that, I had lost a lot of weight! When I felt that my body is now ready for the next step, I moved on. It's very important for you to listen to your body. Believe it or not, your body will tell you what it needs, if you just listen carefully! With every meal, I would "listen" to my body and when I felt that I was almost full, I would stop eating. Gradually, the quantitiy of food that I needed became less and less and because I eat whole grains, such as oatmeal in the morning, brown rice during lunch, and beans like chickpeas, I would feel full for longer periods and I wouldn't have this sudden urge to binge eat.

It's important for binge eaters to know that eating sugar makes you binge even more because sugar gives you a quick surge of energy and depletes even faster, giving you that feeling of hunger, which makes you eat more.

After I felt that my eating habits are stable, and that I'm eating right, I began to exercise. I also started this at a very slow pace. First it was walks, then it became walks with aerobics once a week, and then it became an everyday workout. Exercise is very important, and it goes hand in hand with eating right if you want to achieve a healthy weight and body. This whole process took me 6 months. Every body works differently at achieving the right weight, depending on your metabolism. It may take you shorter or longer periods, however the longer the better to ensure that you don't gain any weight back.

I have now lost my 30kilos, and I am still exercising every day and maintaining my healthy eating habits with ease. It became a lifestyle. Sometimes when I see others eating sweets or chocolate, I remember my addiction, but because of my persistence and determination, it doesn't affect me anymore. I don't feel the urge to compulsively eat sweets anymore because I de-programmed my body from doing so. Don't underestimate the power of your mind. You can be in total control, just set your mind to the right wavelength!

If you feel lost or alone, talk to the right people. Don't seek for quick fixes, seek a change in your lifestyle. Talk to me, I know what you're going through and can be a great support!

Finally, I would like to thank my friend Rana Al-Omani, who is a certified fitness Instructor and gives amazing Zumba classes in her studio in Khaldiya at The Women's Cultural Social Soceity every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 6pm, for helping me in this struggle. Rana encouraged me to continue on and made working out so much fun, it doesn't even feel like a workout! She also listened to me during the times when I felt like I wanted to just give up, and kept me going, she is by far the best fitness instructor I have ever met.

Breastfeeding: It's All About Being Prepared (Physically and Mentally)

2010-02-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

When I was in college, I always "knew" that I would do all the right things for my kids; I would exclusively breastfeed them for at least a year, I would wean them naturally, and finally I would teach them to eat healthy and keep them away from junk food. It seemed like a piece of cake, and I was in total control.

Days went by only to prove that I was completely wrong, and that although I am a dietitian and I have all the nutritional knowledge and capacity to raise my children the ideal and healthy way, I ,like everyone else, am a human being and had to face all the obstacles that my patients talk to me about every single day.

The first thing that went wrong? When I had my first baby, Taiba (who is now 5 and a half years old), I simply wasn't mentally or physically prepared to be able to breastfeed her exclusively. I had all the knowledge, but I simply didn't know how to apply it! It was very devastating for me, and by the time Taiba was only 2 months old, I had to start work and the minimal amount of breastmilk she was taking had stopped completely. Not only did my sweet baby girl suffer the consequences of this unfortunate outcome, but I, too, went through a phase of depression and feelings of incompetence and complete and utter failure to become a good mother. Taiba got sick very often, and by 5 motnhs of age, she had an episode of asthma. She had to take the usual medications for asthmatic children, and she did get it several times after the first episode. Taiba was the classic example of a bottlefed infant- bottlefed infants have a weaker immune system because infant formula does not have the antibodies that a mother's breastmilk has.

So, what happened? How did I fail to successfully breastfeed Taiba? The first reason was that I was simply not prepared. I thought it would be easy, I thought I knew it all, but I didn't. When Taiba was born, the first thing she was given in the hospital was milk formula. Hospitals should support breastfeeding by allowing mothers to breastfeed their babies within the first hour of delivery. Unfortunately, many hospitals here want the mother to "relax" so they supply the baby with formula.
Secondly, I did not know how to do the proper latch-on technique, and as a result of that breastfeeding became very painful and I became afraid to breastfeed!
Thirdly, I had the wrong idea in my head that I was not producing enough milk, so I felt the need to supplement with formula. With time, this did affect my milk supply and reduce it. A breastfeeding mother should breastfeed on demand and not supply any formula whatsoever to increase her milk supply.
Next, I used the pacifier to calm Taiba down so she would sleep longer, not knowing that a pacifier actually interferes with the breastfeeding process.Everyone around me kept telling me that my milk supply would never be enough and I had to supplement, and I was encouraged to use the pacifier.
And finally, I wasn't mentally prepared; I had no idea that it would take patience, on-demand breastfeeding, and that I would stay up all night to breastfeed- night feeds are the most important! Perhaps if I knew all that it would have helped.

Let's move on to Yousef. When I gave birth to Yousef (who is 4 years old now), I was slightly more prepared because I knew what to expect. Surprisingly, that wasn't enough. Why? Because I still had that fear that my milk supply was not enough and everyone around me kept convincing me that I needed to supplement or Yousef will suffer. Eventually, After 2 and a half months of breast feeding WITH supplementation, I succumbed to the bitter truth that my breastmilk was not enough. Again, I was devastated. This caused me to feel like I was even more of a failure than the last time.

I gave up on everything. I even gave up on the idea of feeding my kids healthy food because I felt it was pointless. They started off their lives with formula! And to top it off, I'm sure many of you mommies go through this, they were being given junk and unhealthy foods by other members of the family. Since I work from 7am to 3pm everyday, there was no way I would have been able to control what they were eating during my absence. I did what I could, I fought, I struggled, I insisted that they shouldn't be given things like chocolate, candy, potato chips, ice cream, Pepsi, and yes, FAST FOOD! All my efforts, unfortunately, did not succeed. My two beautiful children became the typical Kuwaiti Child today. I felt alone in this battle, and people who were close to me began to feel that I was being too much, and it began to affect me emotionally. So I decided to let go. I decided to ignore it and just let it be. I know many of you mommies out there can relate to what I'm writing, so if you feel like you need help and support with this issue don't hesitate to contact me.

A couple of year went by, and I began to gain weight because of my depression; my feeling that I am a dietitian and I can't even control what my own kids eat! I became a compulsive eater and joined the crowd- but that's a story for another article.

Then I got pregnant with sweet baby Hanan. When I became pregnant with Hanan, I had a sudden inspiration that this time I will breastfeed my baby if it kills me! I began talking about it early. I began informing everyone around me that exclusive breastfeeding is possible. I used to get laughs and snares and comments like "You should know by now this is not your first time! How do you expect to breastfeed this one when you couldn't breastfeed your last two??" I had also taken a course at work about lactation and got a certificate as a lactation educator, that, I must say was what helped the most. I understood things about breastfeeding that I didn't know before- like the pacifier issue, like the fact that you simply cannot time your feedings, you need to breastfeed your baby whenever he demands it and that is a very crucial point during the first 2 months- it's what makes or breaks your success! I learned the proper latch-on technique.

After taking this course I began to wonder, why on earth didn't anyone recommend that I see a lactation consultant before? I never even knew they existed! I asked around about any lactation education classes during my pregnancy but I didn't find any.

Days went by, I gave birth to baby Hanan who is now 1 year and 4 months, and she was a Cesarean Delivery. I was very ill during her delivery, and stayed at the hospital for 10 days. Now imagine how much that affected the breastfeeding process! While I was in the hospital I cried every night because I knew this was going to get in the way of breastfeeding- they refused to let me breastfeed for a whole day! I thought it was over before it even started. Hanan was taking formula in the hospital and I probably only breastfed her 3 times. I remember I used to beg my doctor to let me go home so I could start breastfeeding but my condition wasn't stable so I had to stay there.

The night I got home, I still wasn't feeling well- and my C-section was very painful. I sat there on my bed holding Hanan from 7pm until 2am. I refused to give up and give her the bottle. I literally meant it that I would breastfeed successfully if it killed me! By 2am I began to feel dizzy and collapsed on the bed, I couldn't even breathe and my mother considered taking me back to the hospital. I refused. That night Hanan did take formula after my 7 hour attempt to satisfy her hunger. I was horrified. I thought that would have taken care of it. The next day Hanan did take formula as well as breastfeeds, by night time i was depressed again.
Three days later, Hanan was officially exclusively breastfed. To me, it was like a miracle! It was the most amazing feeling in the whole world. And the best part was, I was completely enjoying the whole experience! When Hanan was 5 months, I had to go back to work and I was extremely worried that this would affect the breastfeeding. While I was at work I pumped milk for the next day so Hanan would have it while I was away from her. By 6 months I started weaning which also helped because she was able to nibble on things while I was away. Unfortunately, by that time, I had gained so much weight, I reached a point that I had never reached in my life. And I know that breastfeeding does not cause a person to gain weight infact it makes you lose weight! I knew I had an eating problem but I was trying hard to eat healthier. Later on I discovered that I have hypothyroidism, a disease that affects the metabolism of the body, and I had to start medications. With the medications, for some reason the milk supply began to hinder and by the time Hanan reached 8 months I was unable to produce enough milk. But to me, that was ok, because I tried, and I tried hard, and I did everything I could, and I managed to give the minimum requirement of 6 months- although I believe that you should breastfeed your baby for at least the first year and it would be even better for 2 years.

But, let me give you a very interesting and inspiring fact. Did you know that scientific studies show that people with hypothyroidism cannot produce enough milk to breastfeed? Their metabolism is too slow it doesn't make enough milk on time. Well, I had hypothyroidism, and I was exclusively breastfeeding! Nothing is impossible.

WHen Hanan began to wean I started her on natural healthy foods, like millet, quinoa, brown rice. I also started to educate Taiba and Yousef about healthy eating, and showed them how Hanan loves healthy food. I started putting healthy food in their lunch boxes, like organic chickpeas with organic cucumbers, strawberries, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Their teachers rewarded them with stickers for the healthiest lunch box and that really helped! Ofcourse, Taiba and Yousef still ask for unhealthy foods because as a child grows older it becomes more and more difficult for them to change their eating habits, which is why you need to start from the beginning. I try my best to avoid giving them unhealthy foods, and people around me are more accepting of my ideas because they have seen the successful results. Ever since Taiba and Yousef started eating healthier, they don't get sick as often as before. Hanan didn't get sick like Taiba and Yousef did when they were infants, and now with healthy eating, when my kids do get sick it doesn't last as long as it used to and it's not as vigorous as it was before.

I hope my story is an inspiration to all mommies out there who are struggling. I feel your pain, and am here to help if you need it! :)

Carbohydrates: Good or Bad?

2010-02-17T02:48:00.000-08:00

Many of us have heard that carbohydrates are bad for our health and are the main culprit for weight gain. Not one day goes by at my clinic where I must here the sentence: " I don't understand why I gained so much weight, I quit eating rice and potatoes and carbohydrates!"

Please allow me to correct this information. It is not true that carbohydrates cause you to gain weight. Infact, carbohydrates are an essential part of our daily nutritional intake. 50-60% of your daily food intake should come from carbohydrates, so how do you expect to get all the essential nutrients that you would only find in certain carbohydrates, if you don't eat any at all?! Carbohydrates get broken down into glucose (better known as sugar) in the digestive tract, and this glucose is the body's main source of energy. Glucose also powers the brain and without it we lose concentration, become forgetful and feel very irritable.

Another misconception I hear a lot from my patients is that Carbohydrates are only rice, potatoes, breads, and pastas. Not true! Did you know that vegetables and fruits are carbohydrates? Did you know that there are foods that are a combination of both carbohydrates and proteins? Such as Beans, Legumes, and Dairy products?

Carbohydrates are very important for us to maintain a healthy body, however the types of carbohydrates you choose are what makes the difference. Not all carbohydrates are the same; some carbs get broken down more quickly in the digestive tract than other. The ones that are broken down quickly are called simple carbohydrates and they include white rice, white flour, white bread, white pasta, sugar, pastries, pies, cakes, and cookies. Basically, all refined foods are simple carbohydrates and it's important to know that during this refining process, the majority of the vitamins and minerals are removed, and even worse, the fiber is removed! These foods act like sugar in the body and cause blood sugar disturbances and cravings and they often contain added sugars too. This is why many of us feel like we can't stop eating them. To summarize all that: simple carbs rob your energy levels!

Complex Carbohydrates on the other hand are the healthy carbs and break down more slowly in the digestive tract. Part of the reason is because they contain fiber, which slows down the rate at which food is broken down and at which glucose is released into the blood stream. Fiber also gives you a sense of being full because it stays in the digestive tract longer and is not absorbed by the body. It's useful for people who suffer from constipation because, due to the fact that it's indigestible, it needs to be released out of the body faster! Complex carbs also contain vital nutrients for the body. Complex carbs release glucose into the bloodstream in slow intervals, therefore blood sugar levels remail stable and maintained, unlike with simple carbs where blood sugar levels rise rapidly and result in a sudden drop of energy soon after.

What's the bottom line? Simple carbs are bad, complex carbs are good!

Sources of Complex Carbs:

Whole Grains- brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, oats, rye, barleym whole wheat, and spelt.

Pulses and Legumes: chickpeas, brown lentils, green lentils, red split lentils, adzuki beans, lima beans, borlotti beans, flageolet beans, and cannellini beans.

Vegetables: sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, squash, turnips, cauliflower, peas, corn, and fava beans.

Fruit: apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, papayas, pineapples, mangoes, bananas, peaches, nectarines, and apricots.

Simple Carbohydrates to avoid :

Refined grains: white flour, white bread, white pasta, white rice, and cornstarch.

Sugars: white sugar, brown sugar.

Cakes, cookies, candy, chocolate, pastries, cupcakes, scones, and pies.

Ofcourse, going natural is always the better choice- try to choose organic products when possible, as they are chemical, pesticide, and hormone free!

A final note, ever since I joined the Pediatric team in our hospital, my eyes have opened up to many issues related to children and healthy eating. I have seen a rise in the number of obese and diabetic children here in Kuwait. Food plays a major role in this. I will discuss these issues in later articles, but I feel that's it's important for me to reach out to all new and existing mommies out there to stop feeding our kids junk food. Food made at home is far better than ready-made cereals that have been processed. When you raise your child to eat healthy food, they will not suffer as they grow, because that would be the only food they would know- junk food would not interest them because you raised them not to like it!

Look into your kitchen cupboards and your fridge, can you identify the healthy and unhealthy products in it? Write them down as a comment to me and maybe I can help you make improved choices :)

(Sources used in writing this post: Gillian McKeith's Food Bible: How to use food to cure what ails you)

Our Organic Cherry Tomatoes

2010-02-16T01:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the Opening Ceremony for the Jabriya branch of Organica Cafe, and my husband and I are very proud to say that they cooked and served our organic cherry tomatoes. The cook said they are very sweet and he hardly needed to add anything to make them tasty! Just add a bit of olive oil and basil leaves, and voila! This is why natural foods are so much better than their pesticide and hormone induced counterparts; they taste exquisite and are jam packed with the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

My husband Nawaf spends a lot of time growing his plants, and he puts a lot of love and care into it. Believe it or not, this affects how plants grow, as with every other living thing on earth- when you give with love, you receive much better results. Nawaf also enjoys teaching our children how to plant and harvest our little farm. My kids love it, and they are learning so much about how to care for our environment and the earth through this wonderful experience.

Thank you Nawaf :)

Article

2010-01-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

Agriculture Info.com

Arab Times

First Post

2010-01-27T02:43:00.001-08:00

Article about organic food in Kuwait
Article about Organic Food in Kuwait part 2