LONDON: We’re at the halfway point of Ramadan, and it’s important to ensure that you’re looking after your health throughout the last two weeks. The decreased amount of food, water and energy will undoubtedly have an effect on you, and you need to take care of your body and mind now more than ever. To help you continue to feel great this Ramadan, Daniel Wells, online life coach and personal trainer, has put together a list of vitamins and supplements to make sure you are feeling and functioning at your best.
This may be one that you’re not familiar with, but it really does work. Your sleeping routine will most likely be a little erratic throughout Ramadan due to the early mornings and late evenings. Evening primrose oil will not only help you get off to sleep better; it also includes a vital fatty acid that helps balance hormone levels, which will aid in your quality of sleep too. As an added bonus, it also promotes healthy skin, helps joint pain and stiffness, alleviates menstrual pains and even fights against osteoporosis.
We’re learning more and more about the necessity of a healthy gut, as well as the dangers of a bad diet, which can lead to an unhealthy gut and the knock-on effects this can have on your health. Vitamin K2 is a nutrient that is produced by healthy intestinal bacteria and can also be found in fermented foods and animal products. Working on your diet to increase good bacteria and maintain a healthy gut can have a significant impact on your life and wellbeing. Vitamin K2 helps with blood sugar regulation, promotes bone strength, increases testosterone, decreases wrinkles in the skin and can help prevent cancer too.
Vitamin D3 not only helps to maintain your immune system, but it also helps to keep your bones and muscles in good condition. It has also been proven to aid in the prevention of depression, inflammatory disease and cardiovascular disease. This Ramadan, if vitamin D3 isn’t already a part of your regular nutrition regime, it should be.
Packed full of powerful antioxidants, this supplement can aid in supporting digestion and weight management and improve your overall energy levels. This super liquid enhances general health in a variety of ways. It balances alkaline pH levels, and most of the time we’re more acidic than alkaline, due to poor diet. It also kills off bad bacteria in the gut. It is best mixed with a small amount of fruit juice and can be consumed daily.
Protein supplement (shake or bar)
You may be doing slightly less activity and likely eating less during Ramadan, which can cause muscle atrophy. It has been proven that increasing the protein content in one’s diet can help prevent muscle atrophy, so adding a protein shake or bar a day can be really beneficial. Don’t forget that an increase in protein also helps speed up recovery, gives our metabolism a boost and aids in fat loss. Protein bars and shakes taste great too, helping you to curb cravings.
DUBAI: US multinational e-commerce company Amazon announced this week its partnership with two young Saudi artists, Alaa Al-Bukhari and Majd Jaha, to launch artworks designed for its electronic Eid gift cards collection.
The designs offer a modern twist on Eidiyah, the popular gift-giving tradition between family and friends during the festive week.
The artworks include graphics inspired by the Kingdom’s history and architecture to express the joy of Eid.
The gift cards give shoppers the chance to choose what they want or need from a selection of local and international products across categories such as jewelry, fashion, electronics and more.
Al-Bukhari’s designs for Amazon were inspired by Saudi identity and history.
The illustrator, who studied fine arts and graphic design, said in a released statement: “I feel very proud of this collaboration, and I would like to thank Amazon for giving me the opportunity to represent my work on this special occasion that brings happiness to many people.”
“I hope that my designs will help inspire emerging artists not only in Saudi Arabia, but all over the world,” she added.
For Saudi painter Jaha, this is not the first time she works with Amazon. She designed the cards for the company last year.
For this year’s designs, Jaha combined elements of Saudi architecture and fashion from different regions, while including features that represent the joy of Eid and its traditions.
Jaha showed a passion for drawing from an early age, launching the Majd Studio for Designs and Arts in 2018 to enrich Arab artistic content.
“My first participation in designing electronic Eidiyah gift cards on Amazon had a great impact on the spread of my artwork around the Kingdom,” said Jaha. “We are continuing this cooperation with a passion to spread happiness to Amazon customers on one of the most important occasions.”
LOS ANGELES: US actors Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch revealed a “massive” Bizarro World episode is yet to air in American network CW’s “Superman and Lois” that will blow the minds of fans.
The series is on mid-season hiatus, but Arab News was able to get a sneak preview of what is to come, including a deeper exploration of the mysteries surrounding Superman’s evil opposite, the classic comic villain Bizarro Superman.
“Some more strange and – don’t hate me for saying it – bizarre things I would imagine,” Hoechlin said.
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Adding to his statement, Tulloch said: “Yes, episode 10, which hasn’t aired yet. It airs toward the end of April, is a Bizarro World episode, and it is massive. I feel like the fans, their minds will be blown.”
CW is showing a different side of the Man of Steel in the show.
Set in the superhero Clark Kent’s hometown of Smallville, the series shows a semi-retired Superman, played by Hoechlin, and renowned reporter Lois Lane (Tulloch), struggling not to save the day, but to raise their two teenage sons.
Hoechlin told Arab News: “We’ve seen a lot of origin stories and things like that, so for me – what I appreciate now – is being able to see the origin stories of their boys.
“These are young men becoming men. And so, to see how they’re growing and how they’re kind of showing them along. I just think it makes it different enough that for us it makes it an exciting thing for us to jump into,” he added.
The domestic take on the iconic hero, which shares a universe with fellow DC shows “Arrow,” “The Flash,” and “Batwoman,” premiered its second season as the most viewed on the CW network.
With fans watching, the stars said they understood the responsibility they had in portraying the characters.
“We do have a lot of respect for them, and I think part of the reason we have avoided other versions is that we do want to make it our own, and I think the fact that in our version their parents is a very easy way for us to put a sort of different stamp on it,” Tulloch added.
DUBAI: For its newly launched “Life Is Classic” campaign, athletic giant Reebok explores its iconic Classic Leather running shoe with the help of a diverse cast of creatives from around the globe, including French-Algerian singer Lolo Zouai.
The Brooklyn-based hitmaker appears in the new campaign for the heritage running shoe alongside Nigerian singer Tems, US chef and singer Lazarus Lynch, British rapper Ghetts, Tibetan model Tsunaina and multi-disciplinary artist Maurice Harris.
Throughout the next few months, Reebok will unveil contemporary new takes on the Classic Leather shoe that will feature elements of the decades-old footwear that debuted nearly 40 years ago.
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The first to launch are the “Make It Yours” shoes, which take on an all-white approach.
On May 1, Reebok will introduce the “SP” and “Modern” editions.
“For Spring 2022, we’re excited to reintroduce the Classic Leather and expand upon its legacy,” said Fionna McQueen, senior director of Classics Product at Reebok, in a statement. “The range of creatives we’ve partnered with to tell our ‘Life is Classic’ story help celebrate the silhouette’s special heritage, while redefining what it means to be a Classic today,” she added.
In the campaign, 27-year-old Zouai features wearing the Classic Leather “White/Grey” edition.
She styles the shoes with a pastel purple, high-low, ruffled tulle skirt, a white sleeveless top layered on top of a beige sweater and a fuzzy hat.
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Last month, Reebok announced its first collaboration with Zouai in “Life is Not a Spectator Sport,” a new campaign that builds upon the brand’s revamped creative direction.
The part-Algerian artist, born Laureen Zouai, also featured in the advert, alongside former NBA player Allen Iverson, R&B singer Brent Faiyaz and Venezuelan musician Arca.
It appears that the fashion world is starting to take note of Zouai, who has also appeared in campaigns for US label Coach and sportswear giant Adidas.
Fashion features aside, Zouai has been making waves in the music scene. The singer, who was born in Paris to a French mother and an Algerian father before relocating to the US, received large-scale recognition with an opening slot in Dua Lipa’s long-awaited “Future Nostalgia” tour and is currently celebrating the third anniversary of her acclaimed debut EP “High Highs to Low Lows.”
DUBAI: Ramadan is a month of giving back, and these four fashion brands have been using their platforms to support underprivileged people during the holy month.
The Italian bespoke brand, founded by designer Behnood Javaherpour in Naples in 2005, released a three-piece Ramadan collection for men.
To celebrate the spirit of giving during the holy month, Javaherpour is donating all the proceeds from the sales to help displaced Ukrainian mothers and children who have fled their homeland during the war with Russia.
The campaign also features a 27-year-old model, Nicolas, battling autism.
The Dubai-based upscale store, selling a large selection of designer brand footwear, bags and accessories will donate to the charity foundations Nefsy and Tarahum in the UAE.
Throughout the month of April, the leading luxury footwear retailer has been sharing a meal for every online and in-store purchase. The set target is 5,000 meals.
Commenting on the charitable approach, Elisa Bruno, general manager of Level Shoes, said: “This initiative pushes forth Level Shoes’ purpose-driven commitment to positive and philanthropic impact by finding ways to build a livelihood through our craft.
“To that effect, we want to show the true spirit of Ramadan today, a time that bridges different generations and an opportunity to strengthen our broader strategy, create a stronger regional bond, and to celebrate with our communities.”
The French fashion label has once again launched its “Give for Good” movement, a clothing drive that encourages people to give their clothes a second chance by donating what they no longer need to underprivileged people in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The movement has also partnered with Tarahum and the Kiswa project from Saudi Arabia, which brings together charities to collect clothing donations for disadvantaged families.
Participating in the “Give for Good” movement is simple. After you register online, you will be lead to a page that will request you to fill in your contact information, delivery and pick-up locations, and preferred schedule. Prepare the items you wish to donate by placing them in a bag or box. A delivery representative will pick up your donation on the preferred schedule you confirmed in the registration process.
In partnership with the UAE Food Bank, Amazon is providing a combination of grocery supplies, packaging materials, services and monetary donations to underprivileged families.
The e-commerce company is also aiming to give out more than 1 million meals.
The Ramadan initiative is part of the company’s global community engagement pillar, Right Now Needs, that seeks to eliminate the impossible choices posed by poverty, homelessness, hunger and natural disasters.
DUBAI: Joining the extensive line-up of designers to create exclusive collections primed for Ramadan, Milan-based fashion brand Off-White has launched its new capsule collection in celebration of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
With the idea of modest dressing and comfort at the forefront of the collection, the 17-piece offering was made with the Middle Eastern consumer in mind.
Keeping in line with the holy month, the collection offers different interpretations of long hemlines and relaxed silhouettes for its modest-dressing customers, including rhinestone-embellished hoodies and T-shirts, track jackets and pants, satin shirts, knitwear and emerald-tone pajama sets that are equal parts stylish and comfortable.
The capsule also features accessories in the form of a Swarovski necklace and matching earrings in Off-White’s ubiquitous arrow cross motif, glitter-infused slippers and satin bags.
Those who wish to shop the new capsule collection can purchase pieces online and in select Off-White stores in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including in Riyadh, with prices ranging from $700 to $1850.
Off-White’s new Ramadan collection signals the growing focus luxury brands have in the burgeoning Middle Eastern market.
Other luxury labels that have recently created collections specifically for Muslim consumers during Ramadan include Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and more.
This is not the first time that the cult streetwear label celebrates the holy month. Last year, the late Off-White founder Virgil Abloh, who died from a rare type of cancer in November, designed a homeware collection exclusively for Ramadan.