Greetings from the United Arab Emirates

July 9, 2004

I'm a 25 year old male living in Dubai, and I have been on the

Ketogenic Diet since 2002. So far, it turned out that it is the ONLY

working diet for me, and for many of my peers who are suffering from

obesity, especially linked to type II Diabetes. The reason for

joining this group, is to gather as much info as possible about this

outstanding miracle, and hopefully spread awaress to our community.

Unfortunately,in the Middle East, people tend to ignore alternative

methods of healing, and ultimately go for convential methods of

medicine. Recent studies have shown that cases of Type II Diabetes

have increased by over 200% within the past decade, and mainly in

young adults ranging from 18-25 years of age. This is due to the

local cuisine and eating habits ( mostly all carbs, such as bread,

rice and sugar), and also the climate, with temperatures reaching

past the 115F point with extreme humidity levels. Furthermore, gyms,

health clubs, and other recreational facilities charge premium

prices, withit limiting people from getting adequate fitness.

Regarding Dubai as a city, it is the fasting geowing metropolis in

the world, with state of the art infrastructure in education,

medicine, and tourism. However, restaurants have only recently

started to introduce low-carb menus ( such at Chili's & TGIF). But

still its done improperly, and mostly following Atkins in a very

vague manner. The issue of epilepsy is completely ignored, and

awareness is close to zero. Now... I'm planning of changing that.

I'm drawing up a business plan for a center that will cater to all

aspects of this miracle diet and its benefits. It's all about the

positioning of this miracle as the ultimate answer to all concerning

fields (epilepsy,Diabetes, and weight loss)..

I have high hopes for this project and hope it will be recognized

and that awareness will spread, and act as a catalyst for change.

Regarding medical credibility and reference, Dubai has hospitals,

including the American Hospital in Dubai, that can backup this

alternative diet, although doctors not always agree on cutting out

carbs. However, it is worth trying, and I hope this will eventually

work, since it has become a dream for me.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my posting, and I hope it

will reach everyone who will have a strong and positive hand in this

matter.

Best Reagrds,

Ali Qudah

The American University In Dubai

PO BOX 28282

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Email: aliqudah78@... or qudah@...

Cell phone: +971-50-4947044

July 9, 2004

I agree with you that proper diet can improve health and well-being and

in the case of epilepsy, the ketogenic diet can be an effective

treatment. However, it is not an alternative medicine. It is a

" conventional method " that is well-documented for its effectiveness.

Bill

aliqudah78 wrote:

> I'm a 25 year old male living in Dubai, and I have been on the

> Ketogenic Diet since 2002. So far, it turned out that it is the ONLY

> working diet for me, and for many of my peers who are suffering from

> obesity, especially linked to type II Diabetes. The reason for

> joining this group, is to gather as much info as possible about this

> outstanding miracle, and hopefully spread awaress to our community.

> Unfortunately,in the Middle East, people tend to ignore alternative

> methods of healing, and ultimately go for convential methods of

> medicine. Recent studies have shown that cases of Type II Diabetes

> have increased by over 200% within the past decade, and mainly in

> young adults ranging from 18-25 years of age. This is due to the

> local cuisine and eating habits ( mostly all carbs, such as bread,

> rice and sugar), and also the climate, with temperatures reaching

> past the 115F point with extreme humidity levels. Furthermore, gyms,

> health clubs, and other recreational facilities charge premium

> prices, withit limiting people from getting adequate fitness.

> Regarding Dubai as a city, it is the fasting geowing metropolis in

> the world, with state of the art infrastructure in education,

> medicine, and tourism. However, restaurants have only recently

> started to introduce low-carb menus ( such at Chili's & TGIF). But

> still its done improperly, and mostly following Atkins in a very

> vague manner. The issue of epilepsy is completely ignored, and

> awareness is close to zero. Now... I'm planning of changing that.

> I'm drawing up a business plan for a center that will cater to all

> aspects of this miracle diet and its benefits. It's all about the

> positioning of this miracle as the ultimate answer to all concerning

> fields (epilepsy,Diabetes, and weight loss)..

> I have high hopes for this project and hope it will be recognized

> and that awareness will spread, and act as a catalyst for change.

> Regarding medical credibility and reference, Dubai has hospitals,

> including the American Hospital in Dubai, that can backup this

> alternative diet, although doctors not always agree on cutting out

> carbs. However, it is worth trying, and I hope this will eventually

> work, since it has become a dream for me.

>

> Thank you all for taking the time to read my posting, and I hope it

> will reach everyone who will have a strong and positive hand in this

> matter.

>

> Best Reagrds,

> Ali Qudah

>

> The American University In Dubai

> PO BOX 28282

> Dubai, United Arab Emirates

> Email: aliqudah78@... or qudah@...

> Cell phone: +971-50-4947044

>

July 10, 2004

Good luck with your diet and your plans to open a center catering to

this diet, Ali. My son and I often talk about the kids he knows

with type 11 diabetes, and use them as inspiration for sticking with

this diet. The diet is much less restrictive for you all, but for

you it is life long. I have wanted to get my son into a support

group for diabetic kids, because they deal with a lot of the same

diet issues. Thanks for you posting. I'm so glad you will work to

spread news of this diet in Saudi Arabia. Not only for the diabetic

kids, but for the epilepsy kids as well. I know what it was like to

have doctors brush off my questions about the keto-diet for two

years. We lost two years becasue of it. And when you are 10, two

years is a long time!

Gretchen

>

> I'm a 25 year old male living in Dubai, and I have been on the

> Ketogenic Diet since 2002. So far, it turned out that it is the

ONLY

> working diet for me, and for many of my peers who are suffering

from

> obesity, especially linked to type II Diabetes. The reason for

> joining this group, is to gather as much info as possible about

this

> outstanding miracle, and hopefully spread awaress to our

community.

> Unfortunately,in the Middle East, people tend to ignore

alternative