Best Health And Fitness Apps For Your Smartphone

Smartphones have replaced the age old gym instructors and treadmills rather quickly, and they’re slowly finding their way into becoming your dieticians, physicians and everything else.
Let’s have a look at these few apps that fill the void of being your perfect health advisors.

1. My Fitness Pal

Platform: iOS, Android

My Fitness Pal is a calorie counter that does more than just count fat. With the largest food database of more than 2 million food and food products, My Fitness Pal helps in keeping a tight leash on your calorie intake all the while suggesting over 350 exercises to keep you fit. It also allows you to set pre-installed goals or set your own and achieve them. An integrated social circuit allows you to connect with your friends and track each other’s progress.

2. iTreadmill

Platform: iOS



As the name suggests, iTreadmill does everything a treadmill does, except it idly fits into your palm of your hand allowing you to take it wherever you go! A highly useful app to keep you fit, iTreadmill will allow you to set a target pace, calculate the distance covered, and give an estimate of the amount of calories burnt. The ability to measure your parametrics accurately and keep a tab over your general movement makes the iTreadmill an app worth installing.

3. Pocket Yoga

Platform: iOS, Android



One of the most useful apps for people who want to embrace the power of yoga, Pocket Yoga brings to you a course in Yoga with 3 different practices, 3 different difficulty levels and 3 different durations with 27 different sessions! In-depth visually illustrated information regarding every posture with step-by-step instructions makes this one highly beneficial. A virtual Yoga instructor, Pocket Yoga also comes with some soothing music to get you into the right groove!

4. 400 Calories or Less Cookbooks

Platform: iOS



We’re always bogged by the prospect of preparing something that smells and tastes delicious all the while keeping a firm tab over your calorie intake. 400 Calories or Less Cookbooks does just that! The app dishes out a variety of delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes that also keep an eye on the calorie meter and see that you don’t go overboard with the indulgence. Perfect for ones who’re keen on sticking to a diet and yet want to spice it up in all the right ways!

5. Yog

Platform: iOS



The unrelenting surge of adrenaline while being a part of a race has a charm in itself, and Yog knows how to push the right buttons in this case. It allows you to schedule your race with anyone in your network of Yog runners and schedule a race at any given point of time, regardless of your and your competitors’ location! You can find new running companions through this one and have someone to keep you motivated and running through the regime. The best part of Yog being is it tends to give real-time results of your competitor’s location and current standing.

5 Best Home Remedies to Cure Dark Circles

Most of the cosmetic products designed to remove them are expensive and laced with chemicals that can be harmful to the delicate skin under your eyes. However, there are certain effective natural remedies that can help you greatly in getting rid of these awful marks around your eyes and will also prevent its occurrence in the future. Here are five natural remedies for treating dark circles around your eyes.

Tomato paste

Tomato paste is one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. You can make it easily at home. Take one or two fresh tomatoes, one tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder. Blend these ingredients nicely until they become a thick paste and apply it very gently around your eyes. Rinse it off gently with clean water after 10 or 20 minutes. Repeating this process twice or thrice every week will make your skin tone around your eyes lighter and will eventually make your dark circles go away completely.

Cucumber and Potato

Putting slices of fresh cucumber or potato over your eyes can help reduce dark circles to a great extent. It also provides your eyes a soothing touch which further prevents the occurrence of dark marks around your eyes. Besides the slices, you can also apply fresh juices of cucumber or potato around your eyes with the help of a cotton ball. It will better to apply the juices for entire night for quicker and more effective results.
Almond oil

Almond oil is another natural ingredient which is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. All you need to do is to apply a little almond oil over the dark circles before going to bed and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Repeating this for at least a month will make your dark circles disappear almost entirely.
Crushed mint leaves

Applying crushed mint leaves over your eyes will not only soothe your eyes but will also help you in getting rid of dark circles. Apply freshly crushed mint leaves all around your eyes and leave it for 5 or 10 minutes. Then gently wipe it off with a clean and cold cloth. You will feel extremely relaxed and will also get rid of under eye circles gradually.
Orange juice and glycerin

Regular application of orange juice mixed with glycerin is an effective way to get rid of dark circles. However, besides removing your dark circles it will also provide your overall skin with an inner glow and will make your skin around your eyes smoother and softer than before.

Narine stars as Knight Riders start IPL6 on winning note

Jayawardene was the only shining star for Delhi Daredevils. (IANS)KOLKATA: Sunil Narine carried on from where he left off in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League, as he spun a web around the Delhi Daredevils' batsmen at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday night as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders started their campaign in IPL-6 on a winning note. Gautam Gambhir, captain of KKR, then led the run chase of 129 as the hosts eased to a six-wicket win with eight deliveries to spare over their depleted rivals.

The Daredevils batsmen, with the exception of their captain Mahela Jayawardene (68), struggled to come to grips with the slow Eden Gardens track after being put into bat; and Narine (4-13), the Purple Cup Winner in IPL-5, added to their pain as the visitors were bundled out for a sub-par total of 128 in the last delivery of their innings. 

The Knight Riders' chase wasn't off to the best start as Irfan Pathan bowled the first maiden over of IPL-6 before Ashish Nehra dismissed Manvinder Bisla in the second over of the hosts' innings. Gambhir, who made a quickfire 29-ball 42, and Jacques Kallis (23), added 47 runs for the second wicket as they took the attack to the Daredevils' bowlers.
Kallis was especially harsh on Nehra, who he hit for three boundaries, while Gambhir was harsh on all the bowlers, and looked confident in the middle as he displayed his range of shots. Gambhir did have some nervy moments though, including a couple of occasions when he almost ran himself out, but the KKR captain looked unruffled for most of his knock and he also kept the scoreboard ticking over as he ran the singles and twos. Shahbaz Nadeem (2-22), who was the pick of the Daredevils' bowlers, and troubled Manoj Tiwary, dismissed Kallis with a long hop that the experienced South African all-rounder failed to take advantage of and was caught by Unmukt Chand at midwicket.

The Daredevils may have thought an improbable win was on the cards when Johan Botha and Nadeem dismissed Gambhir and Tiwary in the space of seven deliveries as KKR slipped to 99 for 4 in the 15th over. Botha trapped Gambhir LBW when the southpaw missed a straight delivery, and then a Nadeem delivery that turned sharply led to a top edge from Tiwary (23), and he was easily caught by Naman Ojha behind the stumps.

Eoin Morgan (14*) and Yusuf Pathan (18*), though ensured there wouldn't be any slip-ups in the run chase, as they steered KKR to victory with their unbroken 30-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, Jayawardene came to the middle in only the second delivery of the match and was the only Daredevils' batsman to come to grips with the slow and sluggish Eden Gardens wicket. Brett Lee had given Knight Riders a dream start when he uprooted Chand's off stump with a lethal away cutter in the first delivery of IPL-6. Chand came into the match with consecutive domestic Twenty20 centuries, but was no match for a Lee special that would have been too much for the most experienced of batsmen.

In an indication of things to follow, Jayawardene got himself and the Daredevils off the mark with a boundary in front of square leg off the first ball he faced; with David Warner also hitting a boundary through the covers in the last delivery of the first over.

Jayawardene, who made a 52-ball 68 (eight boundaries and a six), and David Warner consolidated the Daredevils' innings and gave the visitors some hope with their 44-run partnership for the second wicket. The pair not only kept finding the boundaries at regular intervals, but also rotated the strike well as they ran well between the wickets as the scoreboard was kept ticking over. Warner had a poor away Test series against India, but appeared to be regaining his form, and was especially harsh on Kallis, who he hit for three boundaries.

But, the introduction of Narine in the sixth over, was to change the complexion of the match, as the West Indies offbreak bowler, struck with his fifth delivery when he got Warner to edge a catch a Kallis at first slip. This was to be Narine's only over of his first spell, but if the Daredevils' batsmen thought they could take runs off the other Knight Riders' bowlers, they had a nasty surprise awaiting them as L Balaji and Rajat Bhatia took the pace off the deliveries and mixed up their deliveries, with Bhatia especially bowling legcutters almost at will. Such was their effectiveness on the slow Eden track that Balaji (1-20) and Bhatia (2-23) only conceded 43 runs in the eight overs they bowled between themselves.

Jayawardene though showcased his class and experience to the hilt through the course of his knock as he mixed caution with aggression even as he watched a procession of Daredevils' batsmen not showing the required application and trying to hit their way out of trouble, but in vain. The 22-year-old Gujarat batsman Manprit Juneja, who was making his IPL debut, failed to learn from his captain's example at the other end, and was well caught by Laxmi Ratan Shukla off Balaji's bowling in the ninth over with the score on 59. Bhatia then got rid of Ojha and Botha in quick succession as the Daredevils slipped to 88 for 5 in the 14th over.

Narine's re-introduction into the attack in the 16th over destroyed any hopes the Daredevils had of posting a 140-run target, as he dismissed Irfan Pathan, Andre Russell and Nehra to end with dream figures of 4-0-13-4. The dismissal of Russell would be one Narine would get particular pride in as he bamboozled his West Indies team mate during the all-rounder's short stint in the middle. Russell's ordeal finally ended when he lobbed an easy catch to Narine off his own bowling. 

At the other end, Jayawardene was harsh on Lee in the 17th and 19th overs as he took 23 runs, including three boundaries and the only six of the Daredevils' innings, off the former Australian pace spearhead. Lee (2-40) did have Jayawardene caught by Narine off the last delivery of the 19th over; and the West Indies offbreak bowler conceded only three runs in the final over of the innings as Daredevils were bundled out for a paltry 128.

The Daredevils, who suffered a double blow before the season started, with the injured pair of Kevin Pietersen and Jesse Ryder both ruled out of IPL-6, were without Virender Sehwag for the IPL-6 opener because of a back spasm. Morne Morkel was another notable absentee for the Daredevils as he is playing domestic cricket back in South Africa. The Knight Riders were without New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who is yet to join the franchise, because of a hamstring injury he suffered during the drawn third Test against England in Auckland last week.

8 Ways To Increase Your Water Intake

The importance of drinking water is always reiterated to you in different ways. However, often one fails to consume the adequate amount of water required by the body.
Let’s look at ways to increase the intake of water.

1. Carry a water bottle

No matter where you go, a handy water bottle in your bag is a must. By doing so, every time you feel thirsty, you can immediately gulp down some water from the bottle rather than keeping yourself thirsty for long.

2. Alarm

If you belong to the kind of people who need to be reminded to drink water, then set an alarm that would beep after every hour and remind you to drink water.

3. Accessibility

When a bottle of water is kept right in front of your eyes, it is more convenient for a otherwise lazy person to pick it up and drink from it. Be it your office desk or your bed; make it a habit to have an attractive bottle right in front of you.

4. Tasty additions

If plain water is not you are very fond of, add interesting flavors to it to make it easier to consume the required quantity of liquid for your body. Adding lemon, rose or any other refreshing syrup to your water can help you achieve your target.

5. Sticky Notes

Writing and sticking witty and alarming one liners to remind yourself about drinking water can be another effective way. Stick these notes at the places you tend to spend the most amount of time. It could be your desk, living room or any other space in the house.

6. Soups and Juices

Changes or additions made to one’s diet can also help in increasing the water intake. Drinking your choicest fresh fruit juices and soups in the day can also ensure water intake for your body.

7. Fruits and Vegetables

A number of fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of water. Tomatoes are nothing but 97% water and oranges are composed of 87% water. Similarly avocados, strawberries sweet limes amongst many others are rich in water and you must eat them to consume sufficient amount of water on a daily basis.

8. Motivate yourself

Self-motivation plays a very vital role when you are out there reaching a target. Measuring the amount of water and pushing yourself for the sake of good health to drink more water everyday can be an effective way to consume plenty water.
Might seem a mammoth task, but applying simple and innovative techniques to drink more water daily can work in the right direction for you.

8 Ways To Burn Calories At Your Desk

You’ll find it surprising to note how many people attribute a lack of fitness to their work schedule. In this article, we offer some exercises that will help you burn calories without rushing to the office gym. Ten repetitions each is a good start for each of these.

Shoulder Stretch

· Enact reaching out with your right arm to take something from the left side by stretching it across your chest.
· Use your left arm to hold your right from beneath to bring it closer to your chest.
· Do this for the left arm.

Abdominal Crunch

· Lean back, waist upwards and back straight, while sitting on your seat’s edge.
· Hold both sides of your seat firmly.
· With both knees bent, lift your legs up, while the abs flex each time.
· Lower your legs straightening downward, without allowing your heels to touch the ground.

Lower back exercise

· Keeping your palms on your lower back, push your fingers downwards as you lean back.
· Allow your back to arch, with elbows pointing straight behind you as your chest faces upward.
· Maintain for 15 seconds.

Quadriceps and Calf stretch

· Keep both palms on your right leg a little above your knee, and from the hip flexor, lift it, extending it until it is straight.
· Holding the leg straight, flex the muscle for at least 10 seconds in that position.
· Lower it slowly, keeping you foot back on the floor and then repeat with the left leg.

Sitting and standing straight

· Ensure your chair is adjusted to promote a healthy posture, where you aren’t round-shouldered or slouched over.
· Keep both your feet flatly grounded.
· Stand straight up, your shoulders back and chin levelled.

Chair dips

· Keep both palms on the edge of the chair and your legs, extended straight in front of you.
· With your elbows bent and hips before the chair, lower your body with your elbows.
· When your elbows are at 90 degrees, push yourself back up.
· Do at least 10 repetitions.

Ab twists

· Place both hands on the left arm of your chair and twist only your upper body, keeping your legs straight and unmoved.
· Do ten repetitions each, twisting to the left, and then to the right.

Front raise and Tricep toning

· Keeping your abs inward, sit straight and hold a slightly heavy file in your left hand.
· Raise the file to shoulder level, hold, and continue to elevate it above your head.
· When you arm is straight up, bend your elbow and slowly lower it sideways till it’s extended at shoulder level, then straighten and lower it to your side.
· Repeat for other arm.
These office exercises should tone your upper and lower body effectively, but are the minimal measures for fitness. Taking the stairs, two or three at a time, doing push-ups before lunch or every two hours, and eating home-cooked food are other ways to dedicate a greater effort to your health.

Gadget Of The Week, iRig MIX

Techies and musicians the world over have been toying with the idea of bundling the everyday smartphone with a portable accessory that’ll allow them to dish out some tunes while on the move,
and IK Multimedia has heard all the pleas and come to the rescue!
We’ve seen an array of apps being launched by software companies to cater musicians who own swanky iPads, leaving the huge Android market completely untapped. Thankfully though, IK Multimedia filled up that void by launching the all new iRig MIX that caters to both the markets and does its usual bag of tricks and more! Previously known to launch Guitar interfaces for iPhone along with a wide variey of apps, IK launched the iRig MIX, a handy tablet sized piece of analog machinery that does all the things a DJ console would do.

A professional DJ mixer, the MIX comes with a crossfader, cues, EQ and volume controls among other nifty knobs needed to please a Disc Jockey! Capable of clubbing two devices at the same time or mixing through a single one, the MIX gives complete control of the mixing to a DJ in the palm of his hands. You can have two iPhones or android devices, maybe just one, or even an old-school CD player, the MIX can handle everything thrown at it.
But what truly stands out is the possibility of connecting a guitar, bass guitar or practically any other instrument that needs some mixing assistance. A very handy feature for a band who wish to tweak their sound to perfection on or off the stage. The MIX is capable of pairing itself with every music-based iOS and Android app available in the market, and acts as a worthy accessory to your tablet or smartphone.



And just to sweeten the deal, IK Multimedia bundles four highly useful apps with the iRig MIX for a person to fidget; DJ Rig, the professional DJ mixing app, AmpliTube, the iOS guitar amp and effects app, VocaLive the processing app for vocalists, and GrooveMaker, the loop based beat and groove making app.
So if you have an Apple device or an Android smartphone and are a budding DJ, a professional musician, a vocalist, or someone who loves to tweak their music the iRig MIX is the right accessory for you. Priced at a highly affordable tag of INR 5500/-, the iRig can be purchased directly from their official website.

Top 5 Windows Phones In The Market

Microsoft entered the highly lucrative smartphone market with their Windows 8 for portable devices. Next in the line of Windows operating systems, Windows 8 is a tile based OS that is set to replace Windows 7 on desktop PCs and handheld devices as well.
Nokia and HTC have embraced this all new OS and have launched a variety of smartphones in different price brackets. Let’s have a look at the best Windows based smartphones among them all.

1. Nokia Lumia 920

The high-end smartphone by Nokia, Lumia 920 is the torchbearer for Windows and Nokia alike. A rival all set to take on Android biggies HTC One X+ and Samsung Galaxy SIII, 920 is packed with features. A 4.5 inch screen with a state-of-the-art 8 megapixel Carl Zeiss optics ensures breathtaking visuals. An LTE phone with 32 GB of internal memory and dual core Snapdragon processor that clocks 1.5 GHz and 1 GB of RAM makes this machine run smoothly. Priced at 37,000/- this one’s an expensive handset but competes fairly well with its rivals.

2. Nokia Lumia 820

920’s smaller sibling, Lumia 820 is a smartly placed smartphone. A 4.3 inch screen with an 8 megapixel camera, 8 GB of internal memory with expandability options, Dual Core snapdragon 1.5 GHz processor, 1GB RAM and all the other glitz and glamour. Simply put, 820 is the dwindled down version of the 920 with a slightly less-attractive display and camera capabilities. With a price tag of 23,500/- the 820 is the perfect handset for a mid-segment phone user.

3. HTC Windows Phone 8X

A high-end Windows 8 phone from the HTC camp, this one fits right into the competitive segment with the top ones out there. To put things into perspective, the 8X has everything the 920 does, sans the Carl Zeiss optics and the Nokia tag. The secondary camera on this one is a wee-bit powerful all thanks to its 2.1 Megapixels. Priced at 33,500/- , get the 8X if you’re a sucker for everything HTC with a Windows tag on it!

4. Nokia Lumia 520

The budget-phone by Nokia, the Lumia 520 is a simple yet classy looking handset with the right chiselling to make it look suave and stand out in the crowd. A 4-inch screen and 5 megapixel camera with 8 GB internal memory and dual core 1 GHz processor is a steal-deal, especially with the price tag of 10,500/- only. Only drawback being is the lack of a secondary camera but with the current connectivity issues it won’t be a real problem.

5. HTC Windows Phone 8S

The HTC 8S is the tamed version of the 8X. A phone with 512 MB RAM, dual core 1 GHz processor, a 5 megapixel camera and 4 GB internal memory. Not the best in its class, but it surprisingly packs a punch when it comes to performance with regards to Windows 8 in it. At 18,000/-, the phone is a bit heavy on the pocket, but gives a fairly decent Windows 8 experience to a user.