Carmen Alcayde is enjoying a magical vacation in beautiful Gran Canaria, Spain. Alcayde shared pictures from the trip, including snaps of her relaxing by the pool in a black one-piece swimsuit, and in a white-and-gold bathing suit. “Four days of enjoying the summer weather in their pools... We've been treated like queens and that's how we felt,” she captioned the post. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Alcayde 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. Mushroom Ravioli
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Alcayde loves making mushroom ravioli for her family. “Mushrooms have been shown to have some therapeutic properties which may help lower cholesterol, particularly in overweight adults,” says registered nutritionist Nicola Shubrook. “They also contribute nutrients and plant compounds that may help prevent cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and forming plaque build-up. This in turn helps protect the heart by maintaining healthy blood pressure and circulation.”
2. Corn Cakes
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Alcayde enjoys gluten-free corn cakes for a healthy snack. “While the children are having dinner, and so as not to be tempted to steal the food from their plates, I love to snack on these tasty cakes,” she says. “Then I put the children to bed, tell them a story, tickle them, and about an hour later I have my own dinner. They are ideal to kill the hunger pangs and help me make it to dinner time, since the children have dinner at 8.”
3. Cheese Lover
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Alcayde can’t do without cheese, especially Manchego and Camembert. Cheese has many health benefits—for one, it’s considered a complete protein. “So many studies and meta-analyses have found evidence for the heart health benefits of cheese, mostly from the harder, casein-based cheeses such as cheddars and parmesans,” says Emma Feeney, an assistant professor of food science at University College Dublin.
4. Skiing
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Alcayde enjoys skiing trips with her family and friends. “Skiing is also a great way to get some moderate aerobic activity into your day,” says the University of New Hampshire. “For most people, skiing is an all day event, so you can imagine the workout your heart is getting without you even becoming winded.”
5. Bike Riding
Alcayde loves riding her bike in the fresh air. “It’s been shown that cycling reduces anxiety and depression,” says Jaclyn Kubiak, PT, DPT. “Mainly, because you can make it fun. You get the added benefit of being outdoors or you can go do it with friends. You can change the intensity for it yourself. It can be as easy as you want or as hard and enduring as you want.”