Sara Al Madani has been through a lot in her life, but she really took it on the chin when she signed up to be the only Emirati on the first edition of the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Dubai (RHOD), which screens in the UAE on OSN+. But only a few episodes in, the 36-year-old, twice-divorced single mom from Ajman has set herself apart, not only as a mediator between the...
It’s not until I am lying on my right side, a long flaming candle sticking out of my ear, wincing from a sharp, needle-like pain, that I regret my spur-of-the-moment decision to try ear candling. Stay with me. Years ago, I used to visit regularly a woman who did facial reflexology out of her villa in Abu Dhabi. I remember leaving those sessions floating and serene, and after she moved back home, I was never...
Ras Al Khaimah has a lot to offer the rest of the UAE when it comes to chilling out: rolling sand dunes, spectacular beaches and lots of trails and nature to explore. And as of 2020, it also hosts the Middle East’s first year-round holistic wellness and detox destination: The Lighthouse Retreat. I spent a day at this beautiful spot, located on the water behind the Al Hamrah Golf Club, beside the course. The 12 hours...
Luke Coutinho is a holistic lifestyle coach based in India and a frequent visitor to Dubai. He’s a passionate advocate of using balanced nutrition, adequate exercise, quality sleep and emotional detox to heal from just about everything that ails us. During his appearance on The Livehealthy Podcast, he talked about everything from how our spiritual beliefs are linked to our health to why we shouldn’t be so obsessed with fitness trackers to why the body is the essence of...
It’s becoming easier every day to make balanced choices that nourish our bodies and respect the planet. Whether it’s saving fruit and vegetables from the landfill, picking up a basket of juicy berries grown on a farm in Al Ain or making a hot cup of soothing tea, here are the latest healthy food options. “ugly” fruit and veg The UAE government recently announced aims to cut food waste by 50 percent by 2030, and...
The UAE has more options to live healthy than ever, whether its wellness retreats, chances for families to compete together, additions to the sharing economy or giving you a chance to finally embrace ugly fruits and vegetables. Read on. Order the UAE’s first “ugly” fruit and veg box The UAE government recently announced aims to cut food waste by 50 percent by 2030, and you can do your part by rescuing fruit and veg that...
Chef Nishant Choubey, consultant chef at global rice exporter India Gate, is sharing some carefully crafted recipes that are both easy to prepare and packed with goodness for Ramadan. As he shows, traditional basmati rice-based recipes can be easily swapped with healthier options to cut down on calories for Iftar or Suhoor without compromising on taste. Flax Seed Ladoos Ingredients: India Gate Flax Seeds – 500gm Buckwheat Flour – 250gm Jaggery – 250 gm Ghee...
Ramadan is a time for many things: to acknowledge the power and importance of fasting, to cultivate self-control, offer gratitude and practice compassion throughout, and much more. The offers are pouring in for everything from the best iftars to an array of gift packages. Here are a few we’ve selected that serve to capture the spirit of the Holy Month. Event: Ramadaniyyat New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) launches the inaugural edition of Ramadaniyyat, a week-long...
The UAE is catching up with the rest of the world when it comes to podcasts and there are a growing number of offerings that will help you nurture your body and soul. Check out our list of 17 that are well worth your time. The Livehealthy Podcast We’re a bit partial to our own podcasts, which the team here at Livehealthy HQ launched at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hosted by Livehealthy editor...
Paul Thornley isn’t afraid of making enemies, clearly. Almost everything this Dubai-based former British military neuromuscular therapist and body movement specialist — and Pilates instructor — says challenges fitness and movement as we know it. What does he believe in? Biotensegrity, which is all about understanding fascia, how to maintain our most efficient movement, and adaptation, without compromising structural integrity. And stretching? As he told The Livehealthy Podcast on March 9, not so much. You ask ‘should...
Baraa El Sabbagh is a Dubai-based registered dietician, certified sports nutritionist, ACE certified personal trainer and Adidas Mena rep who helps her clients, 100k+ Instagram followers, listeners to her B for Better Health podcast and more become the best and healthiest versions of themselves – and helping them overcome challenges along the way. She tells The Livehealthy Podcast about her exercise philosophy, the importance of breathing, what Covid taught her and more. What made you go beyond...