Padma Lakshmi in Bathing Suit Feels "Hawai'i Breeze"

Padma Lakshmi is feeling the tropical vibes. The Top Chef host, currently vacationing in Kauai, shows off her ageless body in a swimsuit via her latest Instagram video. "New perfume? No, just chlorine and the Hawai'i breeze. Hanging by the pool," she captioned the clip. How does she make 51 look like 21? Read on to see 6 of Padma Lakshmi's top tips for staying 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!

Padma has revealed that during an average season of Top Chef, she gains up to 17 pounds. To lose the weight, she does a food detox. "It's no sweets, no red meat, no wheat, no alcohol, no fried food, no dairy except for cottage cheese or low-fat yogurt. But this is a milder version—like, I can fall off the wagon one day a week," she told Health. "Probiotics are different in that they contain live organisms, usually specific strains of bacteria that directly add to the population of healthy microbes in your gut," says the Mayo Clinic. "Like prebiotics, you can take probiotics through both food and supplements. Probably the most common probiotic food is yogurt."

Padma splits her plate into halves. She fills the first half with 50 percent fruits and vegetables and the other 50 percent simple carbs, starch, and lean protein, she dished to Women's Health. To ad dmore veggies into your meal plan, says the Mayo Clinic:

• "Add extra vegetables to your sandwich or wrap. If you are eating out, ask for extra vegetables.
• Make homemade vegetable soup for lunch. If you choose to buy soup from the store, compare nutrition labels and choose the option with the lowest amount of sodium.
• Build a salad with at least 3 cups of leafy greens. You can add chopped up vegetable and fruit for added flavor.
• Use leftover vegetables from last night's dinner as a side dish.
• Top a baked potato with salsa or broccoli."

While shooting Top Chef, Padma's diet is everything-goes. During her down time, however, she eats as plant based as possible. While produce makes up most of her diet, she told Women's Health that she does allow herself some chicken, fish, ground turkey, and veal. A plant based diet, says the Cleveland Clinic, "eliminates all animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. As the name suggests, everything you eat — including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds — is derived from plants."

Padma is a big advocate of hydration. "I drink a lot of water—three liters a day," she told Health. "I can tell by how much I'm peeing." She also stays hydrating by not drinking alcohol. df44d9eab23ea271ddde7545ae2c09ec

Padma is devoted to working out, breaking a sweat at least five times a week for 90 minutes, she revealed to Women's Health. For cardio she loves jumping rope, which she does for about 35 minutes per day and 2,000 strokes. When strength training she lifts weights and does classic squats, lunges, and dumbbell curls, two or three times a week. "He's there to watch my form, and he spends most of his time telling me not to do something," she said about her trainer Tony. And, for more cardio she will do 30 minutes on the elliptical, treadmill, or slide board and an hour of boxing and once "all warm," heads to pilates. 

Padma also loves pilates. "I started going to Pilates a few years ago, because my chiropractor recommended it for my back," she told Women's Health. "Pilates changed my body. It made me strong in places I didn't know I needed to be. I have a" backside "now that I didn't have during my modeling career!" "Pilates also gives us more body awareness, lead yoga therapist Judi Bar tells the Cleveland Clinic. "If we're exercising and getting the blood flowing, strengthening our muscles, we will feel a little bit better. And that may support your creaky lower back."