20 Proven Ways of How to Lose Belly Fat – Belly fat is more than just an annoyance that makes your clothing seem too small. It’s quite hazardous. Visceral fat, a form of abdominal fat, is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases.
The body mass index (BMI) is used by several health organizations to classify weight and predict the risk of metabolic illness. This is deceiving, because those with extra abdominal fat, even if they appear lean, are at an elevated risk. Though reducing weight in this area might be challenging, there are a few things you may do to lose weight in this region.
Here are 20 scientifically proven methods for reducing abdominal fat / How to Lose Belly Fat, MediUpdates learned.
1. Consume a lot of Fiber
Soluble fiber absorbs water and creates a gel, which helps food travel through your digestive system more slowly.
According to studies, this sort of fiber aids weight reduction by making you feel full, causing you to eat less naturally. It may also reduce the number of calories absorbed by your body from eating.
Furthermore, soluble fibre may aid in the reduction of abdominal fat. An observational study of over 1,100 people indicated that increasing soluble fibre consumption by 10 grammes reduced belly fat accumulation by 3.7 percent over a 5-year period.
Make an effort to eat high-fiber meals on a daily basis. The following foods are good sources of soluble fiber:
- flax seeds
- shirataki noodles
- avocados
- legumes
- blackberries
2. Trans fats should be avoided at all costs
Pumping hydrogen into unsaturated fats like soybean oil produces trans fats.
They’re in various margarine and spreads, and they’re frequently added to packaged meals, although they’ve been phased out by many food manufacturers. In observational and animal research, these lipids have been associated with inflammation, cardiac disease, insulin resistance, and belly fat growth.
Monkeys that ate a high trans-fat diet accumulated 33% more belly fat than those that ate a high monounsaturated fat diet, according to 6-year research. Stay away from goods that contain trans fats to help decrease belly fat and safeguard your health. These fats are frequently referred to as partly hydrogenated fats, How to Lose Belly Fat
3. Don’t overindulge in alcoholic beverages
In modest doses, alcohol can be beneficial to your health, but if you drink too much, it may be dangerous.
According to research, drinking too much alcohol might cause you to grow belly fat. Heavy alcohol intake is linked to a dramatically higher risk of developing central obesity, or excess fat accumulation around the waist, according to observational research.
Reducing your alcohol consumption may help you lose weight. You don’t have to give it up completely, but cutting back on how much you drink in a day can help.
More than 2,000 participants took part in one research on alcohol use. The results revealed that people who drank alcohol on a regular basis but only had one drink per day had less belly fat than those who drank less often but had more alcohol on the days they drank.
4. Consume a high-protein diet
Protein is an essential ingredient for weight loss.
Increased protein consumption boosts the production of the fullness hormone PYY, which suppresses hunger and promotes satiety.
Protein also helps you lose weight by increasing your metabolic rate and preserving muscle mass. Many studies have found that those who consume more protein have less belly fat than those who consume less protein.
At each meal, be sure to incorporate a healthy protein source, such as:
- meat
- fish
- eggs
- dairy
- whey protein
- beans
5. Reduce your level of anxiety
Stress causes the adrenal glands to release cortisol, often known as the stress hormone, which causes you to accumulate belly fat.
High cortisol levels have been shown to stimulate hunger and promote belly fat accumulation in studies.
Furthermore, women with a wide waist are more likely to create more cortisol in reaction to stress. Cortisol elevation contributes to fat growth around the midsection.
Engage in joyful activities that decrease tension to aid in the reduction of abdominal fat. Yoga and meditation are both effective strategies.
6. Limit your intake of sugary foods
When sugar is ingested in excess, it includes fructose, which has been related to a number of chronic disorders.
Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease are among them. Observational studies have found a link between excessive sugar consumption and increased belly fat.
It’s crucial to remember that belly obesity can be caused by more than simply excessive sugar. Even healthy sweets like genuine honey should be used in moderation.
7. Do aerobic exercises
Aerobic exercise (cardio) is a great strategy to get in shape and burn calories.
It’s also one of the most efficient ways to lose abdominal fat, according to studies. However, the evidence on whether moderate or high-intensity exercise is better is conflicting.
In any event, your workout program’s frequency and length are more significant than its intensity.
According to one study, postmenopausal women who exercised for 300 minutes per week shed more fat from all places than those who exercised for 150 minutes per week.
8. Reduce your carb intake, especially processed carbohydrates
Reducing your carb consumption can help you lose weight, especially abdominal fat.
People who are overweight, at risk for type 2 diabetes, and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome lose belly fat on diets with less than 50 grams of carbohydrate per day (PCOS)
You don’t have to stick to a low-carb diet to lose weight. According to several studies, merely substituting unprocessed starchy carbohydrates for refined carbohydrates can enhance metabolic health and decrease belly fat.
People who ate the most whole grains were 17 percent less likely to have extra belly fat than those who ate a diet heavy in refined grains, according to the Framingham Heart Study.
9. Coconut oil may be used to replace some of your cooking fats
One of the healthiest fats you can consume is coconut oil.
Coconut oil’s medium-chain lipids have been shown in studies to improve metabolism and reduce the amount of fat you accumulate in response to a high-calorie diet.
It has also been linked to a reduction in belly fat in controlled trials.
Men with obesity who took coconut oil daily for 12 weeks dropped an average of 1.1 inches (2.86 cm) from their waistlines without changing their diets or exercise regimens, according to one research.
However, the data supporting coconut oil’s effects in reducing abdominal fat is inconclusive and contentious.
Keep in mind that coconut oil has a lot of calories. Replace some of the fats you’re already eating with coconut oil instead of adding more to your diet.
10. Resistance training should be done (lift weights)
Resistance exercise, sometimes referred to as weight lifting or strength training, is essential for maintaining and growing muscle mass.
Resistance training may help persons with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease lose belly fat, according to research.
In fact, one research of overweight teens found that combining strength training and aerobic exercise resulted in the highest reduction in visceral fat.
It’s a good idea to seek advice from a licensed personal trainer if you decide to begin lifting weights.
11. Sugar-sweetened drinks should be avoided
Liquid fructose, which is abundant in sugar-sweetened drinks, might cause you to build belly fat.
Sugary beverages have been linked to an increase in liver fat in studies. People who ingested high fructose drinks gained considerable belly fat in a 10-week trial.
Sugary drinks appear to be much more harmful than high-sugar eating.
Because liquid calories aren’t processed the same way solid calories are, you’re more likely to consume too many calories later and store them as fat.
It’s advisable to stay away from sugar-sweetened beverages like these if you want to decrease belly fat:
- soda
- punch
- sweet tea
- alcoholic mixers containing sugar
12. Get a Good Night’s sleep
Sleep is essential for a variety of health factors, including weight management. People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to acquire weight, including belly fat, according to studies.
Those who slept fewer than 5 hours per night were considerably more likely to gain weight than those who slept 7 hours or more per night, according to 16-year research involving more than 68,000 women.
Excess visceral fat has also been related to sleep apnea, a disease in which breathing stops periodically during the night.
Make sure you receive enough quality sleep in addition to sleeping at least 7 hours every night.
13. Keep track of what you eat and how much you exercise
Many factors can help you lose weight and belly fat, but the most important factor is to consume fewer calories than your body requires for weight maintenance.
You may track your calorie consumption by keeping a meal diary or utilizing an online meal tracker or app. This method has been proved to help people lose weight. Furthermore, food-tracking software allows you to monitor your protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and vitamin intake. Many of them also allow you to keep track of your workouts and physical activity.
14. Every week, eat fatty fish
Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are extremely beneficial.
They’re packed with high-quality protein and disease-fighting omega-3 fats.
According to some studies, omega-3 fats may also aid in the reduction of visceral fat.
Fish oil supplements have been shown in studies to considerably decrease liver and abdominal fat in adults and children with fatty liver disease.
2–3 servings of fatty fish each week is a good goal. The following are some excellent options:
- salmon
- herring
- sardines
- mackerel
- anchovies
15. Don’t drink fruit juice anymore
Fruit juice has exactly as much sugar as soda and other sweetened beverages, despite the fact that it contains vitamins and minerals.
Large quantities of alcohol may pose the same danger of belly fat growth.
Unsweetened apple juice has 24 grams of sugar in an 8-ounce (240 mL) drink, half of which is fructose.
Replace fruit juice with water, unsweetened iced tea, or sparkling water with a wedge of lemon or lime to help lose belly fat.
16. Increase the amount of apple cider vinegar in your diet
How to Lose Belly Fat – Apple cider vinegar offers a long list of health advantages, including reducing blood sugar levels.
It includes acetic acid, which has been found in animal experiments to minimize belly fat accumulation / How to Lose Belly Fat
Men diagnosed with obesity who took 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of apple cider vinegar per day for 12 weeks shed half an inch (1.4 cm) from their waistlines.
Most individuals may safely consume 1–2 teaspoons (15–30 mL) of apple cider vinegar per day, which may result in a small fat reduction.
However, make sure to dilute it with water since undiluted vinegar might destroy your teeth’ enamel.
17. Take a probiotic supplement or eat probiotic foods
Probiotic bacteria may be found in a variety of foods and supplements. They provide a variety of health advantages, including improving gut health and immunological function.
Different species of bacteria have a role in weight management, according to researchers, and having the appropriate balance can aid with weight reduction, especially belly fat removal.
Members of the Lactobacillus family, such as Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus amylovorus, and notably Lactobacillus gasseri, have been found to decrease belly fat.
Because probiotic supplements usually contain a variety of bacteria, be sure you get one that has one or more of these bacterial strains.
18. Intermittent fasting is a good option
Intermittent fasting has lately gained a lot of traction as a weight-loss strategy / How to Lose Belly Fat
It’s a dietary plan that alternates between times of eating and fasting.
Fasting for 24 hours once or twice a week is a common practice. Another option is to fast for 16 hours a day and then eat everything within an 8-hour period.
A review of trials on intermittent fasting and alternate-day fasting found that participants lost 4–7% of their abdominal fat in 6–24 weeks.
Intermittent fasting, and fasting in general, may not be as advantageous for women as it is for males, according to some data.
19. Drink green tea
Green tea is a beverage that is extremely beneficial to one’s health / How to Lose Belly Fat
Caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are both thought to help with metabolism.
EGCG is a catechin that has been linked to weight loss in the abdomen in various studies. When green tea drinking is paired with exercise, the benefit may be amplified.
20. Change your way of life and try a few other approaches
Simply completing one of the tasks on this list will not have a significant impact.
If you want good outcomes, you’ll need to mix a variety of tried-and-true techniques.
Surprisingly, many of these techniques are commonly linked with healthy eating and a balanced lifestyle.
As a result, the key to reducing belly fat and keeping it off is to make long-term lifestyle changes.
Fat loss tends to happen as a natural side effect of having good habits and eating actual food.
Conclusion
How to Lose Belly Fat – There are no quick fixes for reducing abdominal fat.
Weight reduction will always need some effort, dedication, and endurance on your part.
If you successfully implement any or all of the tactics and lifestyle objectives outlined in this article, you will undoubtedly reduce weight around your waist.
