The holidays are a time of fun and joy. It's also a time of parties, get-togethers, family lunches and dinner soirees. And then, of course, there are the weddings. Amidst these festivities, its mithais, cakes, alcohol, and erratic sleeping hours; it becomes almost easy to let go of ourselves. Our diet takes a beating, our exercise routine - if we had one at all - starts to suffer. Before you know it, the trousers begin to feel a bit tight, and that favourite blouse no longer fits like a dream. Thankfully, help is at hand. These websites are not only for those who're looking to detoxify their bodies during and after this festive season, they are also great long-term resources if you're looking for advice on how to lead a healthier life. . . 

>> World's Healthiest Foods

There are no half measures when it comes to detoxifying your body. If you're serious about improving your diet, then the World's Healthiest Foods is a great place to start. It is maintained by the US-based George Mateljan Foundation - a non-profit that was established to discover and share scientifically-proven data about the benefits of healthy eating.

The site is designed to help you find information quickly and easily, whether you're searching for a recipe for dinner or even researching the history of a food. And for newbies, it has regular features such as Recipe of the Week, Food of the Week and even a 'Feel Great in 7 Days Menu Plan'. Great for dieticians and anyone who is serious about making positive changes to eating habits. www. whfoods. com

>> Spark People

Spark People helps folk transition from 'fad diets' to a permanent, healthy lifestyle by teaching them how to eat better and exercise regularly.

The free site provides users with informative articles and personalised interactive tools such as fitness trackers and meal plans.

Users can explore the site's Healthy Lifestyle Content Guide to get nutrition and motivation tips;search its Medical Health Content Guide to learn about conditions, treatments, and health news;and follow its medically-accepted diet program to lose weight.

Those who don't want to lose weight can still join and benefit from Spark People's resources and community features such as blogs, message boards and success stories. Members can get answers from experts, and even find, contribute and rate healthy recipes.

To make things simpler, the site's content is subdivided into sections such as Men's Health, Women's Health, College Living, Spark Moms, Brides-to-be, Limited Mobility, Seniors, etc. sparkpeople. com

>> Health Me Up

This is a great Indian resource for everything related to health and well-being, including information on the newest breakthroughs in medical science and even tips on how to deal with lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. But what you should look at is its recipe section to start eating right.

And while you're at it, browse through the weight loss section for tips like 'Best Exercises for a Flat Stomach', as well as the video section for demonstrations of different exercises, and even the right postures for yoga. healthmeup. com

>> Workoutz

For complete training regimes, turn to Workoutz, which hosts free videos on aerobics, athletic conditioning, strength and yoga. It demonstrates how to perform any exercise imaginable, and also features step-by-step photos, as well as written instructions from fitness professionals.

You can select and sort exercises using criteria such as areas of the body, difficulty level, or by alphabet.

Users can also download videos to their PC at no cost. The best part? You can use the site's automated wizard to create a personalised workout program for you - whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced - based on exercise frequency, intensity, time, and type.

Workoutz, however, advises you to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. www. workoutz. com

>> Do Yoga With Me

Yoga is seeing renewed interest the world over as more and more people recognise the health benefits that come with its practise. Still, to profit from this ancient Indian discipline, it is important that you maintain the right postures and breathing during asanas. Do Yoga With Me is a free site that promises to teach you how.

The site is full of high-quality streaming videos that instruct viewers on the right way to perform hundreds of exercises. Users can browse through clips based on difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced); length of video (0-20 minutes, 20-40 minutes, 40-60 minutes, 60+ minutes); style (Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga for athletes, restorative Yoga, etc); and even by teacher (where you can chose from between 10 instructors). www. doyogawithme. com