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Flat Stomach

Tired of not knowing what kinds of foods to eat? Not sure how much fat, calories and sodium you should be consuming everyday? All the tips you need are here….

In addition to regular exercise, you’ll also want to add some fat burning foods to your diet to help trim your waistline. Foods that are high in protein and fibre are the best kinds of food to eat if you want to burn fat around your middle. Did you know that it takes more energy to digest protein than it does to digest fat? So the more protein you eat, the more calories your body burns.
Eggs
Eggs are super high in protein and can help you burn that unwanted belly fat. They contain the vitamin B12 – a great supplement for breaking down fat cells. You may have heard all the warnings about eggs and your health. That’s because a couple of eggs will put you over the recommended daily amount of cholesterol. Well, more recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has a minimal impact on blood cholesterol. Dietary fat is the real culprit. It’s what raises your bad cholesterol levels.

However, if you’re still worried about your overall cholesterol intake from eating too many eggs, you can remove the yolk and still benefit from the high protein contained in eggs.

Low fat dairy products
According to an article in Obesity Research, women who ate low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat yogurt and low-fat milk, three to four times a day, lost 70 per cent more fat than low-dairy dieters. In another study done at Purdue University those who consumed 3 cups of fat-free milk gained less weight over the course of 2 years than those on low calcium diets. So, not only do dairy products help you strengthen your bones, they can also play an essential role in burning that unwanted body fat.

If you are a regular consumer of milk and other dairy products, that’s great, just watch your proportions and perhaps switch over to the low or no fat varieties.

Beans
While beans are often associated with the gastrointestinal disturbances they may cause, they are also very good sources of protein, fibre and iron.

Some of the best kinds of beans to eat are:
- Navy beans
- White beans
- Kidney beans
- Lima beans

And as always, limit baked and refried beans in your diet as refried beans contain tons of saturated fat, while baked beans are usually loaded in sugar. Sure, you’ll be getting your protein but you’ll also be consuming a lot of fat and sugar that you don’t need. Here’s something else to remember. Be sure to cook your beans thoroughly because our digestive tracks are not adapted to breaking down some proteins that are contained in certain beans.

Tip: A vegetable called Edamame (pronounced ed-uh-ma-may) – an organic soybean in a pod often served at Japanese restaurants.

All you do is boil them for three minutes, add a pinch of salt and eat the soybeans out of the pods. They are surprisingly tasty and very good for you. One serving contains 10 grams of soy protein. The best place to find them is at a store that sells organic foods.

Oatmeal
While it may not be the tastiest thing you can eat, oatmeal definitely has some great nutritional qualities.

You may have noticed that many of the oatmeal brands are now boasting that eating more oatmeal will help lower your cholesterol level. That’s because oatmeal is loaded with soluble fibre which helps reduce blood cholesterol by flushing those bad digestive acids out of your system. The best kind of oatmeal to eat is unsweetened and unflavoured. While it’s tempting to select the apples and cinnamon flavour and load it with butter and sugar – you really lose out on all the health benefits. If you must sweeten your bowl of oatmeal, do so by adding fruit. Or add a spoonful of honey (much better for you than sugar) and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries.

Oatmeal is also beneficial in fighting colon cancer and heart disease.

Olive oil
Certain fats are good for you and your body needs them. Olive oil is one of those ‘good fats’. In fact, it’s so good that it helps you burn fat and keeps your cholesterol down. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, a type of fat that researchers are finding provide outstanding health benefits. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil contains about 85 per cent of the daily value for monounsaturated fat.

So instead of taking a swig of orange juice in the morning, many dieters are picking up a bottle of extra virgin olive oil.

Whole grains
These days everyone seems to be screaming “No carbs!” It’s as if the world has gone no-carb crazy and everyone is running from sliced breads and pastas. Well the truth is, your body needs carbohydrates. If you go without them completely your body will start to crave them. So it’s not a good idea to exclude all carbs because the right kinds are actually good for you. It’s the processed carbohydrates that are bad for you – the white breads, bagels, pastas, and white rice to name a few. The above foods have all been processed, thus stripping out all the nutrients leaving you with loads of starch. The key is to eat ‘whole grain’ foods because they haven’t been processed and contain the fiber and minerals your body needs.

So don’t be fooled by a loaf of bread labeled ‘wheat’. Regular wheat bread is still lacking in vitamins and minerals. Manufacturers add molasses to it so it turns brown.

Don’t let them trick you. The only kind of bread that’s good for you is the kind that’s labeled ‘whole grain’.

Meat and fish
Turkey and beef are great for building muscle and boosting the immune system, but as always you have to be careful as:

Basted turkeys are usually injected with fatty substances while beef contains saturated fat. If you are going to eat beef, be sure to consume the leanest cuts you can find by looking for ‘loin’ or ’round’ on the labels.

Salmon and tuna are also good sources of protein. They both contain omega-3 fatty acids which may sound bad, but are actually healthy fats. These two foods are also good for giving your immune system a nice boost and should be consumed at least thrice a week.

Tired of different diets? Follow the blood type diet, favourite among Hollywood celebs

The blood group diet h as long been the diet secret of many enviable Hollywood stars’ bodies — now Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy admits she is a fan too. “My mum told me about Eat Right For Your Type, which shows you what to eat and what to avoid depending on your blood type,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s made such a difference to my energy levels. Now I believe in it 100 per cent.”

Other followers swear it works when it comes to shedding fat, boosting energy and even preventing illness.

WHY BLOOD TYPE DIET?
Each blood type evolved at a different point in history so we should adopt diets similar to those our ancestors had when our blood group evolved. By eating foods that your personal blood type can easily digest, you will lose weight, feel healthier and be happier.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE EATING?
Blood group O’s plan
O is the oldest blood group, so people with this type feel best and stay slimmest on a ‘hunter’ type diet like our ancestors. Os tend to be high achievers with lots of energy and are very organised.
Drop a dress size: Follow a high-protein diet — being vegetarian will mean you’re always hungry and snack on carbs, causing problems with blood sugar and metabolism.
Foods to eat freely: Lean meats, fish. Foods to avoid: Too much dairy or carbs.
Personal exercise plan: An hour of cardio a day and workout in the morning rather than the evening. Jogging, cycling, swimming or brisk walking are also perfect.

Blood group B’s plan
No blood type epitomises the ‘everything in moderation’ expression more than B. It evolved at a time when people travelled more, so meat, vegetables and grains were eaten in a more balanced way. You have a strong, healthy constitution and tend to be very downto-earth and practical.
Drop a dress size: Combining the O and A diet — a bit of everything. Lucky type Bs generally find it easiest to lose weight.
Foods to eat freely: Meat, fish, coffee, vegetables and wheat-free grains.
Foods to avoid: Processed foods.
Personal exercise plan: You’re drawn to moderate exercise, which uses your brain as well as your body. Team sports such as netball or dancing classes, two to three times a week are perfect.

Blood group A’s plan
This blood group evolved later than O, when people farmed more than hunted, so you need less protein and more grains. Group As tend to be highly creative, good problem-solvers and can be very sensitive.
Drop a dress size: Eat less meat and more vegetables, wholemeal carbs. Foods to eat freely: Nuts, seeds, cereals, pasta, fruit and vegetables.
Foods to avoid: Dairy if prone to allergies, too much meat.
Personal exercise plan: Group As are often less active than Os, needing just 30 minutes of gentle exercise a day. Yoga, Tai Chi, walking and an outdoor lifestyle suit As best.

Blood group AB’s plan
A combination of types A and B, you have dietary components of both and can eat just about anything. ABs have a canny knack of being creative, having a good head for business and getting on with people.
Drop a dress size: Avoid too much meat. Pack your diet with vegetarian foods and treat meat as a treat.
Foods to eat freely: Fish, vegetables, carbs and grains.
Foods to avoid: Too much meat.
Personal exercise plan: Mix it up by appealing to your calm side with yoga or Pilates once a week and a couple of sessions of something more intense such as light jogging.

Celeb following
These stars followed a blood group diet and got themselves in shape
• Demi Moore, 47, the Charlie’s Angels actress found the weight stayed off when she switched to a blood type diet.

• Liz Hurley, 45, and her former boyfriend Hugh Grant are said to share a fondness for the diet as a weight-loss strategy.

• Courteney Cox-Arquette, 46, who shed pounds after the birth of her daughter is also said to be a fan.