5 Foods That Reduce Stomach Fat

If having excess stomach flab is keeping you from feeling and looking your best, take stock of the foods you eat. Chowing down on too much of the wrong foods can pack pounds on your belly. Conversely, eating certain nutritious foods can actually help you get rid of belly fat faster as long as you make other health-affirming habit changes in the process.

Blueberries

Blueberries, as well as berries such as strawberries and raspberries, contain a type of plant chemical called anthocyanins that may help you burn abdominal fat faster, according to a "Parenting" magazine article. Blueberries also happen to be loaded with fiber, which can help your body absorb fewer calories from other foods and help you stay full so that you're less likely to eat too many calories in meals. The antioxidants in blueberries may also help you burn belly fat because they increase your blood flow and can improve your muscles' performance during workouts. Aim for at least a half cup of blueberries a day.

Yogurt

Low-fat yogurt as well as milk and other dairy products contain a protein called whey. This protein can help your body build muscle mass, meaning that your belly is less likely to pile on calories from dairy foods. Though dairy in general can help you keep a slimmer waistline, yogurt may be especially helpful in reducing belly fat, according to research published in the January 2005 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity." In the study, participants who consumed yogurt as their primary source of calcium lost 81 percent more trunk fat than participants who consumed other sources. Aim for at least three 1-cup servings of dairy per day, and make most of your yogurt servings low in fat and sugar.

Oatmeal

Unlike refined grains such as white rice and white flour, whole grains such as oatmeal are rich in fiber, which helps you stay full on fewer calories and can help you lose belly weight. Whole grains also happen to be rich in chromium and magnesium, which can control two hormones that encourage fat to pile in the midsection, according to "Parenting" magazine. Aim for at least three half-cup servings of whole grains per day, and don't feel limited to oatmeal. Quinoa, brown rice and 100 percent whole-wheat bread also count as whole grains.

Spinach

Leafy green vegetables such as spinach pack a triple punch to an expanding waistline. A single cup of spinach is worth only about 40 calories, but it contains enough stomach-filling fiber to account for 20 percent of your daily requirement, according to "Fitness" magazine. Spinach is also rich in calcium, which helps your muscles contract and helps give you the strength you need to burn belly fat during workouts.

Tuna

Tuna and other fatty fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which actually help you burn more belly fat because they enhance your metabolism. Tuna can also help keep you full longer and reduce your risk of developing cravings because it breaks down slowly in your body. Additionally, the protein in tuna will help you build lean tissue more efficiently, which helps reduce your belly because having more lean tissue speeds up your metabolism.