Health secrets of Bollywod divas

Follow their lead for a happier, wiser and a confident you.

LOVE YOURSELF-Vidya Balan
We women have been brought up to play ourselves down. And when the world criticises us, we let it get to us easily. There was a phase in my life when I let everything affect me and pull me down. I tried to block out all the noise by shutting myself up and even tried a makeover. But people still talked. I learnt it the hard way that you can't please everyone. What matters is that you are at peace with yourself. Learn to accept yourself and believe in yourself. I do that-that's what helped me bounce back then-and keeps me going now. Draw confidence from people who think highly of you. My family and close friends have been my pillars of strength. Each time I feel low I talk it out with them.

BE BAUTIFUL-Nargis Fakhri
If personality is important, so is taking care of one's physical appearance- which to a great extent is a reflection of what's within you. I think happy and compassionate people have a beautiful glow about them. I stay beautiful by making sure my soul is happy. I do things that lift my spirit. I also make sure I eat healthy and drink plenty of water. That said, I make sure to do the daily CTM routine and use a mask once a month. I visit a dermat for a glycolic peel or an oxygen facial occasionally. I massage my hair with coconut oil and use a good shampoo and conditioner to keep my strands soft and shiny. Regular exercise, a healthy diet (with lots of fruits and veggies), drinking enough water, along with adequate sleep goes a long way in lending that youthful glow!

PEACE OUT-Kalki Koechlin
I swear by balance and moderation. There is no place for anything extreme in my life. I'm not a person who does things in excess. I never crash diet, I don't smoke and I hardly ever drink (maybe, a little wine here and there, and a shot of black coffee didn't harm anyone!). I eat at regular intervals, I sometimes work out and I never have huge meals. To clear my mind, I switch off from daily life-phones, SMS, Twitter, Facebook and email. This is something I learnt from my mother who had once told me to empty my mind. I also 'peace out' a lot. Whenever I'm upset or tired, I meditate-something we learnt to do at the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry where I grew up. I love taking long baths-that's my secret to staying peaceful. I have elaborate bath rituals- candles, incense and music, along with a book

GET THE FAMILY BOOST-Juhi Chawla
My family is the most important aspect of my life. It is the support system that allows me to do what I want to do with my career. They make me feel protected. Having children changes everything for you. I was more self-centred before my children (Jhanvi, 13 and Arjun, 10), but as soon as they came along, they became the centre of my universe. Because I may have an erratic schedule at work, I rely on my staff and other kinds of help (a tutor, for example) to keep the system running even while I'm away. I am there, of course, to answer my children's questions and we do study together, but not every day. When we can, we go out to play, bake/cook together and go on vacations, often to Uganda to visit my in-laws. My work is my identity, but because it takes me away from my family, I need to feel 100% convinced about any assignment that I take up.

STAY FIT 'N FABULOUS-Gul Panag
Regular exercise is a way of life for me. I took up running as a teen-I'd do 5 km every evening with my dad. Now, I work out 4 days a week-it may not be ideal if you are trying to lose weight-but it's an achievable target. Plus, I try to make up for it by watching what I eat on all days. Once a week, I indulge in a beer or a dessert. I run 3 km 4 days a week along with a 45-minute strength, endurance and flexibility training session. I do 2 days of high-intensity interval training or a 20-minute cardio routine that quickens my heart rate. I pack my gym bag first thing in the morning and keep it in my car-this helps me stick with my schedule. It also helps to have a super-fit husband-it keeps me going even on days when I might be tempted to cheat. He is my workout buddy and I owe a large part of my fitness to him.

EAT THIS WAY-Raveena Tandon
What you eat and how you live shows up on your face. Smoke and your lips will darken, cheat on fruits and veggies and your skin may begin to look dull. Healthy eating has been a way of life for me. I have always loved fruits and sprouts. I am more conscious than ever now, what with so many different kinds of lifestyle conditions you hear about. As a family, we make it a point to load up on fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Having clean foods is a super way to cut the toxin overload that harms our system. So we try to buy organic as far as possible. My food is cooked in very little oil and I avoid fried stuff as far as possible, encouraging my family to do the same. I give myself a sweet treat on weekends. I also stay hydrated-drinking enough water is very important for our metabolism. I would also like to encourage all new mums to breastfeed for at least 6 months.

COOK HEALTHY- Sara Jane Dias
The best way to live is to eat what you want but exercise portion control. I love food and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Cooking makes me happy. It's the best way to relax. I love cooking for people and like it when they compliment me for it. I really admire Jessica Alba for cooking meals for her family. Alba believes the healthiest way to eat is to buy your own ingredients and cook for yourself. That way you know exactly what is going into your food and you can keep a check. While recipe books are great, I can draw inspiration from just about anywhere. In fact, I was once inspired to cook Lebanese roast chicken after watching Julie and Julia! I love fish-salmon being my favourite. I try salmon wherever I go. Otherwise, I believe in sticking to the local food of a place. I prefer organic food and stay away from refined and processed stuff. Often, I make Kerala fish and Goan pork. I am a dessert specialist-my friends simply love my dark chocolate moussé with a biscuit base and banana cream!