Afreen Alvi in Bathing Suit is "Breathing Ocean"

Indian model Afreen Alvi is enjoying some much-needed blue therapy. Alvi shared pictures of herself posing in a black swimsuit, with a beautiful beach in the background. “Breathing ocean 🦋🐠✨,” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Alvi stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. Swimming

Alvi enjoys swimming, which offers many health benefits. “Swimming has long been recognized for its cardiovascular benefits,” says Seena Mathew, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. “Because swimming involves all of the major muscle groups, the heart has to work hard, which increases blood flow throughout the body. This leads to the creation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. The greater blood flow can also lead to a large release of endorphins – hormones that act as a natural pain reducer throughout the body. This surge brings about the sense of euphoria that often follows exercise.”

2. Riding Her Bike

Alvi loves riding her bike outside. “Riding a bike is a low-impact, high-cardio exercise that’s inclusive of all fitness levels,” says certified personal trainer Sara Fruendt. “Bike riding is also easier on your joints and great for athletes recovering from injuries… Indoor biking allows you to see your markers such as miles, time, and resistance, but requires you to independently change these settings versus outdoors where you ride with the natural terrain and are exposed to different inclines. Both increase cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, and strength, but outdoor biking focuses more on your core as you are dealing with different terrain versus indoor, which is focused more on the lower-body.”

3. Hitting the Treadmill

Alvi uses the treadmill for cardio sessions. “There are many benefits to adding treadmill training into your exercise routine and the convenience of the machine makes it a useful tool in commercial and home gyms,” says registered physiotherapist Sam Preston. “It’s important to vary the style of your training, as there are different adaptations and responses to each stimulus you apply to the body.”

4. Fruit Snacks

Alvi loves fresh fruit, especially bananas. “Bananas are loaded with valuable micronutrients, especially potassium, which is one of the most important electrolytes in the body,” says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. “Potassium helps to regulate heart function as well as fluid balance which is a key factor in managing blood pressure. The effectiveness of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, in lowering blood pressure and protecting against heart disease and strokes is well accepted and bolstered by considerable scientific evidence.”

5. Tea Lover

Alvi enjoys tea throughout the day. “Green tea contains a number of natural stimulants, including caffeine, which although not as high as coffee, may still help maintain alertness and focus,” says registered nutritionist Jo Lewin. “In addition to this, green tea is a source of the amino acid L-theanine, which has a relaxing effect; it does this by increasing mood-enhancing brain chemicals including GABA, dopamine and serotonin. The beneficial polyphenols of green tea may also help slow the effects of aging on the brain.”