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Anyone can achieve a flat stomach by reducing abdominal fat with some dietary modifications and these fourteen tips.
Exercise can help obtain a flat abdomen and reduce overall weight; however, not everyone can perform intensive workouts due to various reasons. Therefore, anyone can achieve good results by reducing abdominal fat with some dietary modifications.
All good things, including achieving a healthy weight, need hard work and persistence. Besides diet, you need to perform physical activities consistently. Just 30 minutes of exercise five times a week can make a great difference. Take small steps toward better health.
14 ways to get a flat stomach
- Increase fluid intake
- Dehydration can lead to the slowing of metabolism which may lead to extra pounds around the stomach. Intake of sufficient water and other fluids per day keeps you well hydrated. This may make you less hungry.
- Water flushes out waste products and toxins from the body.
- Reduce sugar intake
- Excess sugar levels in the body are converted into fat and are accumulated in the tissues. This increases overall weight and even high blood sugars increase the accumulation of fat around the abdomen.
- Reduce intake of sweet foods, such as sugar candy, gummy bears, and chocolate high in sugar content.
- Reduce salt intake
- Salt can cause water retention, which can make your stomach appear bloated.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises limiting sodium intake to fewer than 2,300 mg per day or about one teaspoon.
- Processed foods contain high sodium content and should be avoided, such as:
- Ready to eat meals
- Deli meats
- Pretzels
- Chips
- Canned food
- Increase fiber intake
- Fiber keeps you fuller for longer, which helps prevent overeating and reduces overall calorie intake.
- Fiber slows fat digestion and absorption. This helps reduce fat accumulation in the body, including the abdomen.
- Cut down on processed grains
- Processed carbohydrates, such as white bread and pasta, digest faster and are swiftly transformed into sugar and eventually fat.
- By consuming highly processed grain items regularly, you are more likely to gain body fat. Consume whole grains instead to get more fiber and nutrients.
- Increase intake of fruits
- Most fruits are high in fiber and can help you feel fuller throughout the day, reducing the need for frequent snacking.
- Berries are abundant in antioxidants, such as quercetin, which can reduce inflammation and bloating.
- Make a breakfast smoothie with healthful fruits, such as bananas or blueberries.
- Avocado
- Half an avocado has 10 grams of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which help prevent blood sugar surges.
- High blood sugars can make your body store fat around your abdomen.
- Cut down on soda
- Remain stress-free
- It is important to do some activities that keep you stress-free. Because stress produces more steroids and stress hormones that negatively influence your body and digestive system.
- Overeating is often seen with high-stress levels and causes weight gain.
- The stress hormones cortisol directs excess fat to the abdomen to protect the important organs and results in a big abdomen.
- So, relieving stress is an important step to achieving a flat stomach.
- Chew the food properly
- Rather than gulping down food, chew well before swallowing.
- The body needs to work extra to break down food in the stomach and intestines, which can result in significant gas and indigestion.
- Furthermore, when you eat quickly, you are more likely to overeat, which increases your chance of acquiring a potbelly.
- Take probiotics
- Probiotics are good bacteria that improve digestion of the food and reduce gastrointestinal disorders that can prevent you from having a flat stomach.
- Get a daily dose of probiotics from yogurt or buttermilk. You may even take probiotic pills after consulting your doctor.
- Manage constipation
- Constipation retains wastes in the body for a longer period, which is harmful to the body.
- Constipation results in bloating, which expands the stomach and causes uneasiness.
- Emptying the bowels regularly is recommended to maintain overall health.
- Give up gum
- According to American College of Gastroenterology researchers, continuous chewing forces you to swallow more air, which causes your stomach to expand. So, it is recommended to avoid chewing gums and seek an alternative, such as breath mints, for fresh breath.
- Maintain good posture
- Maintaining a straight posture while standing and sitting will tone your stomach muscles.
- Well-toned stomach muscles appear flat and even don’t bulge out easily, especially after eating food or drinking too much water.
Why is a flat stomach healthier?
Getting a flat stomach is nothing but getting rid of fat accumulated in the abdomen.
- According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, women who carried more abdominal fat are more likely to have a heart attack than males.
- For women aged 40 to 69 years, the risk of heart attack was 10 to 20 percent higher for those who carried more weight around their abdomen than for those who simply weighed more overall.
So, it is crucial to reduce abdominal fat to have a healthy heart.
Tips for achieving a flat stomach
- Reducing the intake of foods that increase fat content in the body is the first step to getting a flat stomach.
- Maintaining consistent meal times, meal portion size, and avoiding overeating, especially junk food, will help maintain a good weight.
- Increasing intake of fiber and water adds up to the loss of fat.
- Adequate sleep relieves stress and keeps you energetic for the entire day.
