5 Tips to Flatten Your Belly

If previous article talk about green tea that can help you reduce your belly, in this article Dr. Mao. share his 5 tips that will flatten your belly and lengthen your years.

A melon for natural weight loss
A traditional remedy for losing weight and helping treat diabetes is bitter melon. Its cleansing and mildly laxative properties flush the system of toxins and promote weight loss. It contains vitamins A, B1, B3, and C as well as several phytonutrients—including antioxidants like lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin. It is a good source of dietary fiber, plus it has two times the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, and double the potassium of bananas!

Look out for hidden sugar
Don’t be tricked: When it comes to managing weight, calories are calories and an excessive amount of sugar, even if it is from fruit, will still lead to weight gain. Try naturally low- or no-calorie substances from nature rather than artificial sweeteners. Both the natural herb stevia and erythritol, a sugar alcohol from fermented fruits, contain no calories.

Combat belly fat with whole grains
Instead of eating refined carbohydrates, try refining your palette to enjoy the taste of whole grains, complex carbohydrates that benefit your health. Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta is a great place to start. Quinoa and amaranth are two tasty grains that are rich in protein and easy to cook.

Know your fats
Animal fats are saturated fats, which contribute to bad cholesterol, weight gain, and plaque buildup in our delicate circulatory system. On the other hand, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from vegetable, nut, and seed sources, increase good cholesterol and protect you from heart disease. These include flaxseed oil, olive oil, peanut oil, rice bran oil, sesame oil, and walnut oil.

Trans fats are a category of fats you want to avoid at all costs. These unnatural fats are manufactured by partially hydrogenating plant oils to give them a longer shelf life. Two examples are margarine and shortening. It is difficult for your body to process trans fats, which increase bad cholesterol and your risk of diabetes and stroke.

Physical activity fights belly fat
A good way to reduce cholesterol and to stimulate circulation is to do moderate cardiovascular exercises every day for at least 30 minutes. I suggest walking briskly at 3 to 4 miles per hour, general calisthenics, racket sports, swimming, cycling at a moderate speed of 10 miles per hour, canoeing, or rowing.