Five foods to eat everyday to get that fit and flat tummy

Hate those tyres around your tummy? Belly fat could be the most ­stubborn fat to get rid of. While it is important to work out and cut down your fat intake, there are certain food items that are known to help budge the bulges. Here’s what you must include in your diet to get that flat tummy.

Eggs
Eggs are a must have if you want to reduce and manage your weight. Apart from ­providing proteins, eggs have the ability to quickly increase your metabolism. However, if your cholesterol level is high, then ­consume only egg whites and not the egg yolk. Egg whites are a pure source of protein, and so, they are ideal if you want to lose weight.

Oatmeal
Wondering why you feel hungry for sugary products like doughnuts in the morning? It is because your early morning snack attack is caused by a dip in sugar levels. Go for plain oatmeal, as they are fibre rich. They promote healthy satiety, as they stay in your stomach for hours. It is an excellent choice if you want to curb and reduce belly fat.

Green beans
Don’t compromise on your dose of daily carbohydrates if you are ­planning to lose weight. Green beans provide the right amount of calories, along with fibre and protein to keep you energised throughout the day. Include green beans in your salad and soups. The fibre of green beans also helps manage your blood sugar levels, which helps you ward off those afternoon sugar cravings. It also promotes digestive health and removes toxins from your body.

Nuts
Whenever you feel a little ­craving in the middle of your meals, go for a box of nuts rather than gorging on junk food like chips and chocolate. Nuts such as almonds, cashew nuts and ­pistachios are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and have a low ­calorie count. However, skip ­salted nuts, as too much sodium raises blood pressure.

Berries
The ideal combination of fibre and antioxidants makes berries a must if you are looking to lose belly fat. The antioxidants in berries such as strawberries and blueberries block the activity of an enzyme responsible for ­breaking starch into simple sugar, which means fewer ­simple sugars are released into the blood stream, lowering the blood sugar and the ­corresponding insulin response. This is the key for weight control because insulin shuttles excess sugar into fat cells.

(Inputs by Kanchan Patwardhan, nutritionist)