In our fast-paced, high stress society, fatigue and even exhaustion have become the norm. More sleep, of course, is the best answer. But the right diet can also help fuel your body for the long haul and keep your energy levels from flagging throughout the day.

The festival season comes once a year and is a reason to rejoice. And, then, there are a lot of formalities and social happenings – you can’t say no to friends and relatives.

From Ganesh Chaturthi to Diwali or Christmas, festivals in India are celebrated with an assortment of mouth watering, irresistible snacks and sweets, loaded with high calories.

Here are few diet, lifestyle and behavior tips to help you have fun without packing on the traditional extra kilos during festivals.

Healthy diet modifications Strategies

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Applying chemical-laced ‘mehndi’ (henna) on the hands can cause serious side effects including skin infection, doctors said, cautioning girls and women against using it.

Mehndi dermatitis cases are on the rise in the city, said Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Gangaram Hospital here.

“We are getting 8 to 10 patients every day with serious side effects after applying mehndi on their hands,” he added.

“With the arrival of the festive and wedding season, the number of patients has increased. In the non-festive season, just one or two people come to us in a month with skin infection from mehndi. But after ‘karwa chauth’, it is on the rise,” Batra said

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He advised girls and women not to use chemical-laced mehndi as it causes irritation and leaves scratch marks, which can have a life-long impact on the skin.

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India will soon be the diabetes capital of the world. A lot of emphasis is being laid on right nutrition, exercise and a stress-free lifestyle to prevent diabetes.

On World Diabetes Day, we take a look at the benefits of eating a low glycemic index diet. Low GI foods can reduce the average blood glucose levels of diabetics. This is important in reducing the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.

Healthy low GI diets
• Help to fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied for longer — thereby avoiding over-eating or too much snacking.
• Lower your insulin levels — which makes fat easier to burn and less likely to be stored.
• Help you lose body fat and maintain lean muscle tissue.
• Reduce your triglycerides, total and ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol.
• Increase your levels of ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol.
• Reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Help to manage your blood glucose levels and reduce your risk of developing diabetes complications.
• Reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• Reduce your risk of developing certain eye diseases.
• Improve your skin
• Sustain your energy levels longer, — which improves both mental and physical performance.

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