Many parts of the world, including the UAE, are experiencing a heatwave.
While some people still have the luxury of working from home, others need to step out and brave the heat, which can often cause dizziness and dehydration if preventative measures are not taken.
Fortunately, nature has blessed us with certain plants and herbs that are particularly helpful when the mercury level rises. They can help bring down our body temperatures and keep us cool, hydrated and healthy, especially when consumed in beverage form.
Here are four to try, with each recipe making for a single serving.
Kokum
Kokum, or garcinia indica, helps to control body heat and acidity levels, known as pitta. Because of its cooling properties, this plant from the mangosteen family is ideal to consume during summer. It also improves digestion, and can be consumed as a juice or used to season curries.
Recipe: sol kadhi (kokum coolant)
Ingredients
6-8 pieces dried kokum, unsalted
1 cup light coconut milk
Pink salt, to taste
½ tsp crushed garlic (optional)
½ tsp green chilies, crushed (optional)
½ tsp grated ginger
½ tsp cumin seeds
3-4 curry leaves
Coconut oil, for tempering
Pinch of hing (asafoetida)
Flax seeds and coriander, to garnish
Method
Soak the kokum in warm water for a few minutes, then extract the kokum water using a sieve
Transfer the kokum water in a bowl, add the coconut milk and salt, and mix well.
Add the crushed chilies, ginger and garlic in a strainer, then dip it in the kokum water to extract their flavours.
Heat some coconut oil in a pan. Add the cumin seeds and curry leaves, then mix in the kokum mixture.
Garnish with freshly powdered flax seeds and coriander.
Serve warm or cold.
Pro tip: Avoid reheating this beverage. Refrigerate to store, then remove one hour prior to consumption.
Sattu
I call sattu the great Indian protein shake. It involves roasting Bengal gram or chana dal flour and mixing it with some cumin powder or even coriander.
This superfood has existed in India for decades. A cooling agent that naturally brings down your body temperature, sattu is also a pure protein source and is rich in fibre, calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium.
A combination of buttermilk and sattu works well as a summer drink and one glass can be consumed on a daily basis.
Recipe: spiced sattu buttermilk
Ingredients
3 tbsp fresh A2 organic yoghurt
2 tbsp sattu powder
Pinch of black pepper
¼ tsp roasted cumin powder
Pink salt, to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups water
Coriander and mint leaves, ginger, mustard seeds, curry leaves, for garnish
Method
Whisk the yoghurt until smooth, then add the rest of the ingredients in (excluding the ones suggest for garnishing).
Dilute with water, adding more if you prefer your buttermilk thin, stirring well all along.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander and mint leaves; half a spoon of freshly grated ginger; or mustard seeds and curry leaves tempered in oil.
Serve immediately.
Pro tip: You can make a simple version of this drink with just cumin powder and pink salt added to curd and water.
Jeera
Cumin seeds are natural antioxidants, which boost the digestion process and relieve intestinal gas, acidity and bloating.
When mixed with water (jal), the resultant beverage, known in India as jaljeera, is extremely cooling and refreshing. It is traditionally made in a matka (mud clay pot), which makes this concoction more alkaline.
Jaljeera helps in aiding digestion and reduces the incidence of bloating and wind.
Recipe: jaljeera
Ingredients
2½ tsp roasted cumin powder
1 tsp fennel seed (saunf)
2 tsp lime juice
½ tbsp dry ginger powder or grated fresh ginger
½ tsp black pepper
Pinch of hing (asafoetida)
Black salt or rock salt, as required
3-4 cups of water
1 bunch fresh mint leaves
1 tbsp finely chopped raw mango, for garnish
Organic jaggery or honey (optional)
Method
Combine all the ingredients (except the water) in a processor. Grind until all blend together, then put through a strainer.
Add water or as required, between 3 and 4 cups.
Serve chilled in an earthen pot, garnished with finely chopped raw mango, lime wedges and more mint leaves.
To sweeten, add organic raw honey or jaggery.
Pro tip: Adding mint in jaljeera can help cool the stomach, and is also great for keeping you hydrated.
Raw mango (kairi)
Unripe mangoes are a source of vitamins B and C as well as bioactive polyphenols that help fight oxidative stress. The fruit is also rich in flavonoids such as mangiferin and quercetin, which exert powerful anti-inflammatory effects.
Mangoes have a bad rap of warming those who eat them, but raw mango — if consumed in the right way — can actually bring down body temperatures.
One way to consume raw mango, besides in a crunchy Thai salad, is in an Indian summer favourite called aam panna.
Recipe: aam panna (raw mango drink)
Ingredients
½ cup raw mango or green mango
1 tbsp organic jaggery powder
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper powder
¼ tsp roasted cumin seeds powder
5 to 6 mint leaves, crushed
Method
Add the mango, jaggery powder and a cup of water to a pressure cooker. Cook for four to five whistles.
Let the steam out and cool down the cooked mangoes completely.
Peel them and extract the soft pulp.
Place the pulp in a jar, stir in some salt, black pepper powder and roasted cumin seeds powder, and mix well.
Add the crushed mint leaves or a mint leaf paste.
To serve, add two tablespoons of this concentrate to water.
Pro tip: Don’t skimp on the cumin powder and black pepper, as these help ease digestion.
Luke Coutinho is a lifestyle coach who specialises in integrative medicine, and co-author of 'The Great Indian Diet'
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GAC GS8 Specs
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
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Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
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Investment raised: $4 million
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HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.
The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
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ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)
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March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom
Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal
Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
MATCH INFO
AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
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Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
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Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The biog:
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian
Favourite food: Pizza
Best food on the road: rice
Favourite colour: silver
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Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
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Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
