While the UAE may get year-round sunshine, vitamin D deficiency is a common health concern in the country, recently topping a list of health-related Google search terms.
Data from a new study conducted by UK sports retailer SportsShoes.com showed that there is an annual average of 46,500 “vitamin D” searches in the UAE.
The news is probably not surprising after a two-year study carried out by the Dubai Health Authority in 2017 indicated alarming levels of vitamin D deficiency in the emirate, with up to 90 per cent of the population not getting enough. And the Covid-19 pandemic will have exacerbated the issue, as people spent more time indoors.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is known to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, which are both important for bone building. But many other human organs and tissues have receptors for vitamin D, which according to Harvard University's School of Public Health suggests it has crucial roles beyond bone health.
“Vitamin D deficiency happens due to limited exposure to sunlight. People suffering from the deficiency generally lack a feeling of well-being stemming from muscle pain, fatigue, hair loss, low energy and at times depression,” says Dr Raza Siddiqui, executive director at RAK Hospital.
Aside from the sun, vitamin D can be derived from supplements. There are also some foods that can aid the process of vitamin D production, such as fortified milk, fortified orange juice, fortified cereal, mackerel, canned sardines, canned salmon, pickled herring, codfish, Swiss cheese and mushrooms.
In an earlier interview, Dr Maha Osman, a specialist in family medicine at Medcare Medical Centre, said people should speak to their doctors about taking vitamin D supplements, as appropriate quantities may vary from person to person.
Spotlight on mental health
The Google research data also revealed that many UAE residents are searching for the terms “meditation” and “journalling”, two activities thought to contribute to improved mental health.
Meditation has become increasingly popular in recent years with more people adding it to their fitness and well-being routines. Simply put, meditation involves focusing or clearing your mind using mental and physical techniques.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, meditation is associated with decreased symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also benefits memory and concentration, as well as helping people to cope with stress.
Journalling is another helpful tool for improving mental health.
“Borrowing principles from mindfulness, the wellness activity has sparked interest in recent years as people all over the world turn to the method to help deal with stress and overwhelming thoughts,” SportsShoes.com said.
Social media has boosted in the renewed popularity of journalling, with the search term gaining 5.3 billion TikTok views globally.
Other top-10 most searched terms in the UAE included “vitamin B12“, “5am club” and “lymphatic drainage”.
The study analysed Google search data on more than 60 terms associated with health, from nutrition to fitness.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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
Oppenheimer
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
