Foods That Can Help You Lose Belly Fat (Cont'd)
Discover healthy foods that can help you lose abdominal fat! As an added benefit, the belly fat fighting foods listed below are not only bursting with fiber and other fat burning nutrients, they are also packed with flavor.
Note that this is the second page of a three-page article on foods that can help you lose belly fat. If you missed the first page of the article, click here.
#11: Cinnamon
Cinnamon has extraordinary properties that can help some people lose weight. If your expanding waistline is linked to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body does not respond properly to insulin produced by the pancreas, cinnamon may be the key to a slimmer physique. A mere half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to significantly improve the body's ability to respond to insulin and to normalize blood sugar levels.
#12: Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, goes the old adage. But did you know that apples can also keep excess pounds away? Apples contain pectin, a type of dietary fiber that limits the amount of fat our cells absorb. Pectin is also known to make you feel fuller and for a longer time, so you will eat less during the day. On top of that, apples have a low calorie count compared to many other foods.
#13: Fenugreek Seeds
In traditional Eastern medicine, fenugreek seeds have been used to treat digestive disorders and pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS). But in recent years, these little seeds with a pungent-sweet flavor have also gained attention in the West, mainly because of their high concentration of the polysaccharide galactomannan. Galactomannan swells in the stomach, thereby increasing the feeling of satiety, which may make fenugreek seeds a good weight loss aid. Store fenugreek seeds in whole form and grind them (if you want to use it in powder form) just before using as the seeds become stale rapidly once ground.
#14: Papaya
Termed as the "fruit of the angels" by Christopher Columbus, papaya is a true nutritional powerhouse and one of the best natural sources of vitamin C (even better than oranges). Research has shown a direct link between low blood levels of vitamin C and increased fat accumulation, particularly around the waist. However, it is not clear whether it is the low levels of vitamin C that cause weight gain or whether excess fat depletes the body of vitamin C. In any case, it makes sense to consumer a diet rich in vitamin C if you wish to shed off some pounds: evidence strongly suggests that higher levels of vitamin C help the body burn more fat during a workout. One study found that people with low blood concentrations of vitamin C burned 25 percent less fat during a 60-minute walking session on a treadmill than people with adequate amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for the production of carnitine, a compound that encourages the body to turn fat into fuel, rather than store it in the body, and to maintain energy levels.
#15: Eggs
Egg whites are at the top of fitness models and celebrities' lists of favorite weight loss foods. They are an excellent source of dietary protein but very low in calories and fat.
The egg yolk, on the other hand, is rather high in calories, fat, and cholesterol. Nevertheless, it makes to include some egg yolk in your omelette as the yolks are a concentrated source of many important vitamins and minerals, including iron, iodine, zinc, and vitamins A, D, E and B12. Probably the best way to include eggs in the diet is to have them for breakfast: research conducted at the Rochester Centre for Obesity in America found that eating eggs for breakfast could limit the calorie intake throughout the rest of the day by more than 400 calories. This is because eggs can make you feel full for longer.
#16: Avocados
Do you shy away from avocados? Although it is true that avocados are high in calories and fat compared to other fruits, consuming these creamy green fruits in moderation can offer great benefits to people who want to lose abdominal fat. Research suggests that oleic acid found in avocados (and a few other foods such as olive oil) could help naturally curb appetite by activating an area of the brain that is known to increase the feeling of satiety. Only unsaturated fats containing oleic acid are believed to control appetite in this way (for details, see Avocados – a Natural Appetite Suppressant). In addition to oleic acid, avocados are a good source of other fat loss nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and several B-complex vitamins.
#17: Buckwheat
Despite its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat. Actually, this ancient "grain" is not even a grain; it is a seed of a fruit that is a distant relative of rhubarb. Buckwheat groats contain only 92 calories per 100 grams and are loaded with protein, which makes them an excellent food for those who are watching their waistline. Further, not only is buckwheat high in protein, but the protein it contains includes all eight essential amino acids, all of which are needed for muscle growth and maintenance (keep in mind, the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns).
#18: Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are the leaves of the turnip plant, an ancient vegetable that was first cultivated in the Near East about 4,000 years ago. They are extremely low in calories; yet, they are loaded with weight loss promoting nutrients, including vitamin C and calcium. Turnip is a relative of other important weight loss plants, including broccoli, cabbage, and collards.
#19: Fat-Free Mozzarella
Fat-free mozzarella is an excellent alternative to many other types of cheese. It provides a significant amount of calcium, zinc, and protein — all of which are highly beneficial for dieters — while being low in calories and fat.
#20: Watercress
Watercress is a superhero food for dieters. It is extremely low in calories; yet, it provides a truckload of vitamin C. Further, watercress is packed with calcium which has been shown to promote weight loss. Watercress is also low in oxalic acid, a compound that can inhibit the absorption of calcium from many other plants foods. Watercress is available in larger supermarkets year round.
Continue
