The growing popularity of American-style fast food in the Arab world could lead to a surge in prostate cancer, an expert says.
Dr David Levy, a urologist at Cleveland Clinic in the United States, rejected the claim that genetics explained the comparatively low rate of prostate cancer in the Middle East.
He said the traditional Arab diet, which is rich in foods such as lentils, tomatoes and pomegranates, had been responsible for protecting men against the disease.
But he warned that prostate cancer rates could rise rapidly if the region moved further towards a “burger and fries western diet” instead of meals with high levels of omega-3, which is believed to protect against cancers.
Concerns about unhealthy diets in the UAE is growing, with obesity levels on the increase particularly among children.
A rise in popularity and availability of fast food across the world is among the factors blamed for what has been described as the "fattest generation in history".
“When men of Middle East and North African origin adopt a westernised lifestyle, their risk reverts to that of the majority of the westernised population, and that is substantially higher,” Dr Levy said. “I think dietary factors have a very, very strong role in that.”
A recent World Health Organisation study found that Norway, Sweden and Ireland had more than 10 times as many instances of prostate cancer as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.
But fast food has become increasingly popular in countries such as the UAE, with the trend partly explained by growing affluence, which experts say encourages people to eat more foods that are bad for them. Research has shown that in the US, the sons of Arab immigrants are at a far higher risk of prostate cancer than those in the Mena region.
Prevalence of the disease among second-generation Arab-Americans is similar to men of European descent.
Dr Levy’s claims are partly backed by a study carried out by the American University of Beirut, which found rates of prostate cancer in Arab countries were steadily rising.
Researchers said this was caused by the “protective effect of the Mediterranean diet on a subset of the Arab population”, along with genetic differences, and said an international study was needed to conclusively understand the differences in prostate cancer rates around the world.
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Fast food typically has high levels of omega-6, which can prove dangerous if not balanced with enough omega-3.
“When you drink sugary sodas and fruit juice, and eat candy, cakes and animal-based protein, your insulin resistance factors go up, your glycaemic index changes and you adversely affect the fatty acid ratios,” Dr Levy said.
“You have changed the entire environment in which the cells live. And that changes the genetic behaviour. It is a lifestyle dietary response resulting in an environmental change that, as far as we can tell, invites an increased incidence of prostate cancer.
“If you change the diet, you change the immune system responses.”
Politicians have adopted increasingly radical policies in an effort to tackle the problem of obesity.
Ras al Khaimah recently introduced a scheme where adults were offered Dh500 for every kilogram lost. Meanwhile, Dubai is cracking down on schools serving junk food.
Meanwhile, researchers in the UK have made a breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer.
They conducted one of the largest clinical trials yet into the disease and found that radiotherapy increased survival rates by 11 per cent in men whose cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes or bones.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
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Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
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Muguruza's singles career in stats
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)
Wins / losses 293 / 149
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The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
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A State of Passion
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The Buckingham Murders
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
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New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
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British & Irish Lions 15
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Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
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Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
