World

Indulge in sweet treats this Ramadan with these dietician-approved tips

Ramadan is a special time of the year for Muslims all around the world, centered around spiritual reflection, charity, and self-discipline. However, it is also a time when people often gather and share food and desserts.

With the long fasting hours, indulging in sweet treats and desserts is a common practice. However, eating too many sugary treats can have negative consequences on one’s health, UAE-based Clinical Dietician Dr. Sara Abdelghany told Al Arabiya English.

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“There is no harm in having sweets occasionally during this month, but it should always be consumed in moderation and mindfully,” she said.

Women buy sweets at a dessert shop during the holy month of Ramadan, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 28, 2023. (AFP)

Eliminating a specific food group, such as desserts, may increase hunger and binge eating or overindulgence, the dietician at Dubai’s HealthBay Clinic explained.

“Sweets in moderation can be a part of your diet in Ramadan without feeling guilty. If you always consume them in moderation and learn to listen to your body cues in terms of hunger and satisfaction, you are less likely to overindulge, and binge eat on sweets.”

According to Abdelghany, having dessert two or three times per week is enough to fulfill your cravings without overdoing it.

It’s important to have at least two balanced meals and two snacks to meet the required food intake during non-fasting hours. A sweet treat – the size of four fingers or the palm of your hand – can replace one of the snacks, she said.

Women eat knafa outside al Aqsa sweet shop in the historic covered market of Nablus in the West Bank August 10, 2017. (File photo: Reuters)

However, Abdelghany noted that desserts should never replace a healthy, balanced meal because your body needs nutrient-dense foods to keep it satisfied during your fast.

Although it may also be tempting to give into cravings as soon as you can begin eating again, it is important to avoid having desserts too soon after breaking your fast.

“Breaking the fast with sweets will spike our blood glucose and insulin levels tremendously, causing a major drop in energy few hours later when insulin in the body suddenly drops,” Abdelghany explained.

“This drop in energy will always be followed by a strong craving for sweets again. The body will [then] enter a vicious cycle of craving, eating sweets, feeling low, and craving sweets again.”

People may also experience constipation, difficulty sleeping or interrupted sleep, low mood, and low energy the next day, she added.

Healthier alternatives

There are also numerous alternatives to calorie-dense sweet treats that people can enjoy during the holy month, ranging from air-fried Katayef to fresh fruit salads, according to Abdelghany.

A fruit salad in a bowl is displayed. (Stock photo)

Preparing desserts at home is also a good option for people who want to limit the amount of sugar, oil, and fat that goes into their desserts, she added.

Here are some tips the clinical dietician shared with Al Arabiya English:

• Avoid using hydrogenated oils, such as plant-based ghee and vegetable oils (corn and sunflower), because deep-frying with these oils produce trans-fats and increases inflammation in the body.

• Use organic butter in moderation.

• Replace white flour with whole flour whenever possible.

• Decrease the amount of sugar used, because with time your taste buds will adjust to lower sugar levels.

• Make treats at home such as sponge cakes with fruits and nuts, air-fried or baked Katayef with a drizzle of a sugar syrup on top, or fruit salads with avocados or nuts.

Global flavors of Ramadan: Iftar meals from around the world

Ramadan food tips: 10 things to eat to prevent fatigue, stay energetic

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM