What Foods Help Burn Belly Fat?

If you want to reduce stomach fat, it may be wise to cut back on complex carbs and increase your intake of fibre. There are many gut-friendly food sources out there that are also rich in healthy fats.

Changing your diet won’t yield results right away. But a diet containing lean proteins like fish and chicken can help. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables every day will help you turn around your belly fat dilemma. Giving your body good nutrition every day will make a world of difference in your life. You’ll feel better and more alert instead of sluggish and tired a lot of the time.

Eating healthy foods and staying active physically will go a long way towards helping you change your body. You’ll feel more youthful and energised. This overall healthier lifestyle will help you shrink belly fat. Your body may even return to its original leaner self once you begin eating the right foods and controlling your portions. Let’s take a look at some of the common questions associated with burning off that belly fat.

What foods help burn belly fat?

Losing weight and shedding unwanted belly fat isn’t done just so you look better. Carrying too much weight around your waistline is one of the worst places to store fat. Excessive abdominal fat may increase the risk of premature health problems even for those who are at a healthy weight. If you’re trying to get rid of that extra paunch on your gut, you may want to try some of these food choices.

Broccoli

Broccoli is high in vitamin C. It’s one of the most popular of the deeper green foods and is one of the few that contains calcium. Calcium has been known to burn fat, especially in the abdominal area. It’s also easy to prepare. Roast it in a pan with a little olive oil or steam it in the microwave for a few minutes. Serve that with hummus and you’ve got the makings of a power meal. You can’t go wrong with broccoli in your diet.

Yoghurt

Obese adults who consumed three servings of fat-free yoghurt per day, (paired with a reduced-calorie diet) lost more weight than those who were only on a low-calorie diet but ate no yoghurt. The folks who ate yoghurt lost significantly more weight than most in a shorter amount of time.

Like broccoli, yoghurt contains calcium and probiotics which promote healthy gut bacteria to burn fat. Crush some granola in your yoghurt to give it a little crunch and texture. You can use it as a replacement ingredient instead of sour cream on a baked potato or in chilli recipes and egg salad dishes.

Beans

Beans are a great source of soluble fibre. This will aid in eliminating inflammation in your digestive tract. Chronic inflammation in your gut can increase weight gain so eat your beans and whittle your middle!

Salmon

One of the most popular seafood choices, salmon contains lots of protein to help you feel less hungry throughout the day. It’s also loaded with vitamin D which helps shrink belly fat. Vitamin D produces hormones in the body that signal belly fat cells to burn off and helps regulate appetite control. Cutting fats isn’t always the best way to lose weight. Swap out traditional meats for fish. Consuming polyunsaturated fats like those found in salmon is a better choice to help you meet your health and fitness goals. And there are many tasty ways to serve salmon. Broiled, baked or even mashed in a salad are all great options.

Red Bell Peppers

Packed with Vitamin C, red bell peppers are a great ally in the fight against belly fat. Just one cup of these tasty peppers contains three times the recommended vitamin C daily intake for adults!

Edamame

This veggie is high in nutrients and fibre. It’s a dense vegetable so it’s great to serve as a side with your protein choice to help you feel full longer. The best part is that it’s an incredibly low-calorie food source.

What foods can cause belly fat?

There are some foods, many that people love, that sadly cause belly fat. No matter what we do it sometimes feels like once we eat them they end up instantly on our waistline. It’s difficult to get rid of it, so we’ve compiled a list of what you should probably avoid if you want to rid yourself of unwanted excess belly fat. Most of them are loaded with too much sodium and sugar. You’ll notice that most of them are full of simple carbohydrates. Steer clear!

• Soda and fruit juice
• White bread
• Canned soup
• Chocolate
• Frozen coffee drinks
• Pizza
• Pastries

What lifestyle changes can help you burn belly fat?

This is a big part of it because we’re all creatures of habit. Making a few lifestyle changes can help you stay fit for the long term. The belly fat will burn off and you’ll be feeling healthier and happier with each passing day. Here are a few things you could consider working on to start burning belly fat:

Get more fibre:

Whole grains, nuts, and leafy vegetables help keep that visceral fat off your waistline and keep your belly lean.

Choose better fats:

Yes, you can still eat some fats but avoid the saturated ones (i.e., dairy, palm oils, coconut, and animal-based fats). Look for the good fats that are rich in omega-3s like mackerel, salmon, tuna, and flax seed.

Don’t run from it:

Rather than go on some long marathon run hoping to burn fat, try some weight training or short 30-minute bursts of activity. You’ll notice the difference!

Get your rest:

Anywhere from 6-8 hours of deep sleep will recharge your body. Too little or too much will have the opposite effect.

Avoid the quick fix:

Liposuction only removes the surface fat. It never reaches the visceral fat inside your abdominal wall. Crash diets don’t work and are unhealthy too. Eating better foods like fruits and vegetables daily is the way to go as you ease yourself into a lifetime of fitness.

Work on your calm:

Stress takes a toll on your body and your immune system. When you’re stressed your body releases cortisol which can cause more belly fat to accumulate. So meditate, listen to your favourite music, or take a walk to clear your mind.

Avoid soda and booze:

Both of these favourites will cause belly fat. So cut back on these two and you’ll see a big difference in your waistline.

Quit smoking:

Smoking will make you more likely to store more fat in your belly. Not to mention more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and cancer. There are plenty of reasons right there. Check with your physician for some good options to help you kick the habit.

What supplements help burn belly fat?

Sometimes regular exercise and a reduction of caloric intake aren’t enough. You may want to add a fat-burning supplement to your diet to help rev up your weight loss and fitness program. The best fat burning supplements can increase your energy level, suppress appetite, boost metabolism, and help you burn off that belly faster! Here are a few that can help:

Green tea:

Catechins and caffeine in the tea may help with weight loss.

Resveratrol:

This is found in the skin of peanuts, mulberries, and red grapes, and may help burn fat.

Turmeric:

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric that’s an antioxidant. It’s an anti-inflammatory and can boost metabolism. Turmeric also helps fight chronic illnesses like heart disease and helps maintain brain function.

Capsaicin:

Found in jalapeno peppers, it helps boost your metabolism and can help burn calories daily.

Iron, vitamin B-6, and niacin:

This power trio will increase the amino acid L-carnitine which will help your body burn more fat.

B-complex vitamins:

These types of vitamins help metabolise proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. They help activate stored energy rather than letting it turn into fat.

Calcium, vitamin B-5, B-6, B-12, and vitamin C:

Daily consumption of these vitamins will assist in overall body health and well being.

Now you know what to do to help burn the fat off your belly and get that beach body you’ve always wanted for summer. But everybody needs a little help, right? Schedule a virtual shopping experience with one of HERC’s pros for all of your health and fitness needs. We’ve got an array of products that will help you on your weight loss and fitness journey. You can get started today by browsing our nutrition support products. BTW, HERC’s offers same-day delivery in Calgary and the Greater Toronto area.