Fitness Secrets - Diet and Health

Shut Alzheimer’s out in your 20s: With the brain disorder kicking in as early as the 40s, experts tell us what changes to make to our lifestyles to start combating it early. How to Prevent Alzheimer desease from occuring. Diet and Exercise routine to follow to stop it. Read on to know how yoga, sports and the right foods can help fight Alzheimer Desease. Alzheimer’s disease was brought to the forefront by Amitabh Bachchan’s character in the movie Black The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease surface later in life, but the silent damage begins when you are young. Furthermore, a growing number of people in their 40s and 50s are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And because medication is still in the premature stages of development, the best way to avoid the disease is to take charge early. Fitness expert Nuri Khan, proprietor of Studio 5 Fitness centre, fitness consultant and educator Dilip Heble, and wellness coach Vinod Nair tell you what to do. Exercises • Yoga is not merely an exerci...

Frequent eye turns can be a nuisance. Learn How to Treat your squint Eye on time! Squint or strabismus is cross-eyes.It is defined as a condition in which the eyes deviate (turn) when looking at a particular object.Eye doctors generally look for the presence of a strabismus when looking at: distance (20 feet or more); near (16 inches for an adult and 13 inches for a child); lateral and vertical directions (up, down, left, or right). When the eye turn occurs all the time, it is called constant strabismus. When it occurs only some time, it is called intermittent strabismus.With intermittent strabismus, the eye turn might be observed only occasionally, such as during stressful situations or when the person is ill. The timing and type of treatment depend on the type of condition. How common is this disorder? It is a common eye problem, especially in children. However, it is also known to occur in adults. It is seen in three-five per cent of normal population. It can occur due to a variet...

At a recent music launch, Rani Mukherjee showed up in a more sedate version of the messy bed-head do. After years of ironing and rebonding hair into submission, the recent trend of relaxed, wavy hair is refreshing. And the best part is, it's completely DIY. Rani Mukherjee at a recent music launch All you need to do to transform your limp tresses into Rani and Lindsay Lohan’s tumbling locks is work some conditioner into your hair, plait it and go to sleep. Open them up in the morning to get this gorgeous mess. Lindsay Lohan

FACE FACTS What is your beauty routine? In the morning, I splash warm then cold water on my face and apply moisturiser and eye cream. At night, I cleanse with a home-made remedy: olive oil, Johnson’s Baby Oil and Bio-Oil, which I massage in and remove with a hot face cloth. Your make-up bag heroes? Mac liquid eyeliner, Chanel foundation, Clinique powder, Mac mascara and Estée Lauder lipstick. Desert island essentials? Clinique sunscreen, right. As I live in India, the higher SPF the better – I try to use SPF50. What beauty secrets has your mother passed on to you? Never use soap on your face – it’s the worst thing for it. She also advocated the ‘less is more’ rule, so I don’t overload my skin with products. Who is your beauty icon? Madonna. She has made the best of herself every step of the way. Would you have plastic surgery? I don’t need it right now. I don’t want to be judgmental; have it if you feel you need it, but do your research, go to the right person and don’t become addicted...

That karate is one of the best forms of self-defence and fitness needs no elaboration. However, the martial art form is also an excellent means of selfdevelopment with several physical and mental health benefits that have rarely been highlighted. What’s more you do not need to be a master or have years of practice to experience its benefits. Just sign up for a class once a week at a centre near you and learn the callisthenic drills, stretching exercises, basics of attack, block, punch and kicks. 12-14 sessions of an hour or two each in a month are good enough to get you on the road to health. KARATE THE STRESS BUSTER Karate has a number of callisthenic drills (warm up moves) that loosen up your body and act as stress busters. To understand how they work, know these three aspects: » Kihon: Techniques of moving forward, backward, sideward and various postures » Kata: Imaginary fight sequences in which a person is surrounded by enemies and has to counter-attack using various stances » Ku...

A few celeb ladies talk about their diet tips! Pooja Bedi: Eat EVERYTHING! And then... work out, work out, work out! Nicolette Bird: There’s gonna be loads of sweets, so go for it in limited amounts and make sure you’re on a treadmill the next day taking it all out! Lubna Adams: Lots of watermelon juice through the day. Avoid fried stuff and down lots of water with khus or jal jeera. Anju Taraporewala: Who diets with all the yummy goodies everywhere?? My only advice would be to enjoy everything... in moderation. Queenie Dhody: Kalakand and gulab jamun! Haha! Rashmi Uday Singh: Every day is Diwali for me. I have found that instead of dieting, if I drink lots of vegetable juices it really helps. Also I turn vegetarian for a couple of weeks. It’s a great way to detox. Sharmila Khanna: The best would be to avoid carbs and desserts and do a lot of yoga and walking. But I’d be a lot thinner if I could avoid desserts! Priya Kishore: I have a secret theory, that you can lose weight by ...

Fitness is about looking good, but more importantly it’s about feeling good . “Fitness means mental and physical well-being. Fitness is about looking good, but more importantly it’s about feeling good! It also means glowing skin and feeling good from within. Beauty is something that speaks of good health and an inner radiance that shines through. Dancing her way to fitness I am blessed with a slim figure and weight has never been an issue. I am not the kind who is fond of exercising in gym. I feel fitness has to be a pleasurable experience. For three months at a stretch, every year, I workout at a gym regularly. I am fond of dancing and I believe that’s best of form exercise. Currently, I am learning Latin ballroom dance, earlier I attended Latin Bhangra classes. Dancing works your muscles and you lose inches. I have also learnt Tai chi and I practice it at home. It not only relieves stress, but also creates an inner peace. When you are at peace with yourself, you are in touch with you...

I begin my day with: A light workout at home and a few minutes of meditation. I try and do a little bit of neck exercises the moment I get out bed. It takes out all the stiffness I may have from sleeping in the wrong posture. Breakfast is: A bowl of muesli and fresh juice followed by a cup of tea and some toast. Eggs are mostly a part of my breakfast in boiled or half fried form. When I am shooting: I lunch on oil-free food. If there is a nice cafeteria around it's a blessing in disguise. I like to order from Subway. Dinner is: Light, salads and soups. If I feel hungry in the night I binge on muesli. My fitness regimen consists of: Weight-training and cardio at least four to five days a week. Apart from that I'm into martial arts. I am a black belt in Taekwando. I hate: Anything spicy. I like milk products but the smell of certain types of cheese puts me off. When I am shooting I always carry: Premixed coffee sachets as I like my coffee mostly dark and strong. Coffee served o...

Beauty SOS - Here are simple make-up tips to keep you looking fresh and attractive at all times Channel your beauty regime to look great in a matter of minutes. It is all about refining your make-up technique. MAKE-UP STARTER Start with a moisturiser that has a built-in foundation. Make-up expert Cory Walia says, “Use products that do double duty. Mineral make-up is the best for that Use a mineral make-up base powder. It effectively covers pigmentation and unevenness. Carry it around in your purse for whenever you need it. With this as a base, apply a nice thick line of eyeliner on your upper eyelid, and apply shimmery lip-gloss for a quick make-up fix for your face.” HIDE TIRED EYES If dark circles are an issue, here’s how you can look alive after a long night. First soothe your fatigued eyes by pressing cool chamomile tea bags or chilled cucumber slices over them. Then, massage in a base foundation and apply concealer on the dark circles. Use a light brush or your fingers to smoothen...

The best medicine? Yoga An apple a day... Is a good supplement for a meal. Sibling rivalry healthy or unhealthy? Healthy to a point. And unhealthy if taken beyond that. Like father like son or like sister like brother? Like father like son. If Popeye is to spinach, Tusshar Kapoor is to? Pizza! The best way to shed flab? Cut out desserts. Skip breakfast or skip dinner? Skip dinner. One vice that you'd like to quit? I don't have any vices that I think I need to quit. I've quit rice, though. If you were Gayab for a day you would... Find out who my true friends are and where my true love lies. Health or wealth? Health.

The monsoon is the perfect time to experiment with make-up. Ditch the heavy eye shadows and the bright lip colours and opt for the rain-kissed look instead Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor recently confession that she looks her best sans make-up. Turns out the famous vegetarian might have more than her peaches-and-cream complexion and stress-free life working in her favour. Here are three tips and tricks for those looking to recreate that fresh-faced look: For the face: Foundation and concealer are crucial when opting for the "no make-up" look. Wash your face with a cleanser and pat dry. Smooth a little concealer under the eyes and over blemishes. Most women make the mistake of opting for foundation several shades lighter than their natural skin tone, given our obsession with fair skin. The trick, according to make-up experts, is to actually get one shade darker than your skin tone. Apply a few dabs of foundation on the forehead, cheeks and the chin. Gently spread the founda...

Stress cramping your style? Dr Kiran Coelho talks about how stress throws the menstrual cycle off track and how a holistic lifestyle can help Recently, Dr Kiran Coelho, senior gynaecologist, met a patient who had a severe problem with her menstrual cycle. She went into amenorrhea, which essentially means that she had no periods for six to eight months. She was going through a stressful time with her boyfriend. Desperately wanting to lose weight, the girl developed an aversion to food and suffered from anorexia nervosa. Having prescribed basic yoga exercises, a planned diet and meditation, she gained 10 kilos without any medication. She regained her self-esteem and came to terms with the end of her relationship. Whether it’s exams, job or relationship related, there is an established link between stress and the menstrual cycle. If your periods are irregular or you’ve started skipping them, there is a cause for alarm. Stress affects the thyroid gland, which is the conductor of the ...

... Stop Before It’s Too Late Workout-aholic filmi hunk John Abraham, who is skipping gym workouts and exhaustive training due to muscle fatigue, knows what it is to suffer a sports injury. Hottie Katrina Kaif does too, she is reportedly in bed after injuring her neck while working out. So far, stories of stars working towards acquiring washboard flat abs and a six-pack have always sent aspiring wannabes to the gyms to get those envious cuts and curves. But the ill-effects of excessive gymming will hopefully alert gymmers to the downside of excessive gymming. John Abraham pumping 140 lbs dumbells in the gym Gym-related injuries, say health experts and trainers, have after all become fairly common. Sports medicine specialist Dr Ameet Pispati says that he’s been witnessing an increase in the number of patients suffering gym-related injuries. “These days, everyone wants a well-chiselled body. It’s almost an obsession for them. For this, they are not only exercising, but overexercising and...

Tired of different diets? Follow the blood type diet, a favourite among Hollywood celebrities. Allow your Blood Type Decide what you eat. Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy follows the Blood Type diet to maintain her fitness The blood group diet has long been the diet secret of many enviable Hollywood stars' bodies — now Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy admits she is a fan too. "My mum told me about Eat Right For Your Type, which shows you what to eat and what to avoid depending on your blood type," she said in a recent interview. "It's made such a difference to my energy levels. Now I believe in it 100 per cent." Other followers swear it works when it comes to shedding fat, boosting energy and even preventing illness. WHY BLOOD TYPE DIET? Each blood type evolved at a different point in history so we should adopt diets similar to those our ancestors had when our blood group evolved. By eating foods that your personal blood type can easily digest, you will lose...

Bollywood diva Shilpa Shetty and Cosmetologist Kiran Bawa demonstrated the unique Inch Loss Wrap (ILW) system introduced by their spa IOSIS MediSpa. IOSIS is the only spa in India, which will offer this non-invasive service at their centers in Khar, Ghatkopar and Andheri. Shilpa Shetty at the Launch of 'Inch Loss Wrap' at her spa, Iosis, on Thursday, 8th July 2010. Shilpa informs “During my travels abroad, I came across this unique system of inch loss, which impressed me no end. Having tried it myself, I was amazed at the results and resolved to introduce it in India. The system was combined with our existing weight loss program, and a study was conducted on its efficacy. After suitable R&D, The Inch Loss Wrap was soft launched at the Khar and Ghatkopar centres of IOSIS. The results have been phenomenal and we are very proud to offer it to our esteemed clientele.” Dr. Sushant Shetty, COO – IOSIS Medispa adds, “The wrap is scientifically proven and absolutely safe for the Bo...

Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu has launched her own line of fitness clothing named "BBloveyourself" along with Reebok A first look at Bipasha Basu's BBloveyourself fitnessware "I have launched my own line of fitness clothing called BBloveyourself with Reebok! Fun range, available at all outlets. Check it out," she posted on microblogging site Twitter. A self-confessed fitness freak, the actress had earlier released a fitness DVD with the same title. Get details of Bipasha's fitness DVD here "Fitness and health are becoming really big in India. Everybody wants to be fit. I'm glad I came out with my health video at this time," she had said.

Clean and well-manicured nails often help make a good impression and we often spend a lot of time and effort in trying to beautify them. But nails are more indicative about a person than just the hygiene habits. They are also good health indicators and a sure give-away for many diseases. These symptoms are different from the nail-related diseases and it’s important to be able to read the correct tell-tale signs, as they may warn you about a disease that you may be unaware of. Though the nail in itself is nothing but a dead tissue, the areas under the cuticle and the nail are alive and these areas make the nail vulnerable to damage or infection. Hence, diseases can easily manifest on nails. “It is true that nails often give us clues to diseases in the body. Not only do they tell you about your present health, but also about your past trauma or illness. For instance, horizontal lines and depressions medically termed as Beau’s lines can tell you about your past illness or white spots/whit...

Do you follow a diet to stay in shape? I eat healthy. I eat junk food once a week. When you are dieting, stop thinking that you are dieting. The very thought will stop you from dieting. If you decide to diet, then you decide, don't let other people tell you to. Try and work out. If you can't go to the gym, then walk or try cycling. It is very healthy. Eat healthy. It is very easy but we make it difficult. How do you maintain your skin and hair? I think I have to give credit to my dad. He is too good-looking. I have his looks. Apart from that I try to sleep early and wake up early. I recently started visiting the gym. I eat properly: breakfast, lunch and two snacks, so that I don't stuff myself with dinner. I drink a lot of water. I make sure that I remove my make-up as soon as I am home. I wear an eye cream -- doesn't have to be an expensive one -- before I sleep. A little bit of personal care and hygiene is very important. Sometimes when you overdo it, it doesn't w...

Celeb Cook-in introduces you to the lesser-known foodie hidden in our better-known faces Shankar Mahadevan, Singer and Composer MY FAVOURITE DISH “I can’t resist spicy green Thai curry. It’s so tempting. The coconut flavour makes this a truly enjoyable dish. And of course, I have a weakness for anything with chocolate.” I LIKE TO EAT AT I “I have a thing for Chinese food, so it has to be Royal China, Mumbai. It’s a place where I can have good food and relax with my family.” MY FAVOURED CUISINE “I’m a true South Indian at heart and I love to eat South Indian food — dosas, idlis, vadas. The secret of a good dosa is the chutney. I make very good chutneys.” MY NON-FOOD PASSION “I love music, it’s in my soul. But I love cooking. Being in the kitchen is perhaps the best way to relax. I also love watching cookery shows.” BEST MEAL I’VE EVER HAD “It was at a small Chinese dhaba close to Great Wall of China. We were surprised at the dishes that they doled out. They were simply amazing.” MY FAV...

GYM memberships are going down as people opt for fitness forms like yoga, dancing, Pilates and kickboxing, confesses the manager of an elite New Delhi-based gym. On the other hand, he says, fitness classes are usually full. Finally, one can give the gym a miss, as an increasing number of people shift from gyms to other ‘interesting’ forms of workouts. Belly dance classes, aerobics, swimming, running, spinning and Pilates routines are popular. Admits socialite Kitty Kalra, who is a fitness buff but hates the traditional gym routine, “I now focus on Pilates and power yoga. I believe in a variety of workouts since I get bored easily. It keeps my energy and interest going!” Several people confess that they started their fitness routine with a gym but then soon tired of it. Actor Shah Rukh Khan too was recently advised to try belly dancing to maintain his abs. Similarly, Ponds Femina Miss India World Manasvi Mamgai swears by her group workout sessions. She can’t imagine herself doing wei...