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“A diet of fried foods, refined flours, sugars, and products with hormones and synthetic sweeteners all contribute to inflammation which builds up belly fat,” says Cara Walsh, a dietician at Medifast Weight Control Centers of California. Ok, we’ve all been guilty of indulging in these kinds of foods. Now the goal is reverse the inflammation that could be making us a bit too thick in the mid-section. Here are foods that will help.
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Broccoli
"One of the best anti-inflammatory foods to help you maintain a healthy weight is broccoli,” says Walsh. Why? It’s high in vitamin K, which can help regulate your body's response to inflammation. If you’re still into kale chips, enjoy. But we’ve moved on to broccoli. Place small pieces onto a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and add a sprinkling of salt (maybe a little garlic powder, too). Bake them until crispy. You’ll never pick up kale again.
Salmon
You know that old saying, “you are what you eat”? It’s totally true, especially for salmon. “Wild salmon dine on a crustacean called krill, which are loaded with an anti-inflammatory antioxidant called astaxanthin,” says Colette Heimowitz, a nutritionist with Atkins Nutritionals. You eat what it eats! Salmon is also an amazing source of protein that helps your body burn fat rather than store it. Plus it further reduces inflammation thanks to ample amounts of omega-3s.
Bone Broth
Heimowitz also recommends bone broth that’s rich in immune-boosting minerals and contains collagen, both of which help reduce inflammation. You can buy it but it’s really easy to make your own, says culinary nutrition expert, Andrea Wien. Just throw some roasted bones (chicken, turkey or beef) into the slow cooker. Add chopped onions, garlic, carrots and celery, then cover the ingredients with water and let simmer for the day. Use it to cook quinoa and brown rice, to flavor veggies or as a base for soup.
Blueberries
Blueberries are extraordinarily high in polyphenols, micronutrients that combat cellular stress by slowing down and blocking the inflammatory response in your body. Add them into yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies and salads.
