Delivering to the capital: Healthy food delivery service Love Food is now available to Abu Dhabi residents. The company offers six different meal plans, depending on your goals and energy requirements, and options such as gluten- and dairy-free. Orders can be made at www.lovefoodme.com.
Three in one: Fitness First at Dubai Media City has a new studio that brings together XFit, X:30 and BoxX. XFit combines weights, cardio and gymnastic movements. X:30 focuses on high-intensity interval training. BoxX is a boxing-themed HIIT workout. For class times, visit www.fitnessfirstme.com.
Atkins relaunch: The effective yet controversial high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet has been overhauled with a greater emphasis on fibrous vegetables, wholegrains and more flexibility. The diet was criticised in the past for excluding essential food groups and not being healthy in the long term, however it has been reviewed to make it more balanced. Key principles include more vegetables, fibre-rich foods, a limit on protein intake, emphasis on good fats, elimination of sugar and refined carbohydrates and inclusion of fruits, nuts and dairy.
Activity linked to community
Want to exercise more? Move to an activity-friendly neighbourhood. A study published in the medical journal The Lancet this month suggests that where you live could boost your exercise levels by up to 90 minutes.
The study of almost 7,000 adults took place in 14 cities across Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, China, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. It considered aspects such as residential density, number of street intersections, access to public transport and parks.
The study found that high residential density, parks within walking distance and access to public transport were associated with increased physical activity.
Professor James Sallis, lead author of the study from the University of California, said high residential density areas tended to have connected streets, shops and services that encouraged people to walk more. “Interestingly, distance to the nearest transport stop was not associated with higher levels of physical activity, whereas the number of nearby transport stops was. This might mean that with more options, people are more likely to walk further to get to a transport stop that best meets their needs.”
He said the number of local parks was also important because they provide places for sport and a “pleasant environment to walk in”.
Better sleep leads to better grades
Children who sleep more and have better sleep patterns perform better at school, according to a Canadian study released this month.
Researchers from McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute partnered with the Riverside School Board in Montreal to test if small increases in children’s sleep improved their grades.
Parents attached sleep trackers to their children’s wrists and kept a diary of their bedtime and waking time, while the school monitored their academic performance.
The researchers concluded that “small cumulative sleep extension may lead to improved academic performance” and advised parents to ensure their children get a “sufficient amount of healthy sleep every night”. They also recommended schools integrate sleep-education programmes into the health curriculum.
