Are you eager to lose that stubborn belly fat once and for all? Eating healthy, getting daily exercise and managing stress are all essential components for reducing belly fat and achieving better health, but did you know that you can eat certain foods to help you reduce belly fat even faster? Here are five of the best foods that will help you get rid of belly fat for good and improve your overall well-being.
Apples
Apples are nutritional powerhouses that will fill you up for hours, so you can get flatter abs before you know it. Apples are full of healthy dietary fiber, flavonoids, Vitamin C, cancer-fighting phytonutrients and antioxidants, B-Complex vitamins, and important minerals such as potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may also help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and hypertension. Try eating just one apple a day to reap the health and weight loss benefits.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are an ideal belly-flattening food; they are abundant in fiber, water, and contain very few calories. The fiber-rich content also aids digestion and provides constipation relief.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is rich in fiber, low in calories and low in fat, which makes it a perfect food if you're trying to shed a few pounds. The soluble fiber in oatmeal also helps to improve digestion and lower cholesterol. Just one serving of oatmeal contains roughly 150 calories, and if you add a handful of blueberries or flavor it with nutmeg or cinnamon, you'll end up with a very nutritious, high-fiber, low-fat breakfast first thing in the morning that will leave you feeling full and satisfied for hours.
Almonds
Look at it this way... you will not crave for food if your body feels satisfied, so eating foods like almonds, which are chock-full of protein, fiber and monounsaturated fat (oleic acid), will help to prevent binge eating and cravings for unhealthy foods. Almonds are also abundant in Vitamin E and phytochemicals, which play a key role in heart health and cancer prevention. So, go ahead, grab yourself a handful every day and enjoy the many health benefits that almonds provide and lose belly fat in the process.
Beans and Legumes
Consuming a serving of beans and legumes every day will not only slim your waist but also protect your heart. Beans and legumes contain lots of fiber, protein, antioxidants, minerals, slow-burning carbs and vitamins, which will help manage cravings and stabilize your blood sugar.
The key to reducing belly fat is to manage your blood sugar. High blood-glucose levels lead to elevated cortisol, causing your body to store dangerous visceral fat, particularly in the abdominal region (under the muscle). The accumulation of visceral fat in the abdomen is more of a threat to your health because it can cause a variety of health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The goods news is that beans and legumes are low-glycemic, which means it won't cause a dramatic spike in your blood sugar or negatively affect cortisol.
Robin Reichert is an AFPA certified nutrition consultant, AFPA certified personal trainer, Beachbody coach and freelance writer specializing in health and fitness. She has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Science in natural health. Her services include both in-home personal training and online fitness coaching. To find out more about the Beachbody coaching business or some of Beachbody's most popular fitness programs, such as P90X or Insanity, you can visit her blog and/or website at http://www.robinsonestopfitness.com
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