Foods That Help Get Rid of Belly Fat

Foods That Help Get Rid of Belly Fat
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There are two types of belly fat. Visceral fat is deep inside your body, surrounding your internal organs, while subcutaneous fat is stored just beneath the skin and is the most visible. To lose fat, you must burn more calories than you eat. Certain foods burn more calories than the calories in the foods themselves. They do this by increasing metabolism or the rate your body burns calories while resting. Natural fat-burning foods also remove stored fat from cells quickly to break down and use as energy. If you are trying to lose weight, eating the right foods, along with daily exercise, can help you meet your goal. It is important to know what foods are the most beneficial and will burn the most calories to help you lose belly fat.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal contains a rich combination of calcium, complex carbohydrates and fiber that work together to keep insulin, or blood sugar, levels low. High insulin levels signal the body to slow down metabolism and store fat.

Apples

Pectin, a key ingredient in apples, prohibits cells from absorbing fat. It also helps absorb water into the cells, which helps release fat deposits from the body.

Vitamin C

In addition to boosting your immunity, foods high in vitamin C, such as limes, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits and oranges, help increase metabolism and dilute fats so they are burned quickly.

Eggs and Low-Fat Dairy

Calcium found in milk and low-fat dairy products are metabolism boosters. Not getting enough calcium can trigger the release of calcitriol, a hormone that causes us to store fat.

Lentils

Lentils are high in protein and soluble fiber and help to boost metabolism, stabilize blood sugar and cause your body to burn more calories when digesting them.

Jalapenos, Habaneros and Cayenne

The hot ingredient in peppers, capsaicin, increases your heart rate. The faster your heart beats, the more calories and fat you burn.

Lean Meat

It takes more energy for your body to digest the protein found in lean meats, such as turkey and chicken, than it does to digest the carbohydrates or fat found in other foods, such as breads, pastas, junk food and desserts. This means that protein-rich foods boost your metabolism by causing your body to work harder and burn more calories in the process.

References

Article reviewed by Lana Gates Last updated on: Mar 9, 2011

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