OK, you need to exercise too, but if you are mindful about what you put on your plate and into your body, the benefits can be seen around your tummy.
We have had a look at good grub for great abs and we think you’ll be running to the shops when you have read what we’ve got to say.
Asparagus
Did you know that these veggies are packed with a combination of insoluble and soluble fibre that helps aid digestion and keep you regular? Well, they do. They are also a totally natural diuretic and because they are a prebiotic, they help keep the good bacteria in your tummy healthy. What’s not to like? Serve with pretty much any meal or use in soups and stews and you will feel the benefits all over.
Bananas
To you it might be a simple banana, but these potassium rich fruits help get rid of excess sodium as you wee, which helps reduce the fluid that can cause puffiness and tight, uncomfortable bloating. Bananas are also a great source of the resistant starch that helps your liver to switch to fat-burning mode. Eat for breakfast with cereal, blend into smoothies with ginger and flaxseeds for added zing and mash into pitta for a pre-workout snack.
Blueberries
We all know that these little beauties are superfoods but a regular portion could help the speed at which you store and burn fat because they are full of antioxidants. Blend into smoothies, add to cereal and yogurt or just eat them as a snack and you will be slimming without sacrificing taste.
Cucumber
This green goddess isn’t just for tea time sandwiches you know. They are 96% water and contain quercetin, an antioxidant that is key for achieving and maintaining a flat stomach. They also happen to be another one of nature’s diuretics and stimulate the kidneys to produce more urine so you are kept flushes out, healthy and lean.
Ginger
We have talked about this special root already, but ginger deserves a mention of it’s own. While often used to help with morning sickness, the gut-friendly properties of ginger helps with digestion and can keep the probiotic balance in your tummy just right. Enjoy a cup of ginger tea, add to curries, use in baking or grate into smoothies and it will help boost your body’s internal central heating too.
Oats
You might think these grains would bulk you out but they can actually help you get a flatter belly and healthier gut. Wholegrain oats are packed with the soluble fibre that helps absorb water and also slow digestion, so after eating them you feel fuller, for longer. This fibre also feeds good bacteria and helps to control blood sugar levels, insulin and blood pressure. That’s quite a combination! Starting your day with a bowl of porridge, with half a sliced banana, a handful of organic blueberries and a cup of ginger tea could be the best breakfast to keep you full and trim.
Pure Beauty
Last updated on 14/11/2017.