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Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Their livelihood largely depends on how they look. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Who doesn't want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebrities.

1. Jennifer Aniston

The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

2. Kate Hudson

The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

3. Oprah Winfrey

As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of audiences. Known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the threadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are lowfat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow

A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated dairy from her diet, and does yoga everyday.

5. Madonna

The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

6. Claudia Schiffer

The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

7. Christie Brinkley

Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebrities are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye. Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these diet and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

From Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Higher levels of vitamin D, synthesized in the skin after being exposed to the sun and found in oily fish, are associated with increased brain power among middle-aged men, according to a new British study.

The link between increased vitamin D and faster information processing "was more significant in men aged over 60 years old, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear," read the report, to appear in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Manchester, in collaboration with other European specialists, compared the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men between the ages of 40 and 79 years.

Men with higher levels of vitamin D "performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuropsychological test that assesses an individual's attention and speed of information processing," the study showed.

Resarchers "observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said lead author David Lee at Manchesters School of Translational Medicine.

The study is based on a large population sample and took into account other possible factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity.

The main source of vitamin D is 10 to 15 minutes daily exposure to sunlight. Oily fish are also an excellent source of vitamin D.

A separate 2008 study by researchers in Amsterdam showed that a lack of vitamin D could increase the risk of depression or other psychiatric problems among older people.

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"Makeup should be fun, not fascist," celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin avers in Face Forward, his third book. The ultimate beauty bookboth gorgeous and practical. Face Forward showcases Kevyn Aucoins incredible transformations of famous and ordinary people alike, and reveals through its step-by-step instructions how makeup can give anyone a variety of different faces. Making Faces has sold 350,000 copies in hardcover and 200,000 copies in paperback to date. Face Forward has already sold more than 250,000 hardcover copies. Kevyn Aucoin is indisputably the best-known makeup artist in North America today.Cher, Calista Flockhart, Jodie Foster, Jewel, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Julia Roberts, Diana Ross, Martha Stewart, Christy Turlington, and Vanessa Williams are among the celebrities featured in Face Forward. Click Here.



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Whether you’re a homemaker from Houston, a grandma from Grand Rapids, or an M.D. from Manhattan, you don’t need to break the bank to look your best. With great cost-cutting tips, at-home spa secrets, designer discount websites, and access to exclusive deals, The Budget Fashionista is like having your own personal stylist at your beck and call. So before you go out and commit the eighth deadly sin–buying a fake Louis Vuitton–read this must-have guide and learn to be style-smart and budget-wise! Click Here

A guide on how to maintain your skin, hair, nails, teeth and eyes to show the world a healthy you.

SKIN

Your skin is your body's guard, protecting your internal organs against bacteria, chemicals, and external shock. It is also the body's thermostat, regulating the body's temperature through the sweat glands. How you take care of your skin is reflected in it's present condition and in years to come.

Skin Care

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  Bathe at least once a day with soap and water. Cleanse your face at least twice a day; in the morning and before you retire to bed in the evening. Avoid harsh soaps and long periods in the bath, which can encourage dryness. Use soap suitable for your skin type.
• Shower immediately after swimming so that salt water and chlorine won't irritate or dry your skin.
• Pat off sweat with a clean towel to prevent irritation. Do not share towels or clothes as skin infections can be passed through these.
• In the bath, remove outer layer of dead skin cells by rubbing a loofah or washcloth in circular motions on your skin. This will help skin look fresher.
• Eat a balanced diet supplemented with zinc and vitamins A, C and E.
• Lubricate the skin from the inside by drinking plenty of water: at least six to eight glasses per day. Cut down on tea, coffee and alcohol which can cuase water loss.
• Use an anti-perspirant or talcum powder to keep the skin cool and dry.
• Allergies, hormonal imbalances, infections or stress can cause skin disorders. Consult your doctor, especially if there is any abnormal bruising or if suspicious moles appear.
• Get sufficient sleep every day. Fatigue is reflected in the skin's condition.
• Always remove makeup before going to bed.
• Exercise frequently. Exercise makes skin glow by encouraging blood circulation and increasing the oxygen supply. People who exercise regularly have better skin tone and texture and fewer wrinkles.
• Don't smoke. It's bad for the health and hastens ageing.
• In humid weather, wear loose cotton clothes to prevent skin irritation.

Anti-ageing strategies

• Wrinkles cannot be avoided. However, avoid strong sunlight, which can cause premature ageing. Too much sun also increases the risk of skin cancer.
• If you have to go out into the elements whether it is sunny, windy or wintry, use a sunscreen on exposed parts of your skin, not forgetting delicate areas like your lips and the tips of your ears. Reapply regularly. Wear clothing with a tight weave. Wear a hat to shade your scalps and face.
• Moisture at leat twice a day: once in the moring and in the evening before going to bed.
• Moisture the delicate skin area around the eyes with special eye creams or gels. Pat on very gently using the third or fourth finger.

What You Should Know About Skincare Products  

CLEANSER	This products cleans the skin of grime and make-up.  Different products cater for every skin type and ever need.  It come in the form of a lotion, a cream or a bar.  Whichever form you use, do not cleanse your face more than twice a day.
Cleansing Cream	It is made from pure oil and water that dissolves dirt and make-up without over drying the skin.
Cleansing Milk	It is an oil in water mixture that functions similarly to a cleansing cream.
Special Cleansers	A pH balanced cleanser is specially formulated to be as close as possible to the skin's acidic balance.
	A medicated cleanser contains anti-bacterial or anti-fungal agents.
SKIN TONIC	The skin tonic is mild lotion that is applied after cleansing and before moisturising.  It refreshes and stimulates the skin by removing residue left by the cleanser and temporarily plumps.
Astringent Lotion	A skin tonic suited to oily skin and helps excess grease.
Freshener	The mildest tonic and suitable for dry skin.
MOISTURISER	The moisturiser is a cream with low oil content to slow down the rate of moisture evaporation from the skin.  It should be applied in the morning and at night if your skin has a tendency to become dry.  Apply moisturiser using gentle upward movements, massaging with quick and light strokes.  Start at the chin and work up across the cheeks to the ears, then down and around the nose, and up from the nose to the temples, and across the forehead.  Be gentle around the eye area.  Use long strokes to moisturise from the collarbone to the jaw.

HAIR


General Care

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  Avoid excessive exposure to the sun, chlorine and saltwater. The sun can make the hair brittle. Protect your hair if going out into the sun. Wear a hat. Apply conditioner with sunscreen. Reapply after going into the water.
• 
  
  Don't pun strain on hair strands by brushing too much or too vigorously.
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  Use wide-toothed comb to untangle hair, starting from the ends. Metal combs could damage delicate hair shafts.
• A balanced diet is essential for healthy hair. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables and ensure you get enough Vitamins A, E and B complex, proteins, iron and iodine.

Cleansing Tips

• Choose a shampoo for your hair type. It should leave hair shiny and feeling clean, not dull and sticky.
• Change your shampoo from time to time as hair develops a resistance to the shampoo's ingredients.
• Always wet hair under a gentle shower. Never in bath as soap and other chemicals may get into the water.
• Check the temperature. Water that is too hot can burn the scalp and damage hair.
• Wet hair before shampooing. Massage shampoo gently and evenly into hair. Do not scratch the scalp with fingernails or use plastic brushes on hair as this can cause soreness and redness as well as damage hair.
• After shampooing, rinse until water is clear. Shampoo that hasn't been rinsed off properly can cause a flakey scalp that is often mistaken for dandruff.
• To prevent tangling, use a conditioner on clean hair. Do not rub scalp. Rinse out completely unless it's the leave-in-type.
• Wet hair is extra-vulnerable. To dry, pat hair gently with towel, wrap and let soak up for a minute or two. Never rub hair vigorously or brush or comb more than necessary.
• If using a hair dryer, do not dry fully. Let hair dry naturally if possible.

Care For Oily Hair

• Wash hair as often as necessary with a mild shampoo and conditioner meant for oily hair.
• Do not over-brush or over-touch hair, as it over-stimulates the sebaceous glands. Use a comb instead of a brush.

Care For Dry Or Damages Hair

• Avoid harsh chemical treatments like perms and colourings until the hair has recovered.
• Choose a shampoo and conditioner that is moisturising. Massage gently into scalp.
• Protect hair from the elements.
• Let hair dry naturally if possible rather than use a hair dryer.
• Eat lots of fish, poultry and other foods high in protein.

Care For Combination Hair

An oily scalp with dry ends could be caused by harsh chemical treatments.

• Switch to a comb instead of brush.
• Apply shampoo only to the scalp, and conditioners to the ends.
• Get hair trimmed every six weeks.

Preventing Hair Loss

• The ageing process, hereditary, hormonal changes (e.g. post-pregnancy) and some drugs may cause hair loss. If you are unsure about the cause, it is best to consult a doctor.
• Be gentle when combing and washing hair.
• Avoid tying or braiding hair tightly.
• Try not to worry and avoid stress.

Anti-Dandruff Strategies

• Use an anti-dandruff shampoo, more often at first and then decrease use as the dandruff clears.
• Consult a doctor if dandruff does not clear within two weeks, or if scalp is extremely painful, itchy or inflamed. See the doctor right away if inflammation appears on other body parts as well.
• Resist scratching the scalp to prevent infection.
• Keep hair clean by shampooing at least twice a week.

NAILS

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  Brittle peeling nails are caused by dryness. Massage moisturisers onto hand and don't skip the cuticles and base of your nails.
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  Wear gloves when doing household chores that involve soapy water or chemicals.
• 
  
  If you have soft, weak nails, apply a nail strengthener once or twice a week.
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  Cut toenails straight across. Nails, which are too short and have rounded edges, can encourage ingrown toenails.
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  Dry feet and hands thoroughly after bathing. Wear footwear in public showers, swimming pools and changing rooms to prevent fungal infections.

TEETH

Around age six, we start losing our twenty primary teeth for a permanent set of twenty-eight (or thirty-two, if your wisdom teeth have appeared) this process continues into the mid-teens. Swollen, red gums that bleed when you brush or floss way indicate gum disease, which is an infection mainly caused by plaque, a bacterial film that coats the teeth. Unhealthy gums can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. The key to having terrific teeth is in prevention.

Early tooth decay and gum disease are silent diseases. They draw attention only when there is pain, which often appears late. By then, complicated and costly treatment may be required. So 6-monthly dental checkups are recommended as a preventive measure.

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  Take about 30cm of floss, wind each end around your middle fingers. Using thumb and forefinger and a slow sawing motion, slip floss between your teeth. Direct the floss against the tooth, rubbing gently in the direction from the gum line to the edge of the tooth. Repeat the same for the other tooth contact points.
• 
  
  It is important to floss at least once a day.
• 
  
  Floss before brushing teeth to get rid of food particles and plaque in areas a toothbrush may not reach.
• 
  
  Floss gently so that you do not damage the delicate gums. Never force floss between teeth where contact is too tight.

• Choose a toothpaste that has a head small enough to reach all your teeth and gum margins. A good toothbrush will have medium, nylon bristles with rounded ends. Replace your toothbrush every three months or when the brush is frayed.
• Choose toothpaste that contains fluoride. This helps to prevent decay.
• Try brush after every meal. Be sure to brush your teeth before going to bed for the night.
• Brush in a systematic manner so that nor area is neglected. Brush the gums and on the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of the teeth with a small circular motion.

Check-Ups

• Don't wait for a problem to arise before you see your dentist. Go for a dental check up and professional cleaning to remove hardened plaque know as tartar at least every six months.
• Inform your dentist of any medical conditions or allergies you may have or if you are taking medications such as aspirin, warfarin or ticlopidine. This is especially important if you are pregnant or have heart disease, rheumatic fever, high blood pressure, diabetes or AIDS.

Dental Do's

• Eat a balanced meal. Calcium rich-food (like dairy products and green-leafy vegetables) are essential for building strong teeth.
• Cut down on foods high in sugar.
• End a meal with a glass of water or something raw and chewy (like an apple) to encourage saliva flow, your body's cleansing agent.
• If you can't brush after meals, at least swish some water around your mouth to get rid of the particles between your teeth.
• Avoid biting into hard buts, bones, shells or ice as these could cause accidental fractures.

EYES

Our eyes are our sense of sight and also our most expressive features. they are well protected by the skull bone and are self-cleaning when batched by their own tears. However, they are also extremely delicate and deterioration in eyesight is gradual. The utmost care should be taken no to strain them.

General Care

• Wear sunglasses with photosensitive lenses during the day, especially around water and snow, as the glare is reflected. Sunglasses help reduce narrowing of the eyes and also help slow down sign of ageing in the sensitive skin area around the eyes.
• Obtain lenses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays, which can cause cataracts and other problems.
• Wearing sunglasses is especially important among older adults and people with sensitive eyes and allergies. Sunglasses help prevent eyes burning, itching or watering due to the sun and air pollution.
• If you have to tan, protect your eyelids with sunshades on sunny days, as well as bright cloudy days. Never look directly into the sun.
• If dirt gets into your eyes, do not rub as this may further irritate the eye. Pull the upper eyelid over the lower one and let tears wash the grit out.
• To reduce puffy eye, soak cotton wool in ice water and place over eye for 15 minutes.
• Eat a balanced diet. Vitamin A is often in yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots and pumpkin and is required for good eyesight.
• Avoid factors and conditions that can expose the eyes to allergies and smoky atmosphere
• When you read, sit upright and hold reading material 30 to 40 centimeters away and slightly below eye level.
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  Bad lighting can make eyes tired and uncomfortable. Ensure you have sufficient lighting. It is better to have light coming over your shoulder than from the front, which can cause shadows glare. Halogen lamps cause less strain than glaring fluorescent lamps.
• Glare from the television can also cause eye strain, ensure that you do not sit too close.
• Go for periodic check-ups if you have any reading difficulties. Consult your eye practitioner once a year from the age of 40 or if the eye show any symptom of pain or redness.
• As we age, the lenses in our eyes become less elastic, therefore the nearest point at which we can focus moves further away. Beyond a certain point you will need reading glasses.
• Diabetic patients of more than five years of with visual problems should have their eyes checked by an eye specialist.
• Eye baths and drops can soothe eyes but may mask the root of the problem. Consult your doctor if you use eye drops that reduce redness every day. If you suspect you have conjunctivitis (an infection of the eye), obtain antibiotic drops or ointment from your doctor.

Contact Lens Care

• A good contact lens practitioner should recommend a lens type suitable for your eyes and your lifestyle.
• Your lens practitioner should demonstrate the cleaning routine to you.
• Start wearing contact lens in stages. Start with two hours on the first day and slowly build up to 12 hours.
• Stick to the lens replacement schedule and don't wear your lenses longer than necessary.
• Most contact lens problem result from lack of attention to hygiene. Be very particular about the cleanliness of your hands and lenses or you could risk an eye infection. Makeup and grease on hands can get into eyes and cloud the lenses.
• Wash the lens container thoroughly with soap and water after each use and allow to dry.
• Women should avoid greasy eye makeup products as they can cloud the lenses. Particles from mascara can get into the eye and scratch the cornea. At the end of the day, remove contact lenses before removing makeup.
• Remove the lenses immediately if they hurt your eyes. A piece of dirt or an eyelash could be trapped under the lens.
• Remove lenses if you see a halo when you look at lights. This could indicate that the cornea is short of oxygen and is swelling up.
• Consult your eye practitioner if you suddenly develop intolerance to your lenses.
• Don't mix cleaning and storing solutions as this could damage the lens or irritate your eyes.
• Wash hand properly before removing contact lenses.
• Wash the lens container thoroughly before storing the lenses.
• Take out the contact lenses one at a time to clean.
• Place lens on the palm of the hand and place a few drops of cleaning solution over the lens.
• Rinse the contact lens.
• Store in the lens container by immersing in disinfecting solution.

Take care to clean & disinfect contact lenses properly to avoid eye infections and allergic reactions.

Preventing Eyestrain From Prolonged Use Of Computers

Long periods of computer usage can stress and dry the eyes, cause blurred vision, tiredness and headaches. It can also aggravate existing ocular problems. Playing computer games for long periods may cause nearsightedness (short sightedness) in children.

• Take a 5-minute rest every 30 minutes or so to relax your eyes: go for a walk, look out the window or close your eyes.
• Place reference material next to the screen to reduce head and eye movements and focal changes.
• Minimise glare form the computer screen as this can sap the energy and lower productivity. Draw the curtains or blinds. Use glare-reducing filter on the screen.