• Karak chai is a popular drink in the UAE, but not all drinkers may be aware of its high calorie content. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Karak chai is a popular drink in the UAE, but not all drinkers may be aware of its high calorie content. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Muffins containing 100 calories of energy offer little nutritional value compared with 100 calories of fruit. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Muffins containing 100 calories of energy offer little nutritional value compared with 100 calories of fruit. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • Butter chicken is a popular dish that contains almost 500 calories, equivalent to a quarter of the total recommended daily limit doctors recommend for women.
    Butter chicken is a popular dish that contains almost 500 calories, equivalent to a quarter of the total recommended daily limit doctors recommend for women.
  • Fruit smoothies are often billed as a healthy option, but some can contain as many calories as fizzy drinks because of their high sugar content.
    Fruit smoothies are often billed as a healthy option, but some can contain as many calories as fizzy drinks because of their high sugar content.

Cut the karak chai as experts warn of hidden calories in some foods


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Hidden calories and food loaded with unseen fats are big contributors to weight gain, according to nutritionists.

From karak chai to sandwiches and smoothies, everyday foods often seen as healthy alternatives can have as much salt, sugar and fat as some of the most common fast-food staples.

Typically, the recommended daily calorie intake for the average woman is about 2,000, while men, who are usually bigger, need about 2,500 calories from food each day to convert into energy.

“People count calories, but not always the nutrients,” said Ilse Onderweegs, a nutritionist at ICO Healthy Living in Dubai.

One hundred calories of broccoli is very different to 100 calories consumed in an apple or muffin. The biggest mistake people make is ignoring the nutrient density of food
Ilse Onderweegs,
ICO Healthy Living, Dubai

“One hundred calories of broccoli is very different to 100 calories consumed in an apple or muffin, for example.

“It is not always about calories in versus calories out, but what those calories are feeding your body ― is it nutrient dense or high in fibre?

“Even though it is healthy food, the calories consumed would be more than the equivalent weight in berries or avocado, for example.

“Granola bars and protein bars always [have] hidden calories, and have added sugar and preservatives.”

Children require much less energy to see them through the day ― with just 1,200 calories needed for girls aged 4-8 years old, and 1,400 calories for boys of that age.

Older children and teenagers need a little more, with doctors recommending girls aged 9-13 consume up to 1,600 calories daily, and boys 1,800.

Fat should make up no more than 35 per cent of food intake, ideally with polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids sourced from fish, nuts and vegetable oils.

Excess calories are stored in the body as fat, and can lead to chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular illness and some cancers.

Good carbs vs bad carbs

Ilse Onderweegs, a nutritionist, says simply counting calories can lead to eating all the wrong foods. Photo: ICO Healthy Living
Ilse Onderweegs, a nutritionist, says simply counting calories can lead to eating all the wrong foods. Photo: ICO Healthy Living

While carbohydrates are essential for regular bodily function, eating the wrong kind can also contribute to weight gain.

Eating carbs increases your blood-sugar level, prompting the release of insulin. Too much of this and the body stores it as sugar in our liver and muscles, but when these areas are overloaded the extra sugar is stored as fat, also leading to weight gain.

Bad carbohydrates are found in white bread, rice, pasta, crisps and snack foods ― whereas healthier carbs can be sourced in brown rice, beans and fresh fruit, but should still be eaten in moderation, experts said.

“The biggest mistake people make is ignoring the nutrient density of food,” Ms Onderweegs said.

“If you feed your body nutrient density your calorie intake will be lower because you will feel full for longer.

“Some fruits have hidden calories, and can be high in sugar, which can contribute to weight gain, like grapes or watermelon.

“Attitudes towards food are changing, as they are with health in general.

"There is more understanding now of the need to feed ourselves with the right foods to have more energy, and feel better overall.

“The more natural foods we eat, with plant products and lean proteins that are not processed, is the best way to maintain good health.”

Top five foods with hidden calories

Granola / cereal bar

Granola and cereal bars can contain surprising amounts of calories because of their high sugar content. Photo: David Corby
Granola and cereal bars can contain surprising amounts of calories because of their high sugar content. Photo: David Corby

471 calories

9 grams of fat

14g carbohydrate

Salmon and cheese bagel

A salmon and cheese bagel can comprise almost a quarter of the daily recommended calorie intake. Lee Hoagland / The National
A salmon and cheese bagel can comprise almost a quarter of the daily recommended calorie intake. Lee Hoagland / The National

453 calories

14g fat

58g carbohydrate

Butter chicken curry

A typical serving of butter chicken is almost 500 calories and contains about 24 grams of fat. Getty Images
A typical serving of butter chicken is almost 500 calories and contains about 24 grams of fat. Getty Images

497 calories

24g fat

40g carbohydrate

Salami, six slices

Just six slices of salami served without bread provides more than 200 calories of energy. Photo: The National
Just six slices of salami served without bread provides more than 200 calories of energy. Photo: The National

214 calories

18g fat

2g carbohydrate

Karak chai, cup

Traditional karak chai from Logma in Dubai. Photo: Logma
Traditional karak chai from Logma in Dubai. Photo: Logma

100 calories

2g fat

20g carbohydrate

And some healthier alternatives

Baked potato with salsa

A baked potato served with salsa is a healthy lunch option, at less than 100 calories. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National
A baked potato served with salsa is a healthy lunch option, at less than 100 calories. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

80 calories

9g fat

37g carbohydrate

Six banana oat cookies

A serving of six banana oatmeal cookies has just 48 calories and just 0.7g of fat. Victor Besa / The National
A serving of six banana oatmeal cookies has just 48 calories and just 0.7g of fat. Victor Besa / The National

48 calories

0.7g fat

4g carbohydrate

Ricotta cheese-stuffed pita

Pita bread with crudites. Jeff Topping / The National
Pita bread with crudites. Jeff Topping / The National

94 calories

12g fat

20g carbohydrate

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMascotte%20Health%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMiami%2C%20US%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bora%20Hamamcioglu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOnline%20veterinary%20service%20provider%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

SCHEDULE

Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice

Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying

Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi

The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Super Rugby play-offs

Quarter-finals

  • Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
  • Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
  • Lions 23, Sharks 21
  • Chiefs 17, Stormers 11

Semi-finals

Saturday, July 29

  • Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
  • Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
RESULT

Wolves 1 (Traore 67')

Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')

Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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SPECS

Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 306hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500

The studios taking part (so far)
  1. Punch
  2. Vogue Fitness 
  3. Sweat
  4. Bodytree Studio
  5. The Hot House
  6. The Room
  7. Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
  8. Cryo
EPL's youngest
  • Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
    15 years, 181 days old
  • Max Dowman (Arsenal)
    15 years, 235 days old
  • Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
    15 years, 271 days old
  • Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
    16 years, 30 days old
  • Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
    16 years, 68 days old
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Updated: June 29, 2022, 11:29 AM