FOR BEST DEALS AND INFORMATION SEE PAGE 32

FOR BEST DEALS AND INFORMATION SEE PAGE 31

CELEB STYLE: AT DVD & PRODUCTCHES

I'd love to work in aBollywood film, says

Kristen Stewart

BMW opens DeutscheMotoren Faridabad, itslargest India dealership

THE PAST WEEK HAS SURELY BEEN A HECTIC ONE, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT EVEN THESE CELEBRITIES. FROM ATTENDING DVD LAUNCHESTO PROMOTIONAL DOS, THESE B-TOWN ACTORS MADE THEIR PRESENCE FELT. TAKE A LOOK AT THESE STYLISH A-LISTERS HERE!

How to shed that tummy flab

10 Habits that can harm your heart

Kristen Stewart hasadmitted that shewould love to act in a

Bollywood film. The Twilightactress was once linked to arole in movie opposite HrithikRoshan. And although theproject never took off, shewould love the opportunity tostar in an Indian-based picturein the future. "If someoneoffers me a good script, Iwould love to work in aBollywood film. I would loveto work with Hrithik Roshan.He is such a wonderful actor,"the Sun quoted her as saying.

It takes more than a treadmill and a strict diet to shed off the moststubborn fat of all — tummy flab. But it's not impossible. There'snothing like a sagging stomach to make any woman feel self-

conscious about her body. Many are oblivious of the fact that differentwomen have different tummy types — just like their hips, thighs, legs,breast size etc. Says fitness expert, Samir Purohit, "You might knowthe kind of tummy you have but maybe unaware that all belly fat is notequal." Here are some of the commontummy types — know the one thatyou have and follow the diet andexercise to flatten it.

Post-Baby tummy"Due to pregnancy, the uterus

tends to get heavier immediatelyafter your delivery as compared towhat it was before pregnancy. Ittakes about six to eight weeks before it comes back to its pre-pregnancy state," says Purohit.

Diet Nutritionist, Namita Nanal says, "Since after the birth of a child,

your body especially the area around your belly is vulnerable to puton weight, it is ideal to follow a diet with a good amount of protein." Make sure you include the consumption of nuts once every

day in your diet plan. To increase your metabolism, eat smaller and frequent meals to

help burn fat. The best cure is fish oil as it helps in the fat burning process

around the stomach.Exercise Purohit says, "Try and first train your pelvic muscles and

lower abs to increase the blood flow and strengthen the muscles." Post natal sit-ups are known to be the best way

to lose the extra flab around your tummy area. Lay flat onthe back with your knees bent. Contract the abdominalmuscles, squeezing them in towards the spine. Lift yourhead off the floor and exhale as you come up. Repeataround 20 times.

Jivesh Shetty, fitness expert, says, "Bent-kneepush up are the perfect way to lose the weight aroundyour tummy. Kneel on all fours with your arms straight and

hands slightly wider. Look downwards so that your neck,back and upper legs form a straight line. As you inhale, bend

your arms to move your body towards the floor. Hold for a second.Exhale as you push yourself up to the starting position."

Bloated tummyA woman who has a bloated stomach could possibly attribute it

to water retention, food allergy or gas. The bloating of the tummy issaid to happen due to the inflammation of the small intestine orcolon or sluggish bowel due to improper and bad eating habits.Says Purohit, "Bloated tummy is common amongst thin as well asoverweight women."

Each year brings new research and numbers in heart healthailments. The biggest reason for almost all heart problemsis lifestyle. Nearly 90 per cent of heart problems are

associated with lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, overeating,and lack of exercise. Therefore, even a small, positive change inyour lifestyle can give you a healthier heart. Hence, in order to getthat positive change, we give you a list of top 10 habits that youneed to avoid to improve heart health.

Too much TVSpending too much time in front of the tv can be hazardous to

your heart, according to a study conducted by The Journal of theAmerican College of Cardiology in 2011.

Even if you exercise regularly and watch TV for more than 4hours a day, it can double the risk of stroke or cardiac arrest, evencausing hospitalization or death.

Diet soda

Consuming dietsoda regularly can becool for summer heat,but it can be adisaster for yourheart health. Regularconsumption of dietsodas may increasethe risk of stroke orother heart disease,even if the patients do not have a history of heart disease.

AlcoholThough consumption of red wine has some heart healthy properties,excessive consumption of any type of alcohol is not good. Excessalcohol can increase calories and also disrupt your sleep patterns,in turn harming your heart. (Contd. on page 26)

SPREAD OVER 1,30,000 SQ FT, DEUTSCHE MOTORENFARIDABAD IS INDIA'S LARGEST BMW SHOWROOM, WITH 13CARS ON DISPLAY AND SERVICE CAPACITY OF 350 CARS A DAY

India’s largest luxury car makerBMW has inaugurated itslargest showroom, Deutsche

Motoren, in Faridabad, Haryana.Spread over 1,30,000 sq ft, thenew facility incorporates a 4Smodel that will take care of sales,service, spares and businesssystems. Based on the Receptionat the Car (RATC) and UrbanStreet Display concept, themodern facility will ensure aworld class pre and post salesexperience for customers. Theshowroom can display 13 carswhile the workshop with 92service bays, can service 350cars a day, with a 75 person workforce. Philipp von Sahr,President, BMW Group India,said, “Five years ago, BMWchanged the face of Indianluxury car segment withintroduction of world classpremium dealerships thatpresented an unparalleledexperience to the premium

clientele. Today, with the launchof Deutsche Motoren Faridabad,BMW India is proud to set yetanother benchmark in luxury carretail in India. Due to its vastcapacity and meticulous BMWprocesses, Deutsche MotorenFaridabad will offer supreme preand post sales service to BMWcustomers.” To mark theoccasion, BMW launched therefreshed X6 xDrive40d at a priceof Rs 78.9 lakh, while the petrolpowered X6 xDrive50i costs Rs93.4 lakh (prices ex-showroomNew Delhi), at the new facility.“Deutsche Motoren’sassociation with BMW Indiadates back to 2007.

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Sonia Gandhi’s bling rivalry

fashion

At the convocation of the National Institute of FashionTechnology (NIFT), Rae Bareli, UPA chairperson SoniaGandhi didn't just make a fashion statement with her

trademark cotton sari and long-sleeved blouse, but also made astatement about Indian fashion sometimes being too over the top.She said, "In recent years, I havenoticed a trend in Indian fashionto overdo, to over-embellish.Sometimes a single garment willhave zardozi, beads, sequins,patchwork and crystals. Apartfrom completely overshadowingthe wearer, such garments arevery uncomfortable to wear. Inmy view, fashion does not meanopulence."

We asked a few Delhidesigners if it's possible to takeaway opulence from Indianfashion, and here's what theyhave to say.

Designers speakThis statement would have

held true 12 or 14 years back, when everyone was a couturier andwould add embellishments to their garment to make them moreluxurious. But with more of younger talent coming in and the focusshifting to high street fashion, there has definitely been a shift now.And ornamentation and opulence is a trademark of India and ourwhole wedding carnival, so you can't take that out from Indianfashion. - Shantanu Mehra

Traditionally, Indian fashion and clothing has alwaysemphasized on two aspects - textiles and embroideries. Old costumesfrom the days of maharajas were quite embroidered and embellished.In the current context, in everyday fashion, one should definitelyemphasize more on textile, but it doesn't mean that that's the onlything you focus on. Special occasions do need a certain amount of

embellishment, and the key is to strike a balance so that we don'tend up looking like Christmas trees. I think what she meant was thatwe shouldn't forget our rich cultural textile heritage which hasdefinitely taken a beating. - Namrata Joshipura

Of course fashion is more than just opulence! I don't think shemeant it badly. It reflectssociological change. Only bridalfashion is opulent. - TarunTahiliani

It depends on the occasion.If you're wearing something fora wedding, it's justified. But youshouldn't over-embellish for acocktail. Indian designersdesign a lot for the weddingmarket, that's our main business,that and the festival season, andat that time everyone wants togo overboard on their fineries.Majority of women dress up atthat time. Otherwise all Indiandesigners have a pret or westernline for the rest of the year.

- Charu ParasharIndian culture is all about workmanship. It's in our blood to

express our art through rich embroidery. I think every designer hasthe right to express himself or herself, even if it is through heavilyembroidered garments. - Riyaz Gangji

She's right in a way, sometimes some designers tend to overkillthe look, they just fill a piece with crystals and demand a higherprice for it. But Asian countries are about maximalism, we do more,we show more, we wear more, and we've been ornamenting ourselvesfor eons. It's in our culture. And creativity and fashion cannot haveany definitions and methods and boundaries. But I respect that shespoke about the beautiful heritage, how interestingly students cantake it forward. - Gaurav Gupta

How do designers feel about Sonia's comment on India's 'blingy' fashion?

Sport your bestlook at play

Who says you have tochoose betweengetting fit and

looking beautiful? Here's thetrick to achieving that winninglook even when you're sweatingit out in the gym, at the joggingtrack or on the sports field Gearup for that big sporting eventyou've been preparing for witha chic hairstyle. Whether your

favourite sport is badminton,basketball, lawn tennis orrunning, you'll want your hair tobe off your neck and out of youreyes to make playing conditionsmore comfortable. We tell youwhat works and what doesn't.

Sleek ponytailA pony is the most

preferred hairstyle amongfemale athletes. For a sleek one,neatly push all your hair backand tie it into a high ponytailwith a firm hair band. "For anyshort hair sticking out, use a mildhair spray to hold it back andsecure with tic tacs," suggestsAakriti Kochar, beauty andmake-up expert. "Elasticheadbands to pull hair back fromforehead; they work bestbecause plastic and metal clipscan sometimes cause injury ifsporting accidents occur," sheadds.

High bunFor sports like swimming

and running, pile all your hairup and tie it with a hairband.Going forward, take the lengthof the ponytail and roll it into aneat bun. This way, the hairdoesn't fall on your face andneck.

Mini-braidWe've spotted various

versions of braids on the tenniscourt, especially on stars likeMaria Sharapova. To make amini-braid, split your hair intotiny sections. Using rubberbands, braid bangs or frontsections of hair, one by one.Depending on your hair'slength, braid one or two rowsand tie the rest back into aponytail. If you have a lot of

time on your hands, braid theentire head. If needed, usehairspray or gel to strengthenthe hold. Consider using anelastic headband to keep braidsagainst the top of your headand off of your face. If you havelong hair, tie a ponytail with anelastic band and make braids.Secure the end of the braids withanother elastic band to holdthem together.

Cut it shortEasy maintenance is the

keyword for stylish athletes."Swap those disturbing bangsand fringes for short bobs,"says Reetu Dang, hair expert.

For a day lookFor a trendy casual outfit,

opt for broad hair bands in nudeand funky colours.

For the nightAccessorise your bob with

a hair pin or fancy gem-studdedglittery clip for a perfect nightout with your buddies.

For swimmersTie your hair up into a flat

bun and wear the swimmingcap.

Spice up your hairstyleIf you do not have a cute

headband or decorated hair ties,try making a pre-wrapheadband.

Which handbag should I buy?Spoilt for choice when you go shopping for bags? Only five

handbags are really necessary! If you are looking at paringdown your style essentials or buying only the best accessories

this season, the handbag is a good place to begin. Every womanneeds to own five handbags, say fashionistas, so while you can

upgrade your bags over various seasons, always make sure thatyou own the five styles that are the classics. The first and the mostimportant one is the carry all tote, which should be able to containeverything you need, right from your lipgloss to the novel you are

currently reading. This is best in a neutral colour or in subduedprints. Anything too bright, flashy and large can add to your girthtoo, so buy these totes in soft shades only.

The second essential in your handbag wardrobe should be apretty clutch. Here you could go in for two variations - somethingwith ethnic motifs to suit Indian clothes, and a regular clutch to gowith all the rest of your going-out-for-a-party attire.

The third handbag that should always be kept handy should bethe overnight bag that you can carry when you can travel. It is bestto buy this whenever you find a beautiful piece so that you are notscrambling to stuff all your essentials into plastic bags or an uglyairbag if an overnight trip comes up suddenly. With environmentconsciousness being top of everyone's mind, the canvas tote orcloth bag is the fourth essential bag to own. But you need not useany old cloth bag to make your point. The stores are now full ofpretty bags with interesting patterns or motifs to make you lookattractive even when you shop. The fifth bag that you might like toown is the 'impress people' classic handbag. This should be yourone big splurge, created by a designer or a fashion house you admireand you could sport this handbag on important occasions, like a biginterview, an important meeting or even a coffee morning with thecelebrities in town. A good handbag always makes a fashionstatement, so even when you go shopping for these five essentialstyles, make sure you buy bags that make you stand out and lookgood too.

Dazzle like a star with star printsIt could be a short dress, trendy clutch or your day-to-day footwear

— we tell you why you should sport star prints, the hottesttrend in Hollywood We love everything that's starry, sparkling

and stylish — no wonder when star prints hit the fashion runwayslast year, not only did they go on to become a major hit with celebritieson the red carpet across the globe, they also made a splash on every

fashion accessory — clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery — you nameit! Couturier Ashna A Kalra tells us, "The star print fashion trendbecame the talk of the town, when models strolled on the catwalkin sensational starry dresses at a popular brand's runway show.They were the biggest transmitter of this trend, splashing starsacross every garment. A lot of labels followed this brand andthis made many Hollywood stars take to this style." No wonder,from Jessica Alba to Kate Moss in her famous star-print jumpsuit,to Sonam Kapoor closer home, this print is slowly becomingaddictive.

Perhaps it's time to bid goodbye to the classic polka dotsand welcome star prints. While it's easy to rock black and whitestar pat terns , you can t ry your hand at other colour

combinations too, to add a dose of sparkle to your wardrobe.Says designer Aniket Satam, "A flimsy blouse in airy fabricslike georgette, chiffon or net, with dainty stars scattered on it inthe form of prints or flock, works best." Else, a wispy printedday dress, with overall print on vintage shades like mustard orpumpkin is great for office wear. Just team this with a navy-

coloured jacket and a slim leather belt. For aday look, opt for a star-printed top, with a pairof skinny jeans and a cardigan. If you are goingfor a night out, nothing spells glamour like ashort starry dress!

So whether it's a star-printed jumpsuit ona teenager or an elegant light-hued maxi printedwith stars on a 40-year-old, this trend has nolimits for age, sex or colour!

Accessorise with stars: Sky's the limit!-Go for accessories which have a certain

star element in them. There's a lot you canexperiment with when it comes to stars; fromshoes, to bags, to scarves, to jewellery.

-"Try any star print accessory with yourfavourite clothing. Wear a pair of star motifjewellery with an elegant black dress, or carrya s tar-pr inted clutch without too muchcommitment," says Kalra. -Pair a plain blouse

with skinny jeans and team these with star-studded loafers orpumps.

-Says Satam, "Sport stars in the form of pretty diamanteclips, to add a li'l zest if you're going on a dinner date."

-A muted grey or black scarf with eye-catching neon starprint works well for a pop star appeal!

It's no rocket science to figure that wearing more than oneprint at a time will result in a disastrous fashion faux pas!Designer Sakshee Pradhan warns, "If you're sporting this trendin your accessories, do not wear it on your clothes and vice-versa." Also, avoid wearing really large star prints; they tend tolook shabby, especially if they are in myriad colours. Go forsmaller prints, they'e cute, exciting and look great on everyone.

Do up your neck witha Peter Pan collar

Peter Pan collars are the perfect way to add instantsophistication to your look. Your favourite Hollywood andBollywood celebrities are sporting it. They are adorable and

even making their presence felt on the runways, across the world.We're talking about the Peter Pan collar syndrome! Named after thecollar of the costume worn by Hollywood actress Maude Adams in

her role as Peter Pan, way back in 1905, it first got associated as afashion accessory on little girls' dresses, but was eventuallyincorporated and accepted as fashionable women's wear. This year,this baby doll style neckline is making a return on the fashion circuitbecause of its versatility. Even fashionista Victoria Beckham flirtedwith the sharp, pointed style of Peter Pan collars in her own line inthe Autumn/Winter 2012 catwalk collection. You can sport a PeterPan collar on your dresses, tops or blouses — it is femininesophistication at its peak. Available in solid colours, lace, beads,sequins, pearls or metal, you can wear them as prim or oversizedcollars — the options are innumerable. And if that's not convincingenough, you can also buy these dapper collars as detachableaccessories. Can you imagine how many boring blouses and dressesyou can transform, by simply adding this wonder accessory?

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Honda Amaze launched in Thailand Porsche 911 Carreraand Boxster rangelaunched in India

Volkswagen Jetta TSI : Road Test

Honda made the global launch of its Amaze compact sedan inThailand. Powered by Honda's 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine, theAmaze has been launched in four variants (two automatic

and two manual) and priced between 454,000 THB and 521,000 THB

(Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh) in Thailand The much awaited HondaAmaze compact sedan that is based on the Brio hatchback has beenlaunched in Thailand. At the moment, Honda has only launched the

petrol version of the Amaze in Thailand that is powered by its 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine. Available in four variants (two automatic andtwo manual), the Honda Amaze has been priced between 454,000THB and 521,000 THB (Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh). The Japanesecar maker will be launching both petrol and diesel versions of theAmaze compact sedan in India next year. And judging by the currentmarket scenario the Honda Amaze is expected to be priced betweenRs 5 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh for the petrol variants and Rs 6 lakh to Rs7.5 lakh for the diesel models. The petrol Amaze will be powered bythe company’s 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that does duty in theBrio and Jazz hatchbacks.

As for the diesel engine, Honda had unveiled its 1.6 dieselengine at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. However, due to regulationsin India diesel engines displacing less than 1,500cc bear lower taxes.Honda is therefore working on a downsized 1.5-litre i-DTEC enginewith a shorter stroke and slightly different exhaust treatment thatwill displace less than 1,500cc. This makes perfect sense since theAmaze is a compact and lightweight sedan. Honda made the globallaunch of its Amaze compact sedan in Thailand. Powered by Honda's1.2-liter i-VTEC engine, the Amaze has been launched in four variants(two automatic and two manual) and priced between 454,000 THBand 521,000 THB (Rs 8.16 lakh and Rs 9.35 lakh) in Thailand

After emerging as an independent entity in the country,Porsche India has now launched the Boxster S, 911Carrera and 911 Carrera S at Rs 81.72 lakh, Rs 1.14 crore

and Rs 1.33 crore ex-showroom Delhi respectively. Stuttgartbased sports car maker Porsche has launched its Boxster,Carrera and Carrera S models in India at prices of Rs 81.72 lakh,Rs 1.14 crore and Rs 1.33 crore, ex-showroom Delhi respectively.Since the official start of deliveries from Porsche India, thecompany has achieved its highest ever sales performance, with117 Porsche owners receiving their cars. “It has been a very

exciting six months for us at Porsche India and we are thrilledwith the pace of our network expansion and new model launchesin the country. Our first month sales result in October has beenin excess of 100 units which is the best ever for the brand here.I am also pleased to announce the arrival of the 911 Carrera,Carrera S and Boxster range,” said Anil Reddi, Director, PorscheIndia. Completely redesigned, the third generation PorscheBoxster S that was unveiled globally earlier this year, is poweredby a 3.6-litre, six-cylinder motor that produces 319PS of powerthat attains three-digit speeds in five seconds with the optionalSport Chrono package and the seven-speed PorscheDoppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) automatic transmission. Thenew open-top two-seater inspires more confidence and analluring classic design that enhances its design DNA.

The seventh generation 911 Carrera S offers a sportier driveexperience while enhancing comfort for day-to-day use. It’spowered by a 3.8-litre, rear mounted, six-cylinder petrol motorthat produces 405PS of power. With the optional Sport Chronopackage, acceleration to 100km/h drops to 4.1 seconds from 4.3seconds. The sports coupe is the world’s first seven-speedmanual transmission and is also available with Porsche PDKautomatic transmission. In terms of design, the 911 Carreraseries is now flatter, longer with more precise design details.The new coupe is also lighter compared to the outgoing modeland now comes with an electro-mechanical steering for betterfeedback.

Porsche India also sells the Cayenne SUV and the PanameraGran Turismo, both of which are available in a range of V6, V8and turbo-charged V8 petrol motors as well as a V6 oil burner.Incidentally, the first delivery by Porsche India was a PanameraDiesel to cricket legend Kapil Dev. Related: Porsche deliversfirst car in India

With the venerable Volkswagen Jetta now available with asmaller 1.4-litre TSI petrol motor, have the boffins at VWmade the right trade-off in order to get the best from this

executive saloon? We find out. In my 4-year tenure at ZigWheels sofar, I think nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, has hurt mycolleague Muntaser as much as saying goodbye to the VolkswagenJetta TDI that was assigned to him as a long-term test car. Nope, noteven bidding adieu to the BMW 325i caused him so much distress.And it’s not just he who misses that sleek silver saloon. Literallyevery one of the ZigWheels staffers never missed an opportunity toeither drive or ride in the car. Yes, we all loved it that much. The JettaTDI was literally the epitome of the perfect executive sedan – stylish,upmarket, well built, great todrive and very frugal to boot. Soyou’d naturally assume thatwhen its petrol powered twin, theJetta TSI, was with us for acouple of weeks for a shoot, theZiggy Gang would haveshowered it with attention. Butyou’d be quite wrong.Make nomistake, the Jetta TSI is a greatcar. But it does pale a little incomparison to its diesel twin. Theproblem I believe is that we wereexpecting too much from it.When the rumour mill wasbuzzing earlier this year that VW was bringing in the petrol Jetta, thenatural conjecture dictated that what we’d find under the hood wouldbe that delightful 1.8-litre TSI motor that makes us howl with gleewhen we put our foot down in the Skoda Laura.

But the Germans pulled a fast one on us and word got aroundthat the Jetta’s petrol motor would in fact be just 1.4 litres indisplacement. But no matter, VW’s 1.4-litre TSI twin-charged engineis a petrolhead’s wet dream. This engine is such a technologicalmasterpiece that it has dominated the 1.0- to 1.4-litre category of theInternational Engine of the Year Awards since 2006 and has won thetop ‘Engine of the Year’ prize in 2009 and 2010. And as if that wasn’tenough, it even ended the Toyota Prius’ Hybrid Synergy Drive’sreign by winning the ‘Green Engine Of The Year’ award in 2009. The

secret behind this engine’s success is that using a combination oftwo different types of forced induction, ie, turbocharging andsupercharging, it can produce up to 179PS of power and 250Nm oftorque, while providing great driveability, excellent mileage and lowemissions. But sadly, for India, we lost the supercharger and receiveda 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces just 122PS ofpower and 200Nm of torque. So you can imagine then, that lookingat the facts and figures, we’d all be left a little disappointed. Butthen what does all this mean for someone who fancies buying apetrol powered Jetta in India? Well, since this is all about a newengine, let’s get straight to the performance game.

Just how much has the performance dropped?Of course, with a smaller, and

more importantly less powerfulengine, performance is going tobe on the low side. So don’texpect this to take on its dieseltwin or its petrol powered cousinfrom the Skoda stables.Compared to the Jetta TDI, thisis 18PS and a whopping 120Nmdown while compared to theLaura TSI, the difference is 38PSand 50Nm. Now all this would befine if the car was considerablylighter, or that engine wasplonked into a smaller car. But at

a bit over 1.4 tonnes, it’s not exactly what you may call light on itsfeet. With just the turbocharger having to do all the work of forcefeeding that small displacement engine with mouthfuls of air, the runfrom naught to 100km/h takes 11.7 seconds, which definitely putsthe Jetta TSI lower down the performance ladder in its class. Zero to100km/h times are just one side of the story though, and the sidethat doesn’t matter too much in the real world. What matters more isdriveability, and here the Jetta TSI certainly impresses. Not becauseit churns out any class leading figures, but because it managesthings that you simply don’t expect from a car that, at least on paper,seems underpowered. The tractability of this engine is surprisinglygood, especially in the first three gears, and in third, this TSI canpull along from 60 to 80km/h in just 4.71 seconds.

Mahindra XUV500 DC Lounge : First Drive

Design guru DilipChhabria gets his handson the Mahindra

XUV5OO and gives it the DCLounge treatment. Dilip Chhabrianeeds no introduction. Founderof DC Design and the brainsbehind some of the mostwonderfully outlandish one-offcars India has ever seen, he hasalso been churning out what arecalled DC Lounge kits foreveryday cars for a little whilenow. The DC Lounge concept issimple – take a regular (andslightly large) car, strip out theinteriors and replace them with aset-up more lavish than even themost luxurious of luxury cars canoffer. And this service isabsolutely brilliant for those whowant something opulent to sit in,but don’t want any sort of flashto be seen from the outside. The DC Lounge’s weapon ofchoice has, in most cases beenthe Toyota Innova, but last yearthe firm also gave the sametreatment to its butch SUVcousin, the Toyota Fortuner. Butremember, we’re talking about anear 20-lakh-rupee car. So if youwanted to ‘DC Lounge’ an SUV,but had a donor car budgetequivalent to the Innova, youwere pretty much out of luck.Until now that is. The goodblokes at DC Design have justdesigned this super luxuriousinteriors kit for the MahindraXUV5OO. Once you hand overyour XUV5OO to DC Design, the

firm really goes to town on it. Theoriginal second row bench andthe foldable third row arechucked out, and in their placego a pair of 24-inch captain seatswhich are fully electric and canrecline to a maximum of 150degrees – perfect to take a napin on those long drives. Theseseats, clad in very tasteful brownleather match the rest of theinterior trim treatment, andfeature controls for the seatposition as well as the interiorlights in the armrests. The roofalso features an aircraft stylecentre module which offersdiffused ambient lighting as wellas an individual set of readinglights for each of the rearpassengers. The backs of thefront two seats feature a pair of10.4-inch LCD televisions whichcan be hooked up to a variety ofsources such as DVD players or

even laptops. And if you want touse your laptop or have a meal, apair of tables with sliding topsand glass holders fold out frombehind the driver and co-driverseats. And the customisationdoesn’t end there. The sameleather upholstery as well aswood panel trim is also availablefor the front of the cabin, to matchthe look and feel of the rear seats.The best part of a customisationjob like this is that you can enjoythe lap of luxury without showingit off to the world. However, if youwere in the mood to show off andthe let all those watching knowthat you aren’t being drivenaround in a regular MahindraXUV5OO, you can always go forthe optional DC body kit whichincludes a new sculpted bumperas well as elegant cladding on thedoors and wheel arches. All wecan say is, wow!

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body & soulSPICY FOOD ANDTHE EXPLOSIVEEFFECTPimples? Go for garlicjuice or mud pack (Contd. from page 1)

Sleeping (too much/little)Sleeping for less than five hours or more than nine hours can

elevate your blood pressure and stress level. Moreover, it alsoincreases the risk of coronary diseases.

DepressionAll of us have to go through a moment of stress, depression

and tension, due to some reason or the other. Naturally, you can'tget away with these emotions easily, but the way you handle theseemotions can take a toll on your heart health.

SnoringBesides being annoying, it is also a sign of sleep apnea. People

with sleep apnea have an increased risk of heart problems becausethey usually breathe in intervals, which causes the blood pressureto increase.

Over exercisingExercising past your limit puts a strain on your heart, which

results in heart fatigue or fainting. Hence, never push yourselfbeyond your limit. However, since the majority of peopleeverywhere usually exercise below or up to moderate activity levels,this is a problem that only exists for a very minor group.

Oral hygieneBad oral health can give you bad breath and can also increase

the chances of cardiac arrest. Wondering how both are related? Itis because bacterias from the gums pass through the blood vessels,which narrows the passages and reduces the blood flow, whichfurther risk your heart health.

Over eatingObesity is the leading cause of heart problems. And obesity is

caused because of eating too much and not exercising.Hence, try to eat less, avoid sugary and high calorie food

items, to live a healthy life.SmokingSmoking even one cigarette a day, can double the risk of heart

problems. Besides, heart problems, it causes cancer and many otherpulmonary diseases.

10 Habits that canharm your heart

If pimples and acne scars on the face are bothering you, try puttingsome garlic juice or a mud pack. Or if you are game for medicalhelp, laser treatment and chemical peels are an alternative, say

dermatologists. The acne problem usually starts around the age of10-13. Though many get rid of it by their 20s, for some it lingers.

"In teenagers, there are two things that trigger acne problem.First is hormonal changes in their body. In boys, it is the increasedsecretion of testosterone and in girls, the levels of both testosteroneand oestrogen rises," Chytra V. Anand, cosmetic dermatologist,Kosmoderma Clinics, Bangalore, said in an interview.

"Due to these hormones the oil secretion in the body increasesand the skin becomes oily and more prone to acne and breakouts.The other trigger for acne is bacterial infection," she added. Anandsays about 90 per cent of teenagers suffer from acne in varyingdegrees of severity. It has a psychological effect on youngsterswho want to have clean and clear skin.Various medical and naturaltreatments are available. "Medicated creams and face washes arethere. Topical treatments for teenaged acne include benzoyl peroxide,sulphur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid are there. The US Food andDrug Administration ( FDA) has found these effective for treatingacne," said Meenakshi Agarwal, a Mumbai-based cosmetic surgeon.

If the condition worsens, doctors prescribe oral antibiotics forbacterial infection, hormonal pills and light therapy with lasers. Thelasers can cost Rs.5,000-Rs.10,000. "Chemical peels andmicrodermabrasion are used to lighten post-acne scarring and costanything between Rs.1,500 and Rs.3,000," said Indu Tolani,dermatologist, Clinic Dermatec. "Post-acne scars can be cleared byclean-ups with salicylic or glycolic acid at a clinic. Gentle exfoliationwith these acids helps in taking out blackheads and whiteheads.Also, the skin becomes acidic and the bacteria doesn't grow in anacidic environment," said Anand. But she warns teenagers againstrandom treatments at beauty salons, saying: "It is important thatthe clean-up should be undertaken under the guidance of adermatologist in a clinic."

Some natural remedies like garlic juice, clay packs and lemonjuice also help in avoiding acne and lightens scars.

"To avoid acne, wash your skin twice a day. Make sure thatyou use a mild face wash that is meant for your skin type. Washingyour face too frequently, especially with harsh cosmetics, canaggravate your acne. Try to avoid processed foods like white breadand noodles as they often trigger outbreaks," Agarwal said in aninterview. "Use a face pack made of Fuller's earth (non-plastic clayor claylike earthy material) at least once or twice a week. This willhelp extract excess sebum and is therefore one of the best naturalmethods to treat acne. "You can also apply a little garlic juice onyour face, for about an hour at least once a week. Although garlicjuice will kill off acne-causing bacteria, do not keep it for too longas it can aggravate sensitive skin," she added.

Mix equal parts of milk cream and lemon juice and apply onyour face, says Anand. The lactic acid and citric acid in these two(respectively) help in lightening the scars. Tolani says naturalremedies help, but medical treatments are more efficient.

"A lot of people try out natural, home-based remedies like claypacks to cut back the oil from their face. Some use gram flour toscrub away the debris and acne-laden skin, but these treatmentsare not sufficient and can't replace the efficacy of medicaltreatments," she said.

5 diets to avoid this New Year

A number of diets followedby famous celebritieshave been named by

experts as 2012's worst offendersand have warned that theyshould be avoided in the Newyear. One diet recommends sittingin a cold bath after drinking black

coffee, while another involvesbeing fed through an intravenousdrip. The British DieteticAssociation said that dietsfollowed by the rich and famouswere becoming 'more extreme' andincreasingly involved 'medicalintervention'. Dieticians warnedthere really is 'no quick fix' to aslim, trim body for 2013 and saidthat following celebrity fadscould lead to health problems.Among the most disturbingentries was the Ketogenic EnteralNutrition Diet, which is said to befollowed by top fashion models.

The KEN diet involves eatingnothing at all. Instead, a liquidformula is administered througha feeding tube inserted throughthe dieter's nose. You areattached to a portable pump andliquid bag for ten days and canunhook yourself for only 60

minutes every 24hours. BDAconsultant dieticianSian Porter describedthe procedure as'shocking' andsomething 'usuallyreserved for thechronically ill'. Thelist also included thebizarre Party Girl IV

Drip Diet. Offered at privateclinics for about 225 pounds atime, it involves a high-dosecocktail of vitamins and nutrientsadministered via a drip of thetype used to treat the severelymalnourished and clinically ill,supposedly providing a 'powerboost'. "There is very littleevidence that this even works inwell people. Even if it did, foodand drinking water or otherhealthy drinks is preferable tohaving an IV drip inserted intoyour body," the Daily Mailquoted Porter as saying.

Easy-to-make shrimp recipesQuick and easy to make, shrimps are a great option to sizzle

up your appetite. The biggest advantage of prawns is thatthey do not take much cooking time. "They make for

wonderful starters or even maincourse. You can have prawnssteamed, barbequed, poached,sauteed or cooked in curry,depending on your taste palateor how health-conscious youare," says Prashant Tikadia,executive chef.

Prawns are rich in proteinsand have abundant nutritionalvalue and health benefits.Known to be a healthier foodoption than meat and beef,prawns have become the favoriteparty food option for people wholove their food and also like tocheck their calories. But apartfrom the taste, prawns have other benefits too. They are low insaturated fats and the acid content in prawns is beneficial for thehuman body. The next time you throw a party, go for some lip-smackingprawn platters that your friends will remember for a while.

Store it rightFrozen, cooked or uncooked prawns should ideally be thawed in

the refrigerator in advance. If you need to thaw quickly, put the shrimpsunder cold water. Cooked shrimps should ideally be stored in a sealedbag for no more than three days in the freezer. Raw shrimp can befrozen with shell or without, but should have the heads removed. Rawshrimps last upto six months in a freezer. Commercially frozen rawshrimp will last longer without deterioration, since they are flash-frozen with little handling. Shrimps should be kept in the fridge in their

original packaging or can be transferred to an airtight container. Theyshould also be kept in their shell until they are needed for cooking.Remember to defrost them before cooking.

Choose correctly-Prawns are available in the

market in a variety of types andsizes. Tiger and rock prawns arethe most popular ones.

-They are normally graded bytheir size and count. The higherthe number, the smaller the size.

-While selecting prawns, pickthe ones with a mild scent. Chefde cuisine, Parimal Sawant says,"If there is any hint of ammonia, itis a sign that the shrimp is waypast its prime. Some may havespots, which means it has beenpoorly handled."

-Commercially sold prawnsare defrosted, and the flesh appears opaque whereas fresh shrimpshave a translucent flesh.

-The glow on the shells of the shrimp indicates freshness.-They should be firm and slippery.-Shrimps should not have any dark spots on the shell or legs.Size mattersShrimp per kilo:10 shrimps or less = Colossal11 to 15 = Jumbo16 to 20 = Extra-large21 to 30 = Large31 to 35 = Medium36 to 45 = Small

How to get rid of blackheadsHere are some sure shot ways to remove blackheads through

some quick fix methods. Squeeze them out: Warming yourskin makes the pores expand, making it easier to squeeze out

the blackheads. You can do this by taking a warm shower or applyinga hot compress to the affected areas. Use an extractor tool or bobbypin to force it out. Becareful with thesemethods, and if youexperience seriouspain, try somethingelse.Use Toothpaste:Apply an inch-sizedamount oftoothpaste on thetoothbrush. Wet the toothbrush and wet the affected area. Gentlywith your toothbrush, scrub the affected area for a short period oftime. Make sure you do not apply it too close to the eyes, as thevapours from methanol toothpastes can irritate the eyes. If you havenose blackheads, apply an even smaller amount of toothpaste, andkeep clear from eyes. Always sterilise the toothbrush with boiling-hot water after following this method.

Lime juice: Make a lotion with equal parts of lime juice, almondoil and glycerin. Apply your lotion to your face.

It will not only cure blackheads but the discolouring spots onthe face too.

Spicy food and the explosive effectIndians love their spices. But did you know that excessively spicy

food can lead to all sorts of digestion issues? We spoke to Dr. SK Thakur, Gastroenterologist from Moolchand Medcity, New

Delhi. He explains, "Spices are added to our food to improve thetaste. However, once they reach the digestive tract they may causeirritation to the stomach's mucosal lining. Spices increase theacid secretion and reduce the strength of the gastritis mucosalbarrier."

"Over indu lgence o f sp icy food may cause var iousstomach ailments. The main reason behind these problems isthe presence of high acidic content in spicy food. Althoughspices provide a number of vitamins and nutrients that arepresent in abundance, too much of these nutrients can beharmful too," he adds. Following are the ailments caused byextra spices in everyday food: Acid reflux: Spices are basicallya combination of acids. When too much of these acids areintroduced into the stomach, which already has its own acidiccontents, it starts damaging the walls of the stomach.

Acute gastritis: It is caused due to inflammation of thegastric mucosa, the membrane that lines the stomach. Manypeople suffer occasional, mild bouts of gastritis, which are often

passed off as simple indigestion. Acute gastritis is generallycharacterized by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, fever,diarrhea, headache accompanied by bleeding in vomiting orpassed in the stool. Gastric ulcer: Spicy food can cause ulcersin the sensitive mucosal lining or in the small intestine, calledthe duodenum (duodenal ulcer), or either in the esophagus(esophageal ulcer). Gastric ulcers are painful causing burningstomach pain, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Insomnia: Spicyfood raises the body temperature, which may trigger insomniathus, it is advisable to avoid spicy food at dinner. Loss ofappetite: Spicy food is safe for consumption when taken inmoderate amounts. One may eat spicy food 3-4 times a week.

Spicy food lovers should take care of the following:-Spices should only be taken in main meals-Avoid combination of fried oily and spicy food as it can

increase acid secretion-Avoid having spicy food in late night meals-Drink milk in order to neutralize acid secreted by spicy

food If you are experiencing digestion issues due to spicyfood, then take antacids one hour after the meal and beforebedtime.

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