Tag: Middle east

According to the Global Nutrition Report, 45.5% of adult women and 34.3% of adult men in Saudi Arabia are living with obesity, partly due to a shift away from traditional eating patterns. This significant change raises the question: what is the Saudi Arabian diet, and how has it evolved from its traditional roots to its modern, Western-influenced form?

According to a 2020 study, Islamic dietary laws are followed by over 1.8 billion people worldwide, and these rules primarily dictate what food Arabs can't eat, with key prohibitions including pork, alcohol, and certain types of improperly prepared meat. For most Arabs, who are predominantly Muslim, these restrictions, known as Haram, are central to their religious and cultural practices.

India is the world's leading producer of fenugreek, responsible for cultivating over 80% of the global supply. However, this annual herb, a staple in many cuisines and traditional medicines, has a long history and diverse cultivation practices that extend far beyond its primary production region.

A 2018 study published in the *African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology* found that a traditional cup of Arabic coffee can contain as little as 4.1 mg of caffeine. This may come as a surprise to some, as it's a common misconception that all coffee contains a high level of this stimulant. In fact, the caffeine in Arabic coffee is surprisingly low when compared to other popular coffee types.

While a 100-gram serving of harees can be as low as 82 calories, traditional recipes often contain richer ingredients like ghee and fattier meats, making harees high in calories depending on the preparation and serving size. This deep-dive explores the factors that influence its nutritional impact.

Carrots were not originally orange; the first domesticated carrots from over 1,000 years ago were purple or yellow. The dark, reddish-purple pigment responsible for black carrot extract comes from these ancient varieties, primarily cultivated in Eastern regions like Turkey and Afghanistan.

Originally native to Egypt and Southwest Asia, the garden cress plant from which halim seeds are harvested has been cultivated for centuries in traditional medicine and cooking. While its historical roots are in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, its popularity has spread across the globe, especially in India.

A 2018 study found that a small, traditional cup of Arabian coffee could contain as little as 4.1 milligrams of caffeine. Contrary to what some might assume, yes, Arabian coffee does contain caffeine, sourced primarily from the use of *Coffea arabica* beans.

According to a 2018 comparative study, a small, traditional 25 ml cup of Arabian coffee was found to contain as little as 4.1 mg of caffeine, a significantly lower amount than other brews. But how much caffeine is in 1 cup of Arabic coffee is a complex question that depends on several unique factors, including beans and brewing.

Originating in the Middle East over 10,000 years ago, laban is a centuries-old fermented dairy drink, and many wonder what is laban up made out of. This modern, commercial version is primarily composed of fresh cow's milk, water, salt, and live bacterial cultures.