Weight loss: The six things to avoid eating if you want to get a flat stomach
STOMACH bloating is a natural part of life and can be spurred on by the food and drink we consume.
Bloating is caused when carbohydrates can’t be digested properly by the small intestine, leaving your stomach rounded.
Many people who have food allergies experience bloating, so if you often suffer from this condition you should speak to your GP.
Speaking to The Sun, Lisa Borg, nutritionist at , said the majority of excess fat accumulation around the mid-section is due to unwise dietary choices and hormonal imbalances.
"Especially cortisol, grehlin, leptin, and insulin which are linked to stress, poor sleep, and a high intake of sugars," she explained.
However Lisa suggested that changing your meal contents can have a remarkable effect on stubborn fat around the stomach.
You should also avoid mixing them with fizzy drinks such as lemonade and tonic.
5. Forget fried foods
If you're trying to lose weight you should probably stay away from fried foods anyway.
The coronavirus lockdown has meant more people are eating takeaways at home rather than going out for dinner.
Most fried foods are fast foods.
Fried foods manifest in your stomach and are packed with sodium and trans fats.
These usually create a build up of fat in your stomach.
6. Put packaged foods down
Dr Lisa told The Sun that packaged foods may also cause bloating.
"Packaged foods that have a long shelf life are loaded with preservatives and are no longer real foods per-se, and should be avoided to help metabolism.
"Avoiding them as well as sugars and processed foods will only have an effect if you add in healthy, clean foods that are organically produced and high in fibre like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds (metabolism can slow as a survival response where toxins are high)."
What else can you do to banish the bloat?
Dr Lisa said that adding cayenne pepper to your recipes could also help burn fat.
"Clinical studies found this to boost fat burning), and drinking Matcha Green Tea and including Wakame seaweed can also boost fat burning.
"Exercise plays a significant role too", she added.
This is while Jo said bloating can also be caused be other factors such as a lack of sleep.
"Poor digestive health can be the root cause of many unpleasant, embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms we can endure on a daily basis.
"Causing us to struggle with everything from excess flatulence after meals and constipation, to acid indigestion and unpredictable bowel habits.
"Whether it’s feeling heavy and windy after dinner, or not being able to get into your favourite jeans (despite you eating healthy and staying active) – digestive issues can cause us a lot of problems".
Practice mindfulness
Jo recommends Ayurveda which is a traditional Indian medicine.
She also recommends the use of Aloe Vera products.
"You’ve probably heard about using aloe vera for cooling and soothing irritated skin.
"But it can also have that same cooling and calming effect for the gut. In fact, it’s used in Ayurveda as an ‘intestinal healer’ to calm and soothe the digestive tract.
"For an irritated gut, make sure you’re getting a high-quality aloe vera juice or gel made from the inner leaf of the plant."
Jo added that stress can also cause IBS and inflammation to occur.
"For most of us, finding stillness and calm – a place where stress can melt away – is a skill that needs to be learned.
"This is why meditation or mindfulness practices are a key part of the Ayurvedic lifestyle."
She said plenty of apps are available for this.
"Making one of these techniques or practices part of your daily life is ideal.
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"But if stress affects your IBS, then a short meditation before you eat a meal could be especially helpful.
"Start by taking just five minutes before you eat to close your eyes and breathe deeply (five seconds in, five seconds out). You could find that even this makes all the difference", she added.