What to Eat to Lose Belly Fat: Real Foods No Fluff

Unfortunately, it is true that most of us have at least a little bit of fat on our belly. The goods news is that if you know what to eat to lose belly fat you will be on the fast track to a slimmer waistline.

What we consume has a major effect on what our bodies look like - both on the inside and the outside. Even if you were to eat a super low-calorie diet of unhealthy crap, you could have belly bulge. The key to losing belly fat is to know what to eat to lose belly fat and consume a diet that is low in fat. Notice I did not say "fat free". Our bodies do need some fat in order to be healthy and there are "healthy fats" out there.

Did you know you can lose belly fat and eat pasta at the same time? It's true. Whole grains are digested much more slowly than refined breads and pastas which makes your blood sugar levels rise more slowly as well. This helps to prevent extra fat from being stored around your body - especially your stomach.

Melons, including cantaloupe and honeydew are very low in calories and make a perfect snack or compliment to any meal. These fruits are high in potassium and they help to keep your sodium levels where they should be. If your sodium levels are good, you won't have to deal with belly bloat.

Nuts, including walnuts and almonds, are excellent examples of what to eat to lose belly fat. Nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids which help with decreasing the amount of stress hormones you have. Stress hormones like cortisol can contribute to fat being stored in your body - including your belly.

You don't necessarily have to eat these together, but they are both packed with protein and studies show that those who consume the recommended amount of protein in their diet have less belly fat than those who do not. This doesn't mean you have to go out and chug down protein shakes, just make sure you're consuming enough protein. You'll get different requirements anywhere you look but you can use between 45 and 55 grams as a guideline.

If you're concerned about your cholesterol and you're weary of eating eggs, consider egg whites. The yolk is the portion that contains cholesterol.

Eating a large breakfast is a great idea for those who want to lose belly fat. If you eat a large, healthy breakfast, you can help curb your hunger throughout the remainder of the day. If you skip breakfast or only have a tiny breakfast, you'll probably feel like you're starving within a matter of hours which could cause you to eat more and make bad food choices too. 

Jerry Greenfield, M.D., Ph.D., authored a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism that found those who had one alcoholic drink per day had smaller waistlines than those who did not. Jerry says, "Drinking a small amount of alcohol with a meal may speed up calorie burn."

So not only do you need to know what to eat to lose belly fat, you also need to know what to drink!

When you feel the need to add a bit of flavor to your food, try to do so without adding sugar, butter or salt. Instead, substitute those for things like cinnamon or pepper and you might help to speed up your metabolism for a bit as well.

Knowing what to eat to lose belly fat will get you up and running and on your way to a slimmer waistline so long as you keep your daily caloric intake in check. To really kick off your fight to losing belly fat, consider combining a healthy diet with some exercise. You don't need to train like an athlete, just 2-3 short workouts per week can go a long way. All you really need is 10-20 minutes.