Work up a sweat by battling traffic, smog and cracked sidewalks CAIRO: Strapping on your sneakers and going for a jog in this cramped city of 17 million people is like swimming laps in a shark tank. The roads are packed with aggressive drivers leaning on their horns, the sidewalks are treacherous and the air …

The future’s so bright, I gotta get another console Much is made of ‘soccer wives’ during the World Cup. These are the women all but abandoned by their pub-bound husbands for the whole month of football’s top championship. There are now even holidays that cater to women during World Cup season, promising a comparable escape …

CAIRO: Would you have believed that that the secret to the killer Britney Spears and Victoria Beckham body was breast feeding? That’s what they said on a TV interview. The show claimed that women can lose up to 5000 calories a day simply by breastfeeding, which is a lot more calories than a diet or …

Tasty meat dishes, crisp salads and a relaxed atmosphere CAIRO: While Cairo has countless foul and falafel stands that serve up tasty snacks for next to nothing, finding a comfortable, sit-down spot that offers regional dishes at a reasonable price can be a bit of a challenge. Fed up with the four major food groups …

Google CEO Eric Schmidt engages with leading Egyptian media CAIRO: Internet search company Google announced this week that open sign-ups to Gmail, Google’s email service, are now possible in Egypt. Generally, people need to be invited to Gmail by someone else who already has an account. Democracy has arrived though, as Egypt has become only …

CAIRO: Heba Kotb is a conservative Muslim, wears an Islamic head scarf, and goes on television once a week to talk – frankly and in great detail – about sex. On her show, Big Talk, Kotb answers questions from Muslims all over the Middle East about the most intimate bedroom issues with an openness that …

Moderate weight loss is proven healthy to older women NEW YORK: Shedding just a few pounds can be beneficial to older women s health, and doesn t result in loss of high quality muscle tissue, a new study shows. Dr. Gloria Mazzali of the University of Verona in Italy and colleagues found that obese women …

Eat your Tuna quick and store that can because in a few years this sea delicacy may be hard to find. According to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), schools of bluefin tuna are disappearing from the world’s seas. There seems to be no question that the world s tuna resources …

High-speed internet telephony has never been so accessible As we bid a fond farewell to the 56.6 kb/s dial-up connections of our past and forge forward into the high-speed broadband that lies ahead of us; the once difficult mechanics of using your internet connection to stay in touch are infinitely more usable. Increasingly gone are …

Tights are in, but would men wear them? In 1956 leggings made their way from the dancing artsy scene into the wardrobes of the likes of Audrey Hepburn instantly becowming a fashion statement. After disappearing for about a decade American socialite, debutante and heiress Edie Sedgwick, who starred in many of Andy Warhol’s short films, …

Taking the splutter and cough out of needing nicotine There are three well-trodden paths available to the smoker’s conscience when it comes time to stop. Cold turkey is a jolt and will have you jonesing for a cigarette constantly. Substitution is filling the gap with maybe a double cheeseburger or an extra banana and chocolate …

CAIRO: Egyptian holidaymakers who head to the Red Sea resort towns of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh often overlook Taba. Though the border town has always lured its share of tourists with its quiet beaches, clear waters, and desert trails, it’s only recently that hotel chains have begun to lay down their foundations in the surrounding …

Indian cuisine spices up the night but where are the patrons? Characterized by a great variety of foods, spices, and cooking techniques, Indian food has always been a welcome cuisine for many well-to-do Egyptians. The Maharaja, which is oddly located at the Ramses Hilton, is a splendid sight. I say “oddly because most venues are …

Scientific research stresses the health benefits of dihydrogen monoxide Psst. Come here, I want to show you something. Take a look at this: it is the most nourishing element you can give your body. It will revitalize you, refresh you, keep you healthy and maintain your metabolism. It will make you feel light and youthful, …

Photo sharing websites, innovation, and online communities The widening popularity of photography can possibly be credited to the digital revolution. Instead of getting your holiday snaps developed at the local pharmacy, you can just plug your camera, and increasingly your mobile phone or handset, into a computer to view your memories. For years now there …

Danette . A Blend of Nutrition and Pleasure As part of its efforts to offer healthy and nutritious products to Egyptian families, Danone now presents Danette, its world-leading brand in the healthy dessert segment. Danette seeks to solve the everyday dilemma that mothers face with their children when they attempt to offer them healthy and …

It’s more important than an apple a day or the box of vitamins lying lazily on the counter. It’s needed by everyone; the human body craves it and just can’t do without it. So why is breakfast the most neglected meal of the day? In the economic hustle and bustle of the modern age, many …

New Harvard research shows that low carb, high-fat diet doesn’t increase risk of heart disease CAIRO: Going on a diet these days is no simple feat, aside from an infinite supply of will power, you need to learn to eat correctly to optimize weight loss. With rows and rows of diet books stacked on bookstore …

Taking the correct approach in explaining death to children can prevent trauma CAIRO: “Where did Daddy go? When is he coming back? These simple questions are often met with a confused look as a bereaved mother tries to search for a quick answer that explains to her five-year-old the death of his father. The easiest …

Andrea on El-Mariottiya canal road is a great spot for a weekend family outing CAIRO: As soon as the weather shows signs of cooling down, on Friday afternoons families head in droves to Andrea on El-Mariottiya canal road. Lured in by the smell of roasting chicken, a casual atmosphere, and the promise of a donkey …

Biometrics isn’t content with your name, serial number, and social security So once you’ve bought your e-ticket, maybe printed it out, and are on your way to the airport after already having electronically checked in, selected your seat, and picked which starter you’re having with the chicken – via the web, you could be anyone. …

Simple steps can increase survival chances to 95 percent “I discovered the lump in my breast by mere chance. I was in the shower and felt something under my hand. Three days after I discovered it, I was on the operating table [for a mastectomy], says Faiza Abdel Khalick, breast cancer survivor and co-founder of …

Denim has broken both class and national boundaries What would we do without jeans? That infinitely comfortable pair of pants that matches everything in our wardrobes is gradually becoming more and more acceptable for all occasion – it s called smart casual. This amazing garment has started to be worn globally with no race, ethnic, …

Some precautions to stave off a winter of misery ALEXANDRIA: Half the office is absent. The other half is walking around with a red nose and a tissue in hand. It’s that time of the year again when the common cold and influenza attack a majority of the population. Although people know it’s coming, most …

What WiMax is, what it stands for, and what it can do for your country A seasoned taxi driver in Cairo can light his cigarette, change tapes on his cassette player, and adjust his rear-view mirror, all at the same time – while also rolling down the passenger-side window – and still avoid the bus …

The restaurant s Asian offerings are expensive, but justifiably so most of the time CAIRO: Eating out in Cairo can be predictable, and sometimes downright boring. Many popular restaurants mimic each other’s menus, so that even a new idea quickly becomes passé. But high above the commotion of Sphinx Square sits a noteworthy duo to …

Net your travel plans to bypass the travel agent and the guidebook CAIRO: Now that our Eid Al-Fitr travels are behind us, let’s take a moment to recall the parts of the vacation that we really ought to smooth out for next time. You may have encountered, as a few dear friends of mine did, …

Popular chef reflects on his successful career and future plans CAIRO: Chef Osama is a name many Arab housewives recognize instantly. His live daily shows Ma Osama Atyab (It s More Delicious with Osama) and Bilhanna wa Shiffa (With Joy and Good Health) and the five versions of his cookbook of the same name have …