Smoothies are wonderful for healthy diet plans for numerous reasons, especially for shedding abdominal fat. They are fast to make, convenient for our hectic mornings, and versatile, as you can create them based on your personal preference. However, there can be additions to your smoothies you may never have thought of that can maximize the health benefits this handy drink can offer.
We spoke with Dr. Shara Cohen, Founder and Director of Cancer Care Parcel, to find out what two ingredients you can add to your smoothie in order to shed abdominal fat this summer. She suggested we incorporate ginger and green tea into our smoothies to see good results. Read below to find out more.
Ginger
Dr. Shara Cohen starts by stating, "Ginger's thermogenic qualities boost metabolism and calorie burn. It controls appetite, lowering food consumption. Ginger in smoothies may help you lose abdomen fat by increasing metabolism and digestion."
Ginger has been a superfood for quite some time now. It gained popularity through ginger shots and as a flavoring for drinks such as herbal teas. In order to incorporate ginger into your smoothie recipe, you can add peeled or unpeeled ginger to a combination of fruits such as bananas, pineapples, and strawberries. Add a liquid, such as yogurt or orange juice, and blend until smooth.
Green Tea
Dr. Cohen explains the benefits of adding green tea to your smoothies to see results in your belly area. "Green tea includes catechins, antioxidants that increase metabolism and fat oxidation. Over time, targeted fat-burning and higher calorie expenditure can reduce abdominal fat," she says.
If you're lost on how to include green tea in your smoothie recipes, you can start with green tea matcha powder. This powder has been extremely popular in drinks recently, and you can make it at home without ordering a matcha latte that's filled with added sugar! You can choose your choice of milk, such as almond or oat milk, some ripe bananas, a dash of honey as a sweetener, and of course, good-quality matcha powder. Matcha can be an acquired taste, so make sure to play around with the ingredients until you find one that suits your tastes.
You can also use brewed green tea as your liquid instead of matcha powder and incorporate ingredients such as avocado and spinach for an ultra-healthy green tea smoothie.
The Bottom Line
Dr. Cohen reminds us that, "While green tea and ginger can be useful, they should be part of a balanced diet, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle." These two foods aren't going to be magical ingredients that will get rid of all your abdominal fat, but they are excellent additions to your diet in order to be consistent with your weight loss plans!
