Fitter in 10 minutes

• Working around the house or in the garden

• Swimming

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4 no-cost paths to a happily beating heart

• An oil for a healthy heart: “Doesn’t exist! How good it is depends entirely on the marketing budget of that particular oil industry... Avoid oil as much as possible.” Aim for 2-3 teaspoonfuls a day.

• A pinch of salt: “Take just enough salt so that the food tastes good.” Go low-sodium only if you have BP or heart problems. Otherwise, it can be dangerous to restrict salt.

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Less pressure, less brushing=better teeth

• Optimum brushing time is just 2 minutes.

• Pressure is harder to gauge. However, an easy trick is to switch your grip: Handle the toothbrush like you would a pencil or a pen.

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Keep it simple for safety

• Overheated non-stick pans emit a bunch of chemicals that may cause cancer, birth defects, immune system suppression and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Such chemical culprits are also found in water- and stain-repellent coatings on carpets, clothing, ironing boards and oven interiors, besides your pots and pans.

• Also keep plastic utensils out of your kitchen. All plastic is heat-reactive to varying degrees, and all cooking involves heat!

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Nutrition bites:10 eats under (Rs)10

Most people are feeling the budget crunch, more so as grocery bills can’t be trimmed beyond a point. But saving shouldn’t shortchange you nutritionally. Though prices vary across cities and outlets, all these are better value than a burger, a kathi roll or chips and cola:

1. Potatoes: Just don’t fry them! About 200g (Rs4-6) makes a good-sized portion.

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Contributors: Kavita Devgan, Sahrika Gahlot, Manidipa Mandal