Month: January 2018

An Emirati youth died after his car rammed another vehicle and then crashed into a lamppost in Ras Al Khaimah on Saturday afternoon. Such was the impact of the accident that the car burst into flames.

The victim, identified as M.M., burned to death in the accident that was reported on the Ghalila road in the Shaam area.

After being alerted of the accident, the central operations room of the RAK Police dispatched police patrols and paramedics to the site.

“The victim, 19, died on the spot after he lost control over the car he was driving at a high speed, hit another car driven by an Arab driver, veered of the road, and rammed into a lamppost,” said Brigadier Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Humaidi, director-general of the central operations department.

The accident was also blamed on the driver of the other car. “He erroneously entered the road without making sure it was clear first.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

Ahmed Shaaban

Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.

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I used to be an overweight child. In fact, I spent most of my school life being overweight. Thankfully, I’m no longer overweight (a little underweight, actually). However, back when I was in school, I honestly thought that if I took weight loss supplements, I could get rid of the excess weight quickly. After doing my research recently, however, I am profoundly thankful not to have done anything like that.

In 2013, the Times of India published an article about an Indian student in the UK, who died after reportedly abusing weight loss pills. The report stated that the supplement in question contained 2,4-dinitrophenol, which is a banned substance. Even the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) published an article cautioning people against taking weight loss supplements without medical approval and supervision. The article noted that the FDA has found hundreds of products that are marketed as dietary supplements but actually contain hidden active ingredients (components that make a medicine effective against a specific illness) that could be prescription drugs, unsafe or banned ingredients, or compounds that have not been adequately studied in humans. The article also pointed out that dietary supplements don’t need FDA approval, and that just because a product is available doesn’t mean that it is safe.

Until there are mandatory comprehensive testing and approval processes and systems, taking any sort of weight loss supplement is a risk, and should be avoided as far as possible.

An article, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cautioned that manufacturers of weight loss supplements rarely carry out studies to test whether their products are even effective. Even if they do conduct studies, the sample sizes are small and the subjects take the supplements only for a few weeks or months.

The problems associated with weight loss supplements in India are naturally similar to the problems faced in the US. On 15^th November 2017, the Times of India published another article on weight loss supplements, focusing on Garcinia Cambogia Extracts (GCE). Garcinia Cambogia is a plant grown in Indonesia and Karnataka. Extracts from the fruit are popularly used in weight loss supplements. The TOI article quoted Dr. Raman Goel, a senior bariatric surgeon, who said that supplements containing GCE have been found to have little or no weight loss benefits. He added that these products aren’t even approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

There is, however, some law in place to regulate the ingredients that manufacturers can use in supplements. The Food Safety Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016, provides a list of approved ingredients for nutraceuticals, the types of food categories in which they can be used, and their permissible limits. The FSSAI is also working on new standards for product approval.

Until there are mandatory comprehensive testing and approval processes and systems, taking any sort of weight loss supplement is a risk, and should be avoided as far as possible. However, if you feel that you really need to take something, then it should be done only after taking medical advice, and under medical supervision. Honestly, I think that the best way to lose weight and get fit is through a proper diet and exercise regimen. It may take time, but it is safer and far more sustainable!

(The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of HuffPost India. Any omissions or errors are the author’s and HuffPost India does not assume any liability or responsibility for them.)

I used to be an overweight child. In fact, I spent most of my school life being overweight. Thankfully, I’m no longer overweight (a little underweight, actually). However, back when I was in school, I honestly thought that if I took weight loss supplements, I could get rid of the excess weight quickly. After doing my research recently, however, I am profoundly thankful not to have done anything like that.

In 2013, the Times of India published an article about an Indian student in the UK, who died after reportedly abusing weight loss pills. The report stated that the supplement in question contained 2,4-dinitrophenol, which is a banned substance. Even the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) published an article cautioning people against taking weight loss supplements without medical approval and supervision. The article noted that the FDA has found hundreds of products that are marketed as dietary supplements but actually contain hidden active ingredients (components that make a medicine effective against a specific illness) that could be prescription drugs, unsafe or banned ingredients, or compounds that have not been adequately studied in humans. The article also pointed out that dietary supplements don’t need FDA approval, and that just because a product is available doesn’t mean that it is safe.

Until there are mandatory comprehensive testing and approval processes and systems, taking any sort of weight loss supplement is a risk, and should be avoided as far as possible.

An article, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cautioned that manufacturers of weight loss supplements rarely carry out studies to test whether their products are even effective. Even if they do conduct studies, the sample sizes are small and the subjects take the supplements only for a few weeks or months.

The problems associated with weight loss supplements in India are naturally similar to the problems faced in the US. On 15^th November 2017, the Times of India published another article on weight loss supplements, focusing on Garcinia Cambogia Extracts (GCE). Garcinia Cambogia is a plant grown in Indonesia and Karnataka. Extracts from the fruit are popularly used in weight loss supplements. The TOI article quoted Dr. Raman Goel, a senior bariatric surgeon, who said that supplements containing GCE have been found to have little or no weight loss benefits. He added that these products aren’t even approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

There is, however, some law in place to regulate the ingredients that manufacturers can use in supplements. The Food Safety Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulations, 2016, provides a list of approved ingredients for nutraceuticals, the types of food categories in which they can be used, and their permissible limits. The FSSAI is also working on new standards for product approval.

Until there are mandatory comprehensive testing and approval processes and systems, taking any sort of weight loss supplement is a risk, and should be avoided as far as possible. However, if you feel that you really need to take something, then it should be done only after taking medical advice, and under medical supervision. Honestly, I think that the best way to lose weight and get fit is through a proper diet and exercise regimen. It may take time, but it is safer and far more sustainable!

(The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of HuffPost India. Any omissions or errors are the author’s and HuffPost India does not assume any liability or responsibility for them.)