Food for those who wants to loose weight without exercise and reducing food intake.
Pistachios
If you’re looking to trim down your belly,
then pistachios, together with almonds, are one of the best nuts you can snack
on. They are lower in calories and fat than most other nuts, while remaining
high in protein, fibre and other essential vitamins and minerals.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known for its potent healing
and calming digestive properties, so if you’re looking to slim down your
stomach, it makes sense to start including it in your diet. The easiest way to
do this is to drink it in tea form, so pick up a box from your local
supermarket (organic if possible) and try drinking three cups a day. Great for
clearing the skin, too!
Oats
Oats are filling, which makes it hard to
believe that they can help you lose weight. But eating a portion in the morning
for breakfast as part of a low-calorie diet is a great way to provide your body
with slow-release, natural energy throughout the day, which keeps you feeling
fuller for longer and can even lower your cholesterol.
Kelp
Kelp or seaweed is prized for its high
levels of iodine which helps to create the thyroid hormones in your body. These
regulate your metabolic rate – the rate in which your body burns fat. It also
contains several minerals which have been found to assist the breakdown of
belly fat and relieve water retention. Source it out in Japanese supermarkets
or pick up from health food stores in a supplement form.
Chilli
Adding chilli to your food is a great way
to boost your metabolism, which helps you to burn fat faster. A single chilli
pepper also contains a full day’s supply of beta carotene (which is great for
maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails) and twice your recommended daily
allowance of vitamin C – an essential antioxidant that helps to battle toxins
and foreign bodies in the blood stream.
Cucumber
Believe it or not, cucumbers are actually
a member of the melon family, and therefore have very similar slimming
properties. It is a natural diuretic, which means consuming it eases water
retention and bloating in the body. Why not make a slimming watercress, bean,
mint and cucumber salad for a powerful tummy flattening lunch?
Berries
Tiny but mighty, berries are stuffed full
of antioxidants and fibre – just one cup of raspberries contains a whopping 6g.
Plus, they’re low in calories too. Add a handful into a healthy smoothy or
sprinkle over your breakfast cereal.
Lemongrass
A key ingredient in many south east Asian
dishes, lemongrass is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the
digestive system, as well as improving blood circulation. It is also thought to
aid the body in dealing with excessive fats in the body.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds contain a bountiful supply
of dietary fibre, which could fill you up for longer and keep sweet cravings at
bay, while easing digestion at the same time. They are packed full of
antioxidant vitamin E, too, which is essential for skin health, as well as
protein and complex carbs.
Fennel
This liquorice-flavoured root vegetable is
packed with vitamin C, potassium, and manganese and has long been used as a
remedy for digestive problems. Thanks in part to its high dietary fibre
content, it promotes healthy digestion, reducing swelling in the body, flushing
out toxins and excess fluids. Fennel tea can also help to stave off hunger
pangs, so pick up a box from your local health food shop and get slurping.
Watercress
Watercress is jammed full of nutrients,
including vitamin B1, B2, B6, C and E, as well as minerals manganese, carotene
and potassium. This makes watercress a powerful cleansing agent, improving the
digestion and nourishing the skin, while its diuretic properties help to flush
out toxins and excess fluids. Watercress is also a fabulous source of iodine,
which helps to boost your metabolism, so it makes sense to include it in your
diet if you’re striving to achieve a flat stomach.
Natural Yoghurt
Pro-biotic, live natural yoghurt can help
to relieve bloating and discomfort in the stomach, because it contains live
bacteria that aid digestion. Opt for a low fat option to cut down on saturated
animal fats, too.
Salmon
Salmon, much like mackerel, is a good
source of lean protein, and a rich source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Grill
or steam with a bit of lemon and serve with asparagus for a powerful
belly-flattening meal.
Black Pepper
A simple way to prevent bloating and
discomfort after eating? Add a bit of freshly ground pepper to your meal. It’s
a natural digestive aid, and helps to relieve bloating at the same time.
Pears
The high pectin (natural fruit sugars)
content contained within pears makes the juicy fruit a strong diuretic and good
at fending off unwanted water retention. They are high in fibre, too, which
encourages a feeling of fullness and healthy digestion.
Dandelion
Similarly, if you are looking to lose
water weight caused by retention, try drinking dandelion root tea, or a herbal
tea that contains dandelion as an ingredient. It is a natural diuretic, and
will help your kidneys to flush out excess fluids and sodium. Consider adding a
few squeezes of…
Yarrow
Yarrow might be a common weed to some, but
taken in tea or tablet form, it’s a powerful diuretic and has anti-inflammatory
properties, great for maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Leeks
High in potassium and vitamin C, eating
leeks is a quick and easy way to relief excess weight around the stomach caused
by water retention.
Horse Chestnut
Horse chestnut seeds, leaves, bark and
flowers have been used for centuries to treat numerous conditions and diseases,
thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. Drink in tea form
to reap the belly flattening rewards.
Liquorice
It’s better for your flat stomach drunk in
tea form than eaten as sugary confectionary, but the digestive and
anti-inflammatory benefits of liquorice are not to be sniffed at.
Lentils
Eating a couple of portions of lentils a
week could help you to flatten your tummy, because they’re a cost-effective way
to pack in a lot of different stomach-strengthening nutrients at once,
including fibre, complex carbohydrates and proteins.
Pineapple
Much like its tropical cousin, pineapple
boasts a digestive enzyme that helps to ease bloating, settle your stomach, and
even relieve heartburn. It’s high in natural fruit sugars, or fructose, which
could stave off sweet cravings.
Quinoa
Did you know that, when she wants to get
into shape for a shoot fast, Kate Moss eats quinoa instead of cereal for
breakfast? That’s because it’s what is known as a complete grain, combining
protein, fibre, B vitamins and complex carbohydrates all in one. Eating grains
like quinoa will help to boost your metabolism, and burn belly fat faster, as
will…
Avocado
There is a reason why guacamole exists
beyond it being darn tasty! Avocado is often paired with spicy food because it
soothes the digestive system after it is irritated by the heat. Avocado also
contains potassium, which helps to regulate fluid balance, as well as
magnesium, which prevents constipation.
Peanuts
Peanuts get a bad rep in the diet world,
but eating a small handful as a snack in between meals could stop you from
overeating, and give you the protein you need to carve a lean, flat stomach.
Peanuts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and fibre, as well as skin-conditioning
vitamin E.
Brown Rice
If you’re looking to flatten and tone your
belly, you should aim to eat a complex carbohydrate that is rich in
muscle-strengthening protein and vitamins, like brown rice. It’s better than
white rice, because it contains a rich supply of energizing B vitamins, which
could help you burn calories faster.
Ginger
Ever wondered why your sushi comes with a
side of ginger? The spicy root has been used for centuries as a digestive aid,
because it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea and antioxidant properties.
It also contains an enzyme called zingibain, which helps digest proteins.
Cinnamon
A sprinkling of cinnamon could be all
that’s standing in the way of you and those washboard abs. The sweet spice
helps to regulate soaring blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production.
There is some evidence to suggest that cinnamon extract also makes fat cells
more responsive to insulin, which means they’re much less likely to hold on to
excess energy, and far more likely to burn existing fat stores instead.
Ref
http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/features/health-fitness/2011/03/top-20-belly-flattening-foods
