Removing stubborn belly fat can be as easy as changing a few unhealthy eating habits. What you eat is just as important as how much you eat when trying to lose weight and decrease body fat. Eating foods that are high in carbs and fat will slow down your metabolism and pack on the pounds. Making healthier food choices and learning how to combine them can help your body burn fat by keeping your metabolism high. Making these small changes to your diet along with exercise will give you a toned mid-section in no time.
Step 1
Make your meals with MUFAs. When planning your meal, include a mono-unsaturated fatty acid, MUFA, with it. A study published in the July 2007 "Journal for Diabetes Care" proved that eating a diet high in MUFAs prevents central body fat distribution. One MUFA-rich food such as avocados, olives, oils, nuts, seeds and dark chocolate should be eaten in a small quantity with every meal for optimal belly fat burning.
Step 2
Eat clean proteins and carbs. When it comes to proteins and carbohydrates, not all are equal. Eating proteins and carbs high in fats and sugars such as white pasta, bread, chips and pastries slow down your metabolism and cause extra energy to store in fat cells. Choosing clean proteins such as lean chicken, beef, turkey, fish and tofu will provide your muscles with the nutrients needed to function properly, which will help your body burn fat. Tosca Reno, author of the "Eat Clean Diet," recommends eating complex carbohydrates like brown rice, potatoes, steel cut oatmeal and whole grains to keep your metabolism high.
Step 3
Learn how to combine protein and carbs for better digestion. If you are eating healthy and clean but are still having trouble dropping that stubborn fat, you may be combining your proteins and carbohydrates incorrectly. Complex carbs like rice or a baked potato need a more alkaline environment for proper digestion, while high-protein foods need a more acidic environment. Break it down simply by thinking of both proteins and carbohydrates as heavy to light and always pair a light with a heavy, never a heavy with a heavy. An excellent example is to pair fish with a vegetable like asparagus or broccoli not rice.
Step 4
Pack your lunch with a punch. Adding thermogenic spices to your meals such as turmeric, cayenne, chili powder and black pepper can help boost your metabolism. In "Eat Hot Chiles, Live Forever," author Chris Kilham reported that research conducted at Oxford Polytechnic Institute shows that eating spices will burn calories at an increased rate of 25 percent. Just be sure to use caution, as adding too much spice may upset your stomach.
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