Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a sign in the grocery store that said, “Eat this! Not That! For Flatter Abs!”?  Well, consider the below your bible to tightening your belt.  You have to work for flat abs. There’s no way around that. But some of us workout and don’t get the results we expect.  Why? Diet of course.

Some foods to avoid are obvious: those that are high in sugar and salt.  Although, all too often we don’t realize just how much sodium we take in. Just one (!!!) teaspoon of miso soup typically has 200-300 milligrams of sodium.  Yikes. There are other surprising foods still that trap gas in your GI tract and cause bloat (ahem broccoli and citrus fruit).  All those bubbles from carbonated soda wind up in your stomach. When you chew gum, guess what? You swallow air.  So stave off cravings with something other than a piece of BubbleYum.

Here is a list of foods that actually help you burn stomach fat:

Eggs: Eating eggs helps build muscle tone (along with aforementioned workouts. Sigh.).  The more muscle tone you have – the higher your metabolism. The higher your metabolism, the flatter your stomach!

Oatmeal: Not instant. Good old fashioned oats that help keep your blood sugar level in check, which helps reduce cravings. Even though oats are a carb, the sugar is released slowly due to the high fiber count.

Greek Yogurt: Excellent source of protein and its probiotic properties aid digestion and promote intestional and tummy health.

Green Tea: Gives you energy and is a natural diuretic.

Blueberries: Blueberries a great source of antioxidants and fiber and also help reduce inflammation to promote a healthier digestive tract.

Spinach: All around great for you. Low in calories. Eat ½ cup cooked spinach daily for results!

 

-Arianna Schioldager