Prevention Magazine has put together a diet that promises those on it will not only lose weight but will also shrink their stomach area. The Flat Belly Diet is based on the premise that when certain foods-"MUFAs"-are eaten during meals and snacks, they will promote weight loss and a flat belly.
MUFAs
Monounsaturated fatty acids, known in the Prevention Flat Belly Diet as MUFAs, are foods that the magazine's nutritionists have determined to be helpful in promoting weight loss, mostly around the belly. These foods are oils, nuts and seeds, avocado, olives and chocolate. In the category of oils, the ones considered best are canola, soybean and those made out of nuts, seeds and olives-other MUFAs. Pesto sauce, which has olive oil as a base, also comes under this category.
Food Combinations
Using MUFAs within Prevention's Flat Stomach Diet is easy. Oils can be drizzled over foods and salads or used in stir fry. Nuts and seeds are good for snacks, blended and spread over foods or added to meal recipes. Avocado can be sliced for salads and sandwiches or mashed into guacamole. Spread olives on pizza or pasta, or eat tapenade, an olive-based spread. As for chocolate, the diet allows for eating small amounts of semisweet or dark chocolate however you like.
Four-Day Jump Start
The Prevention diet for a flat stomach begins with the Four-Day Jumpstart. This anti-bloat plan will get you started in quickly losing belly fat. For these days the concentration is on losing excess fluid and promoting digestion. The Four-Day Jump Start includes "Sassy Water" at every meal. This mixture includes ginger, cucumber, lemon and spearmint added to water. In addition to the drink, these first days limit calories to 1,200 a day.
Diet Plan
After the Four-Day Jump Start, the Prevention Flat Belly Diet is a 28-day plan that includes eating a MUFA at every meal. Each dieter should eat four 400-calorie meals a day, never going more than four hours between each. Breakfast is a mandatory meal. The plan is designed to keep those on it from ever feeling hungry.
Considerations
Prevention's diet for a flat stomach is based on an intake of 1,600 calories a day. That may work for the average woman, but a man may find it is not enough calories and will need to adjust. Also, a small-framed woman may not lose weight with this many calories. Consult with a doctor for a full physical and a discussion of your caloric needs before beginning this diet plan.
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