Maintaining a consistent workout routine is a great way to burn fat and attain a tighter, flatter tummy. But, if you’ve been pounding away at awesome ab exercises, and you still aren’t seeing the results that you’d hoped for, then it may be time to switch up your diet.
There are a lot of foods that can sabotage your flat tummy goals. Foods that are high in sodium, sugar, and carbohydrates can cause excess bloating and fat storage if consumed too frequently. But, there are several delicious and nutritious foods that you can eat instead to boost your tummy flattening efforts.
Avocado
With around 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of mono-saturated fat per serving, this filling superfruit can help you curb cravings and reduce your overall calorie intake.
Avocado also provides a fatty coating for the stomach, which improves the digestion process and reduces bloating. Eating it on a regular basis can also reduce bodily inflammation. Excess inflammation has been shown to lead to spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to the storage of more fat around the midsection.
Spinach
This leafy green vegetable is known for being one of the healthiest foods around. Spinach is packed with antioxidant vitamins which can reduce inflammation and combat belly fat.
It contains a significant amount of vitamin K, which may aid in the reduction of abdominal and visceral fat. This type of fat is the most difficult to shed, and it can also increase your risk of developing health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
Be sure to fill up on plenty of spinach for a flatter tummy and better overall health.
Salmon
You don’t have to stick to just fruits and veggies to meet your flat tummy goals. Salmon and other types of fatty fish provide plenty of omega-3s, which have been shown to reduce inflammation.
Omega-3s are also known to be metabolism boosters, so salmon is a great choice if you’re looking to burn more calories throughout the day.
Salmon also contains plenty of vitamin D. This is beneficial because recent studies have found a link between having a deficiency in vitamin D and excess belly fat.
Almonds
For a snack that won’t block your flat tummy goals, try almonds. They contain plenty of mono-saturated fat, protein, and fiber, which can all help with fighting off cravings. Mono-saturated fat may also be able to boost your fat-burning efforts.
This low-carb nut is also packed with magnesium, which will maintain your energy throughout the day, as well as your ab workout routine. Almonds are a great alternative to salty, carb-heavy snacks like potato chips and crackers.
Dark Chocolate
Working hard to achieve a flatter tummy doesn’t have to mean skipping dessert. If you want to enjoy a sweet treat and keep your tummy toned, then dark chocolate is a great option.
Like other foods on our list, high-quality dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao contains mono-saturated fat, which can promote weight loss.
Eating dark chocolate has also been found to reduce stress. Less stress means less cortisol, aka the “stress hormone.” High cortisol levels have been linked to excess fat storage especially around the tummy.
