We want to believe that there is a magic pill that will melt the fat off our bodies. We even hope there's some secret formula that nobody else knows. In the end, however, in our heart of hearts, we always know that "the formula" for staying trim is no formula at all. Quite simply, we have to exercise more and eat less.
Right?
Well, not exactly. According to various bits of research done here and there and compiled by AOL Diet & Fitness, it seems that for one particular trouble spot for a lot us, abs, eating more might be key.
Hold your horses, Soon-to-be-Taut Tonto. You can't just go eating everything in sight, thinking that the more potato chips and bacon you cram down your throat, the tighter your abs will be. There are specific nutrients in foods that seem t help fight ab fat. Unfortunately, potato chips isn't one of them. What are they? There are five things, and the matrix above is just a few suggestions for ways you can incorporate these into your diet that will get you to flatter abs:
- Fruit and Vegetables - This is a no brainer, right? Fruits and vegetables make you feel fuller, faster, but if you also focus on fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene, you'll also be fighting fat. Beta carotene comes in the form of orange produce like carrots, cantaloupe, squash, and peaches. Obviously, whole fresh vegetables are the best, but this is real life, so you can make do with a good power carrot juice. I'll also add that sweet potatoes are a great source as well (if you can fry those babies in olive oil, maybe you can eat potato chips!) Naturally we think of orange juice when we want vitamin C, but kiwi is even more concentrated with the vitamin.
- Selenium - This mineral is a known cancer fighting agent, but also helps to fight a case of the flabs. Selenium can be found in cheese, grains, and nuts.
- Protein - Nuts do double duty as source of selenium, as well as protein. Other sources of lean protein are fish and chicken, and if you're doing it all day, lowfat milk and yogurt.
- Wine - Hooray! A glass of wine a day helps with female mid-section obesity! Of course, drinking more doesn't necessarily mean you'll be cinching that bet even more tightly. Keep the wine to about 20 glasses total a month (and not all at once, obviously).
- Good Fats - Another no brainer, :good" fats include omega-3 fats found in fish. The other fats do a lot of damage, but you knew that already: omega-6 fats in cereals, corn oil, baked goods, and eggs causeab fat to pile on, as do trans fats, which have no nutritional value and are mostly found in calorie-dense baked goods and chips. Dammit. I guess chips are out.
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