Flat Belly Diet With 4 Day Anti-bloat

The Flat Belly Diet is a diet plan and book from the editors of Prevention magazine. The diet includes a 4-day anti-bloat plan to help jump-start weight loss and prepare you for healthier eating habits. The diet claims that you can lose up to 7 lbs. during the 4-day anti-bloat phase. According to MayoClinic.com, this is possible given that the plan is low in calories and consists of healthy foods. However, there is no scientific evidence that shows this diet as being superior to other low-calorie diets, nor will it specifically reduce belly fat. Consult a physician if you are considering starting this diet to determine your individual needs.

4-Day Anti-Bloat

The Flat-Belly Diet has two phases to achieve weight-loss. The first phase is referred to as the Four-Day Anti-Bloat Jumpstart, which focuses on specific foods and drinks to initiate weight-loss. It is designed to give the body a chance to rest from processing heavy foods and detox from foods that are high in sugar and fat. Foods included on this part of the plan include fruits, dairy, cereal, fish and healthy fats. Eating the designated meals in correct portion sizes will help decrease water retention and bloating for a flatter stomach.

4-Week Plan

The second phase of the Flat Belly Diet lasts for 4 weeks. This phase includes a specific eating plan that offers a little more variety and calories than the anti-bloat period. Total daily calories equate to approximately 1600 calories, which is a reduced caloric intake to cause weight-loss for most people. The Flat Belly Diet website and book offer recipes and meal plans, which can include pancakes for breakfast, salmon with greens and nuts for dinner and oatmeal with fruit or smoothies for snacks.

Sassy Water

The Flat Belly Diet requires that you drink plenty of water during the plan. Water aids in flushing the body of waste products by pushing food through the digestive tract. It also keeps you hydrated and helps prevent fatigue or increased hunger from dips in blood sugar levels. The diet specifically recommends drinking Sassy water and offers the recipe, which consists of adding lemon, cucumber slices, spearmint and ginger to water to aid in relieving water retention and improving digestion. During the anti-bloat phase, you should consume up to 2 liters, or 2.1 quarts, of Sassy water each day.

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids

A central focus of the Flat Belly Diet is its inclusion of monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, in your eating plan. The creators of the Flat Belly Diet claim that these healthy fats help you lose belly fat and exercise is not a necessity. Healthy fats are needed for normal body functions, hormonal balance and the absorption of vitamins. They also help increase satiety, keeping you full to avoid overeating and excess caloric-intake. However, there is clear-cut evidence whether these fats will specifically reduce belly fat on their own outside of a low-calorie diet plan. Healthy fat sources include nuts, seeds, olive oil and fatty fish such as salmon.