Getting rid of stubborn belly fat can be a tricky task and it's often the most difficult part of the body to see weight loss results.
The waistline is host to visceral body fat, also known as 'hidden' fat, which is stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines.
Making up about one-tenth of all the fat stored in the body, it can build up in the arteries and is known as 'active fat' because it actively increases the risk of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
However, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help shift this unwanted belly fat, and there are some foods that offer notable health benefits. These foods have been looked at by nutritional and medical experts, and are proven to help shift weight from your belly.
Alongside some moderate exercise as well as keeping an eye on your calorie intake, implementing these foods could help you on your weight loss journey, reports the Mirror.
The four fat burning foods are:
- Blackberries
Avocados
- Beans
- Cruciferous vegetables
Here are the weight loss benefits that these foods offer, according to experts.
Blackberries
These rich berries are full of natural antioxidants like catechins, which help to activate the body’s fat-burning genes in belly fat cells. Polyphenols are another key compound found in these sweet berries, which can work to prevent further fat forming.
Blackberries are also low in calories, making them a great snack when you are hungry.
Beans
Beans are one of the healthiest foods you can consume, but they are specifically great for belly fat loss as they are rich in soluble fibre, which fights inflammation that cause belly fat accumulation.
According to the researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre, vegetables, fruit and beans contain more soluble fibre and will help reduce visceral fat, or belly fat, around the midsection.
Avocados
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition looked at the effects of avocado consumption on abdominal fat. The research was conducted among adults who were overweight or obese.
A total of 105 adults aged 25 to 45 were randomly assigned to an intervention that received a daily meal with one avocado, or a control that received a meal with similar ingredients without avocado for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the 12 weeks, the researchers measured participants’ abdominal fat, glucose tolerance and their metabolism.
It found that women who consumed avocado as part of their daily meal had a reduction in deeper visceral abdominal fat.
Cruciferous vegetables
While Brussels sprouts are not everyone’s favourite vegetable, they are one of the best foods to eat to target stubborn visceral fat.
According to the medically accredited website Healthline, Brussels sprouts are filled with soluble fibre, a key ingredient for reducing deep-rooted fatty deposits.
If you’re not keen on sprouts, make a conscious effort to include other cruciferous vegetables into your diet.
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