Author: Dr. Raman Tanwar

  • Armaan Malik: Global Voice of I-Pop

    Armaan Malik has been immersed in music for as long as he can remember. Growing up in a family of musicians, his journey started early with Hindustani classical training at the age of four. Over the years, he has carved a space for himself in the industry, blending Bollywood hits with independent music and even international collaborations.

    Known for his versatility, Armaan seamlessly transitions between genres and languages, always striving to connect with his audience. But beyond the music, there’s a lot that goes into his craft—maintaining vocal health, balancing a busy schedule, and staying true to his personal style.

    In this exclusive conversation with Best for Him, Armaan opens up about his journey, his approach to wellness, and what keeps him motivated both on and off the stage.

    What inspired you to pursue music at such a young age? 

    Music has always been a part of who I am. Growing up in a musical family, I was constantly surrounded by melodies, and I think that naturally shaped my love for it. But beyond that, I’ve always felt a deep connection to music—it’s the best way I know to express emotions. I started training in Hindustani classical music when I was four, and there was never a doubt in my mind that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. 

    Coming from a musical family, did you always feel destined for this career, or did you have other interests growing up? 

    It was always music for me. I never really had phases where I wanted to do something else—it’s been my passion for as long as I can remember. From my childhood, I knew that singing, performing, and creating music was what made me happiest, and I never questioned it.

    Your music spans multiple genres and languages. How do you adapt your style when switching between them? 

    For me, music is a universal language, and I love exploring different styles. Every genre, every language has its own essence, and I focus on understanding that before recording. Whether it’s a Hindi ballad, an English pop track, or a Telugu melody, my goal is always to do justice to the song and its emotions. Listening to different kinds of music and constantly learning helps me stay adaptable. 

    What’s the most challenging song you’ve ever recorded and why? 

    Honestly, every song comes with its own challenges. Some require a lot of emotional depth, while others are technically demanding. I wouldn’t say one song was more difficult than the other because they all need an equal amount of practice, precision, and vocal control. The key is to understand what the song demands and deliver it in the best possible way. 

    With constant travel, performances, and studio sessions, how do you ensure a healthy work-life balance? 

    It’s not always easy, but I make sure to take out time for myself and my loved ones. Even in a packed schedule, I try to maintain a balance so that I don’t burn out. Sometimes, that just means switching off for a bit, listening to music without thinking of work, or having a quiet moment to recharge. 

    As a singer, your voice is your biggest asset. What wellness practices do you follow to keep your vocal health in top shape? 

    Staying hydrated is the most important thing for me—I drink a lot of warm water throughout the day. I also do vocal warm-ups and breathing exercises regularly. I avoid dairy and cold drinks before performances, and I make sure to rest my voice when needed. Sleep is also super important for vocal health, so I try to get enough of it despite my schedule. 

    What is your approach to grooming and self-care? Do you follow any skincare or grooming rituals? 

    I like to keep it simple—good skincare, staying hydrated, and maintaining a routine that works for me. I believe self-care isn’t just about grooming but also about feeling good from within. When you feel good internally, it naturally reflects on the outside. 

    How does your personal style impact your confidence and stage presence? 

    My style is a big part of how I present myself, both on and off stage. It’s all about comfort and confidence. I prefer outfits that enhance my personality without overpowering the performance. Whether it’s a sharp, well-fitted jacket or a more casual look, I like to wear things that make me feel good and allow me to move freely on stage. 

    Do you follow any specific habits or mindset practices that help you stay motivated and productive? 

    There’s nothing too specific, but I believe in setting clear boundaries between work and personal life. Allocating dedicated time for both helps me maintain stability, and that way, I can give my best to everything I do—whether it’s music or spending time with family and friends.

    Rapid Fire Round

    One song that lifts your mood instantly?

    Commas by Ayra Starr

    Morning workout or late-night jam session? 

    Morning jam session haha!

    A grooming product you swear by? 

    Bed Head Matt Separation Wax

    A wellness habit you can’t live without?

    Drinking warm water throughout the day. 

    Coffee or green tea?

    Green tea. 

    Your go-to cheat meal? 

    Double layered Waffles with Nutella

  • Find the perfect Balance with Amazfit Balance

    Find the perfect Balance with Amazfit Balance

    What if your smartwatch could think, respond, and adapt just like you? Meet the Amazfit Balance, where Zepp has made their best attempt at making AI and innovation meet. The Amazfit Balance smartwatch is a good blend of cutting-edge AI technology with comprehensive health and fitness monitoring, appealing to both tech lovers and those focused on wellness. Whether you’re looking to elevate your workouts, stay on top of your schedule, or explore seamless AI integration, this smartwatch is built to meet all your needs. Firstly after trying out this watch for 7 days, I truly felt that watches apart from chosen companies like apple and Samsung are also at par and even better. Here’s more to what I found out.

     

    Design & Build: Sleek, Durable, and Modern

    Design & Build: Sleek, Durable, and Modern

     

    First impressions? Stunning! The Amazfit Balance comes with a lightweight aluminum alloy frame, sleek and durable. The AMOLED display is bright, which promises clear visuals indoors or outdoors. It’s the kind of design that makes you want to show off your watch—classic yet modern. It’s a vibe that I always missed from my Apple Watch. The sporty Velcro based strap is comfortable and trendy and most importantly easy to snap on. But it’s not just about looks.

    Not just features but balanced looks as well.

     

     Zepp Flow : Your AI-Powered Assistant

    Here’s where things get exciting. The Zepp Flow™ feature is like having your personal AI assistant on your wrist. Unlike traditional voice commands, this system understands natural language. Imagine casually saying, “Remind me to call mom at 5,” and it just gets it. From replying to WhatsApp messages to scheduling events, Zepp Flow™ feels intuitive and natural.

     

    But that’s not all. The AI integration here is so smooth that it becomes an extension of you—seamlessly blending into your daily life. Sometime you want your watch and phone to be separate devices and behave Independently on their own while just being in sync.

    The watch definitely added to my productivity but more importantly it taught me a lot more about my health and it also helped me work on it.

     

     The Tech Specs

    Operating System

    Zepp OS 3.5

    AI Assistant

    Zepp Flow™ Natural Language Interaction

    Display

    AMOLED

    Battery Life

    Up to 14 days

    Fitness Features

    Marathon Plans, HRV Tracking, Sports Modes

    New Sports Modes

    Bouldering, Indoor Rock Climbing

    Connectivity

    WhatsApp Image Support, Offline Maps

    Water Resistance

    5 ATM

    Navigation

    Road Names on Offline Maps

    Price

    ₹15,999

     

    Being someone who manages multiple roles this watch could very reliably predict my stress levels. I found out the multiple ways in which is measure sleep stress and other parameter to give you a readiness score which u found very useful. It could very discreetly suggest which parameter in the physical and mental domain needed more work and I felt it was quite accurate. This was a new feature which wasn’t there in the other watches I have owned or tried.

     

    Fitness & Health Features: A Complete Package

    Even though I’m not an athlete here are some features that I would like to mention.

    • Advanced Training Plans: Whether you’re training for a 5K, half-marathon, or full marathon, this watch has got you covered. Features such as the Confidence Index and Plan Completion Rate help you track your progress and keep you motivated.

     

    • Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Tracking: Know your recovery, stress level, and overall well-being with in-depth overnight HRV data.

     

    • New Sports Modes: From Bouldering and Indoor Rock Climbing to enhanced Snowboarding and Skiing, it’s perfect for adventurers and athletes alike.

     

    • Running Power Tracking: Understand your performance and optimize your running efficiency.

     

    It’s not only a fitness tracker, but it’s like having a personal coach on your wrist.

     

    The Amazfit Balance brings premium features at a price point accessible to many. From cutting-edge AI to exceptional fitness tracking, it’s incredibly good value for money—be it for a fitness enthusiast, a tech lover, or simply one who needs a reliable smartwatch, this is a choice you won’t regret.

  • Men suffer from Manopause too and its pretty serious

    Men suffer from Manopause too and its pretty serious

    Have you heard about men suffering from Menopause ? Well its not menopause technically, but the guys version called Manopause or Androgen deficiency of the ageing male (ADAM) or Late Onset Hypogonadism (LOH). Are you suffering from it or do you someone who is down with Manopause ? How do you identify and how do you know ? Let’s find out.

    Male menopause: Myth or reality?

    We have all heard of female menopause that is characterised by symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings and irregular dwindling periods. The reduction in sex hormone estrogen is help responsible for this medical condition in women. In men too the male hormone called Testosterone begins to fall steadily. A man’s testosterone levels decline on average about 1% a year after age 40 leading to certain symptoms which are easy to identify.

    Source: mayoclinic.org

    Its very Evident ! Much more than Menopause

    Andropause is characterised by a gradual decline in testosterone levels in aging men. Testosterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including the maintenance of muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, and sexual function. While the decline in testosterone levels is a natural part of the aging process, the symptoms associated with andropause can be quite impactful. A decrease in vitality and sexual powers is something that a man can easily notice in himself. Awareness that “weakness with increasing age is not normal” is good enough to trigger a visit to a doctor.

    Most men however neglect these non specific symptoms and continue being under the weather for years together. Detection is not so difficult. Its just a few questions an the level of Testosterone in blood that together determine the onset of Andropause or Manopause.

    What are the symptoms of manopause?

    The Adam Score says it all. The ADAM (Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males) questionnaire consists of 10 questions that help determine if a male patient suffers from androgen deficiency (low testosterone) or not.

    1.Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?

    2. Do you have a lack of energy?

    3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?

    4. Have you lost height?

    5. Have you noticed a decreased “enjoyment of life”?

    6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?

    7. Are your erections less strong?

    8. Have you noted a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports?

    9. Are you falling asleep after dinner?

    10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

    If the answer to any of the first 7 questions is yes and you have low blood total Testosterone levels then you have Andropause. If your answer to any two of the three last questions (8-10) is yes then also you are likely to be suffering from this condition if the blood levels are low. Beginning about age 50, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction begins to increase exponentially from 5% of the adult male population to more than 50%by age 80 years.(Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Erectile Dysfunction is a major distressing symptoms that can force men to visit the clinics for low levels of Testosterone.

    Low Testosterone can have effects on the Cognitive function (brain function), sex drive and the quality of life. Weight gain and decreased bone mineral density lead to weaker bones and increase chances of fractures.

    What should you do about it ?

    1. Consult a Healthcare Professional

    2. Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

    3. Lifestyle Changes

    4. Dietary Choices

    5. Exercise Regularly

    6. Manage Stress

    7. Stay Hydrated

    8. Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco.

    9. Discuss Medications

    10. Emotional Support

    11. Regular Check-ups

    12. Educate Yourself

    Can this be cured ? the real deal

    Low testosterone can be easily managed with supplementation of Testosterone based on recommendation of the doctor. A few tests will initially be needed to ensure that you don’t have a contraindication to starting supplementation. These tests include:

    • Hemogram or complete blood count
    • Liver function tests
    • Serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) – a marker of prostate cancer
    • Cardiac Evaluation

    If you don’t have an absolute contraindication of starting Hormonal Replacement Therapy called Testosterone replacement Therapy or TRT, then the doctor can give you options for supplementation which may be in the form of:

    • Injections
    • Tablets
    • Testosterone Gels

    Injections are the most reliable way of maintaining a steady level of Testosterone. After a loading dose, injections may be placed every 2 weeks or 2 months depending on the formulation.

    Gels and tablets have to be used daily and are also effective albeit unreliable ways of boosting Testosterone as compliance has to be ensured. Gels may occasionally be transferred to the partner leading to symptoms of high testosterone in the partner.

    Therapy is overall easy and monitoring is required through some physical checkups and laboratory tests.

    Can I boost my testosterone levels naturally?

    Yes there are ways and means to boost testosterone naturally if levels are low or borderline. The most important way is to cut down on the body fat as fat cells eat Testosterone through an enzyme called Aromatase.

    The more fat you have the more of Aromatase you have. The job of aromatase is to convert Testosterone to female hormone Estrogen. Cutting down the fat is thus the most natural way to boost your male hormone.

    Stress can reduce the androgen levels in the body. A relaxed lifestyle spiced up with adequate sexual activity can help you boost Testosterone naturally.

    Sleeping adequately can be a boon to those with altered circadian rhythms and irregular Testosterone production. 

     

    What are the Potential side effects of HRT or Testosterone Replacement?

    The side effects of Testosterone replacement therapy may include:

    • Headaches
    • Nausea
    • Leg cramps
    • Bloating
    • Indigestion
    • Breast discomfort

    Testosterone may increase the chances of heart disease such as heart attack and uncontrolled heart failure, if adequate screening is not done before starting.

    Manopause is lesser known but the dent it makes is far from evident. Most men don’t know what manopause has done to them. Only friends and family can recognise the gradual apathy and loss of zest for living. Treatment is easy, first identify and then get on Testosterone replacement. Follow ups are simple as well. Unlike hormone replacement therapy in the ladies there aren’t many side effects with Testosterone Replacement. If you know someone or are someone who has lost the zest for life with time, do get your Testosterone levels done and see a specialist today. Its could be a life changing decision.

    Written by Dr. Raman Tanwar, MBBS, MS, MCh (Urologist and Andrologist)