All good chefs and quite a few personal trainers will tell you abs are made in the kitchen. Yes, it does take muscle work and dedication, but it also takes a fair bit of healthy eating along the road to washboard abs. Just like there are foods to decrease bloating, there are foods to flatten the stomach. Sure, healthy foods like Greek yogurt, veggies, and water all help flatten the stomach, but there are also some pretty surprising treats that will do the same!
Oil and Vinegar
Bring on the oil and vinegar salads! Both oil and vinegar are super helpers when it comes to achieving those flat tummy goals! The healthy monounsaturated fats in olive oil help burn calories and fat. This fat also reduces cholesterol and increases immunity. Vinegar has gone through some recent studies and came out glowing. New research showed that women who consumed 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar a day for 12 weeks had lower body weight and BMI than those who did not. This is because of the acedic acid that gives vinegar it's sharp taste and odor. The acedic acid increases the breakdown of visceral fat found around the belly.
Almonds
Unsalted almonds with the skins still on can do wonders for slimming waistlines. Almonds are high in fiber, vitamin E, protein, and monounsaturated fats. Since almonds are so high in protein, fiber, and fat, they are a great mid-day snack that will help curve hunger and give a boost of energy.
Eggs
Eggs, what health food list will not have these little power house food on it? Eggs are filled with a fantastic combination of protein and fat. In fact, the amino acids found in eggs make it a complete, high quality protein. These little guys are great for a day-starter. They will keep you full for longer and give a high amount of energy to burn. Plus, they can taste pretty darn good!
To really kick your metabolism up in the morning, add some Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper to your eggs. The spice will get your metabolism working a little bit faster.
Green Tea
Fresh green tea is amazingly high in antioxidants including catechin, a natural phenol that helps increase fat loss. Catechins work to reduce fat in three main ways, the easiest is that they increase energy levels and boost metabolism. This phenol also increases fat loss in the abdomen and aids the liver in burning fat. Studies have shown that people who drink 3-5 cups of green tea a day saw more significant weight loss than those who did not.
Oatmeal
Oh how I love someone giving me a good reason to eat oatmeal. Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast foods, and now, research is showing it's good for more than our taste buds! There are a wide variety of oatmeal types. Like most instant foods, instant oatmeal is high in sugar and has been over-processed with smaller amount of fiber. Whole oats, like the kinds used in overnight oats, are much better for you and will keep you full for longer. Try some with cinnamon and agave nectar for breakfast or a few hours before a workout- it will keep you full throughout the day and give a good amount of energy to burn while you exercise; great for muscle growth and recovery.
Fatty Fish
Fish like salmon and tuna are high in monounsaturated fats. These increase our metabolism and fat loss. The high amount of protein found in these lean meats will also help increase muscle growth and recovery. Unfortunately, as good as these fish are for us, too much is not. Try to keep your weekly intake of predator fish down to 2-3 servings a week. Fish have something called bioaccumulation. This means that their bodies store the pollutants of everything they eat. Bioaccumulation is not so much for smaller fish, but the bigger the fish, the more bioaccumulation you will get. Keep the pollutants in your body low by keeping your intake of big fish low as well :)
Edamame
Whoohoo, another food that I love and find is good for us to boot! Edamame is a great source of nearly whole protein along with vitamin K, folate, phosphorous, and magnesium. These little beans of goodness are almost completely balanced between carbohydrates, fats, and protein.