Many diets claim to give you a flat stomach but are not nutritionally sound. Following a diet that is low in saturated fats, calories and high in vital nutrients will help you lose fat around your stomach, as well as the rest of your body. Doing cardiovascular exercise along with eating well will help you burn more calories faster. Strength training your abdominals will tone and tighten your abdominal muscles, which will improve your posture and give your tummy a flatter appearance, notes the American Council on Exercise.
MUFA Style Diet
MUFA style diets suggest eating a monounsaturated fatty acid, MUFA, with every meal to decrease belly fat. According to the March 2007 "Journal of Diabetes Care," eating a small portion of MUFA-rich foods such as olives, oil, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate and avocado with every meal can prevent and decrease fat accumulation around your waist. When eating MUFAs be cautious of portion size to avoid too many fat calories, which can cause weight gain. A small portion is no more than 1/4 cup nuts, avocado and dark chocolate, 1 tbsp. of oil and 10 olives or nuts.
Fresh Eating
Diets that promote fresh, clean foods claim that eating foods closer to their natural states keeps your body functioning better, your metabolism revved and your energy level higher. Tosca Reno, author of "The Eat-Clean Diet," suggests eating lean proteins such as lean beef, chicken, fish and turkey and complex carbohydrates such as brown and wild rice, steel cut oatmeal, whole grain bread, cereal and pasta and fresh fruit and vegetables. Reno also recommends eating five to six small meals a day for a flat belly. On this type of diet you should eat a well-balanced meal every 2 to 3 hours with portion sizes about the palm of your hand.
Easy G.I. Diet
Easy G.I. style diets promote eating foods that are easy on your digestive system, with the claim that eating foods that are easily digestible and heal the intestines decreases belly bloat. You should eat foods such as almonds, eggs, apples, berries, green leafy vegetables, soups, oatmeal, salmon and yogurt to get rid of gas for a flatter belly, according to FitnessMagazine.com. Choose foods that are additive free, such as non-fat Greek yogurt, raw almonds and steel cut oatmeal.
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