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  • 4 Health Benefits of Playing Soccer

    With an estimated 250 million players worldwide, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. The sport encourages comradery and teamwork, while toning your physique and improving your cognitive health. Consider these major benefits of playing soccer from soccer fan Hussain al Nowais:

    1. Cardio

    If running on the treadmill or around the track bores you, opt for playing a game of soccer instead. Soccer is a great cardio workout, and players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, can travel 5 to 7 miles in a single game. Soccer players are constantly moving during the game, which helps keep their heart rate up. Soccer also helps players burn calories, lower their blood pressure, and resist plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.

    1. Muscle Strength

    Soccer players are constantly sprinting, running, jumping and kicking, which helps heighten bone and muscle strength. The activity is a full body workout that boosts your core, upper body, leg and arm muscles and protects bone density.

    1. Endurance

    Soccer is a great cardio workout that also heightens your endurance. Increasing your cardio capacity enables you to run farther for longer periods of time. Since soccer involves walking, running, sprinting and jumping, it requires a great level of endurance in order to play a full 90-minute game. By making soccer a part of your routine, you’ll soon begin to notice improvements to your endurance.

    1. Cognitive Benefits

    Along with the countless physical benefits of playing soccer, the sport is also beneficial for your brain. During the game, players are constantly required to make quick decisions, such as who to pass the ball to, how to ward off defenders and where to run to make themselves open for a pass or throw. Having to make logical and smart decisions quickly stimulates your brain, improving your cognitive health.

  • 5 Fun Activities to Do With Your Kids This Summer

    With spring quickly coming to an end, summer will be here before we know it. Soon the kids will be out of school looking for fun ways to spend their days off. To keep your children occupied, try these exciting family friendly activities from Hussain al Nowais.

    1. Fly a kite – Create fond memories with your children by flying a kite. You can fly a kite during your beach vacation or even in your own backyard. Since some kites can be pricey, you can make a homemade kite. It’s a simple craft that you and your kids will enjoy building together. Plus, flying a kite they made themselves will definitely make your children feel proud and accomplished.
    2. Set up a lemonade stand – Lemonade stands are a childhood tradition. You and your kids can make homemade lemonade and iced tea and set up a lemonade stand out front of your house or at the neighborhood park. Your neighbors will be thankful for a fresh cup of lemonade on a hot summer day.
    3. Have a picnic – Enjoy a beautiful summer day by having a picnic at your favorite park. Bring along some drinks and snacks, a large blanket to lie on and games. Don’t forget your homemade kite!
    4. Go Camping – What better way to appreciate the great outdoors than with a camping trip? Set aside a weekend to go camping with the whole family. You can all go hiking and swimming during the day and roast marshmallows and tell stories at night. Plus, camping will get your children away from their computer and video games for a full weekend.
    5. Have a pool party – Invite your family and your kid’s friends over for a pool party. Your child will enjoy swimming with their friends, while the adults can chat and catch up.

    What do you think of these activities from Hussain al Nowais? What other fun activities can you do with your children this summer?

  • Best Family Vacations

    There’s no better time than getting the whole family together for a fun-filled vacation. Whether your family enjoys thrilling roller coaster rides, hiking through scenic trails, or visiting world-class museums, there are tons of great places to enjoy the company of your family. When you plan your next family vacation, choose one of the favorite vacation spots of family-man Hussain al Nowais.

    1. Walt Disney World – Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is arguably the most magical place on earth. No matter if you’re four, 17 or 65 years old, you’ll enjoy the enchantment of Disney World’s great theme parks. In addition to riding the wonderful amusement rides, you can tour the various countries in Epcot, take photos with your favorite Disney characters, and watch live shows.
    2. New York City – From parks and museums to toy stores and amusement parks, New York City is teeming with exciting family-friendly activities. No matter what your family’s interests are, the city has something for everyone. You can enjoy the great outdoors by touring the city’s favored landmarks, such as Times Square and Central Park. When you visit Central Park, don’t forget to take the children to the giant Toys R Us and neat Lego stores. Other great places to visit are the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the Bronx Zoo and Coney Island.
    3. Washington D.C. – In addition to being our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. is a top vacation destination for families. Visit the White House, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial before making your way to the National Mall, where you’ll find loads of free kid-friendly museums and other famous monuments. Make sure you grab some food at one of the food trucks and check out the National Zoo.
    4. Oahu – If you family wants a mix of relaxation and adventure, then there’s no better place than the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Here you can split your time between sunbathing on the beach, sightseeing, snorkeling, surfing and hiking. Some must-see spots on the island are Honolulu, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and Lanikai Beach. If you visit Hawaii, be sure to snorkel at Hanauma Bay, where you’ll encounter sea turtles and hundreds of colorful tropical fish.
  • Best Sushi Restaurants in NYC

    If you’re looking to satisfy your sushi craving, don’t worry. New York City is full of authentic Japanese restaurants and raw sushi bars. Whether you want to enjoy your favorite sushi roll in a sophisticated sushi bar or purchase your Spicy Tuna Avocado Roll to-go, you won’t be short of options.

    Having worked as a chef in the city for many years, Hussain al Nowais loves sampling cuisine at the best sushi restaurants. Here is his ranking of the top 5 sushi restaurants in NYC:

    1. Sasabune NYC – When you enter the restaurant you are welcomed by a “Trust Me” sign, and trust you should. Located at 401 East 73rd Street, Sasabune serves up the best and purest sushi in NYC. The restaurant serves an omikase menu of the finest Japanese cuisine. In addition to the fabulous cuisine, this restaurant also provides great ambiance and service
    2. Tanoshi – Another top NYC sushi bar is Tanoshi. Like Sansabune, Tanoshi serves an omakase menu, which features 10 pieces of sushi, one roll and one hand roll. If you’re not in the mood for sushi, enjoy the great fish selection, including marinated salmon roe, scallop and uni. You can find this sushi restaurant at 1372 York Avenue.
    3. Sushi Yasuda – Located at 204 East 43rd Street, Sushi Yasuda is loved for its fresh and unique sushi rolls and delicious rice, which features the perfect blend of vinegar, salt and sugar. Many fans of this prime sushi spot were nervous when Chef Naomichi Yasuda announced his plans to return to Japan. He left the restaurant in good hands with chefs Sekiguchi and Tamura. With its remarkable rolls, this restaurant lives up to its great reputation.
    4. Sushi Seki – If you’re a night owl, then you’ll love the late night hours and fresh sushi of Sushi Seki. Located at 1143 1st Avenue, this restaurant is open until 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday and serves up great dishes like spicy scallop hand rolls, king salmon with sautéed tomato, bluefin tuna in oniony tofu crème fraiche, and yellowtail with silvered jalapeno.
    5. Kurumazushi – Situated at 7 East 47th Street, Kurumazushi is notorious for its traditional Japanese cuisine and ambiance. When you visit this restaurant, you’ll feel like you’re really in Japan as the restaurant is decorated in simple, authentic décor. The restaurant boasts a great sushi and sashimi selection. Select the chef’s choice and you won’t be disappointed.

    What’s your favorite sushi restaurant in NYC?

  • The Tesla Motors Hyperloop: Dream or Reality?

    If you live in California, then you have probably heard of the revolutionary Hyperloop proposed by Tesla Motors Inc. In 2013, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors and Space X, announced his goal of creating a revolutionary transportation system that would transport passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just 35 minutes. While Musk has proven himself a leader of innovation in the transportation industry with his automobiles and space shuttles, many people wonder whether his Hyperloop proposal will ever become a reality.

    In 2003, Musk released a 57-page paper, which unveiled his plans to develop the mass transportation system. Called the Hyperloop, the system’s design will be similar to an above-ground bullet train. The train will be powered by solar energy and turbines and use aluminum pods to transport large quantities of people at speeds as high as 800 mph. The Hyperloop will first be used to transport passengers between LA and San Francisco and then be expanded across the country. If this revolutionary system becomes a reality, it will allow passengers to travel faster by land than by air.

    According to Musk, the transportation system will take about another seven to 10 years to develop. Though the setup costs are estimated at $6-10 billion, it will cost as low as $20 for passengers to travel using the Hyperloop.

    After reviewing Musk’s proposal, many physicists and train experts find major issues with the project as it stands, claiming it won’t be able to be built or operate efficiently. Also, many are criticizing Musk for releasing the project to the public before prototyping it. Unless the prototype is developed, experts can’t fully understand whether or not the system will work. Another concern with the project is that a small error could cause train to malfunction, leading to a major disaster. As well as this, many energy experts find faults with its power system. As proposed, a solar energy system will supply energy to the linear propulsion system and air pressure pumps. Energy experts claim the system will not be able to generate enough energy to provide ample power for the transportation system to function properly.

    While many believe the system is too good to be true, others like Hussain al Nowais have a positive outlook on the project. Al Nowais points out that Musk is the CEO of a company that has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. In the past, no one would have thought that Tesla would be able to create an EV that is as fast as a sports car.

    So, maybe this revolutionary transportation system isn’t so farfetched after all. Only time will tell what the future holds for the world of travel.