Media sham or company scam? The Israeli government is now looking into re-testing Neoflam pots and pans over widespread public panic that these “health” pans are allegedly carcinogenic. With a large share of the market for pots and pans in Israel, the Korean-based company Neoflam is in the media spotlight in the small Middle East […]
Most Israelis complacently think that there are no GMO foods in Israeli food. But there are, especially in soy products. “It’s a huge mistake to think that there’s no genetically-modified food in Israel,” said Naama Rosenberg, spokeswoman at the Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research. In a telephone interview, Ms. Rosenberg went on to explain that […]
Avoid food waste – eat your peels, roots and vegetable “waste” like pea pods, onion skins and cauliflower leaves. Want another reason to feel virtuous? Alright – remind yourself that your local landfill isn’t one tiny bit fuller because you cooked. But let’s not dwell on smelly, pollution-charged landfills when we’re contemplating dinner. Let’s look […]
So-called eco-friendly, ceramic utensils may contain toxic metals like arsenic, an Israeli journalist investigates. It’s in the colors, so also be wary of color-coated knives! We buy them at health food stores because the ceramic coated pans are supposedly safer than teflon, and good for the planet. A new investigative report by an Israeli consumer […]
Defunct French company PIP has sold leaky, industry grade silicon implants now being recalled. image via Globalpost Thousands of faulty breast implants have been recalled by the French government for fears of leaks that could lead to cancer. A call to women has been issued in the Middle East to women from Israel all the […]
Researchers in Al Ain find that saffron can protect your liver from cancer. Great news just in time for Christmas: Arab scientists from the United Arab Emirates have located anti-cancer compounds in the much loved and expensive spice saffron. Known for centuries as a home remedy, the research project led by Professor Amr Amin from […]
Rates of skin cancer in Israel are some of the highest in the world, though the rest of the MENA region has significantly lower incidence, according to the World Health Organization. Conventional thinking suggests that the best way to avoid skin cancer is to use sunscreen, particularly one made from organic materials. New research, however, […]
He may appeal to the eyes, but what is all that computer use doing to his sperm? Infertility is a family affair. In the Middle East, the matter is often more than a medical concern. Larger families are the norm and in certain communities (for example, the more religious), a sign of honor and prestige. […]
A Jewish “spin” on gambling? Who cares? It’s fun! I confess: every Hanukkah, I have to look up the rules for the dreidel game again. It’s not complicated, but I only play it a few times a year, and usually with rowdy small children To keep the tradition alive and make memories for my family, […]
It may be winter in the Middle East, but shoppers can still load up on beautiful fresh produce. It’s officially winter in the Middle East. We’d hoped it would be raining now, but climate change is evident in blue skies and dry ground everywhere. Open-air markets ring with the shouts of vendors and the bustle […]
Make your own applesauce for Hannukah meals this year. It’s surprisingly easy. Apples are in full season – just when they’re urgently needed. For cooking down into applesauce, of course, because during the Hebrew holiday of Hannukah, those delicious latkehs need that sweet apple touch for toppings. If you need a traditional latkeh recipe, here […]
After years of planning, a Bedouin eco-farm in the Negev will finally get under way next week. For years the Sustainability Laboratories (a New York-based organization) and the mayor of Hura in the Negev, Dr. Muhammad El-Nabari, have been planning an eco-farm for the Bedouin community. The farm, Project Wadi Attir, would aim to create […]
A slightly sweet, floral salad that goes surprisingly well with tomatoes and onions. Does this seem more like dessert than a side dish? Yet this ultra-easy salad of orange slices works well next to the main dish as well as after the meal. Children love it, and it’s a good way to get some vitamin […]
Should Plan B emergency contraception be kept behind locked cabinets or made available on the shelves as recommended by health professionals? Contraception for those under age 18 is a controversial topic that challenges the conservative morays in the Middle East and, apparently the United States government. In the case of a new ruling by the […]
Like Tom’s Shoes, Conscious Contraception says it will give birth control to the poor with every purchase. Our eco-sex expert doesn’t like certain aspects of the idea at all. The idea is commendable – get contraception into the hands of those who want to prevent unwanted pregnancy but cannot afford or don’t have access to […]
This hearty freekah-based salad combines earthy, pungent, and sweet tastes. Perfect for winter eating. Freekah is one of Green Prophet’s favorite superfoods. It’s so nutritious, it shouldn’t even taste good – which it does. And it’s versatile. You can substitute it for rice in many recipes, such as our Lebanese Lentil Soup. Always searching for […]
An Arab scientist has developed an artificial testis to give infertile man a chance to sire their own children. In the western world couples who have trouble conceiving go to sperm banks when the male produces no viable sperm. And while these options are available in the Middle East, the more traditional male types here […]
There are many different kinds of pollution and many ways in which they are hijacking our children’s future. Children exposed to pollution are more likely to develop autism, attention deficit disorder, and dyslexia, according to Haaretz. These findings were unveiled by both scientists at a recent conference in Israel, and those are only the dangers […]
Protecting food security in Abu Dhabi. A press release from the United Arab Emirate’s Ministry of Environment and Water states that in the past year, 8000,000 fruit and vegetables were tested for safe levels of pesticide residues. It seems that the scandal in Egypt over illicit pesticides resonates all over the Middle East.
Yearning for a sufganyah, but horrified at all that oil? Try this tasty alternative. While the menorah sheds its festive light, the family gathers at the table, noshing on traditional foods like sufganyot. You know sufganyot. Those brown disks of tender dough with hearts of jam and coats of powdered sugar that lingers on the […]
Eco-lovers beware: Artificial light at night may be associated with an increased risk for breast and prostate cancers. Next time your partner suggests you keep the lights on in your bedroom, tell him his prostate and your breasts are better off under the illumination of the moon, and your want to make sure your personal […]
Organic feed gives a surprising taste to geese. Kosher-keepers can thank the organic market for a new taste sensation: flesh that tastes exactly like pork, only kosher. Pork-flavored goose, from Spain, that is. The phenomenon is attributed to a particular organic feed that the geese eat. It would be interesting to know if Halal authorities […]
Alcoholism creates addiction and affects health. But for Muslims, not drinking is a command from God.
The birth control pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control in the world, but a new study finds that it can greatly diminish the sexual experience. Pregnancy prevention, reproductive rights and health go hand in hand, with activists touting the importance of the birth control pill to advancing women’s sovereignty over […]
Lifestyle diseases associated with excess are undermining maternal and fetal health in Abu Dhabi. According to 2010 statistics by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), 20 percent of Emirati women and 18 percent of expatriate women in the emirate have diabetes. In addition, 38 percent of Emirati women and 32% of expatriate women are obese. […]
