What’s the new book about?
It’s called I Want a Healthy Pregnancy. It is my own pregnancy memoirs and a self-help book in one. I wrote it when I was pregnant with my third child. Most books I read chronicled the scientific progression of pregnancy, but nothing really told me what I wanted to know about – the good, the bad and the ugly. I tried to give a natural solution from a nutritional perspective, the things that I learned over time and implemented in my last pregnancy, which really made a difference.
You host nutrition seminars and webcasts too. How do you find time to write a book?
I am also a mother of three children under the age of 10, so finding time to run my nutrition consultancy is a challenge on a daily basis. But I have discovered that the busier I get, the more organised I seem to become. I’m also toying with the idea of a dedicated TV health show.
You are clearly very passionate about health and nutrition. Why do you think that is?
I think it comes from a situation around 10 years ago, when I became ill and was basically told to go home and put up with my symptoms. I started researching natural remedies to improve my health. I stumbled upon nutrition, improved my diet, and kept getting amazed at the results I saw. I fell in love with the subject, devoured every book I could get my hands on, and finally decided to qualify to become a nutritionist so I can help others like I helped myself. I have now been running my nutrition consulting office for over six years here in Bahrain and it has become my life. I think nutrition and complementary medicine is somewhat new to the Middle East, and to Bahrain, and I’m glad to be here at a time when it’s developing.
You say on your website ‘No diets, no medication’ – do people get too obsessed with these when it comes to weight loss?
People often expect a magic pill, and always get disappointed when I tell them there isn’t one. Quick solutions are always short-lived. Weight loss becomes easy once you make a total lifestyle change. It occurs as a result of eating healthy food and exercising over a long period of time. And with it come a lot of other benefits, such as feeling better emotionally and having great skin and hair. My approach to weight loss takes into account your lifestyle, stress levels, food likes and dislikes.
What are the main mistakes people seem to make with regard health and nutrition in Bahrain?
When people have desk jobs rather than something active, the sedentary lifestyle can take its toll. Add to that the hot summers that make people stay indoors in air-conditioned places without moving, and it gets even worse. Less activity means weight gain and bad health. And then there is eating too much fast food, which can also be a problem.
You have written other books as well – what kind of subjects do these focus on?
My first book is one that I co-authored with Dr Mercola and Gary Craig called 101 Ways to Improve Your Health. It is available online. I then authored I Want Healthy Kids, a book on how to raise healthy children, with ideas on getting them to try better foods. It is written from years of experience as a mother and as a nutritionist. I also wrote The Dream Body Eating Plan, a weight loss guide given out to members of the Dream Body Centre in Bahrain. I like to help where I can.
For more information, visit www.aliaalmoayed.com
