Belly fat is something many of us deal with especially as we get older. It is certainly something on my mind. A few weeks ago I wrote about the Five Proven Strategies to Reduce Belly Fat. Here is a recap of main principles to reduce belly fat:
- Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels
- Eat Adequate Protein
- Include High Fiber Foods
- Move Your Body
- Manage Stress
Today I want to tell which foods help reduce belly fat. To be perfectly honest, there is no such thing as a belly fat burning food. Sorry, I wish there was. The best way to burn belly fat is by making simple yet powerful dietary changes.
The good news is there are foods that support your body’s natural ability to burn fat, especially on your tummy.
Most of the belly fat burning foods contain nutrients that aid the digestive process, such as prebiotics from fiber (which feed good gut bacteria) or probiotics from fermented foods.
It is more challenging to lose belly fat if you have an unhealthy gut.
The following foods contain properties that support the main principles of reducing belly fat. I recommend including them in your diet regularly to get and keep your tummy flat.
1. Cacao Nibs
Cacao nibs are cacao beans that have been roasted, separated from their husks and broken into smaller pieces. They are pure cacao. They help reduce belly fat in 3 ways.
First, In addition to their many vital nutrients they contain lots of fiber, which makes you feel fuller longer and you eat less.
Second, the fiber found in cacao helps keep your bowel movements regular, removing toxins from your system. Less waste = less weight
Third, cacao reduces stress by stimulating the brain to release particular neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the little messengers in our brains that affect our mood. There is a lipid in cacao called anandamide, which known as the “the bliss molecule.” It has a similar molecular structure as THC in marijuana.
2. Cayenne
Cayenne is a food that boosts your metabolism, causing your body to burn through your fat reserves—including the fat around your middle
Add a pinch of cayenne to your food and you’ll increase your body’s thermogenesis. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which has been shown in studies to enhance the burning of belly fat.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a great belly-fat-burning food for 2 reasons. First, it is burned quickly for energy. It is a medium chain triglycerides that takes a pathway in the body that allows it to be used for energy right away, instead of being stored as fat. Second it digests slowly. You stay full for longer periods of time which prevents overeating.
4. Raw Fermented Vegetables
Sauerkraut or kim chi contain beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics. Getting probiotics from your food is one of the best ways to help promote a healthy gut and improve your body’s overall ability to burn belly fat.
5. Green Leafy Vegetables
Greens contain anti-inflammatory flavonoids and are rich in antioxidants that restore cellular health. Chronic inflammation can impair the proper functioning of your digestive system, so it’s important to include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet to support the belly fat burning process and your overall health. Fresh greens fill you up and give your body the enzymes it needs for good digestion. Greens are high in fiber and nutrition and they don’t raise your blood sugar.
6. Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are high in plant protein to keep your metabolism burning strong. They contain fiber, omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. Hemp seeds make an ideal addition to any belly fat burning recipe because they fill you up quickly and stabilize your blood sugar levels.
7. Chlorella
Chlorella is a single-celled green algae that contains plenty of plant protein and fiber. The protein in chlorella promotes blood sugar balance while the fiber feeds healthy gut bacteria. Chlorella is very special because removes toxins from the body through chelation. It binds to heavy metals and safely removes them from the body. Since heavy metals are fat-soluble they get stored in fat cells. Removing them from the body is key to getting rid of belly fat.
Chlorella is at its best in pure powder form without any kind of binding agents or additives. I add a teaspoon to my smoothie in the morning. Tablets are ok if you can’t find a way to work the powder into your routine. Look for broken cell wall chlorella, which has been processed to make the nutrients in chlorella more digestible.
It’s Not Magic
Now you can see having a flat belly is not magic. It comes from getting the right nutrients into your diet. Follow the proven strategies and incorporate these belly fat burning foods into your diet. Before long your belly fat will melt away.
If you feel you have tried everything and still have belly fat, it may be your digestion or perhaps your beliefs.
Notice what you are saying to yourself about your belly.
Remember your cells are listening.
If you need help sorting out your diet or beliefs send me an email Ingrid@eatwellenjoylife.com to set up a FREE 30 minute consultation to explore the possibility of us working together.
Please leave me a comment below, I always love hearing from you.
