Scientific Texts

Being Left to Die With Dignity A British teenager has refused to undergo a life-saving operation saying that she wants to die with dignity. Hannah Jones, who is now thirteen, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia when she was five, and the treatment caused her a hole in the heart. Jones was offered a heart transplant, but she refused because of its risks. Beside the fact that the operation might not work, yet after the operation she would require constant medication. Informed about Jones' decision, the hospital took her family to court because they didn't get her back to the hospital. But after a child protection officer talks with her, they dropped the case considering her to be fully aware of her decision and fulfilling her wish to be cared for at home. Her father says is proud of her because having stood firmly for her rights and for convincing the court with her opinion. Do you think that Jones can be a role model for other teenagers? Should children be left to take life and death decisions? Could we witness an increase in the number of children refusing treatment?

Stem Cells Through a Shortcut! By Maggie Fox (Reuters) - Researchers trying to find ways to transform ordinary skin cells into powerful stem cells said on Sunday they found a shortcut by "sprinkling" a chemical onto the cells. Adding the chemical allowed the team at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Massachusetts to use just two genes to transform ordinary human skin cells into more powerful induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells. "This study demonstrates there's a possibility that instead of using genes and viruses to reprogram cells, one can use chemicals," said Dr. Doug Melton, who directed the study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. Melton said Danwei Huangfu, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, developed the new method. "The exciting thing about Danwei's work is you can see for the first time that you could sprinkle chemicals on cells and make stem cells," Melton, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, said in a statement. Stem cells are the body's master cells, giving rise to all the tissues, organs and blood. Embryonic stem cells are considered the most powerful kinds of stem cells, as they have the potential to give rise to any type of tissue. Doctors hope to someday use them to transform medicine. Melton, for instance, wants to find a way to regenerate the pancreatic cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes and perhaps cure that disease. But pluripotent stem cells such as the embryonic cells are difficult to make, requiring the use of an embryo or cloning technology. Many people also object to their use, and several countries, including the United States, limit funding for such experiments. In the past year, several teams of scientists have reported finding a handful of genes that can transform ordinary skin cells into iPS cells, which look and act like embryonic stem cells. To get these genes into the cells, they have had to use retroviruses, which integrate their own genetic material into the cells they infect. This can be dangerous and can cause tumors and perhaps other effects. Last month U.S. researchers did the same thing using a harmless virus called an adenovirus, but the method was not efficient. And last week, Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan, who discovered iPS cells in mice, used a loop of genetic material called a plasmid to reformat the cells. Huangfu tried treating the cells first with valproic acid. After she did this, it only took two of the four usual genes to reprogram the cells into iPS cells, she reported. This is good because the other two genes usually needed can promote cancer. The Melton team used retroviruses to carry the two genes in but suggest they might not be necessary. "These results support the possibility of reprogramming through purely chemical means, which would make therapeutic use of reprogrammed cells safer and more practical," they wrote in their report. Huangfu said the valproic acid unraveled the chromatin -- the physical structure of the chromosomes -- making it possible to get in and alter the DNA more easily.

State of the Developing World's Health

Billions of dollars are pumped every year into the Developing World to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Malaria. But how well has that money been utilized? And is it true that this money is harming the healthcare system in these poor countries more than it is helping? IslamOnline.net (IOL)'s Health and Science Section caught up with Dr. Jim Yong Kim, ex-director of the World Health Organisation's HIV/AIDS Department, before the International AIDS Conference 2008 which opened on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico, to discuss these issues and many more that are of particular concern to developing countries. During his time as director of the HIV/AIDS Department, Dr. Kim led the "3x5" initiative, which was designed to put three million people in developing countries on AIDS treatment by 2005. He focused on initiatives and programs that helped developing countries scale up their treatment, prevention, and care programs. Dr. Kim has 20 years of experience in improving health in developing countries. He is the cofounder and former executive director of Partners in Health, a not-for-profit organization that supports a range of health programs in poor communities worldwide. He is currently leading a new Harvard University-based initiative in Global Health Delivery. It is designed to discover and widely share knowledge about the effective implementation of health programs in poor communities. Dr. Kim has received a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship and was named one of America's 25 best leaders by US News & World Report. He was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. (Edwin Baeta, a radio presenter from Ghana, contributed to this interview.)

Eating Young When You Are Old By Anisa Abeytia Clinical Nutritionist - Dubai What we eat directly impacts how we will age. A deficiency in any vitamin or mineral can cause a dysfunction in the body. Decades of nutritional deficiencies eventually catch up to us in the twilight years of our life, but even if you are there now, there is so much you can do to make your life worth living. Even if you are not fifty plus, continue reading, because like the saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Energize with Iron Iron is known for building muscle, but it also helps us have enough energy to do what we want in our daily lives. If we think about the symptoms of anemia, we will know why an iron deficiency makes us feel tired and want to nap more. The reason for this is that iron helps build red blood cells that transport oxygen into our cells. If our cells do not have enough oxygen, we feel fatigued. A few other factors include lack of hydrochloric acid and vitamin B12; both are needed for our bodies to absorb iron. Iron deficiency is one of the most common known deficiencies. The elderly, especially those with low income or those in nursing facilities, are increasingly at risk because of poor nutritional status. The green tops of radish are richer in iron than a piece of red meat of equal size. Using kelp (a seaweed) in your cooking by adding it to cooking water (like rice, stews and soups) can also boost iron intake. My favorite tip is to cook in a cast iron pan. Keep Your Mind Fit with B12 We now know that vitamin B12 is important for iron absorption, but it is also important to brain health. The brain is particularly sensitive to nutritional deficiencies, especially that of vitamin B12. So profound is the effect of vitamin B12 that some people with mental disorders like Alzheimer's can experience complete remission upon taking vitamin B12 with folic acid. Rich sources of vitamin B12 are animal proteins like liver (especially lamb), clams, oysters and sardines. The most effective form of supplementation for the mature adult is vitamin B12 injections, that can be administered by a medical doctor. Most vitamin deficiencies can be detected by blood tests, but if you would like to do a quick self test at home, here is what to look for: 1. A thick white coat over the tongue. 2. White specks (not the half moon that is at the top of your cuticle) on your fingernails. If you suspect that you have a deficiency, consult with a health care professional to suggest a course of action.

Taste Life with Zinc Humans hold a relatively large amount of zinc in their bodies (1.4-2.5 grams on average). Zinc is used in every cell of our body and is used in over 200 body functions. It is used in our eyes, kidneys and our prostate gland. It is an important mineral along with vitamin A in preventing night blindness. A deficiency in zinc can cause a loss of taste and smell. This is a common complaint in the elderly and really robs one of the flavors of life. One woman in her 80's who consulted with me after having a stroke can testify to the importance of zinc. As I interviewed her, I asked her what she had been eating three months prior to having the stroke. She blushed and said, "For the last month I had boxes of candies staked up in my house. All I want to eat is candy and fried foods. I eat out all the time." This was not typical behavior for this woman. It turns out that she was bingeing on all the foods that were "treats" to her. She said that for years she had not been able to taste food. This had made her a bit depressed because she could no longer enjoy her food which was really the only pleasure she had in life. In an effort to make herself feel better and be able to taste food, she turned to the most flavorful food she could think of. A poor diet over the course of a month in tandem with a history of high blood pressure and inadequate water intake came together to cause the stroke. Yes, she did have high blood pressure and did not consume enough water, but the only factor in her life that had changed was her diet. So something seemingly as unimportant as a zinc deficiency turned out to be a big thing in the end. It is amazing to be able to read the signals that our bodies send to us. Our bodies "speak" to us all the time, but many of us do not know how to listen.Sometimes an excessive intake of zinc could result in a metallic taste in the mouth. This is one way to determine if you are supplementing your diet too much with zinc. Foods rich in zinc are oysters, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts and ginger root. When you think of zinc, think nuts and seeds and have a handful each day. Reduce Back Pain with Water and Magnesium Your spine needs water to work properly. The fluid that buffers each vertebrae from its neighbor is primarily composed of water. Insufficient amounts of water can result in the compression of the spine, causing the vertebrae to come in contact with delicate nerves, thus causing pain. A common sign of dehydration is muscle pain. Keep in water balance and see if your back pain decreases. Another important factor in back pain is the constriction of muscles. Many people complain of a stiffness in the neck, shoulders or of the lower back. The mineral magnesium is what causes the muscles of the body to relax. Calcium, on the other hand, contracts muscles. An example of how this works is the heart. When the heart contracts, it is calcium that is responsible and when the heart relaxes, magnesium is at work. Calcium in high amounts can block the absorption of magnesium and viceversa.

It is very easy to consume a diet excessive in calcium because many foods are fortified with it. The drugs digitalis and insulin are antagonistic to magnesium, so if you are using these pharmaceuticals, you may need to increase your intake of magnesium. Unfortunately, only the severest of magnesium deficiencies are noticeable with blood tests. Since it is used in over 300 processes in the body, the body does all it can to keep magnesium available in the blood stream. Muscle twitching of the eyes or legs is associated with magnesium deficiency. This is evident if you lie down after a long day and your arm or leg jerks up involuntarily. Magnesium is nature's muscle relaxer. Craving chocolate can also signal a magnesium deficiency because chocolate is rich in this mineral. Magnesium is available in fruits, vegetables and nuts. Kelp (seaweed), blackstrap molasses (unsulfured), almonds, Brazil nuts and dates are all rich sources of this mineral. Aging Gracefully It is now a commonly held idea that as we age our quality of life should decline. It is thought of as "normal" to lose the ability to move around, lose mental function and become sicker and sicker until the day we die. This is not the "normal" process of aging. Yes, it may now be the way humans age, but it is far from normal. In the western world, degenerative diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer) are responsible for our failing health status. Prior to this, communicable diseases (influenza, tuberculosis, bubonic plague, yellow fever) were the major cause of premature death. In developing countries these communicable diseases still play a major role in the premature death rate. However, among the more affluent in developing countries, degenerative diseases are not uncommon. I believe this is because the affluent in developing countries, who have different diets than those of their less fortunate compatriots, are eating more and more a Standard Western Diet. It could be claimed that we are living longer and that with age the human body deteriorates. Yet, centurion studies (of people over age 100) show that humans are capable of being in robust health to the age of 100 and beyond. This is not to say that as we age our bodies will work the same as when we were 20. That is not a realistic expectation. But we should also not expect to fall apart. * Before embarking on a new program, consult with your physician or health care provider. Anisa Abeytia, B.A. USC , M.A., Stanford is an integrative health specialist currently pursuing a M.S. in Holistic Nutrition. Over the past ten years Anisa has pursued various fields of holistic and traditional medicine. She has studied at the oldest herbal school in the United States and pursued a two year certificate program in Islamic Healing. She writes regularly on the topics of health and nutrition. She maintains the website Women's Healing Circle, a site dedicated to the natural health of women and their families. You can contact her by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

What is Your Teen Eating?

Setting a Firm Foundation for Lifelong Health By Anisa Abeytia Clinical Nutritionist Dubai As parents, we worry about what our children eat. The marketplace is flooded with information guiding concerned parents on how to nourish their children, but as parents of teenagers will tell you, what works for the under 10 crowd may not always apply to the over 11 set. It is discouraging to see so little helpful information to guide the parents of teens at this very critical time of development. Teenage girls are at particular risk of malnutrition and setting up unhealthy lifelong eating habits. The food choices teenage girls make have repercussions beyond just one person, it can affect generations. This is because most of them will one day become mothers and care providers. This is not to imply that our young men are not equally important, but boys are not encouraged by society to restrict their caloric intake. Teens, because of their age and desire to become independent, need different strategies and suggestions to get them interested and excited about eating well. Where Should I Start? As a parent, it's important to know what motivates your teenager. If you have a son, he more than likely wants to build muscle and have clear skin. If you have a daughter, her diet is probably motivated by weight loss and having a glowing complexion. Yet if we starve or gorge, we will not achieve these goals. When we do things like skip meals or not eat because we want to be "thin," over the long run we gain weight. When we do not eat, our body thinks we are starving, so it holds onto fat. So the best way to lose weight is to eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and be active. A girl needs at least 17% body fat to maintain a healthy nervous system, brain and menstrual cycle. Not having a period is not a good thing. Not having enough fat also can lead to depression. I am sure we have all seen the proverbial teenage boy gorging on animal protein and pasta to "bulk up." However, when that young man is in his late 20's or 30's, he may find himself bulking up in the wrong way. As my grandmother used to joke, "Gee you’re growing, but in the wrong direction." Overeating is not a way to speed up the natural process of building muscle, what young men are learning is to set up unhealthy binge-like eating habits. Both girls and boys experience growth spurts at this age and need minerals like zinc, found in nuts and seeds, and the B vitamins which are abundant in whole grains. If we just look at their rapidly expanding skeletal structure, we know they need calcium. They also need magnesium and vitamin D, which are necessary for our bodies to use calcium. Milk is not the best source of calcium; sesame seeds and broccoli are both richer sources. Magnesium is abundant in almonds, cashews and un-sulfured black strap molasses. Vitamin D is found in cold water fish (like salmon and tuna), butter, egg yolks, kale, and chard and free from the sun. This is not to say that other vitamins and minerals

are not important, they are, and this is why a diet that is varied and pulls from a diversity of land and sea based foods is the best way to go. To Eat or Not to Eat So which kinds of foods should your teens be eating and which foods should they avoid? Here are a few tips to get them started on their way to a healthy life style: Skip the Soda Soda is mostly sugar and phosphate. Sugar depresses the immune system and phosphate is antagonistic to calcium and will actually cause the bones and teeth to leach calcium causing bone loss. Water is a must. It is after all the solvent of life. In order to calculate your optimal water need, take your body weight and divide it by two. Take that number and that will be how much water you need a day, in ounces (if you weigh 110 lbs/2= 55 oz), just to maintain "normal body function." If you are sick, eat animal protein, drink juice and you will also need to drink more water. Appropriate water intake helps keep us trim with glowing skin. If you must have sweet drinks, experiment with making your own juice. If you use the pulp, you get the fiber which helps with weight loss and helps prevent acne (it improves liver and bowel function). Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables can be better than a multi vitamin. They contain all of the nutrients, in the correct amount and they are all ready for our bodies to use. Typically organically grown fruits and vegetables yield more nutrients. Commercially grown produce is usually lacking in vitamins and minerals because the farmers use fertilizers that only contain 3-4 nutrients. Organic farmers cultivate their soil so that there are multiple minerals and vitamins. When you get hungry, reach for a fruit or vegetable. They are a sound caloric investment and their calories are used up quickly. Eat Fats, Proteins and Whole Grains Most fad diets (Macrobiotic, Atkins, Zone, Vegan and Paleolithic diets) exclude or severely limit one of the macronutrients, i.e. fat, protein or carbohydrates. We need all three at different ratios depending on who you are to maintain optimal health. You need fat. Your brain is mostly fat, but all fat is not created equal. In my practice I find that most people do not consume enough fat or are eating harmful fats. Once we correct this, they lose weight, their skin and hair become soft and supple and their health turns for the better. Canola oil is not healthy at all. When you buy it in the supermarket, it is already rancid-rotten. Butter, ghee and coconut oil are healthful because they do not go rancid easily and they are the best for cooking. Flaxseed and olive oils are best for non cooking needs. Olive oil can be added at the end of cooking. Avocados, olives and

nuts are also a wonderful source of fat. I typically recommend three tablespoons of fat a day, to be increased gradually. Protein does not mean animal protein. Milk, yogurt, nuts, seeds and beans are all sources of protein that do not tax our bodies and environment so heavily. Depending on who you are, you may not need to eat animal protein more than 2-3 times a week. When you do this, you allow for a greater variety of foods to be added to your meals. Recommended protein intake varies greatly depending on age, gender and life situation. It is best to consult with a holistic nutritionist for recommended daily intake. Carbohydrates have come under fire as fat building food. A carrot is a carbohydrate and so is a cookie. What most nutritional experts are referring to are simple carbohydrates like white rice, white flour and sugar, not carrots. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables are complex carbohydrates. Whole grains contain many beneficial nutrients, most important being the B complex vitamins. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is severely lacking in the B vitamins because of the use of white flour instead of whole grain flour. The B complex vitamins, for one thing, help our bodies deal with stress. Avoid Empty Calories Sugar and junk food are what really causes weight gain. It is well known that diabetics tend to gain weight uncontrollably. It is because of an inability of their bodies to control blood sugar levels. To a lesser extent, when we consume excessive amounts (2-3 times a week) of junk food, the same thing happens in our bodies. Simple carbohydrates also contribute nothing to our bodies, except calories. They actually cause our bodies to use up its precious store of enzymes and nutrients. Eating junk food is a ticket straight to bad skin, poor body composition and disease. It is important to remember that if someone has spent years eating processed foods and simple carbohydrates, rich in rancid fats, sugar and sodium, it may take time for their taste buds to come back to life. Go slowly and in stages. Anisa Abeytia, B.A. USC , M.A., Stanford is an integrative health specialist currently pursuing a M.S. in Holistic Nutrition. Over the past ten years Anisa has pursued various fields of holistic and traditional medicine. She has studied at the oldest herbal school in the United States and pursued a two year certificate program in Islamic Healing. She writes regularly on the topics of health and nutrition. She maintains the website Women's Healing Circle, a site dedicated to the natural health of women and their families. You can contact her by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

This `Eid, Begin Fighting Childhood Obesity

By Sarah Ghias Freelance Writer - USA After a month of abstinence and self-restraint, `Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated with festivities of food. Sweet dishes frequently play a central role in these feasts with hours of preparation going into the making of creamy halva, crispy baklava drizzled with honey syrup, and other delectable pastries. Adults are not the only ones who enjoy such treats, and it is often the children who indulge in them the most. Popular gifts for children are chocolates, candy, and other sweets. Therefore, it is not surprising that many youngsters gain excess weight during this blessed holiday in particular. Worldwide Epidemic Childhood obesity is on the rise worldwide; according to a report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity almost half the children in the two Americas will be overweight by 2010. The percentage of overweight children is also due to increase dramatically in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. A child is considered obese when he or she is well-above the recommended weight for his or her height and age (USA Today). Overweight children are at risk for and susceptible to diseases that were once only limited to adults (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments). They are also more likely to be overweight through their adult years. Obesity Contributors Although genetics may play a part in contributing to childhood obesity, most children are overweight because they eat in excess and exercise too little (Mayo Clinic). Growing up in the midst of a fast-food culture, where one-third of children in the US on any given day eat fast food, has contributed to this phenomenon. The high fat, salt, and sugar content in fast food add on unnecessary and mainly empty calories. With the advent of unlimited refills of soft drinks, which fast-food chains promote, children are consuming a huge excess of sugary liquids, which are detrimental to their health. Children who are regular consumers of fast foods fail to make healthy food choices and end up eating far less fruits, grains, vegetables, and milk than they ought to (Davis). Leading a sedentary lifestyle is another factor that contributes to childhood obesity. As watching TV shows and playing video games increasingly replace outdoor play, children are becoming less and less active and thus are not able to burn off all the extra calories they consume. Lack of direction and interest from parents is another important factor that causes unhealthy eating patterns in children.

Treatment and Prevention Instilling healthy eating habits and encouraging exercise is the best way to combat obesity in children and adults alike. It is up to the parents to regulate what their children consume, and it is their responsibility to promote healthy food choices from a tender age for their young ones. Children should be taught that their body is a very valuable thing that has been entrusted to their care and that it is their obligation to look after and care for it. Making a trip to the grocery store together is an effective way to teach children how to choose and recognize healthier food options. Remind them that Almighty Allah mentions in the Qur'an, (Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein.) (Ta-Ha 20:81) Encourage them to read the nutrition label and to look out for ingredients they should avoid such as high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and artificial colorings. Talk to them about the importance of eating raw fruits and vegetables, and select healthier snack alternatives (such as nuts and whole-grain crackers) to chips and candy. Limit your trips to fast-food restaurants and make an effort to eat home-cooked, nutritious meals instead. Teach your children the hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained that if one is to fill his stomach, then only a third should be filled with food, a third for drink, and a third should be left empty (AtTirmidhi). Do not encourage your children to eat till they are full, which many parents forget to do. Children should be encouraged to stop eating when they are satisfied, not satiated. Eat together as a family, and make mealtimes enjoyable. Do not waste this special bonding opportunity by eating in front of the TV or individually. Encourage your children to play outside and Make this `Eid the start of a new engage in physical activity instead of sitting at healthy lifestyle for you and your home and watching TV or playing video games. children. Go on nature walks together, and make it an opportunity to both get some exercise and talk about Allah's creation and His signs. Enroll them for extracurricular activities such as sports and crafts. Make these endeavors fun, and your children will not only thoroughly enjoy themselves but will also get some much-needed exercise. New Beginning Make this `Eid the start of a new healthy lifestyle for you and your children. Instead of gifting your children chocolates and video games, gift them with your time instead and go out and do fun family-oriented activities together. Other good gift choices are sports equipment such as tennis rackets, basketballs, footballs, and roller blades, which will encourage them to engage in physical activity.

A membership to a local fitness center is a good idea, and many offer classes specifically for children. After a long Ramadan, we deserve to treat ourselves. Every `Eid celebration calls for sweets and desserts. However, you can limit their fatty content by cutting down on sugar and butter, and by using low-fat versions of milk and cheese while preparing them. Reducing the serving sizes and limiting the quantity you make will also prevent overindulgence. Adding fresh fruits to your desserts and as a garnishing will provide nutritional benefit. Low-Fat Recipes A healthier alternative to commonly prepared `Eid desserts that allows you to use all the leftover dates you may have from Ramadan is the following: Date Treats • • • • • • • • • •

Ingredients 20 dates (pitted) 2 tbsp. of butter ¼ cup of milk (reduced fat-condensed) ¼ cup of milk (low fat) 10 tea biscuits (crushed) ½ cup of nuts (chopped) ¼ cup of coconut (desiccated) 2 tsp. of sesame seeds (optional) Coconut powder (for garnishing

Method In saucepan, melt butter. Add dates, and soften. Add condensed milk and low-fat milk, and continue to soften dates on low flame. Turn off flame, and add crushed tea biscuits, coconut, nuts, and the (optional) sesame seeds. Mix into a dough. Spread mixture onto a tray to cool. Roll into 1-inch-diameter balls. Coat with coconut powder. Refrigerate immediately. Baklava Baklava is a staple at every `Eid dinner and the following is a low-calorie, yet just as delicious, version of this rich dessert: Ingredients • • • • • • •

½ lb. of pistachio nuts (ground) 3 tbsp. of sugar ¾ tsp. of cinnamon (ground) 1 ½ tbsp. of rose water ½ lb. of phyllo dough ½ cup of margarine (low-calorie, melted) Rose water syrup

Method Combine pistachio nuts, sugar, cinnamon, and rose water in a small bowl. Using half of phyllo sheets, place three sheets in bottom of lightly greased 13x9-inch baking sheet. Brush with some of the margarine. Sprinkle evenly with nut mixture. Place remaining sheets over nut filling, brushing after every third sheet and top sheet. Cut baklava at 1-1/2-inch intervals diagonally to form pattern of about 35 diamond shapes. Bake at 400°F/200°C for 25 minutes or until golden. Place on wire rack to cool. Drizzle rose water syrup evenly over top, and allow to soak several hours. Each piece of baklava contains 85 calories and 5 grams fat. (Orchekowski) During Ramadan, we were given the opportunity to cleanse and renew ourselves, both spiritually and physically, thus there is no better time than now to embark upon a healthier future for you and your family. Sarah Ghias is a freelance writer who currently resides in Texas, United States. She graduated with Honors from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Business Administration Degree. You can contact her by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Nourishing the Family How to Establish Healthy Eating Habits in Children

By Anisa Abeytia "I'm gonna brownie-love my child!" When I was a little girl, there was a popular TV commercial for a brownie mix. There was a mother and daughter, and they were looking at each other adoringly over the contents of a bowl filled with that brownie mix. You could tell they were spending "quality time" together. Then the slogan came on, "I'm gonna brownie-love my child." A mother and her daughter, in the kitchen cooking together; what could be more wholesome? Yet, as a grown-up woman, I ask myself, "Why could it not have been a bowl of whole-wheat bread dough or green beans? Are we being reprogrammed to associate sugar and unhealthy foods with love, community, and family? Have green beans and whole-wheat bread come not to represent those things?" Needless to say, media have a very profound effect on how ideas are shaped, one of those ideas being what we are going to eat. Food conglomerates would like to see us consume their products exclusively (they especially target children), but we do have control over what we put into our bodies. We all make choices every day about what to eat. Age Does Not Matter The comment that always comes up to me as a nutritionist is, "My child is too old. She won't eat a salad," or "My son will never eat broccoli, he is too big now and has his ways." Age does not matter. I have seen teenagers change their eating habits to a more healthful pattern; it just has to be done with respect and as a family project. Anytime you force someone to do something, they will do it for a while, but they will not make it a lifetime practice. We want to establish lifetime habits; not something a child will do in front of you, but stop the moment they leave the house. At a lecture I was giving, a man raised his hand and asked, "How can I make my child eat this way?" If we really want to set a lifetime pattern, we do not make anyone do anything; we teach. I suggest to him four things to do. 1. Do Things in Stages Take baby steps. Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, said, "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small." (Sahih Muslim) That is what I base my program on. Small things add up to big things over time. If you try to make drastic changes all at once, it usually does not last. And when it comes to working with children, it is a recipe for disaster. You want to gradually change your diet. If you are used to eating out two or three times a week, most probably your child is used to that as well.

It will be hard to just stop. Instead, eat out two times a week for two weeks and give yourself time to get used to it. Once the pattern is set, eat out only once a week. Children all have their favorite foods. My kids love frozen broccoli and they like candy, too. Taking away what they love to eat will only stiffen their resolve to not eat the alternative you are offering. Most children are used to eating sugary breakfast cereals. They just love it. If your child begins his morning with a bowl of Coco Puffs, switch to Barbara's Organic cereal, they carry a Coco Puff-like cereal. Children love routines, and when one they are used to is interrupted too quickly, they do not like it. As time goes on, one can introduce cereals with less sugar. 2. Make Snack Time Count Children, even teens and tweens, usually enjoy snack time. Snacks are small meals and a great way to introduce new foods because of the small amounts. When preparing a snack, always keep in mind the three sides of a triangle. Each side represents one of the following: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Because they are growing rapidly, children need more fat and protein than adults. Snacks can also be something that children can learn to prepare themselves or help with. A parent can place the ingredients on a table for the child, and talk about what eating healthy means and what some of the consequences of not eating healthy might be. The parent can also talk about halal (sanctioned under Islam) and what it means to them, and ask the child what it means to them. At the end of the day, if something is harmful to us, it is not halal. Snack ideas can look like this: • • • • • • • • •

Cut-up vegetables and avocado dip Celery stalks, nut butter, and raisins Bean dips, fresh vegetables, or whole-grain bread Plain, full-fat yogurt, nuts, and fresh fruit Smoothies Nuts, seeds, and fruit Homemade snack bars Hard-boiled eggs, pickled vegetables Cheese, crackers, and fruit

A brief note: Neither reduced-fat products nor synthetic sugars (like Equal or Splenda) should be on a child's menu. 3. Build on Breakfast I know that you have heard it before, but it is true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Look at it as the foundation of your day. If you grab a coffee and doughnut on your way out the door, that is what your day will be like. You will be struggling with getting your blood sugar in balance all day. On the other hand, if you eat a nice bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts, fruit, and butter or coconut oil, you will sail smoothly through your day. You will not be fighting to stay

awake or to stay focused. The same thing happens to children, it just manifests a bit differently. Children are not adults, so when they eat poorly, it looks different. They do not have the life experience or the communication skills to say how they feel; they usually act it out. They may be constipated, have diarrhea, or lose bowel movements. They could be irritable, appear to have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), or be withdrawn or depressed. They could have trouble at school because they cannot learn or maybe labeled as "troublemakers." There could be food sensitivities, allergies, and frequent illnesses. Something as seemingly small as changing eating habits can profoundly affect your child. As I mentioned above, most children are addicted to sweets in the morning. They love breakfast cereal and taking it away all at once is not the best idea. Once they are used to the organic "sugary" cereal, you can introduce or have them pick from a variety of less sugary cereals. Eventually, God willing, they will make it to oatmeal, eggs, and, even better, dinner leftovers. 4. Do It Together Children learn by example. If their parents eat poorly, more than likely they will have poor diets as well. Yet, once children enter school, they are more likely to follow the eating habits of their peers. This does not mean that the family cannot have an effect; it is simply a challenge to be aware of. Children love new experiences, even if their tastes buds are not too adventurous. Offering opportunities where children can help out in food preparation is a great way to introduce healthy eating. I have found that if a child cooks it, grows it, or is part of making a meal, they will at least try what they had a hand in. Depending on the child's age, the following various activities can be done: • • • • • •

Lend a hand in meal preparation, cutting, washing, and cooking. Grow some food. Even small children enjoy this activity. Visit a farm or volunteer at one. Learn more about where your food comes from. Read books about health and share them. Have a cook-off. See who can cook fish, a vegetable, or fruit the best. Offer a prize.

There is something special and sacred in breaking bread together. Being a conscious eater is Islamic. We all should know what we are putting into our mouths because food has the potential to alter us; we are rebuilt with the nurturance in our food each day. When we teach our children what to eat and why we eat it, essentially what it means to eat halal, we increase their chances of maintaining physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Anisa Abeytia, B.A. USC , M.A., Stanford is an integrative health specialist currently pursuing a M.S. in Holistic Nutrition. Over the past ten years Anisa has pursued various fields of holistic and traditional medicine. She has studied at the oldest herbal school in the United States and pursued a two year certificate program in Islamic Healing. She writes regularly on the topics of health and nutrition. She maintains the website Women's Healing Circle, a site dedicated to the natural health of women and their families. You can contact her by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. By Anisa Abeytia Clinical Nutritionist - Dubai

Nourishing the Family How to Establish Healthy Eating Habits in Children "I'm gonna brownie-love my child!"

When I was a little girl, there was a popular TV commercial for a brownie mix. There was a mother and daughter, and they were looking at each other adoringly over the contents of a bowl filled with that brownie mix. You could tell they were spending "quality time" together. Then the slogan came on, "I'm gonna brownie-love my child." A mother and her daughter, in the kitchen cooking together; what could be more wholesome? Yet, as a grown-up woman, I ask myself, "Why could it not have been a bowl of whole-wheat bread dough or green beans? Are we being reprogrammed to associate sugar and unhealthy foods with love, community, and family? Have green beans and whole-wheat bread come not to represent those things?" Needless to say, media have a very profound effect on how ideas are shaped, one of those ideas being what we are going to eat. Food conglomerates would like to see us consume their products exclusively (they especially target children), but we do have control over what we put into our bodies. We all make choices every day about what to eat. Age Does Not Matter The comment that always comes up to me as a nutritionist is, "My child is too old. She won't eat a salad," or "My son will never eat broccoli, he is too big now and has his ways." Age does not matter. I have seen teenagers change their eating habits to a more healthful pattern; it just has to be done with respect and as a family project. Anytime you force someone to do something, they will do it for a while, but they will not make it a lifetime practice. We want to establish lifetime habits; not something a child will do in front of you, but stop the moment they leave the house. At a lecture I was giving, a man raised his hand and asked, "How can I make my child eat this way?" If we really want to set a lifetime pattern, we do not make anyone do anything; we teach. I suggest to him four things to do.