5 Refreshing Summer Cocktail Recipes

Tired of the staid old Cosmopolitan and Mojito? Time to stir up something new, don't you think? This summer unwind with refreshing cocktails created by some of the best bartenders in India at the 'Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2011' competition.

Sciroco
The cocktail sensation of the summer! A lovechild of everyone's favourite cocktail, the Cosmopolitan and the Mojito with Ciroc grape vodka, cranberry juice, fresh lime and a handful of mint.
Ingredients
60ml Ciroc
10ml crème de peche
Cranberry Juice
10ml freshly squeezed lime juice
5ml sugar syrup   3 sprigs fresh mint   

Method
1) Put Ciroc, lime juice, sugar syrup into the bottom of the glass and gently press the mint to extract the flavours from the leaves. 
2) Next, fill the glass with ice and stir for 10 seconds to combine the ingredients together. 
3) Add more ice and top with cranberry juice, stir again and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint

Glassware: Highball Garnish: Mint sprig

Is Your Computer Making You Old?

This, is the age of computers and digital technology. Where on one hand one does not mind spending time on our PC's, do we realize that this can lead to what is popularly known as 'computer face'. This has been an increasing phenomenon since a lot of women work on computer for long hours. A U.K study by British cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Michael Prager, has proved the same.

Watch out woman!
Sitting infront of your computer screens for long hours results in sagging jowls because of sitting in one position for a long time.Women do not realise that they are concentrating so hard that they end up frowning most of the times. Deep frown lines on their forehead or wrinkles around their eyes are what most women fear, bu then are they actually aware of the real culprit? Another common afermath of this is having a 'turtle neck' or a second neck because of looking down at the screen for long. The neck muscles start becoming short and saggy because of this, adding up to 10 years of a woman's actual age.

Check out these Top 5 Office Exercises!

What is the barefoot movement?

What is the barefoot movement?

Gaining quickly over its fitness fad counterparts, the barefoot movement is all the rage in new exercise talk. People are acknowledging the inconvenient truth about feet - a little secret shoe companies don't enjoy - that barefoot is better. 

In response to the gathering evidence that shoes do more harm to our feet and joints than good, 'barefooting' is a growing movement. It is essentially the practice of partaking in outdoor events without shoes or in shoes that mimic the benefits of bare feet. 

A 2010 study discusses the barefoot movement as more than just a fad. More and more fitness folks across the world and even right here in India have started sporting minimalistic shoes or foot 'gloves', or actually going barefoot. Here is a study (from India), which says that children who wore shoes before the age of 6 were more likely to develop flat feet than children who ran around barefoot. Kids who ran barefoot for most of their first six years had better developed longitudinal arches and less flat foot. Among children who wore footwear on a regular basis, 8.2% suffered from flat foot (compared to 2.8% of barefoot kids). No other factors had comparable impacts. Adults didn't have higher rates of flat foot than the kids, unless they reported wearing shoes as children. 

The prevalence of flat feet today is more so because of how shoes shaped our feet since we were young. Shoes, it seems, have an undeniable ability to alter one's natural foot structure. Need more proof? How about this? 

What can you do about it? Try a few exercises to strengthen your feet: 
- Do toe spreads. Sit, stand, or lie down and fan your toes out as widely as possible. Create space between each toe. Hold this position for ten seconds, and repeat the exercise 10 times daily per foot. 

- Point at things with your toes. Pick something, anything, in the room and point your toes at it. Now flex your foot. Hold it for five seconds, then release. Again, do this ten times per foot each day. For extra work, try tracing the alphabet with your feet in midair each day. 

5 Ways to work out at home

Easy ways to work out at home 

You don't need an expensive membership to a fitness club or a personal trainer to be healthy and fit. Some easy workouts can be done from the comfort of your own living room. 

Not only does it give you privacy, but also a certain level of convenience and a relaxed ambience. You could exercise alone or call a friend over but always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Here are a few simple things you could do. 
Stair climbing 
If you have a staircase at home, you can get a great workout by simply climbing the stairs. To start, step up onto the first stair, and then back down. Repeat this move on the first stair ten times. Then walk up the first two stairs, and then back down. Repeat this ten times. You will definitely feel the burn by the end of this step routine. If you feel winded or dizzy, start slow. Stick with the first three stairs, and gradually build up your endurance over the weeks and months to come. 

Diet Facts Vs Diet Fiction

From controlling your weight by going on a detox diet to using sauna belt waist slimming machines, there are endless tricks that claim to give you that extra edge in weight loss. The problem arises when you end up more confused than when you first started on your weight loss journey. You don’t know what to believe and which diet ideas to choose. Today we're talking about diet facts vs diet fiction - ideas and tips that will help you solve a few dieting myths. 

Myth 1: Cold water contains more calories than hot water.
Truth: Water is the only substance that contains 'zero calories'. And, this universal fact has no relation to it being hot or cold. Cold water is suggested in-between your workout regimen because it helps in cooling your body temperature, which rises due to exercising.

Dairy product allergy is all in the mind

Dairy product allergy is all in the mind 

Are people who say they're allergic to dairy products really affected by it? May be not, as researchers have said that lactose intolerance may be all in the mind. 

Many people who claim to be intolerant to the milk sugar lactose are simply stressed, anxious or depressed. While their symptoms are real, the cause is in their mind, rather than in their coffee cup.

The discovery by Italian researchers has important implications for health, because many people who believe they are lactose intolerant cut out dairy products from their diet, reports the Daily Mail.

This could leave them severely short of calcium, raising the odds of brittle bones and falls and fracture in old age.

Eat to beat the heat

Eat to beat the heat

As the mercury continues to soar, you are bound to feel tired, dehydrated and low on energy. Even though it's vacation time, you cannot afford to indulge in rich, fried and junk food. 

Because what you eat plays a major role in how you feel. If you want to seek respite from the unbearable heat this season, make sure you eat the right foods. And by that, we mean foods that have a cooling effect on the body. Doing so will not only fulfil your appetite but also keep your energy -levels high. Here's a list of must-eat foods that are cooling and relaxing for the body: 

Watermelons
This is the season where watermelons are available in plenty and they are one of best natural cooling foods. That's because they contain almost 80% water, and are naturally sweet and low on calories too. Eating them makes one feel full, without having to worry about putting on weight. Even muskmelons serve the same purpose. 

Be a pro a baking healthy muffins

Be a pro a baking healthy muffins

Can muffins be healthy? Why not! Today we are talking about two easy and lip-smacking muffin making tips and recipes. If you think that only store-bought muffins can be delicious, and that only 'natural food' stores can sell healthy muffins, then read on. 

Not only are these sour cream muffins and carrot walnut muffins healthy, but they're also quick and simple to bake. All you need is 10 minutes of your time and here's how you can make your muffins healthy at home! 

Whole gran sour cream muffins (Serves 12) 
Ingredients: 
- 2 cups whole grain flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup fat-free milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried raisins
- 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg 

Want a flat tummy?

Want a flat tummy?

Trying to lose weight by adopting a low fat diet? You may be making the biggest mistake of your 'weight loss regime,' say fitness experts. Celebrity trainer James Duigan, whose clients include model Elle Macpherson, says, "It's not fat that makes you fat, it's sugar and carbohydrates." 

Most fitness experts agree. Says sports nutritionist Deepshikha Agarwal, "If you really want toned abs, you need to concentrate on abdominal exercises and team with that with a balanced diet." She suggests fish, chicken and meat, vegetables, berries and nuts, rather than a low-fat diet. "You need a diet rich in anti-oxidants that raises your metabolic rate," she says. "You can't be on a low-fat diet all your life. That's too much deprivation. It might also lead to stress and bingeing," says nutritionist Dr Nupur Krishnan. 

Here are some tips one can follow for a flat stomach and toned abs: