Foods for flat stomach

Our absolute top 10 foods for flatter stomachs

There’s a lot of buzz at the moment around research into foods that can help you eat your way to a flatter stomach.

It’s a tempting proposition when it comes to menu choices, but are the promises of these ‘smart foods’ too good to be true?

The bottom line is that loosing fat from your tummy area and getting a flatter stomach takes a multi-pronged approach.

You’ll need an active lifestyle and the right exercise programme to burn calories, strengthen your core and strengthen your abdominal muscles.

And you’ll need the right nutritional approach. That means a healthy diet that includes a range of beneficial foods. It also means doing your best to avoid some foods you already know will make the battle for a flatter stomach a tougher one!

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So what are the hero foods?

In our desk research for this feature we compiled a list of well over 30 different foods that appeared in articles on the topic of eating for a flatter stomach – from bananas to asparagus to red peppers

Most of the foods discussed fit into one of three important food categories for eating to get fitter, namely foods that are:

  1. High in fibre
  2. High in protein
  3. High in mono unsaturated fates

Of the 30+ foods we found, there are 10 foods in particular that stood out in our research as being consistently and overwhelming credited as the best choices for those of us wanting to target the tummy area.

Here then, in order of hero status, are our top 10 flatter stomach foods:

Yogurt

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Choose natural, Greek style, unsweetened/flavoured yogurt. It’s packed with probiotics to aid digestion and dispel bloating, and it’s full or protein so it’ll keep your blood sugar levels steady and keep you feeling fuller, longer.

Quinoa

Technically a seed rather than a grain, but to hell with technicalities. This gluten-free, protein rich and fibre packed whole grain is seen by many as the ultimate slimming substitute for foods like wheat, pasta and white rice.   

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Almonds

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Aside from the fact that almonds are one of our favourite tasting nuts, they’re also a great source of protein, fibre and monounsaturates, which help regulate blood sugar levels and contain components that can cut colestoral. Try to avoid salted almonds though, and definitely avoid marzipan!

Beans

First off, we’re not talking tinned baked beans here. Think kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, butter beans – there are, as they say, many varieties. They’re a great, low calorie source of protein, fibre and iron.

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Eggs

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Weight trainers’ ‘go-to’ source of protein, a breakfast of eggs will keep you feeling sated throughout the morning. What’s more their balance of essential amino acids will help your body build those strong abdominal muscles that will keep your tummy looking flat and firm.

Salmon

Oily fish like salmon (along with tuna and mackerel) pack a double whammy: a great source of protein, and one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Oily fish can help slow digestion, regulate blood sugar and reduce food cravings. Choose tinned wild salmon, not the smoked kind.

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Extra virgin olive oil

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The basis of the much heralded ‘Mediterranean diet’, olive oil is packed with health benefits, not least being the fat burning and colesterol reducing properties of mono unsaturated fat. Make sure you choose the extra virgin variety though, and drizzle it – don’t fry with it.

Berries

Chose berries that are blue or red in colour (blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, cherries). They’re fibre rich and crammed with nutrients.

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Greens and spinach

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Long renowned as the original ‘super food’, spinach (along with other dark green veg) is very low in calories, and packed with nutrients, fibre and calcium.

Avocado

Like extra virgin olive oil, avocados are crammed with monounsaturated fats and with potassium. Not just a choice of starter in retro Italian restaurants, eating just half an avocado at lunch can stem food cravings for the next 5 hours.

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