January is often a popular time for people to change up their diets in a bid to lose weight as they commit to one of the most common new year's resolutions.
Anyone who has ever researched the most effective ways to lost weight will be well aware that there is an overwhelming amount of advice out there, much of which involves unattainable measures from extreme exercise regimes to fad diets. But according to an expert, it may be easier than you think to slim down in one particular area.
Dr Michael Mosley, author of several dieting books including The Fast Diet, The Clever Guts Diet and The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet, previously appeared on ITV's This Morning to explain how viewers could lose weight on their belly. According to the doctor, this involves cutting out just one food type, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Dr Mosley said: "Even the slimmest of people can suffer with belly fat. And often, the abdomen is one of the most dangerous places to store fat."
He went on: "To find the extra energy needed to fuel a small energy deficit, or a standard gym session, your body will look to other reserves first, like your glutes. Fortunately, recent breakthroughs in medical and sports science have shown that it is possible to throw this gradient into reverse. You can lose belly fat, and you can lose it fast."
Anyone hoping to lose weight around their belly should take a look at their sugar intake if they want to see changes, Dr Mosley advised. "To make a serious impact on your belly fat, cutting out sugar-spikes is key," he said - but warned that a "surprising number" of food and drink products that claim to be good for dieters because of their low fat content can instead contain high amounts of sugar.
The nutrition expert recommended that those trying to slim down their stomach should limit their intake of any food or drink containing more than 5% sugar to "no more than twice a week". In addition, they should also try replacing processed carbohydrates like white bread and white pasta with "slow-energy sources, such as brown rice or quinoa," he said.
Dr Mosley also shared his own personal meal plan, which is full of foods that are low in sugar but high in protein and fibre. For breakfast he often has a mushroom omelette with kimchi-style sauerkraut, which he hailed as being "great for the gut".
He added: "For lunch I might have a turmeric chicken salad – turmeric has lots of anti-inflammatory properties – or a chickpea tagine. Dinner is salmon and broccoli or a kimchi rice tofu bowl."
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