Health and Nutrition with Nature's Sunshine: 5 Foods to Flatten Your Abs

5 Foods for Flat Abs
You can do crunches all day, but to really get flat abs you need the right foods. Here are five secret ingredients to help you get a tight stomach.
Try these flat-ab favorites!

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

You bend and turn, twist and burn, all in an effort to lose that gut, but your pooch persists. What can you do?

Look at the food you're feeding your body and replace some of the belly busters with slimming treats. You know you can't eat 4,000 calories a day and get great abs, but it's not just about the calorie count when it comes to a flat stomach – it's also about the food.

"All things being equal, if your daily caloric intake is set at 1,400 calories, a diet of nutrient-rich foods is going to keep you fuller longer, reducing your cravings and giving you more energy, compared to the same number of calories of less nutritious food, which will help you on your road to a better body," says registered dietitian Tracey Ryan.

The five foods you'll need for flatter abs will help you be healthier and leaner. Plus, you'll be pleasantly surprised by some of our diet suggestions.

1. Orange Fruits and Veggies: According to a recent review from Copenhagen University Hospital, the best way to whittle down your waist is to replace carbohydrates from sugar and refined grains (like white bread) with carbs from fruits and vegetables. Orange-hued foods were found to be the most effective substitutes.

Since fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, they keep you feeling full longer and researchers believe the high levels of antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene fend off the belly fat. Get a good dose of beta-carotene from carrots, cantaloupe, squash and peaches. You can get your vitamin C from oranges and berries, but remember that fruit juice is not a good substitute for the real thing.

2. Lean Meats: You should be getting about 25 percent of your daily calories from protein, Ryan says, but you should make sure to choose lean sources like poultry, fish, low-fat yogurt, and fat-free milk to keep calories down. Nuts are also high in protein, but can also be high in calories, so eat them in moderation. Tracey recommends roughly a handful a day.

Protein helps to keep you feeling full and boost your energy, aiding in your weight-loss efforts. According to research from Skidmore College and Copenhagen University Hospital, eating additional protein is especially helpful for those over 40 in reducing abdominal fat.

3. Nuts: A recent survey of more than 8,000 Americans found that selenium, a cancer-fighting mineral, seemed to also lower rates of abdominal obesity, reporting that those with lower levels of selenium had larger waistlines.

Several foods contain selenium, so it's hard to know if you're getting your recommended 55 mcg per day. The best sources are nuts (especially Brazil nuts), whole grains, poultry, red meat and seafood. Foods rich in vitamin E, such as nuts and seeds, will increase the effectiveness of selenium in the body.
Your best bet to get enough selenium is to eat a varied, balanced diet or try a supplement containing the mineral.

4. Wine: Several studies suggest that light drinking, compared to teetotaling, protects against weight gain around the waistline in women. Data reviewed by the National Center for Health Statistics points to one 4-ounce glass of wine as the best bet.

The key to boozing and losing is the "less is more" philosophy. While one glass has great health benefits, having more is just going to add inches to your waist and cause you to think you're funnier, smarter and better looking than you really are. The only 6-pack you should be having is the one under your shirt.

5. Fish: There's a difference between good and bad fats. Eating good fats like monounsaturated and omega-3s make it easier to stay slim, according to recent research.

"The healthy fats, like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, are found in fish, nuts, olive oil and avocado, while the bad fats, like saturated and trans are found in butter, shortening, pre-packaged cakes and cookies," Ryan says.

A Wake Forest University study found that over a 6-year period, participants whose only source of fat was trans fats gained 30 percent more fat in their abdominal region and had early signs of diabetes. You don't have to fear fats if you know which are good and bad.

Exercise and follow these simple guidelines and you'll be on your way to an abs-olutely amazing midsection!

The above article was found online at ediets.com A diet rich in these delicious whole foods will not only help your abs to be flatter but they will help your heart to be healthier, your mind to be clearer, and your health to better all around. If you aren't getting these whole food nutrients daily make sure to take high quality supplements. Visit my web site to find these and other excellent whole food nutrients.

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