The Bollywood actor is offering three yoga and meditation programs for free on her app, Simple Soulful. 

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra is offering three programs on Simple Soulful for free to people across India. This includes pranayama, meditation, and yoga. For more, read Zeezest.com.

We Tested Shilpa Shetty Kundra's Yoga Routine and Here's What We Thought | Zee Zest

We Tested Shilpa Shetty Kundra's Yoga Routine and Here's What We Thought 

There's nothing like yoga to calm the frazzled nerves of a world leader. On International Yoga Day 2021, check out his favourite yoga asanas. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a well-known proponent of yoga. Here are five yoga asanas that the world leader recommends. Read Zeezest.com

5 yoga asanas recommended by Indian PM Narendra Modi | Zee Zest

Bend it Like Modi: 5 PM-Recommended Yoga Asanas

If this doesn't motivate you, watch her acing asanas in the video below.

In an exclusive interview with Zee Zest, Bollywood actor and fitness influencer Malaika Arora, talks about her experience with yoga, investing in a yoga enterprise, Sarva Yoga. She also busts popular fitness myths. For more, read Zeezest.com.

Interview with Bollywood actor Malaika Arora On Benefits Of Yoga | Zee Zest 

Exclusive: Malaika Arora Swears By Yoga And Believes You Should Too

<p>We’ve all gazed at the moon at some point or the other and have memories associated with it. Remember how, as a kid, we thought it followed us everywhere? Love, companionship, tranquility, absolute stillness and, even immortality – this natural satellite symbolises different things for different people. Some even believe that its light has soothing properties. Well, they aren’t completely wrong. The moon does affect our body and mind. In fact, the idea of looking at the moon for rejuvenation has been around for nearly 500 years. It’s no wonder then that hatha yoga has a salutation dedicated to it called the Chandra Namaskar, which literally means “bow to the moon”.  </p><p>Founded in the 1960s at the Bihar School of Yoga, Chandra Namaskar is a sister sequence of the Surya Namaskar, a common yoga practice, and was first published in <i>Asana Pranayama</i> <i>Mudra Bandha</i>, an internationally-recognised yoga manual. In the late 1980s, Megha Nancy Buttenheim, a faculty member of The Kripalu Centre for Yoga & Health, co-created a version of this salutation. “I wondered why so little attention in yoga was focused on the moon, as did my Kripalu Yoga teaching colleagues. Sun salutations come from the masculine historical tradition of yoga, but we wanted to make it more accessible to the scores of women who were getting more and more interested in the practice. While the sun salutation raises <i>prana</i>, we wanted the moon salute to recognise the downward flow of energy,” explains Buttenheim on the organisation’s official blog.  </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>The Yin and Yang in Yoga </h2><p>Think of Chandra Namaskar, which cultivates lunar energy, and Surya Namaskar, which cultivates solar energy, as the yin and yang in yoga. The moon salutation is like yin energy – cooling, receptive and meditative - whereas, sun salutation is warming and energising, like that of the yang energy. Although these namaskars represent opposite energies, they are interdependent and help find balance in your yoga practice. They are both about the movement, breath, connecting to your body and finding peace. According to yogic texts, our body is made of both heating and cooling energies and that yoga and <i>pranayama </i>(breathing exercises) help bring them into a balanced harmony. </p><p>Pointing out other differences between these namaskars, yoga practitioner Mihir Jogh, who teaches this ancient practice to Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, shares, “A classic Surya Namaskar features 12 steps, which refer to the 12 zodiac signs. A classic Chandra namaskar, on the other hand, is made up of nine <i>asanas </i>and the sequence consists of 28 steps (14 steps for each side, right and left) that represent lunar phases. Apart from this, Surya Namaskar is done lengthwise, along the mat, and Chandra Namaskar is done sideways or laterally along your mat.” Surya Namaskar involves more of forward and backward bending, while Chandra Namaskar puts focus on the lower body and bending sideways. </p><p>The best time to practice Surya Namaskar is in the morning and Chandra Namaskar, when the moon is up and shining, adds Jogh, who is also the founder of JogaShala, a Mumbai-based yoga studio. One must practice these on an empty stomach or after at least three to four hours of a light meal.  </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Chandra-namaskar-inside-image_1623841209747.jpg"></figure><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>28 Steps to Relaxation </h2><p>For Bengaluru-based yoga expert Anjali Verma, Chandra Namaskar is a complete system of rejuvenation for body and mind. The combination of stretches and deep breathing makes it a complete practice. It helps maintain focus, strengthens all major muscle groups, aids flexibility, tones abdomen, massages abdominal organs and boosts metabolism, Verma lists the physical benefits of this sequence in an Instagram post.</p><p>In addition to these, Chandra Namaskar provides emotional benefits and is known to enhance creative energy. Its calming properties, which basically balance one’s emotions, are known to help people cope with stress and anxiety. Verma suggests practicing three to ten rounds of this namaskar initially – under expert supervision, of course -- and gradually increasing the number every week.  </p><p>Jogh shares that this can be practiced by one and all, regardless of age, body type and condition. “In fact, if someone is facing difficulty to perform Chandra Namaskar, there are variations that can be practiced with the use of a prop such as a chair. Despite these many physical and mental health benefits, why isn’t Chandra Namaskar as popular as the Surya Namaskar? Ask Jogh this and he promptly says that there’s a consumerism angle at play here. “People today want to sweat it out and get fit. It’s a consumeristic society and the same attitude has unfortunately trickled into yoga and diluted the essence of the practice. Chandra Namaskar involves various squatting asanas, which people perceive as difficult because we don’t do it often. Also, I feel that teachers avoid teaching it because it’s difficult for everyone to adjust and can’t be taught in a flow like Surya Namaskar. With Chandra namaskar, you must go slow. That’s where the consumerism angle comes. Think: If it’s an hour-long class and the teacher knows that people are there to sweat it out or expect a certain result, then they give in and end up only teaching Surya Namaskar.” </p><p>AlsoRead2</p><h2>Step-by-step Guide to Chandra Namaskar </h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_anjali_yoga_chandranamaskar_step_by_step_1624019713428.jpg"><figcaption>Instagram/Anjali Verma</figcaption></figure><p>There are many variations of Chandra Namaskar, but it is generally practiced laterally and once on each side, right and left. In Verma’s version of Chandra Namaskar, the sequence of most poses is the same as the classic Surya Namaskar and this too involves deep breathing. However, the pace and intention change. The moon salutation is performed slowly. Below is the sequence of the asanas:  </p><p>1. Pranam asana (The Prayer pose) </p><p>2. Hastha Utanasana (Raised arms pose) </p><p>3. Padahastasana (Standing forward bend) </p><p>4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose) </p><p>5. Inhale and bend back (Ardha Chandra asana) </p><p>6. Santholanasana (Plank pose) </p><p>7. Ashtanga Namaskar Asana (Eight-limbed salutation) </p><p>8. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) </p><p>9. AdhoMukha Svanasana (Downward dog pose) </p><p>10. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose) </p><p>11. Inhale and bend back (Ardha Chandra asana) </p><p>12. Padahastasana (Standing forward bend) </p><p>13. Hastha Utanasana </p><p>14. Pranam asana </p><p>Repeat the 14 steps with the Right leg to make it one complete cycle with a total of 28 counts. </p>

Keep stress at bay like Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan with the Moon Salutation.  

On International Yoga Day 2021, experts talk about the benefits of chandra namaskar aka moon salutation in yoga. For more health stories, read Zeezest.com.  

What is Chandra namaskar? | Health benefits of chandranamaskar 

 International Yoga Day 2021: Tap Into The Benefits Of Chandra Namaskar

International Yoga Day

Yoga

Fitness

Exercise

Make homemade face masks with jamun to take care of all your skincare woes.

Check out these expert tips and DIY face masks to use jamun for skincare. Jamun is not only tasty but has many beauty benefits. Read Zeezest.com

Benefits of using jamun for skincare & DIY face masks | Zee Zest

Say Goodbye To Skin Problems With These 5 DIY Jamun Face Masks

Celeb-approved beauty packs and expert-recommended tips to handle monsoon woes. 

Tips, tricks and hacks to ensure better health for your skin during the monsoons. Experts explain what to do and eat at this time. Read Zeezest.com

How to take care of your skin during the monsoons | Zee Zest

Monsoon Skincare Guide To Stay Dewy Fresh And Glowing    

<p>A quintessential summer-monsoon berry, jamun is a nutritious seasonal fruit rich in vitamin and minerals. This beautiful purple-skinned berry with a contrasting pink flesh is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and flavonoids. All parts of the jamun plant including the fruit, seeds, leaves and bark have medicinal properties, which is why it is used extensively in traditional medicines.</p><figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Id-926-Jamun-health-juice-diet-inside-image_1615530214079.jpg"></figure><p>As compared to other fruits, it has lesser calories making it the perfect choice of ingredient to be added to a healthy diet. Here are some reasons to add more jamun in your daily diet, especially during the monsoon.</p><h2>Helps manage diabetes</h2><p>Jamun is a fruit highly recommended for diabetic patients. It helps maintain blood sugar level. The low-glycemic index of the berry maintains optimum blood sugar. The whole plant is known to be beneficial for diabetes treatment. One spoon of dried jamun seed powder every day is believed to help diabetic patients keep their sugar level in check. </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Improves haemoglobin count </h2><p>A powerhouse of iron, jamun helps in increasing the haemoglobin count, a boon for people with anaemia and women with menstrual problems. You can have it as a fruit or get creative and make jamun jam, jamun tarts or a sauce. </p><h2>Improves digestion</h2><p>Drinking jamun juice improves digestion. It is also known to relieve stomach pain and chronic diarrhoea. It’s a great way to detoxify the body. You can make a huge glass of fresh jamun juice or make a smoothie with a handful of other ingredients as well.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Jamun-shake-inside_1624277913805.jpg"><figcaption>Jamun Smoothie</figcaption></figure><h2>Treats urinary infections</h2><p>Jamun vinegar is used to treat enlarged spleen and also to reduce issues with urine retention. You can have jamun with half a glass of water on an empty stomach or include it in your favourite vinaigrette. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>Boosts Immunity</h2><p>Jamun juice, when mixed with honey and amla (Indian gooseberry) and consumed daily, is an excellent immunity booster. </p><h2>May reduce the risk of cancer</h2><p>Consumption of jamun also minimises the risk of cancer, as the fruit contains bioactive phytochemicals known to fight cancer cells. </p><h2>Good for oral health</h2><p>Bad breath can often turn into an embarrassing problem. Jamun is good for oral health. You can use the juice of this fruit as a mouthwash to eliminate bad breath.</p><p><i>With inputs from Naavnidhi K Wadhwa, Coach for Psychology of Eating, Wellness and Healing Expert and Dr Apratim Goel, laser surgeon and cosmetic dermatologist, Cutis Skin Studio.</i></p>

Here’s your excuse to binge on more jamuns!

Jamun is packed with health benefits. Check out these 7 reasons why you should add it to your diet and what you can make with jamun. Read Zeezest.com

7 health benefits of jamun and how to eat more of it | Zee Zest

7 Reasons To Give Your Diet A Jamun-Powered Boost

Jamun

Health 

Fruits

Ditch celebrity diets and make way for commonsensical wisdom to stay healthy.

Rujuta Diwekar, celebrity nutritionist, breaks down what she means by eating like our grandmothers in her book Eating In The Age Of Dieting.

Interview with celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar | Zee Zest

Deprivation Will Not Help Us Lose Weight, Says Rujuta Diwekar

Celebs like Alia Bhatt and Beyonce swear by this elixir but what’s the truth behind it?

Nutritionists tell us whether drinking lemon and honey mixed with warm water in the morning helps you lose weight. Read Zeezest.com

Can Lemon Honey Water Help Me Lose Weight | Zee Zest

Does Drinking Lemon-Honey Water Really Help With Weight Loss?

<p>Weight gain, sleep deprivation, love for junk food, incontrollable ordering in and hoarding habits; and to top it all the stress to stay in shape. Every millennial today can relate to these issues, and despite constant Google searches and trying every hack, the most important question here is – why does nothing work? Therefore, to answer all these questions, and most importantly to debunk some health-related myths, we spoke to Dr Siddhant Bhargava, a lifestyle medicine expert, nutritionist and co-founder of Food Darzee.</p><p>Dr Bhargava completed his MBBS from Nair Hospital in Mumbai back in 2017 and later started Food Darzee, with an aim to deliver tailor-made nutritious food and offer nutrition related consultation. Besides running a successful startup and managing a long list of celebrity clientele, he spends his time on Instagram, busting some of the most common health related myths.</p><h2>1. Myth: Eating less helps you lose weight  </h2><p>The biggest reason behind weight gain is overeating because people munch on mindlessly, for example - at times while watching something they end up having 10 tablespoons of <i>makhanas</i> (foxnuts) instead of two. Another reason is undereating which makes your body used to eating lesser calories, as it starts thinking that this is its new normal. For example, after days of undereating, if on a 10-day vacation, you suddenly start hogging on pizzas, pastas, and doughnuts, it becomes unnatural for the body hence making it gain weight in that period. But here it's actually the undereating that's the culprit as it reduces your metabolism. Third is lack of protein, especially in a vegetarian diet, and lastly, eating things which are not required.  </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>2. Myth: Ghee is extremely healthy</h2><p>People fall into weird traps in the name of health, one such being eating just <i>jowar ki bhakri</i> (sorghum flatbread) with lot of <i>ghee</i> on it. <i>Ghee </i>is not magic. There is no proven research that having <i>ghee </i>will lubricate your joints and make them good. Eating 10 spoons of <i>ghee </i>is not good but applying it to your scalp, skin or lips is great because it is a good moisturiser and a good source of fat. It's okay to apply <i>ghee</i> on <i>roti </i>but doesn't mean you empty the whole bottle in the name of health. Eating high-calorie food which has been propagated as extremely healthy is another reason for people to put on weight.   </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Sid-B-inside1_1624544220624.jpg"></figure><h2>3. Myth: Eating salads at night will work </h2><p>Not just youngsters but even the elderly often complain that they are eating one <i>chapati</i>, a little vegetable, and lots of salads at lunch, and only soups and salads for dinner, but are still not able to reduce their waist size despite the weight remaining constant. Just to see the correct number on scale they cut the food quantity down. They think it's healthy to have a light dinner in the form of salad, but what they don't realise is that they are not getting any proteins, good fats, or enough carbohydrate, that in turn is making their metabolic rate fall drastically, damaging their body and making them age faster.  </p><h2>4. Myth: Blindly following someone's diet will work for you  </h2><p>The definition of healthy is different for different people. If for you getting healthy is to not weigh 100 kilograms, then having <i>jowar ki bhakri </i>with <i>ghee </i>will never let you lose weight. If your target is to lose weight the only thing you need to be concerned about right now is eating less than what your body needs. If it's to put on muscle and look toned, you need to eat more protein than what you were eating earlier. Similarly, if you want to age slower and have healthy skin and hair, you have to eat lots of healthy antioxidants and fats with anti-inflammatory properties. Understand what health means to you and work towards it.  </p><h2>5. Myth: You must have greens and fruits everyday  </h2><p>Your food can't just be potato and rice because that’s the most incomplete meal as you are eating only carbohydrates. So, replace one spoon of rice with greens and two spoons of potato with lentils, to make it a much healthier meal. Certain fruits have certain properties which are essential to us, but it doesn't matter if you don’t want to eat an apple or a banana a day, you can get those vitamins and minerals from something else. But if you are not a vegetable, fruit or a lentil person, it won't take you anywhere. It's okay to hate leaves, but certain greens are essential because your vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, fiber, all comes though greens for which there is no replacement.  </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Sid-B-inside2_1624544255864.jpg"></figure><h2>6. Myth: You must start your day with lemon water  </h2><p>If you want to drink apple cider vinegar or your doctors have advised you, then drink it for its real medicinal properties but not for the wrong reasons. Similarly, just having lemon water and honey every day, doesn't help you lose weight, but is a great combination to have for vitamin C and to control acidity. In fact, age-old drinks such as, <i>methi jeera paani </i>(Fenugreek cumin water) and <i>methi sauf paani </i>(Fenugreek fennel water), play a role in regulating things within your body, and the Indian spices are extremely potent in reducing inflammatory levels in your body, as they have a lot of antioxidants. However, those who drink these thinking that they help in losing weight don't realise that it's actually because they are also dieting on the side. Therefore, as a result of Chinese whispers, myths like these degrade the real benefits of these wonderful drinks.  </p><h2>7. Myth: You must give up on junk food  </h2><p>You can lose weight without giving up on junk food, just by moderating it a little, because having junk food every day won't let you lose weight. But it's fine to have it once a week as it is simple mathematics. The entire game of weight loss has nothing to do with meal timings. If every single day you eat lesser than what your body needs, you will lose weight, but if you eat more than what it needs you will put on weight. So, it's important to calculate a weekly average of consuming calories minus burning them. The bigger the difference the faster the weight loss, the smaller the difference the lesser the weight loss.  </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>8. Myth: Ordering in is the main culprit  </h2><p>You need to create a simple routine for yourself, ordering in doesn’t mean you have to order in from the best Chinese restaurant there is because their job is to make food tasty, and fat makes food tasty. So, if you are staying alone and don't have time to cook, instruct your house help, but have some home cooked meal in a week. You can make do with ordering a Subway sandwich or salad everyday if it has low calorie sauces, and chicken breast filling, but make sure to avoid cookies or soda. Similarly, if you are having the oiliest gravy from outside, just pull out the chicken pieces and eat it with roti and avoid the gravy.  </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Sid-B-inside4_1624544269741.jpg"></figure><h2>9. Myth: You need to eat timely  </h2><p>Meal timings and eating five times a day both are not important. It's okay to eat just eat three times a day. If you skip dinner five times a week, you can put all those missing calories in a different meal through the day. If you have had a heavy breakfast and heavy lunch, it's fine to skip dinner. It's just another way of doing intermittent fasting. So, there's no issue with skipping meals, you just need to compensate in a different meal, because skipping meals without compensating on the lost calories reduces your metabolic rate.</p><h2>10. Myth: Stop satiating your sweet tooth  </h2><p>Having homemade mithai or buying ones with lesser calories and sugar is one way to lose weight. But if any of this is not possible, then understand the game of mathematics. For example, if you want to eat two <i>gulab jamuns </i>on Sunday evening, then don't go for the Sunday buffet breakfast. If you want to eat chocolate pastry at a party, then don’t drink that one extra glass of alcohol or on the flip side if you know you want to get drunk that day, don’t overeat. You can lose weight eating everything as long as you are compensating in the right ways, but don’t stretch this compensation too far as it's not going to take you anywhere, eventually it's going to hit you back.   </p><h2>11. Myth: Pepsi, Coke, a complete No  </h2><p>The only problem with sodas is that they are really high on sugar and give you unwanted calories. So, it's better to go for Diet Coke or Pepsi Light, which you can consume in moderation, but don't get addicted because that's when it becomes an issue. A little bit for fun is fine but don't be dependent on it. It's important to have distractions, but you need to ration it out and learn from it.   </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Sid-B-inside6_1624544299191.jpg"></figure><h2>12: Myth: Working out for hours is a must  </h2><p>You need to spend 20 minutes everyday building muscle and then whatever you do is a bonus. If you don't have time, you can still do some kind of resistance training like 50 pushups and 50 squats, walking uphill, walking on a treadmill or incline, cycling, going to the gym, or using resistance bands,. Whatever extra you do is only going to benefit you, but you don’t need to workout for two hours every day in order to achieve fitness. From a long-term point of view, you have to choose something that is sustainable for you. There is no denying that sports people are healthy, but just playing badminton every day doesn't help you build muscle. Though it does help you burn calories and makes your heart muscles healthy.  </p><h2>13. Myth: Early to bed early to rise is the key  </h2><p>There is no evidence that people who work through the night are in reality unhealthier than people who work through the day. However, being associated with an unhealthy lifestyle such as drinking a lot of coffee is a different case. Sleep timings don’t matter, do whatever makes you happy and satisfied, and fits into your schedule. It's important to sleep for seven hours because you recover when you sleep, and your circadian rhythm resets based on what part of the world you are living in. But there is also something known as REM and non-REM sleep. If you have completed a cycle of REM and non-REM sleep and woken up after they have ended, no matter how many hours you sleep you will wake up fresh. Some people can sleep for five hours, complete their cycle and wake up fresh whereas some can sleep for six hours and wake up groggy, because their cycle of sleep has been interrupted.  </p><h2>14. Myth: No sleep at night is equal to insomnia</h2><p>Clinical insomnia is real, but many people have brought upon themselves a feeling of pseudo insomnia because they are not listening to their body. The fear of missing out on talking to a friend at 2.30 am because that’s the only time they have free after a hectic day does make one compromise on sleep. So, when people say they have difficulty in sleeping, it's not because their body is not tired and is not wanting to sleep, but they have pushed it to get tired at a later time due to which they are not able to have enough sleep.</p>

Nutritionist and co-founder of Food Darzee Siddhant Bhargava uncovers common health claims. 

How to stay healthy as per Dr Siddhant Bhargava, read zeezest.com  

Interview With Dr Siddhant Bhargava| Zee Zest    

Ghee Is Not Magic: The Biggest Health Myths Debunked in 2021   

Healthy Diet

Nutrition

Weight Loss

Food

Sleep

siddhant bhargava

From choosing the right kind of equipment to utilising your furniture, here's your guide to stay in shape during lockdown.

How to set up a home gym during lockdown, read zeezest.com  

Interview With Dr Mickey Mehta| Zee Zest   

Mickey Mehta Helps You Set Up A Home Gym You'll Actually Want To Work Out In 

Ashtanga guru R Sharath Jois talks about the many benefits of yoga and its rising popularity among young Indians.

Ashtanga yoga is an ancient yoga practice from Mysore which is recently gaining popularity with millennials in India. Find out why. Read Zeezest.com

R Sharath Jois tells you about Ashtanga yoga | Zee Zest

How India’s Millennials Are Embracing An Ancient Yoga Practice

<p>Let's swim at home. Confused? Watch global leading holistic health guru/corporate life coach, Dr Mickey Mehta's latest video, where he shows how you can boost your immunity by dry swimming in your own living room.</p><p>"Immunity is nothing but the coming together of all systems and organs working in a symphony, in harmony of hormones. Your hormones, a healthy digestive system, adequate sleep and plant-based foods determine your immunity," he says, adding that the swimming at home workout; swimming on land, or dry swimming, improves circulation and breathing, stimulates your nervous system and your body, while giving you immunity, high energy, endurance, resilience, tenacity, good stamina, flexibility, agility of the body, and most of all, fun.</p><p>Highlighting other benefits of the workout, he further informs that the three-fold focus on breathing, movement and co-ordination enables you to stay sharp, stable, alert and also empowers your lungs. "Two lobes on your left, three lobes on your right get empty and get refilled to complete capacity. Your respiratory tract vibrates, your BMI, and metabolic rate shoot high and give you the best kind of management of body weight and also the best digestion, elimination and regulation."</p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Start with the freestyle</h2><p>For this, Dr Mehta wants you to begin by softening your knees, engaging your core and breathing in and out as you do in the freestyle swimming. This exercise he says allows you to gain energy, strength and courage, and get rid of exhaustion, weakness, fears and phobias. “You don't need to count how many times you are swimming, just enjoy the experience."  </p><p>"This exercise helps children grow tall, middle-aged people become stronger and energetic, and senior citizens be more mobile, agile, and full of energy," he explains.</p><h2>Then comes the breast stroke</h2><p>Here you engage 80 to 90 per cent of your body. Breathe in as you sit in squat position and join your hands, and breathe out as you stand back up and open your hands. </p><p>“Breathe in hope and breathe out despair, anxiety, insecurities; breathe in faith and live in conviction, confidence and absolute strength," he adds.</p><h2>Lastly, a combination of butterfly and back stroke  </h2><p>In this form of workout, you do the butterfly stroke to move forward and back stroke to move backwards. "It helps stimulate your whole body, your quads, stomach, chest, shoulders, back, lungs, digestive system, and everything else," he says, adding that if you focus completely on the workout, the experience will awaken and enlighten you and give you perception and perspective.  </p><p>Breathe in as you take your hands back, breathe out as you bend forward, breathe in as you raise your hand, and stand up and breathe out as you bring your hand down. In the first one you are in butterfly stroke and in the second one you are reversing it to the back stroke.  </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><p>He concludes saying whenever one sits in silence for meditation or stands in prayer, the body anchors, the mind centres and the five senses synthesise and become one. </p>

Freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and back stroke, here's how you can do all these in your living room.

Dr Mickey Mehta teaches how to boost immunity by dry swimming at home, read zeezest.com 

Easy exercises for immunity by Mickey Mehta | Zee Zest

Mickey Mehta Dry Swims To Boost Immunity 

Mickey Mehta

mickey mehta immunity for humanity

Yoga works on not just the body but also your mind to create a sense of holistic well-being.  

We got celebrity yoga expert Samiksha Shetty to share with us five yoga asanas to elevate mood and make you feel good. For more stories, read Zeezest.com. 

Mood boosting yoga poses | Yogasanas to make you feel good

5 Yoga Asanas That Can Make you Happier 

<p>Yoga is an age-old practice said to have originated in India thousands of years ago with mentions in the Rig Veda. It now has an international audience that swears by it as a form of exercise. Comprising a total of 84 asanas, such as <i>Parvatasana </i>(The mountain)<i>, Savasana </i>(Resting pose), <i>Bhujangasana </i>(The snake position), and more; the reason yoga stands out in the list of workout routines is because not only does it work on the body but also rejuvenates the mind and soul. </p><p>International Yoga Day, observed every year on June 21, as declared by the United Nations in 2014, carries the theme<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day"><span style="color:hsl(0,0%,30%);"><u> Yoga for Wellbeing</u></span></a> in 2021 focusing on holistic wellbeing. According to the UN, the aim behind this theme is to promote holistic health, especially during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, that has impacted both physical as well as mental health.</p><p>This International Yoga Day, Global leading holistic health guru/corporate life coach, Dr Mickey Mehta, shows some beginner level asanas that you can start today in your living room itself.</p><h2>Open up your body and mind</h2><p>Beginning the session with some breathing exercises, first he encourages you to free up your mind and body for the following yoga practice.</p><p>With legs facing the front as he bends forward to touch his toes, this opens up his hamstrings. Next, as he spreads his legs, holds his toes and bends again, it opens up his inner thighs. “Whenever you open your body, joints, connections; your mind opens up too.”</p><p>In another method of performing the exercise he folds one leg and bends forward, and repeats the same with the other leg. "While being still in the posture, your body, mind and spirit become one; and tolerance, patience, and resilience grows. That translates into building characters, sympathy, empathy, compassion, open mindedness, light of awareness, consciousness; and that turns you into a better human being," he adds.</p><p>He further recommends to not go the entire range, and instead, do as much as you want to. Because, with time it will allow you to progress every week and every day. </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>Stretch and contract</h2><p>Performing the butterfly flap, he informs how this asana helps open up your inner thighs, further adding that opening up of mind and body brings change in attitude and makes you optimistic. Later, while being still in the butterfly position, he breathes out and comes down to touch his toes with his forehead, and then goes back.</p><p>"Yoga is a combination of stretch and contraction. If you are stretching on one side the opposite side in contracting. That creates a perfect harmony and balance of a yoga <i>asana</i>. That posture yields benefits to your organs because your toxins ooze out. When you stretch your fresh blood comes in, you breathe in fresh oxygen, and nutrient laden blood flows inside your cells; and when you contract, your organs contract and become strong," he explains.</p><p>Next he performs the forward bending <i>paschimottanasana</i>, where he breathes out while bending forward and breathes in while coming back up. “You can breathe out and try and hold it to your maximum point whatever it is. Contracting your stomach makes your digestive juices flow, your gut becomes strong, courage comes into your being, strength comes to your stomach; and the act of absorption of food, elimination of toxins, and assimilation of food becomes perfect," he adds.</p><p>He further suggests beginners to try and sit in <i>vajrasana</i>, straighten their spine a little, ensure that the thigh muscles, and quadriceps are getting stretched and hamstrings are getting contracted. Breathing in, he first lifts up both his hands, and then breathes out while bending forward. </p><p>In another version, he brings his hands in front, and touches the fingertips, takes a deep breath, expands the chest while opening his arms, then contracts as he bends forward, closing both hands. "Stay there, suck your stomach and glutes in tight to strengthen your core cylinder, and create a reservoir of energy, and internal strength." he further says.</p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>Be a table and be stable</h2><p>Lastly, he sits in an angle with hands by his side at shoulder length, and feet with knees up, also at shoulder length. "Look straight, take a deep breath and become a table. Lift yourself up as much as you can and slowly drop your head down. You can breathe in and come down and make it a compound movement, and again breathe out and become a table. Repeat this around three to four times and it will help you stabilise, and connect with gravity," he says.</p><p>“When all your body parts work together to hold your body in a position or to move with grace in tandem; beauty, strength, energy, and courage comes to you,” he adds.</p><p>For other advanced versions, one can try to put a leg up, and bring it down, and repeat the same with the other leg. And secondly, lift one leg to the top, bring it down and so on.</p><p>He however, suggests to perform advanced versions only under support and supervision. And, as a beginner not to attempt more than five to six exercises in the initial weeks, with only two to three repetitions for each.  </p>

Kick start your yoga routine with these simple asanas.

Dr Mickey Mehta teaches simple asanas for beginners on International Yoga Day, read zeezest.com  

Beginners Yoga By Dr Mickey Mehta | Zee Zest 

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Home Workout

mickey mehta yoga se hoga

If home workout don’t seem exciting to you, then give these recommended by Mandira Bedi, Sameera Reddy and Eshna Kutty, a try.



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The 'What Women Want' host practices yoga in the air and never misses a session, Anshuka Parwani, her fitness trainer reveals her fitness schedule.

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<p>If you thought building a home gym involves breaking a bank, fret not. With gyms being out of bounds until normal life resumes, we get global leading holistic health guru/corporate life coach, Dr Mickey Mehta to help you build a home gym and home workout regime using house furniture such as sofa, chair, bed, towel, pillow to burn those WFH calories and shake up the lazy sloth. So now more FOMO because gyms are shut, just dig out your workout clothes, and sweat it at your own sweet will (early morning, mid afternoon, or late nights) without shelling out on gym memberships.  </p><h2>Exercising with furniture and other home utilities</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Exercising-with-furniture_1622467719206.jpg"></figure><ol><li>Sofas and stools can be used as chest climbers. On a sofa you can do quarter bouncing or squats, squat jogs, skipping,  and bounce half squats.</li><li>Chairs can be used for legs and abs. Take the one that has handles, stretch your spine upwards in a reptile position, then push backwards and stretch your back. Do that around eight to 10 times. You can put one heal on the top of the chair and stretch your leg and try to touch your hands on the toes of the leg which is up. Repeat the same with the other leg as well.</li><li>Put a towel around the handle of a door, hold from both hands and do squats; or pull the towel towards you and do the pulley exercise. You can even put it around your neck and stretch your arm as far as possible to do your back exercises.</li></ol><h2>Basic equipment you need to workout at home</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Mickey-Mehta-banner_1622468521789.jpg"></figure><ol><li>Resistance tubes for arms -- biceps, triceps, shoulders --, and for the chest.</li><li>Push up stands for the cat stretch, planks, and pushups.</li><li>A huge Swiss ball for core stability, stretching the back, and for core stomach workouts.</li><li>Small medicine balls weighing one to two kilograms for strength and stability training.</li><li>Thera-Band to stretch the length of your muscles for flexibility training.</li></ol><h2>For a proper gym set up</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_TREAD-One--Fitness_1622467774208.jpg"><figcaption>Photo: TREAD</figcaption></figure><ol><li>Back pulley and dipping-chinning assist machine for parallel bar and pull ups.</li><li>A Smith machine with pullies for shoulder press, bench press, and more steady stability exercises.</li><li>Leg extension machines are good but a little cumbersome. However, a cross trainer really helps, especially for cardio fitness.</li><li>If you live in a small apartment then instead of a Smith machine, you can simply put a bench-press bracket, which can double up for putting your barbells.</li><li>Mini-multi gyms are good enough.</li></ol><p>AlsoRead0</p><p>"Nowadays all these machines are available on wheels which can be locked. So, right in your hall, you can pull out your sofas and tables, bring the gym equipment in the front, and when you are done, you can just put them against the wall," Dr Mehta says.  All you need is 20 to 22 minutes exercising, with one or two minutes on every machine.</p><h2>While buying the right equipment</h2><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.instagram.com/p/COf7OBTD5br/"></oembed></figure><ol><li>Make sure that the foundation of the equipment is sturdy, not shaky and used.</li><li>Get two years warranty with service.</li><li>Make sure all equipment is fiber paint coated and none of there is no open-ended metal.</li><li>When you move the equipment back and forth you must check that the movements are extremely smooth, and non-obstructive, and there are no vibrations either. That will tell you about the biomechanics of the equipment.</li></ol><h2>At home Yoga recommendations</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Yoga-at-home_1622467921233.jpg"></figure><ol><li>Pranayama -- Training of regulated breath.</li><li>Parvatasana -- The mountain.</li><li>Bhujangasana -- The snake position.</li><li>Viprit Naukasana -- Lying on your stomach (for back exercise).</li><li>Dhanurasana – Bending the back.</li><li>Paschimottanasana – Touching your toes.</li><li>Halasana -- Taking your legs back and touching the floor.</li><li>Chakrasana – Bridge position to be done with support and under supervision.</li><li>Savasana – Resting pose.</li><li>Anulom-Vilom -- Inhale, exhale.</li><li>Bhastrika Pranayama -- Rapid inhalation and exhalation.</li><li>Yoga Mudra -- Hand gestures that help boost flow of energy.</li></ol><h2>Points to remember while working out from home  </h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_imp-points-to-remember_1622468263089.jpg"></figure><ol><li>Make sure that the pace of the exercise is very slow.</li><li>Breathe in when you are relaxing and breathe out when you are putting an effort.</li><li>Make sure that you don’t do counts more than the capacity.</li><li>You should not be panting; all your forms must be slow and relaxed.</li><li>Don't  push yourself in any angle.</li><li>The best time to exercise is first thing in the morning or otherwise on an empty stomach.</li><li>So, you must exercise at least three hours after a snack or a fruit, and at least five hours after a meal.</li><li>Consume breath for breakfast first thing in the morning, soak yourself in the sun as the morning sunshine on the forehead helps in serotonin release, and have lots of herbal tea.</li><li>For those who have odd working hours, whatever time you wake up, first exercise, have lot of herbal teas and fruits for the first three-four hours, and then have cooked meals.</li><li>Never do weight training on a cold body (without warm up). You can do it either thrice a week or on alternate days.</li><li>If possible, take a thorough massage once a week.</li><li>Never do repetitions more than needed or more than your body can handle.</li></ol><p>AlsoRead1</p><p>"Your pre-gym routine must be a chair workout, bouncing on the sofa, squat jogs, stretching of the arms; and post-gym routine is typically touching the toes i.e., paschimottanasana, and a combination of <i>parvatasana </i>and<i> bujangasana, </i>and of course the <i>shavasana</i>," he says.</p><p>If you are contemplating supplements, Mehta recommends using them only if you are doing competitive workout and not just maintenance and fitness workout, because a healthy nutrition plan full of nuts, seeds, <i>dal, dahi, </i>and fruits is enough. “Supplementation is required when you are pushing the limits of the body to do something extraordinary where it needs to recover and repair from wear and tear and needs excess fuel for its support and development.” </p>

It's time to flush those toxins out of your body. The holistic health coach tells you how.

Holistic health coach Luke Coutinho talks about the importance of a detox, who needs detox and shares with us three detox drinks you can make at home. 

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The monsoon Kanji protects from seasonal ailments and niggles.

Read about the health benefits of eating Kerala's famous karkidaka kanji during monsoon. For more such Ayurveda related stories, read Zeezest.com. 

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Three experts weigh in to help us find a conclusion. 

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Exports recommend a list of foods good for your immune system

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We bring you a collection of tried and tested teas, some mild, some piquant, to get you through the rainy days

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<p>Metabolism has become a buzzword, and everyone seems to be talking about it for the right reasons, but what most people don't understand is that metabolism is beyond obesity, digestion, and fat gain. Even people who appear healthy on the outside can have a metabolic dysfunction brewing on the inside. Every single function in our body relates to our metabolic health. </p><p>Metabolic dysfunction is abnormal regulation of blood sugar, lipids, or chronic inflammation that can lead to disease later on and manifest as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, metabolism syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and a lot more. Even if one develops one or two of these, it is a perfect cocktail to pave the way for others. What may start as diabetes can eventually lead to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular condition. All of this, for something that went wrong at a cellular level, which is the inability of cells to either metabolise sugar, lipids or handle inflammation. </p><h2>What role does metabolism play in keeping you healthy this monsoon? </h2><p>There is no better example than Covid-19. The world saw that those with symptoms of metabolic dysregulation (high sugar levels, lipids, and blood pressure) were prone to the virus and infection, and capable of falling severely ill compared to those with a healthy metabolism. Thus, our immune system is driven by our metabolic health too, and this is a scientifically documented fact. </p><p>AlsoRead4</p><h2>How can you fine-tune your metabolism?  </h2><p>People go from pillar to post, finding ways to boost metabolism, buy metabolism-enhancing teas or powders, some thank their genes. All of us want our metabolism to be efficient, but what determines your metabolism in the first place? It’s a lifestyle and the daily choices you make around food, exercise, sleep, and other habits. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_how_to_take_care_of_metabolism%20%282%29_1625056933873.jpg"></figure><h2>Two drivers of metabolic health  </h2><h3>• Mitochondrial health   </h3><p>This is the most critical aspect, as your metabolism is directly dependent on your mitochondrial health. Mitochondria – the tiny cellular engines that create energy for the body – are central to our metabolism and digestion. How quickly and efficiently the mitochondria can turn nutrients such as glucose into energy reflects metabolic health. If your mitochondria are inefficient, you store glucose as fat. This is what a sluggish metabolism does. Unfortunately, mitochondrial health is susceptible to lifestyle habits. Unhealthy eating, no exercise, lack of sleep, unmanaged stress, all affect mitochondrial health. </p><p>AlsoRead0 </p><h3>•  Thyroid health </h3><p>This is primary. Everything connected to metabolism revolves around your thyroid health. An under-active thyroid gland could lead to a weak metabolism, which is why one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is weight gain. When your thyroxine falls, the body gets the signal to slow down, which means slowing down your metabolism. Thus, it is necessary to keep your thyroid health in shape through nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotional health. It's also necessary to take care of micronutrient deficiencies like selenium, iodine, magnesium to keep it working well. </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>7 lifestyle changes to improve your metabolism </h2><h3>1. Deep sleep </h3><p>Lack of sleep is the easiest way to crash your metabolism. It can slow down nearly every single function in the body as it doesn't give our body and cells enough time to rest and rejuvenate, resulting in slow function. Sleep is when we also undergo the detoxification process, so a lack of sleep means toxin overload. A toxic body is bound to have a slow metabolism. Lack of sleep can also increase inflammation in the body, which is another red flag for port metabolic health. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_lifestyle-changes_for_good_metabolism_zee_zest%20%284%29_1625058440185.jpg"></figure><h3>2. Living by the circadian rhythm  </h3><p>Eating in alignment with our circadian rhythm can also hugely support our metabolism. According to the circadian rhythm, our metabolism is at its peak during the afternoon, and hence it's easier for us to digest and metabolise a meal (lunch) around noon. However, as the day proceeds, our metabolism starts to dip, towards evening and night. So, if one wishes to eat an indulgent meal or a dessert, the best time to do so is lunchtime. On the other hand, a heavy meal towards the night can be an uphill task for our body to digest because our metabolism doesn't support it. </p><p>This is also why, fasting according to our circadian rhythm, wherein one starts the fast just after sunset and continues until sunrise is one of the most strategic ways to eat to aid your metabolism.</p><h3>3. Adequate water intake </h3><p>Even a one per cent drop in your hydration status can cripple your metabolism and slow you down. Keep yourself adequately hydrated. Take it a step further and drink warm water. Warm water increases the body temperature, which therefore increases the metabolic rate. An increase in metabolic rate will allow your body to burn more calories. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_lifestyle-changes_for_good_metabolism_zee_zest%20%283%29_1625058449634.jpg"></figure><h3>4. Build lean muscle mass  </h3><p>Muscle is metabolically active tissue. The more muscle you have, the more your body produces a hormone called HGH which is a human growth hormone, and the more you have of that the higher your metabolic rate is. This is why you will constantly burn fat at any given period when you have that amount of lean mass or muscle fibre. </p><p>AlsoRead2</p><h3>5. Eat good fats </h3><p>Your body needs fats, the good ones to maintain optimal metabolism. In fact, good fats like ghee, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados, help produce more energy because it is your mitochondria's most preferred fuel. MCT-rich oils like coconut oil are fantastic for that. The quantity and type can obviously vary based on health conditions and goals, but some good quality fats boost metabolism. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_lifestyle-changes_for_good_metabolism_zee_zest%20%282%29_1625058461390.jpg"></figure><h3>6. High-intensity interval workouts  </h3><p>HIIT to spike your metabolism. Interval workouts can truly put your body in a fat-burning mode by activating your metabolism. The beauty of such workouts is that they can keep your metabolism high for quite some time compared to a workout done at a steady rate. For example: Tabata and the 4-minute Japanese workout. </p><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_lifestyle-changes_for_good_metabolism_zee_zest%20%281%29_1625058519916.jpg"></figure><h3>7. Good quality supplements  </h3><p>While this is never a replacement for lifestyle choices, if there is a serious clinical condition where metabolism has taken a hit and boosting it will help an underlying condition, then the preferable supplements are Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, carnitine, B-complex vitamins, and omega-3 fats. </p><p>AlsoRead3</p><h2>What cripples your metabolism?  </h2><p>Any sort of crash or fad dieting that asks you to 'starve' your way to weight loss can break down your metabolism into bits. Grain-free diets, for example, can be detrimental as grains are rich in B- vitamins that are key to an effective metabolism. Ask someone who has tried every fad/crash diet under the sun and how their metabolism has taken a hit. You'd clearly get an idea. </p><p>The right lifestyle changes can improve your metabolism whereas the wrong ones can cripple it. From your eating patterns and habits to activity levels and the way you train (exercise), water intake, sleep habits, and even your emotional health hugely impact your metabolism, directly and indirectly. </p><p>So, if there was ever a time to start paying attention to your metabolic health, it's now. Do not wait for the next season or the next round of blood work. Move to action now. We bet it will be the smartest investment, not just for this monsoon, but for a lifetime. </p><p><i>Please note: Always discuss with your health expert before consuming any supplement/food.</i></p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><figure class="image image-style-align-left image_resized" style="width:10.13%;"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_PROD_Luke-C-500x500_1620832083530_1625462453330.jpg"></figure><p><i>Luke Coutinho is a holistic lifestyle coach - integrative and lifestyle medicine, and the founder of YouCare - All about YOU by Luke Coutinho. </i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

From overall health to weight loss, the body’s metabolic rate defines everything, says expert Luke Coutinho. 

Holistic health coach Luke Coutinhi lists lifestyle changes that can help improve metabolism. Visit ZeeZest.com for full story. 

How to boost metabolism during monsoon | Improve metabolism

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Monsoon

Expert Tips

Metabolism

Gut Health

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra is offering three programs on Simple Soulful for free,topeople across India. This includes pranayama, meditation, and yoga. For more, read Zeezest.com.

<p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;">Hello ladies! Is your constant complaint that you can’t find the time to exercise? We, at Zee Zest, with the help of global leading holistic health guru and corporate life coach Dr Mickey Mehta, will let you in on a little secret: You don’t need to work out for hours in a day to build optimum health. In fact, you can finish a full-body workout in just 30 minutes - that too, in the comfort of your own home and without any equipment. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;">Well, Dr Mehta has curated a bunch of simple, easy-to-follow yet effective exercises that help you build strength and improve overall health. It features a combination of dynamic workout postures, yoga meditation techniques with variations, and deep breathing exercises that allow you to maximise your limited workout time. </span></p><p>AlsoRead0</p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;">“WOW Woman Workout is all about how a woman, sitting at home, can still be wow in body, mind and spirit. It includes exercises to help build basic strength and stamina, and build the reservoir of energy, confidence and self-conviction,” shares the expert, while talking about the contents of the WOW Woman Workout. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;">Whether you are new to working out or have been at it for a long time, this workout video is perfect for you! “Don’t count reps, you can do a set of 2, 4 or 6 of each as per your stamina,” points out Dr Mehta during our conversation. But how does one know when they are overdoing it? He explains, “You need to stop before you start panting. Don’t push yourself too hard, just practice these exercises until they make you feel happy and energised. Also, don’t forget to take short breaks and breathe out 10-15 times to ensure you don’t drain yourself out, and your body gets time to recover.” </span></p><p>AlsoRead1</p><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:#000000;">The WOW Woman Workout by Dr Mickey Mehta is the first of a four-part series the expert has shot with Zee Zest. This special series of short fitness videos will take viewers through the basics of yoga, and it will end with a fun and interactive Instagram LIVE (@zeezest) session with the holistic health guru on the occasion of International Yoga Day. So, keep your questions ready, and don’t forget to tune in. </span></p>

On International Yoga Day 2021, holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta shows simple and easy at-home exercises for women of all ages.

Here is a list of at-home exercises that women of all ages can practice at home, during the lockdown and after. It is Wow woman workout by Mickey Mehta. For more, read ZeeZest.com.

Easy Exercises for Women By Mickey Mehta | Workouts for Women

Women, Here’s A No-Equipment Workout You Can Do At Home

mickey mehta wow woman workout video

<p>The grey skies, cool weather, and showers make us crave the classic combo of masala chai (or coffee) and pakora. While an occasional monsoon binge is acceptable, you need to ensure that you have stocked up on your share of superfoods.</p><p>Monsoon is known to usher a number of infections and diseases—diarrhoea, cold, cough, flu, and food poisoning. According to Amreen Sheikh, a Dietician at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, most of these health issues arise from what we eat and drink on a daily basis. To build a stronger immunity there are foods that work better than others.</p><p>Here’s a list of immunity-boosting foods recommended by the expert that you should add to your next supermarket spree:</p><h2>Dates</h2><figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Id-886-Dates_1615466343094.jpg"></figure><p>Dates are a good source of vitamins (B complex and K) and minerals (iron, manganese, potassium, and copper) that help build a strong immune system. Sheikh adds that they are also effective in reducing seasonal allergies.</p><h2>Ginger and Garlic</h2><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_ginger-garlic_1624377950327.jpg"></figure><p>Payal Kothari, a Mumbai-based nutritionist, recommends ginger and garlic. Both are known for their anti-bacterial properties and aiding digestion. Apart from this, garlic also helps to heal wounds and prevent blood clots, while ginger helps eliminate congestion and kills cold-causing viruses.</p><h2>Indian Spices – Fenugreek Seeds, Asafoetida, Black Pepper and Cloves</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Indian-spices_1624377892377.jpg"></figure><p>All these spices, a common feature in most Indian recipes, are known for boosting immunity. In addition, they help in digestion and flushing out sinuses from the body.</p><h2>Sesame</h2><p>Sesame or til chikkis (brittle) are consumed during winters as they help keep the body warm. They can be eaten during the monsoons too. Sheikh says these seeds are a good source of minerals such as iron, manganese, and copper. They also help retain the skin’s natural moisture.</p><h2>Turmeric</h2><p>India’s go-to superfood, turmeric, is a tried-and-tested home remedy for cold, cough, congestion, and wounds. Sheikh says that turmeric contains an active agent called curcumin, which can stimulate our immune system. It is also referred to as a ‘natural aspirin’ as it helps relieve pain caused by headaches and wounds.</p>

Immunity

<p>Okay, has it ever happened that you’re imagining yourself looking like a ravishing beauty because you caught a hazy glimpse of yourself on the laptop screen, and you decide to take a selfie, but the moment you’re facing the front camera you end up looking like Kroor Singh from the iconic ’90s show <i>Chandrakanta</i>? Or, maybe that’s just us, but you’d have to agree that monsoon does terrible things to your hair.</p><p>There’s a logic to this. “Increased levels of humidity during the monsoon makes hair more difficult to manage. Common problems you face then, are frizzy hair, dandruff and hair fall. Whereas, winter can put a lot of stress on your scalp and hair. Due to dryness in the air, your scalp is prone to dandruff,” says Dr Sushant Shetty MD (Skin) Head - Medical Operations, Services and Engineering, Kaya Limited, explaining how a change in season impacts our skin and hair. However, there’s a deeper meaning behind these cyclical changes that our bodies experience each year, and particularly when on the precipice of a new season.</p><p>Dr Taruna Yadav, Senior Ayurveda Doctor at Forest Essentials, explains that as per the ancient science of Ayurveda, Varsha Ritu or Monsoon falls in the Indian months of Shravana and Bhadrapada (around Mid-July to Mid-September). And while the season does bring with it cooler temperatures, it is also the harbinger of humidity and dampness. “This causes aggravation of the doshas in our body, which are the three energies believed to circulate in the body and govern physiological activity. And the Agni or, digestive fire, weakens. Consequently, the doshas start vitiating one another; primarily the Vata and Pitta dosha, which leads to various hair and skin concerns,” she adds. </p><h2>1. Does your hair need special attention during the monsoons?</h2><figure class="image image-style-align-left"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Id-2516-Monsoon-haircare_1616010464065.jpg"></figure><p>The short answer is, yes. Explaining further, Dr Yadav shares that increased moisture content in the air makes your hair more prone to dandruff, which in turn leads to hair fall. “Be sure to cleanse your scalp thoroughly during this season, as the acid content present in rainwater makes hair lacklustre and brittle,” she cautions.</p><h2>2. How to protect your hair from damage during the monsoons?</h2><figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Towel-Dry-Hair_1623424358457.jpg"></figure><p>Dr Yadav and Dr Shetty help us outline a hair care plan that is sure to reduce some of your concerns. Follow these simple tips and experience a good hair day, every day!</p><p>Oiling is key. A warm oil massage provides necessary nourishment and adds strength to dull an damaged hair. It stimulates the scalp for better hair growth.</p><p>Shampoo with a gentle cleanser by focusing on your scalp. Your hair doesn’t need as much shampoo as your scalp. The job of any shampoo is to clean your scalp and help remove any product residue through the lengths of your hair.</p><p>It is important to condition your hair from mid-length to tips after every shampoo session. It helps add moisture to your hair and tackles the common problem of frizziness. Conditioners should not be applied to your scalp as they can clog your pores and cause other hair problems.</p><p>Towel dry your hair and let it naturally dry as much as possible. The most common mistake people do is to rub their hair with a towel to dry them. Instead, follow the press and blot method to soak up water from your hair. This is a far gentler way than rubbing it dry.</p><p>In your diet, include balanced, warm, freshly prepared food rich in veggies and spices and with good fats, like ghee that will help ensure better absorption of nutrients for hair health.</p><p>It's important to avoid foods that are difficult to digest and create ama (digestive impurities). Stay away from excessive amounts of refined sugars; ice-cold drinks; cold foods straight from the refrigerator; leftovers; processed and packaged foods; unhealthy fats; and heavy, deep-fried foods.</p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>3. Things you can do at home for good hair health</h2><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Shikakai-reetha_1623424378790.jpg"></figure><p>Hibiscus is wonderful for dry and damaged hair. Blend Hibiscus leaves with yoghurt to make a paste. Keep the mask on for 30 minutes before washing.</p><p>Herbs like, reetha (soap nut) and shikakai are mild cleansers. Boil two tablespoons of reetha and shikakai in half a litre of water and leave it to cool overnight. Strain the mixture in the morning and use this to wash your hair.</p><p>Mix neem leaf powder with yoghurt to create a creamy consistency. Apply the paste on your scalp for a cooling effect. Neem helps promote hair growth by strengthening the hair follicles and makes your hair lustrous and smooth.</p><p>Make a hair mask with yoghurt, honey, and a spoonful of coconut oil. You can apply this to your hair for up to 20 mins and rinse your hair with cold water. This helps add moisture and shine to your hair.</p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>4. Must-haves for your hair care routine</h2><h3>1. Oil</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Hair-oil_1624344173729.jpg"><figcaption>Photo: Instagram/Kaya Skin Clinics and Nourish Mantra</figcaption></figure><p>Oil is said to strengthen your hair roots, thereby reducing hair fall. Kaya has a scalp nourish oil that has basil root extracts that help strengthen our hair roots and shaft. While coconut oil is a top favourite and believed to be best for good hair, you can also choose from myriad other varieties, ranging from jasmine, jojoba and almond to castor, olive and lemongrass. The latest oil to have taken the beauty world is onion oil, believed to be great for thick and healthy hair.</p><h3>2. Shampoo</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Shampoo-edited_1624344254237.jpg"><figcaption>Photo: Kama Ayurveda and Wow Skin Science</figcaption></figure><p>Our scalp is prone to damage from chemicals, like surfactants and natural debris and shampoos act like soaps that remove these. Sulphates present in the shampoo also help remove excess oils, but can sometimes, be harmful. Currently, oils and shampoos with onion extract are trending because it is believed to be rich in potassium and antioxidants, which promotes hair regrowth.</p><p>AlsoRead2</p><h3>3. Conditioner</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Conditioner_1624344263904.jpg"><figcaption>Photo: Nykaa and Atulya</figcaption></figure><p>These work like healthy antidotes to shampoos, which reversely closes up pores to lock in moisture and help strengthen your hair. Conditioners with Argan oil have been in demand for a while now and argan oil is said to have anti-inflammatory effects, which helps promote overall hair health by strengthening your scalp.</p><p>AlsoRead3</p><h3>4. Hair Mask</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.zeezest.com/images/PROD_Hair-Mask_1624344273675.jpg"><figcaption>Instagram/Forest Essentials and The Earth Collective</figcaption></figure><p>Masking your hair will ensure that it receives and retains the nutrients it requires. Not only does this hair treatment make your tresses more manageable, but the extra hydration makes your hair smoother. The Forest Essentials Intensive Hair Repair Japapatti and Brahmi Masque accelerates hair repair and nourishes the scalp.</p>

Experts outline easy ways to build at-home hair care plan this rainy season.

Experts explain why hair problems increase during the monsoon and what to do about them. Also, find out the best hair care routine for women. Read Zeezest.com

How to Avoid Monsoon Hair Fall  - Hair Care Tips For The Monsoons | Zee Zest

Why Monsoon Wreaks Havoc On Your Hair And What To Do About It

Hair Care

Beauty

Holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta shows simple and easy at-home exercises for women of all ages.

<p>With sedentary lifestyle, increased levels of stress and pollution wreaking havoc, our body cells are ageing faster. And our chronological age doesn’t always match our biological age, revealed a 2017 study that involved 1,500 older women and was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.</p><p>These early signs of ageing are one of the reasons more and more people, regardless of gender today, are looking for products, foods, home remedies and medical treatments that promise to keep them young. What they fail to notice, however, is that one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to look and feel younger is right in front of their eyes: exercise. Multiple studies in the past have revealed that exercise not only helps improve the state of our body and mind, but it may also play a role in reducing the signs of ageing.  </p><p>AlsoRead0</p><h2>For a younger you</h2><p>Talking about the importance of a steady fitness routine on our overall health, in his second video with Zee Zest, global holistic health guru and corporate fitness coach Dr Mickey Mehta shows us exercises to not just look but also feel younger. In addition, these exercises are aimed towards better strength, flexibility, agility, stamina, immunity and metabolism. </p><p>The video features a range of simple, easy and fun exercises that can be practiced in the comfort of one’s home. Think jumping at one place, stretching, kicking, punching and much more. Its highlight is a composite workout he shows that helps our stomach, back and legs at the same time.  </p><p>Dr Mehta points out that when you have fun with your exercise, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins, which are known as happy hormones, are released in your body. These happy hormones promote positive feelings, including happiness and pleasure; boost your mood, relieve pain, stress and discomfort, and make you feel energised.  </p><p>AlsoRead1</p><h2>How many reps?</h2><p>But how many reps of each to practice? “Doesn’t matter how many, do as much as you enjoy and just a little short of panting, stop! You should be able to talk while you’re working out. And remember, breathe out through your mouth when the pace and intensity go up. I’d suggest you keep the intensity and pace of the exercise sub-maximal and don’t push yourself too much,” says Dr Mehta.  </p><p>Reverse Your Universe with Mickey Mehta, is the second video of the exclusive four-part series with Dr Mickey Mehta for International Yoga Day 2021. This special series involves videos that talk about the importance of exercise, how to easily workout at home and the benefits of yoga. To watch the first video, that showcased a no-equipment workout that women of all ages can practice at home, <a href="https://zeezest.com/health/easy-exercises-for-women-by-mickey-mehta-workouts-for-women-646">click here</a>. </p>

Holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta shows you exercises that help you stay fit and keep your body moving on International Yoga Day 2021. 

Dr Mickey Mehta shows us simple and easy anti-ageing exercises that men and women can practice at home without any equipment. Check out full story on Zeezest.com.