Are you trying to slim down your belly this summer? If so, you likely already know how crucial it is to maintain a healthy diet if you want to lose weight. In addition to exercising regularly and drinking enough water, it’s important to ensure you’re consuming all the right nutrients—and avoiding foods that can be detrimental to your weight loss goals. Processed foods in particular can take a serious toll on your overall health, especially if you’re trying to shed a few pounds.
To learn more about the worst foods you could eat if you want a flatter stomach, we spoke to nutritionist Lisa Richards, author of The Candida Diet. She told us that white bread is a major culprit of belly fat that should be avoided at all costs.
Avoid White And Enriched Breads
Richards says that if you want to lose weight in your belly, you should avoid refined carbohydrates as much as possible. She notes that these foods "have many negative side effects for our health and belly fat is just one of them." One of the biggest culprits (and most common ones) is white and enriched breads. "White and enriched breads in particular have undergone a refining process where the fiber and beneficial nutrients are removed and possibly replaced with synthetic versions," Richards explains.
Why, exactly, are refined carbs like white bread so bad for weight loss, though? Richards says that they typically lead to "quick sugar spikes and inflammation, both of which stall weight loss and damage health." Yikes! For this reason, it's best to opt for whole wheat bread or other whole grain breads if you want to lose weigh in your belly—or simply improve your overall health. Next time you're browsing the bread aisle, Richards suggests keeping an eye out for one particular word on the ingredient lists. "Avoid any breads that start with 'enriched,'" she warns.
Lose Belly Fat With A Healthy Diet
In addition to sticking to whole grains and steering clear of refined carbs, Richards says maintaining a diet that's rich in lean protein is a great way to boost your metabolism, stay fuller longer, and lose weight. "An increased metabolism will lead to weight loss, and having a feeling of fullness will prevent overeating and indulging in calorie-dense, sugar-laden foods," she explains. Nice!
In fact, ensuring you're consuming enough protein each day is an even more effective way to lose weight than a highly restrictive, low-calorie diet. "These types of diets are not sustainable and will inevitably lead to weight gain once they have ended," Richards warns.
Luckily, there are so many delicious ways to incorporate protein into your diet. "High-protein foods to consume to lose your belly fat and keep it off include lean poultry, fish, nuts, eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, chia, lentils, and quinoa." Yum! If you stick to foods like this and ditch the white bread, you'll be well on your way to a slimmer belly.
