8 July 2013 www.womanthismonth.com Letters STAR LETTER Fried up fury Your article in the April edition about ‘old fashion fry-ups’ really got me thinking how the current culinary scenario has made ‘frying’ a dirty word. Moderation seems to be a thing of the past and one can either look fabulous eating only salads or be an overweight case study on a reality show because of popping in too many pies. You eat a little fritter one day and you feel guilty for weeks. But often what a crispy, golden, good ol’ southern style apple pie can do for you, the stuff from Weight Watchers certainly cannot. I was all relieved to read the piece by James Claire when everyone around me is herding away to no carbs, no fat, no taste…no life. I tried one of the recipes: the very interesting looking fried ice cream. After a few failed attempts, I did actually manage to get a few scoops right. Luisa, by email. Healthier bones I found the article on osteoporosis really informative and very well researched. It was also a scary revelation of how easily one can come under the high risk zone for developing this condition. It’s hard to imagine anyone having low vitamin D levels here in Bahrain. However, since a lot of us remain indoors and hardly get out in the sun, some people, including myself have dangerously low levels. Although I am on medication, getting to know more about the diet and exercises through the article was really encouraging. Rasha, by email. Call for environment It was really inspiring to read Khawla Al Muhannadi’s interview in WTM. It is strange how environmental issues are such a small part of our thought process here in Bahrain. Being an island nation, the least we can do is preserve its marine life. It’s commendable that Khawla took this responsibility upon her and is raising awareness in the Kingdom. Having lived in the country for five years, I wasn’t even aware that some of its local species of birds have already disappeared. I hope more awareness is raised for this cause because the situation is really alarming. Claudia, by email. Write Here Write Now WRITE IN AND WIN This month’s star letter will win a one-of-a-kind gift from Bellacura. To win a 'garden in a bottle' worth BD60, send us your views and opinions on our May 2013 edition either by email to [email protected], by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO Box 20461. www.womanthismonth.com 65 June 2013 | | June 2013 64 www.womanthismonth.com Wellbeing By Simi Kamboj As age catches up with you, chances are you have ignored the health of your bones until a tiny trauma one day results in a painful fracture you can’t explain. Osteoporosis continues to baffle many women and take them by surprise, but our experts assure us that it’s a treatable and reversible condition. Building Stronger Bones A part of the normal ageing process, osteoporosis is, simply put, a condition where the bones may become porous and waste away. In average human beings, the bone density gradually starts wearing off from the age 30 onwards, but for some, this bone loss is more rapid. Women are more likely to develop this condition since they have lighter frames and smaller bones to begin with. Breaking a bone due to osteoporosis is tougher to deal with compared to fractures in those who do not have the condition. Osteoporotic bones often heal more slowly and less completely than normal bones, probably because they contain fewer bone minerals and other materials essential for healing. Often, osteoporotic spinal fractures can have a devastating impact. They lead to chronic back pain, loss in height, deformity, immobility, increased number of bed ridden days, and even reduced pulmonary function. Their impact on women’s quality of life can be profound, resulting in a loss of self-esteem and development of a distorted body image and depression. Two experts in Bahrain give us the lowdown on this condition and provide tips on keeping it at bay. Preventing Osteoporosis Our expert: Dr Jamal Saleh, orthopaedic surgeon, founder Orthocare Centre “Certain individuals are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis earlier than others. These include people who have medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lactose intolerance, cancers, multiple sclerosis, and diabetic bone disease or mal-absorption syndromes. Too much smoking, abuse of alcohol or the use of corticosteroids also puts the bones at a greater risk,” he observes. However, from his own experience Dr Jamal knows that osteoporosis should not be confused with low bone mineral density, a condition that can arise out of Vitamin D deficiency. “I was only 41 when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I’d been suffering from a malabsorption syndrome for years and had stopped consuming dairy products since then. I had been on corticosteroids, which put me in the high risk category. I started exercising and took regular doses of Vitamin D and calcium supplements in addition to the medication. Now, my bone mineral density levels are back to normal. I’m not sure whether it was osteoporosis or just Vitamin D imbalance, which resulted in weak bones,” says Dr Saleh. The most effective way to prevent osteoporosis in this high-risk group is to have optimal levels of Vitamin D levels, at around 75 ng/dl. “More than 80 per cent of people in Bahrain are deficient in Vitamin D and without this essential nutrient, the intake of calcium is useless,” says Dr Jamal. “A campaign is now underway in Bahrain to have food such as wheat flour fortified with this vitamin to serve the interests of the larger population.” Managing Osteoporosis Our expert: Dr Sumod Sukumaran, orthopaedic surgeon, KIMS Medical Centre Family studies show that there’s a motherdaughter link in the development of osteoporosis, so if your family members have a strong history of a thin body frame, hormonal imbalance, unexplained fractures and trauma, chances are you have inherited this condition. Women with such a family history should opt for early screening, including bone density tests from the age of 40 to get an early diagnosis. Once they’ve started undergoing treatment, annual checkups and screenings are recommended to keep track of their progress. Know your medication According to Dr Sukumaran, osteoporosis is a highly treatable condition, which can be reversed substantially through medication and changes in lifestyle. Osteoporosis medications are primarily of two types, medicines that slow bone loss and drugs that increase the rate of bone formation. It’s the hormones that primarily assist in bone building, as they transport minerals and nutrients to the bones. Parathyroid hormones which increase the rate of bone formation form a distinct category of anabolic drugs, and are currently the only osteoporosis medicine approved by the FDA that rebuilds bone. Treatment to boost parathyroid hormones aims at not only building bone but also lowering the risk of bone breakage. Doctors will sometime prescribe bisphosphonates, which act directly on the bone structure to reduce the rate of bone loss. It is mostly prescribed for post-menopausal women with low bone density or to prevent osteoporosis that is induced by corticosteroids. Hormone replacement therapy is another treatment option for post menopausal women, depending on whether they’ve had their uterus removed; in which case, only estrogen is prescribed. However, there are side effects to the treatment and patients need to consult their physician before embarking on any longterm medication. Bone-building exercises Women who are active and especially those 60 | June 2013 www.womanthismonth.com Campaign Time for Action For a desert island surrounded by the ocean, it’s remarkable how little attention we pay to the coastal environment and marine life in Bahrain. Khawla Al Muhannadi speaks of her undertaking to mobilise resources within the Kingdom. A s the first female president of a mixed gender NGO, Khawla Al Muhannadi comes across as an articulate environmental evangelist who specialises in coaching youth and children. “This initiative was launched in response to a lack of awareness towards environmental issues, especially those related to people’s behaviour, lifestyle and attitudes towards wildlife and natural resources,” says Khawla, president of Environment Friends Society (EFS). “We decided to make a difference by helping people understand the impact of their actions,” she says. At EFS, close attention is paid to environmental education and awareness, especially among the younger generation. Her brief includes visits to schools, taking school children on environmental trips to threatened habitats and holding environmental contests in schools. She also conducts public seminars and lectures as well as campaigning to protect threatened habitats and species. The rescue of marine animals in distress is an area close to Khawla’s heart. Earlier this year, EFS volunteers rescued a loggerhead turtle from a beach on Amwaj Islands after a local resident raised alarm. “The animal was covered with seaweed and unable to keep afloat. After rescuing it from the sea, we took it to a safe location, where it’s being cared for. We plan to release it on another beach where it has a better chance of survival,” she says. She rescued another turtle, this one was a hawksbill, from the beach at Seef; this animal, though, was badly injured and will need a few months to recover before it can be released into the sea. “We’re worried and alarmed over the instances of dead dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles in recent years. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of a few minutes. If people can alert us the moment they spot a marine animal in distress, the chances of its survival are much higher,” she notes. Having grown up in the green neighbourhood of Riffa, Khawla derives her inspiration from childhood memories of the sea, the trees and birds and the lost natural heritage since then. “Already, many birds that were visible in Bahrain in my childhood have vanished. We don’t want our natural world heritage to disappear entirely,” she says. The Reem programme launched for little environmental leaders (aged between 5 and 17) aims to create awareness, where every child volunteers time to contribute something, either in the form of a painting, an essay or a poem dedicated to nature. The society also holds a bi-annual event for families, the Child and Environment Festival. The EFS will mark World Environment Day in June with a two-day workshop for training the trainers in water conservation. “Around 30 participants will learn how to lead a water-wise lifestyle and get trained to teach others. Participants will include teachers and civil societies working with housewives, hoteliers and environmental educators. Those wishing to participate can send their request to [email protected] or through our Facebook page,” Khawla adds. By Simi Kamboj Khawla Al Muhannadi 94 | April 2013 www.womanthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com 95 April 2013 | Food Y es, fried food is bad for us, but as with cakes, chocolates and all things delicious, if eaten in moderation, and within a balanced diet, they are not the killers they are made out to be. The issue for most of us is that we tend to overdo fried foods the same we do with cakes and pastries; either we eat too much or none at all. To be truthful to the words themselves most of us see an ‘old-fashioned fry-up’ as a traditional English breakfast consisting of crispy bacon, sausages, kidneys, eggs, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, black pudding, baked beans and a sprig of parsley. This month I want to return some glory to traditional fried foods, which are a staple of most restaurant franchises anyway, and are definitely here to stay. So, I see no reason to shy away from the issue of their deliciousness. Whether it be fried chicken, fried hotdogs in batter or fried frogs legs, fried foods are the epitome of great gastronomy when you consider that they have flavour, texture and layers; everything that modern gourmands seek in their cuisine. Battered lightly, served with a lettuce and fried in the right clean oils, there are no reasons why the four words can’t take their pride of place again at the top of any menu without fear of reprisals. Four words that are rarely spoken today — old-fashioned fry-up — conjure up memories of our youth. They have become about as politically incorrect as most childhood stories. But as with most things that are said to be bad for us, there is a degree of misconception. By James Claire 180g polenta 260g plain (all-purpose) flour 2 tspns baking powder 2 tspns salt 1 egg 50g sugar 250 mls milk 24 tinned hotdogs 24 thick wooden skewers oil for frying 3 Golden delicious apples, peeled, cored and sliced thickly into rings 85g plain (all-purpose) flour 1/4 tspn baking soda 1/8 tspn cinnamon 1 tspn sugar 125mls sparkling soda water oil for frying 120g cup plain (all-purpose) flour, chilled 2 tbspns cornflour 1/4 tspn baking soda 1/4 tspn baking powder 1/4 tspn salt 180mls cold water 4-5 fillets quality fish such as tilapia, whiting or cod salt and black pepper oil for frying 8 firm rounded scoops of vanilla ice cream 300g plain digestive biscuits, finely crushed 2 eggs 1 tbspn milk oil for frying icing sugar for serving l Heat the oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 180 degrees Celsius l In a large bowl mix together the polenta and sifted flour, baking powder and salt l Add the egg and sugar and slowly stir in the milk a little at a time until a thick pancake consistency has been achieved. You may need more or less milk depending on your polenta and flour used l Dry the hot dogs on paper kitchen towel and skewer them through the centre l Holding the hotdog by the skewer dip it into the batter to coat it evenly, thickly and completely l Carefully insert the battered hotdog into the hot oil, holding the end of the stick. Fry for about two minutes. Time will depend on the thickness of your achieved batter. l Fry one piece and then cool and break open to check it has cooked evenly and completely before cooking the remainder of the hotdogs in the same manner. l Cool slightly before serving. l Apple slices should be approximately two cm in thickness l In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, sugar and soda water. The mix should be a little thinner than a pancake batter l Heat the oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 180 degrees Celsius l Dry the apple slices between paper kitchen towel and then dip quickly into the batter, achieving a complete even coating l Carefully dip the battered apple slices into the hot oil one at a time l Do not over fill the fryer. Cook one or two at a time and allow them to cook to a golden brown before removing apple fritters onto paper kitchen towel to drain and cool l When cooled, dust with icing sugar or a mix of cinnamon and caster sugar and serve immediately with ice cream l Heat the oil in a large saucepan oo deep fryer to 180 degrees Celsius l Into a large bowl sift together the flour, cornflour, baking soda, baking powder and salt l Add the water and whisk together to a thick batter, free of any lumps of flour l Take the fish fillets and sprinkle both sides of the fillet with salt and pepper to season it l Test the heat of the oil to see if it is ready by dropping a small amount of the batter by itself into the oil. If it fries nicely then dip the fish and start l With the batter close to the fryer, dip the fillets one at a time into the batter, coat both sides evenly and then slide the battered fish gently and slowly into the heated oil l Do not overcrowd the frying oil, and it is best to fry just one or two pieces at a time l Allow five to six minutes for frying the fish, depending on the thickness of the fish fillets. It’s best to try one piece first and test that it is fully cooked before frying all the fillets l When cooked, remove to paper kitchen towel to drain before serving while still hot with sauce of your choice and ample French fries Fry-Up Old-Fashioned Dagwood Dogs Golden Apple Fritters Fried Battered Fish Deep Fried Ice Cream Known by many names, Dagwood dogs were a childhood favourite of mine; globally they are known as corndogs, pluto pups and pogos among others. l Ensure that the day before deep frying your ice cream that the scoops are made and frozen so that they are firm when needed l Crush the digestive biscuits in a blender until finely ground l Remove the ice cream balls from the freezer and roll each one in the crushed biscuit powder and then return quickly to the freezer once they are all coated. l Refreeze for at least one hour l In a mixing bowl whisk the eggs with milk l Remove the ice cream balls again coat each ball first in the egg mixture, shaking off excess liquid then roll in a second coating of the digestive biscuit crumbs l Refreeze again for one hour Heat the oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 180 degrees Celsius l Using a large slotted spoon take each ball of ice cream and lower it into the hot oil and deep fry quickly for 20-25 seconds. Do not let the ice cream ball slide off the spoon at any stage l Remove quickly and set onto paper towel quickly, before placing onto a serving dish. Dust with icing sugar and serve immediately l Repeat with remaining balls of ice cream one at a time Bahrain Edition BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | PARENTING | LOCAL ISSUES June 2013 | Issue 124 | BD1 / SR10 www.womanthismonth.com woman this month JUNE 2013 ı CELEBRITY LIVES — GUIDED BY STARS ı www.womanthismonth.com HOME SUBSCRIBERS COPY ISSUE 124 Celebrity Lives Guided By Stars Fashion Theme: Pick Your Tribe Beauty Tips Here Comes The Sun Osteoporosis Healthy Bones Expert Support Do Your Research!
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