Foods that fight belly fat
IT has always been preached that ruling out health issues, the majority of our body weight is linked to our diets. And as a result, in order to lose unwanted fat, especially the dreaded stomach bulge, there are some foods we must avoid and others we need to consume more of.
Past president of the Jamaica Association of Professionals in Nutrition and Dietetics Vanessa White-Barrow told All Woman that exercise that encourages weight loss such as aerobics, walking and jogging, along with a daily diet of foods rich in fibre, low in fat, limited in added sugars, and consisting of lean protein is the most sustainable solution to losing and keeping belly fat away for a long time.
White-Barrow further explained that foods rich in fibre include green, leafy and yellow vegetables, starchy foods such as ground provisions, whole grains and legumes.
With regards to how they work, the nutritionist said foods such as the vegetables mentioned are low in calories, and starchy foods, whole grains and legumes are sources of complex carbohydrates accompanied by fibre which keeps you full quicker (satiated) and also makes you stay feeling full longer, minimising the desire to overeat.
In addition to vegetable and legume consumption, White-Barrow said limiting sugar consumption, especially from soft drinks and juice drinks, helps one to avoid excess accumulation of belly fat.
“Beverages allow for the consumption of higher levels of sugar than when solid foods are eaten. The excess sugar consumed from these sources is converted to fat by the liver and stored in the belly area,” she explained.
The nutritionist also said that low-fat foods are also effective because they help limit the number of calories from fat consumed, which would normally contribute to belly fat.
White-Barrow also pointed out that lean protein sources such as fish, chicken breast and legumes also help to limit fat intake, reduce cravings for food, and have even been shown to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 kilocalories per day.
She also urged individuals to limit alcohol intake as a strategy for preventing belly fat.
