By: Jackie K
Let's face it, ladies, we all want a flat
stomach and men want washboard abs. A flat stomach is not only a sign of how
healthy we are but it also shows that we take care of ourselves. The weight
loss industry is currently booming and making hundreds of millions of dollars
every year.
Every day we hear about breakthrough diets or
miracle weight loss products that cost you thousands of dollars. I bet you've
probably heard of the waist trainer. It looks like a corset that you wear
underneath your clothes to give the illusion that you have a flat stomach. And
it's not only women who wear it, men too squeeze themselves into these waist
trainers. There's a lot of debate as to whether or not waist trainers are bad
for you and if they actually work. In my opinion, they work… temporarily. I
mean, if you want to look great in a specific dress but you feel your stomach
isn't flat enough, you can squeeze yourself into a waist trainer to suck in
those extra inches, but other than that, I don't think it produces permanent
results. In fact, some experts believe wearing it for prolonged periods is
harmful to your health. I'm a strong believer in getting a flat stomach the
proven way…through diet and exercise. Stop wasting money on weight loss pills.
If you want to invest money in weight loss products, how about joining a gym or
buying yourself a treadmill? With that said, here's a list of ten foods that
burn belly fat fast.
10. OATMEAL
Do you know why you always crave that unhealthy
sugary or salt-filled snack in the morning? It's because you missed breakfast,
you didn't have enough breakfast or your sugar levels dropped. One way to avoid
that morning snack attack is to eat oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal is rich in
fiber and it takes longer to digest, so you feel full in the morning and your
cravings for those chocolate donuts becomes non-existent. When choosing
oatmeal, don't choose the sweetened kind. Choose the one without added sugars
or flavors and sweeten it with berries or banana slices.
9. NUTS AND SEEDS
Flax seeds, pistachios, walnuts, sunflower
seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds and any other nuts or seeds you can think of all
help you to keep your tummy slim by keeping it full. Not only that, but they
are full of healthy oils and minerals. Purdue University did a study and found
that people who ate nuts felt full longer than those who ate rice cakes.
Experts recommend that you eat 24 almonds every day to satisfy your hunger
pangs. This way, you won't overload on the calories. And by the way, stay away
from the salted seeds and nuts. They are high in sodium and that's not good for
your blood pressure.
8. MEAT
Not just any type of meat…white meat or lean
meat is the best type of meat to keep the fat away from your belly. Free-range
chicken, fish and grass-fed beef are scientifically proven to burn fat. In
fact, there's a study that showed grass-fed beef contains natural CLA
(conjugated linoleic acid). And don't bother trying to take CLA supplements
because they are not the same as the naturally occurring one. Besides, the
supplement has more side effects than it has benefits.
What's fascinating about eating proteins is
that your body will burn 30% of its calories after eating protein-rich foods.
7. PROTEIN POWDER
Protein powder isn't just for people who want
to bulk up in the gym…you too can benefit from it. Protein powder contains
amino acids that build muscle and burn fat. Add two spoonfuls of the powder to
your smoothie for a belly fat burning drink. And the good thing about protein
powder is that it's easily available in health food stores. By the way, when
adding protein powder to your smoothie, make sure it's a healthy smoothie. Not
one of those sugary types or chocolate smoothies. You can make your own
smoothie by blending unsweetened yogurt, fruits and low fat milk.
6. OILS
I know this sounds wrong considering you are
trying to burn belly fat. Why would you need oil? Isn't it full of calories?
The kinds of oils I'm talking about contain useful calories and not empty
calories. Oils like coconut oil, canola oil and olive oil can actually help
your body burn fat. They do this by helping your body keep cholesterol levels
at a minimum and they satisfy your cravings so you don't end up eating
unnecessary calories. Unhealthy oils are the hydrogenated ones loaded with
saturated and trans fats.
5. OMELETS
Eggs are loaded with plenty of fat burning
protein, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, phosphorus, iron, calcium, choline, folate
and essential vitamins. Eggs digest slowly so you will feel full for a long
time, reducing your chances of looking for a snack. You should also know that
eggs from free-range chickens contains more nutrients. Louisiana State
University did their own research and found that people who had eggs for
breakfast lost more weight than those who ate bagels. But before you start
cooking up omelets for breakfast, talk to your doctor about your cholesterol
levels. They might be too high.
4. LEGUMES
Lima beans, navy beans and black beans are rich
in fiber, which helps your body get rid of toxic waste. Moreover, they are low
in calories and packed with proteins that will help you lose weight and tone
up. Start making dishes with beans and you will start to notice your metabolism
improve. So once a week, instead of eating meat, try eating a bean burrito.
Refried beans are also not a great option because they are high in saturated
fat. Choose other varieties like pinto or black beans.
3. GREEN VEGGIES
Kale, broccoli, spinach, arugula and romaine
are all packed with essential vitamins and minerals and have very few calories.
Broccoli and spinach are especially loaded with fiber, which helps speed up
your metabolism and reduces constipation. Eating a salad before a meal will
make you feel a little fuller so you will only serve yourself small portions of
food. I should also mention that iceberg lettuce has almost no fiber at all, so
this is not a really good choice for green veggies
2. PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut butter prevents belly bloat by keeping
the digestive system on track thanks to one key ingredient known as niacin.
Just like nuts and seeds, peanut butter keeps you full for long so you are less
likely to reach out for a quick unhealthy snack in between meals. However,
since peanut butter has a lot of fat, you should limit your portion size.
Eating too much peanut butter can increase the level of cholesterol in your
body. Two tablespoons a day is enough. And when you go shopping, make sure you
choose all natural peanut butter and avoid those that contain added sugar.
1. GREEN TEA
Green tea is packed with anti-oxidants, which are
believed to speed up your metabolism and burn fat. According to research done
by Swiss researchers, drinking green tea burns 266 calories more than if you
drank regular tea. Also, in a report written by the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, they found that green tea extract boosted daytime
metabolism. While shopping for green tea, avoid purchasing the bottled tea
because it has been processed and as a result, it doesn't have a lot of
nutrients. You can instead steep a tea bag in one cup of water and drink it
while it's hot or add ice cubes to make iced tea. It's recommended that you
drink four cups daily.
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