Abdominal overweight is not always the result of weight gain due to poor diet or lack of physical activity. This can also be caused by other problems, related to digestion and diet, especially bloating. Discover in this article the foods you should avoid or consume moderately to have a flat stomach.
Some people fail to get rid of their tummy even by having a very healthy lifestyle, either adopting a healthy diet and practicing regular sports. We all know that the belly is one of the most resistant areas, only sometimes it is not fat but rather bloating or water retention that lead us to believe that we have gained weight !
Here are the foods to be consumed carefully or to avoid to have a flat stomach:
Dairy products
To have a flat stomach, some dairy products are to be avoided because they can promote bloating. These include milk, fatty white cheese or cottage cheese.
In some people, especially adults, the digestion of dairy products can be difficult. Indeed, they often have a level of lactases (enzyme necessary to digest lactose, natural sugar present in dairy products) rather low. As a result, lactose ferments in the colon and causes bloating.
It is therefore best to avoid the consumption of certain dairy products to avoid having a swollen belly. But if you are really fond of it, favor rather the cooked cheeses, as well as yogurts which are rich in probiotics very beneficial for the digestion.
Processed products, sugar, coffee and alcohol:
Unhealthy diet is among the first causes of bloating that is responsible for swelling of the tummy.
The consumption of processed products rich in bad fats, salt and sugar, sweet foods and excessive coffee or alcohol can cause irritation of the digestive system and produce gas causing bloating. If your goal is to have a flat stomach, you must absolutely eliminate these products from your diet and try to reduce your intake of coffee.
Salt
The swollen belly can also be caused by water retention. As the name suggests, this problem corresponds to excessive water storage in the body. The latter accumulates more water than it needs. Why ? The causes of water retention are numerous, but the main factor remains the high consumption of salt.
Indeed, salt or sodium, in particular, accumulates in the tissues and promotes the retention of water in the latter. One then finds oneself with swellings which can appear on different parts of the body like the belly, in particular.
It is therefore important to reduce daily salt intake. Replace large quantities of salt with other spices to raise your dishes and avoid consuming processed products and sausages that contain large quantities of salt.
The hot pepper
Hot peppers promote the release of acids in the stomach, which in turn can cause irritation of the organ. This usually causes inflammation accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and troublesome digestive troubles such as bloating.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the fuel of the body and are therefore necessary to have a good dose of energy. However, as important as they may be, some types of carbohydrates can do more harm than good!
These include simple carbohydrates that can cause an increase in blood sugar and promotes the accumulation of fat and swollen belly.
This is why it is important to choose the right carbohydrates and not banish them from your diet, to have a flat stomach. Complex carbohydrates are preferred. Opt for whole pasta rather than white pasta, complete flour instead of refined, whole rice ...
The fruits
Although they are essential to the body, the fruits can be responsible for bloating causing the swollen belly. Indeed, these are rich in fructose, a natural sugar that can cause various digestive disorders, including bloating, if consumed excessively.
This is not a call to stop fruit consumption, but rather to eat it moderately (one to two servings per day). It is also best to consume fresh fruit rather than fruit juices.
Also note that some fruits can be real slimming allies, because they boost metabolism and promote fat burning. This is the case of lemon!