5 Items To Eat For Belly Fat

It is common when starting a weight-loss plan to want to lose fat from your belly. However, it isn't possible to spot reduce fat. This doesn't mean that you can't lose belly fat, just that you need to lose weight over your entire body. In order to lose your belly fat, you need to follow an intense workout plan and adhere to a balanced, calorie-controlled diet, which includes certain foods that may speed your fat-loss progress.

Lean Protein

Your body burns calories to digest food. This is known as the thermic effect of food, or TEF. According to bodybuilding diet coach Tom Venuto, foods that are high in protein have a large effect on TEF and require a lot of calories to break down, which helps increase your metabolism. Foods such as chicken, turkey, lean red meat and egg whites are some of the most thermogenic foods.

Spicy Foods

Spicy foods such as peppers and chillies contain capsaicin, which may help to boost your metabolism, burn more calories and increase fat loss. They can also increase your rate of fat oxidation, forcing your body to use fat as fuel. Try adding a handful of hot chillies to salads or snacking on them in moderation throughout the day.

Green Vegetables

Green vegetables are one of the best belly-busting foods. Most of them are extremely low in calories yet high in fiber and very filling. This means you can eat a lot of green vegetables to help fill you up and beat junk food cravings, without worrying about undoing your good work. Spinach, broccoli, kale, zucchini, cucumber, green beans and lettuce are all great choices for salads, side dishes or snacks.

Almonds

According to nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden, almonds are a perfect fat-burning food. While they may be calorie-dense, almonds contain a large amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which helps with feelings of fullness and satiety. Bowden also states that several studies have shown that those who snack on almonds eat fewer calories during the rest of the day than those who snack on high-sugar foods. Have one or two 1-ounce servings of almonds every day.

Oily Fish

Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, bream and trout are all very high in the essential fatty acid omega-3. Charles Poliquin, owner of the Poliquin Performance Center, says omega-3s are beneficial for fat loss. They help to "turn on" your lipolytic genes, which burn fat, and "turn off" your lipogenic genes, which store fat. Aim to eat a serving of oily fish every day, or include a fish oil supplement in your diet with your doctor's approval.