by minx life
Bathing suit season is right around the corner and most of us are trying to figure out the quickest way to get in shape. Have you ever heard the quote "Abs are made in the Kitchen"? Well, this happens to be true! Here are some healthy foods that will help you attain a flat belly without spending hours in the Gym doing sit ups and planks:-)
Yogurt
Yogurt is great for your Gut: It contains beneficial probiotics, which help balance microflora and prevent bloating. Eating yogurt may also increase feelings of fullness, thanks to the 17 grams of protein per serving(that's almost three times as much as in an egg!). If you're lactose intolerant Goat Kefir may be a better choice.
Try adding it to your morning smoothie, use it in your favorite dip recipe, or enjoy with berries for an afternoon snack.
Lentils
As a member of the super-nutritious pulse family, lentils-along with other seeds that grow within pods like chickpeas, white beans, and dried peas-are packed with protein and fiber, which increase satiety. They're also a good source of iron; this is important because studies have shown that being deficient in the mineral could slow down your metabolism.
Add lentils to salads or use in place of whole grains like brown rice. They also make a great bed for a serving of lean protein, along with a generous portion of veggies.
Bananas
Craving an afternoon snack? A banana may be your best best. In addition to potassium, bananas are packed with resistant starch, a healthy carbohydrate that your body digests slowly, which keeps you full for longer. Resistant starch also encourages your liver to switch to fat-burning mode, giving your metabolism a boost.
Even more good news for your abs: Bananas may help prevent water retention in our bodies by regulating sodium levels, decreasing the risk for bloating.
Asparagus
You already know that asparagus is full of antioxidants and may even act as an aphrodisiac. But did you know it can promote a slim stomach? This super-healthy spring veggie is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which your body digests slowly-keeping you full for longer in between meals. And as a natural diuretic, asparagus facilitates the removal of water and waste to decrease discomfort and bloat.
It also contains probiotics, which act as fuel for healthy bacteria in your gut.
Dark Chocolate
If you have a sweet tooth, take heart: Not all chocolate is off limits. Good quality dark chocolate (anything above 70% cacao) is actually very good for you. Like avocados, dark chocolate contains healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, which may help speed up metabolism. One study from the University of California, San Diego found that adults who ate chocolate more frequently had lower BMIs than those who didn't eat much chocolate.
Just watch your portions: To indulge while keeping calories in check, we recommend having a piece the size of a dental floss container.
Cucumbers
Thanks to the flavonoid antioxidant quercetin (which reduces swelling) and a high water content of 96%, cucumbers can definitely help prevent bloating. This crunchy veggie is also extremely versatile: eat it in a chopped salad, sprinkle on top of yogurt, or munch on cucumber slices with homemade hummus.
Ginger
If you've ever sipped on a glass of ginger ale while sick, you know the drink can do wonders to calm an upset stomach. Turns out the root is also good for keeping your belly slim. Thanks to compounds that help move food through your GI tract, it has been used for centuries as a natural remedy to treat bloating. Ginger may also help with weight management: In a 2012 study from Columbia University, researchers found that participants who drank a hot ginger beverage felt fuller after meals.
An easy way to include it in your diet is to make a ginger tea with a half teaspoon of ground or freshly grated ginger and one cup of hot water.
Almonds
For a guilt- free snack, reach for a handful of almonds. As with dark chocolate and avocados, the nut contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which may help your body burn fat and fight hunger. One recent study in the International Journal of Obesity found that when people had a serving of almonds as part of a low-calorie diet, they lost more weight than those who ate a similar diet but had a carb-heavy snack instead of almonds.
Avocado
Go ahead, put avocado on your toast, your belly will thank you! The super fruit (yes, it technically is a fruit) contains 2 grams of filling fiber and 4 grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which can help keep the pounds off. In one recent study, researchers found that people who regularly ate avocados had smaller waistlines than those who didn't.
And in addition to keeping your stomach slim, avocados may benefit the gut, too. Healthy fats like avocados are vital to gut health, as they coat the stomach and allow for ease of digestion. They also help the body increase its absorption of other nutrients and antioxidants.
Papaya
There are lots of reasons to love this brightly colored tropical fruit, which is a rich source of vitamins A, C, E, and folate. Papayas also contain an enzyme called papain, which helps your GI system break down difficult-to-digest foods, in turn preventing inflammation and belly bloat.
In addition to eating papaya whole and fresh, it's wonderful in a smoothie, in salads, or thrown on the grill with a drop of olive oil.