Software for healthy living

Stress, hypertension, obesity and other lifestyle diseases have been dogging all of us. But with a little help from your mobile phone, you can now track how many calories you intake on a daily basis, your exercise routine, the miles you have run or cycled and much more.

Android and Apple phone users can also monitor their sleeping patterns, improve their game of basketball and even nerds can compare their bio-stats with their ilk. Here we bring you some of the top health apps on both Android store and Apple’s App store.

INSTANT HEART RATE BY AZUMIO
For those who are heart patients, this application can be useful, especially when you want to quickly want to measure a rapid heart-rate scenario.

Using this application is also easy. Once downloaded, one can measure their heart rate by keeping their index finger on the lens of the camera. The finger should cover the lens completely. The screen will show the speed of your heart, which can be stored later and be compared with your earlier readings.

Like on most applications this also allows you to share your readings with Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.

Available: Google Play, App Store
Price: Free and the advanced version is for Rs 56.30

SPORTS TRACKER
This will turn your mobile into a social sports computer. This app allows you to analyse your performance, share your workout and of course, stay healthier.

For those who are into running or cycling, this will help them track their miles and monitor their speed. It also keeps a log of previous workouts in a workout diary, which helps a user to compare their performance.

Other than tracking the miles one can also track calories burned to average training speed and altitude. Users can also share their workout data and photos with other trackers or sync it with their Facebook and Twitter profiles.

The application sync with the GPS and helps the user with the route. While the GPS usage does affect the battery consumption it allows the user to discover new routes and trails.

Available: App store, Google Play, Ovi Store and Windows Platform
Price: Free

YOGA
Yoga Stretch.

Available: Available on the App store, this allows you to save up to five sessions or play a preloaded session. The preloaded Yoga Session will give you 60 minutes of exercise. The application comes with an audio instructor, which gives the detailed information on the pose, the required steps to put your body in the correct position and how to maintain that pose.

Before starting a session one can also view the Yoga pose and get their details. It also comes with background music.

Price: $0.99

POCKET YOGA
For users on the android platform they can make use of Pocket Yoga. It allows users to choose among three different practices, three different difficulty levels and three different durations.

The app comes with detailed voice and visual instructions that guide you through every pose, including inhalation and exhalation. It also maintains an ongoing log of all your yoga practices to track your progress.

Available: App store
Price: Rs 170.05

NIKE+ BASKETBALL
The Nike+ Basketball application is designed to work exclusively with Nike shoes containing the latest Nike+ Sport technology. The application wirelessly syncs your shoe to the mobile, which allows you to measure your game, capture your best moves and share with friends.

The application allows you to review every jump you make while throwing the ball. It also captures your hangtime (the time one can stays in air) to take your game to new heights. The best part of the app is that since it has been exclusively made for Nike, it allows a player to track how quickly they move (up, down and around the court). The app also suggest a player where they can improve.

Available: App Store, (Nike+ Running app is available on Android)
Price: Free