When you stand in front of a mirror and you’re not happy with your belly fat, your next move is to reach for baggier clothes. But what most of us forget to consider is that belly fat not only impacts our self-image and confidence, it also harms our health in ways we don’t dare to imagine.
Statistics show that those who store fat in their bellies are at a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers and other complications. Getting rid of belly fat is not about doing 50 push-ups and crunches a day, but it’s more about eating healthy.
The good news is, there are vegetables that pack a lot of antioxidants in them and have natural belly fat-burning abilities — and that’s one of the amazing gifts of the earth. So keep in mind the phrase “abs are made in the kitchen” and consider including these vegetables in your diet to help burn that belly fat.
#1 Chili peppers
Hope you love the burning sensation in your mouth because chili peppers are one of the vegetables that are going to help you get your flat stomach back. Recently conducted studies show that the heat generated by the consumption of chilies actually burns more calories — this essentially oxidizes layers of fat in the body.
#2 Asparagus
It’s said that Queen Nefertiti proclaimed asparagus to be the food of gods. She was not wrong, especially when it comes to the magical powers of burning belly fat. Asparagus has the chemical asparagine — an alkaloid that acts on cells, hence, breaking down fat. Some enjoy the authentic taste of simply roasted asparagus. But if you’re not a fan, then you can stir-fry it with other vegetables or meat.
#3 Pumpkin
Most of us know that pumpkins are rich in vitamins A and C. But that’s not the only reason we should consume them. Pumpkins are also low in calories and high in fiber. This amazing vegetable can not only decorate your front porch in the fall but also help you slim down. Blanch it and eat in a salad to reach your body goals faster.
#4 Spinach
Some studies show that when it comes to fat-burning capabilities of vegetables, spinach is the winner. Moreover, most of the carbs in spinach consist of fiber. You can also consider other leafy greens such as kale and lettuce. So, add some blanched or cooked spinach to your meals and prepare yourself for some major fat burn.
#5 Cucumbers
Since we’re talking about green vegetables, we might as well mention cucumbers — they are great for detoxifying your system. Another interesting fact about cucumbers is that they fill you up fast due to the presence of water, hence stopping your need to eat more. Whenever you find yourself reaching for a snack, stop and grab a cucumber; they are very low in calories.
#6 Mushrooms
Did you know that mushrooms are now used in coffee to increase the nutritional value of the drink? Mushrooms are really a fungus, not a vegetable, but have many of the same nutritional attributes of vegetables. The one simple way that mushrooms promote weight loss and fat burn is by regulating the levels of glucose in the blood. And that’s not all: They’re rich in protein and help increase metabolism. What’s the result of that? Fat loss.
#7 Beans
What we usually hear about beans is that they are a great alternative for meat. But what not all of us realize is that beans are specifically great for belly fat loss.
The reason behind this is that beans are rich in soluble fiber, which fights inflammation that causes belly fat accumulation. In fact, studies have shown that consumption of beans can reduce the risk of obesity.
#8 Cauliflower and Broccoli
These two super-healthy vegetables have high-quality fiber and many health-boosting minerals and vitamins. Moreover, they contain phytochemicals that help increase fat loss in our bodies. Boil them or cook an incredible dish of roasted cauliflower and broccoli with lemon garlic.
#9 Carrots
Carrots are one of the perfect vegetables to include in your diet when it comes to healthy eating. The vegetable is a great source of beta carotene and vitamin A, and you can get more than 200 percent of your daily requirements in just one carrot. Carrots are low in calories, include both soluble and insoluble fiber, and so are perfect for losing belly fat.
Tracking your nutritional intake
Now that you know what vegetables you should include in your meals, it’s time to consider tracking your daily calories and nutritional facts. The truth is, most of us don’t have a clue what we are eating every day. Sure, we know the ingredients that our meals contain, but are we eating “high protein” or “low carb?” It is absolutely essential to track the nutritional facts of your everyday meals if you truly want to optimize your diet.
It can become challenging to calculate every ingredient with its nutritional facts. That’s why you can use an online recipe analyzer tool like RecipeIQ. Whether your recipes are online or offline, you can check their nutritional info and make adjustments to your recipe that will fit your diet. Merely changing a vegetable in a salad that might make you bloat with a belly fat-burning option such as broccoli or spinach can do the trick. You can even create a personalized cookbook for yourself in the app.
Adding these top belly fat-burning vegetables in your diet will make a drastic change in your life — and you will notice it very quickly. But there are other factors in your life you should consider. Some of those are exercising, tracking your daily nutritional intake, recusing your stress levels, getting enough sleep and drinking enough water.
