While the talented and versatile Ahsan Khan continues to entertain audiences with every avatar he takes on the screen - be it acting, hosting, modeling or singing - it’s the actor’s commitment towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle that buys him all the charm.

"I am not a health freak but considering the amount of pollution that surrounds us, it is important to be a little careful about your health and hygiene. I have a family to take care of so I am very conscious of these things," Ahsan shares his health-related concerns.

Instep talks to the star about his fitness goals and how he works towards achieving them…

Have a balanced diet

When it comes to food, Ahsan strongly believes in making healthy choices. About his diet, he says, "I make sure I have a balanced diet; I am not at all careless about it. I try and have more protein. I also consume fibre as well as healthy carbs as all these nutrients are important for a balanced diet."

Despite being a foodie, Ahsan avoids highly processed fast food, bakery stuff and all that. He likes to have simply cooked good food instead. Besides, he drinks a lot of water. "I prefer limo pani throughout summer. I also have detox water as it cleanses your entire system. I add cucumber, cinnamon, ginger and a few other things to my detox water," he adds.

As of juices, he says, "I only have beetroot juice when I have one. Otherwise, I avoid juices because of their high sugar content. I consume fruits instead since they are a good source of fibre too."

"I too have my cheat days when I have nihari for breakfast," he confesses, "but usually I am pretty conscious of my eating choices."

Tap into your full potential

To stay fit, it is highly essential to dedicate a considerable amount of time to work out on a regular basis. Sharing his workout routine, Ahsan says, "I wasn’t very careful of this earlier but now I have become more conscious. I work out four times a week with my trainer, Khurram."

Ahsan says that he needs a push in such matters so he has a trainer who ensures he doesn’t skip his daily run while he gyms twice a week. "Mostly I am into cardio. I love swimming and I swim regularly in summer. I also go horse riding. These, and other similar sports, make up for my physical activity so I generally go for a light workout," he adds.

Sleep well

Apart from making healthy eating choices, sleep is also an important factor concerning one’s health. However, where Ahsan considers eight hours of sleep to be important for one’s health, he is a little careless about it. "After shooting for long hours, I watch movies, and read my other scripts as well so I don’t get enough sleep. I think I need to work hard for that," he says.

Peace of mind and soul

"No matter how healthy your choices are, if you are mentally screwed up, all else is useless," he firmly believes. "Mental peace comes from contentment; if you are happy and content with what you are doing, your mind will be at peace and this will make you look good too."

Talking about his own profession, which can get extremely competitive, he says, "It is very important to feel contented. For that, you need to avoid comparison and competition with others. You can be ambitious and hardworking but there is a difference between being desperate and being passionate."

Motivation to stay fit

It’s easy to slide from routine, derail from a healthy lifestyle and slip up on bad choices every now and then. When asked what keeps him motivated to stay fit, Ahsan says, "For a food lover like me, it’s my field that keeps me motivated. My field demands of me to look nice, smart and presentable in all ways. This is the reason I work hard to stay fit otherwise I might not have been this conscious about my diet and fitness."

Piece of advice

Here is the star’s health advice for the readers:

"It is said, ‘you are what you eat’. Considering this, I believe everyone should take care of these things. People should know what they are eating and make their choices accordingly. Moreover, the path to a healthy lifestyle goes through the purity of your mind and cleansing of your soul. The happier you are, the better you feel. If you are unhappy, you will eat more which will have adverse effects on your health. So be a good human being and stay healthy!"