are some of the best sources of fiber, which supports gut health, as well as appetite control, blood sugar balance and more.

Oats contain about 55 percent soluble fiber and 45 percent insoluble fiber. Fiber takes up a large amount of space in your stomach and absorbs water, helping you feel satisfied despite being low in calories.

Certain studies have also found that oat intake has significant effects on controlling hyperglycemia, lowering blood lipids and reducing weight.

Just be sure to buy unsweetened rolled oats, oat bran or steel-cut oats for the most benefits. Add your own toppings to make oats taste great, such as yogurt, fruit, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, vanilla and cocoa.

They also supply lots of fiber, antioxidants like flavonoids, and numerous vitamins and minerals, such as folate and magnesium. Studies have linked regular consumption of legumes and beans including black, navy and white beans; chickpeas; lentils ; etc.

as part of a mostly plant-based diet with enhanced protection against obesity, inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Consuming fiber found in beans is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease since it helps balance unhealthy cholesterol levels, while also removing waste and toxins from the body.

Certain studies have shown that consuming resistant starch found in beans can help control your appetite and assist with blood sugar management and digestive function.

Allulose is a simple sugar found naturally in several food sources, including figs, raisins, maple syrup and brown sugar. It can also be produced commercially from corn and is found in a variety of processed foods. One of the biggest differences between allulose vs.

sugar is in terms of calorie content. In fact, allulose contains just 0. In addition to promoting weight loss, promising research suggests that allulose could be a fat-burning food and increase fat loss. A study published in the journal Nutrients included overweight subjects aged 20 to 40 years.

They were randomly assigned to three groups: one supplementing with sucralose 0. In the high-allulose group, there was also a decrease in abdominal and subcutaneous fat compared to the placebo group.

Here are some meal ideas based on the time of day:. Popular Nutrition Posts All Time This Week {position} Detox Your Liver: A 6-Step Liver Cleanse.

More Nutrition Dr. Axe on Facebook 82 Dr. Axe on Twitter 4 Dr. Axe on Instagram Dr. Axe on Google Plus Dr. Axe on Youtube Dr. Axe on Pintrest 68 Share on Email Print Article Your heart plays a crucial role in your health. Axe on Facebook 14 Dr. Axe on Twitter 22 Dr. Axe on Pintrest Share on Email Print Article Most couples, at some point in their relationships, will deal with issues Axe on Facebook Dr.

Axe on Twitter 5 Dr. Axe on Facebook 22 Dr. Axe on Pintrest 0 Share on Email Print Article Sleep is important for many aspects of your health, including weight. Studies show that not getting enough sleep may be linked to a higher risk of obesity and increased belly fat for some groups 43 , 44 , 45 , A year study involving more than 68, women found that those who slept fewer than 5 hours per night were significantly more likely to gain weight than those who slept 7 hours or more per night The condition known as sleep apnea , where breathing stops intermittently during the night, has also been linked to excess visceral fat If you suspect you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, consider speaking to a doctor about treatment options.

Sleep deprivation is linked to an increased risk of weight gain. Many things can help you lose weight and belly fat, but consuming fewer calories than your body needs for weight maintenance is key Keeping a food diary or using an online food tracker or app can help monitor your calorie intake.

This strategy has been shown to be beneficial for weight loss 50 , In addition, food tracking tools help you to see your intake of protein, carbs, fiber, and micronutrients.

Many also allow you to record your exercise and physical activity. You can find several free apps or websites to track nutrient and calorie intake on this page. Keeping a food diary or using an online food tracker are two of the most popular ways to do this. Fatty fish can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet.

Studies in adults and children with fatty liver disease have shown that omega-3 supplements may significantly reduce liver and abdominal fat 54 , 55 , Eating fatty fish or taking omega-3 supplements sourced from fish oil or algae may improve your overall health.

Some evidence also suggests it may reduce belly fat in people with fatty liver disease. For example, an 8-ounce milliliter serving of unsweetened apple juice contains 24 g of sugar, over half of which is fructose Research suggests that consuming high amounts of fruit juice could contribute to weight gain due to the excessive amount of calories that it provides rather than the fructose that it contains Still, to help reduce excess belly fat, moderate your intake and enjoy other beverages with lower sugar content, such as water, unsweetened iced tea, or sparkling water with a wedge of lemon or lime.

Fruit juice often contains as much sugar as soda and may contribute to weight gain if consumed in high amounts. Probiotics are bacteria found in some foods and supplements.

They may have health benefits, including helping improve gut health and enhancing immune function Researchers have found that different types of bacteria play a role in weight regulation and that having the right balance can help with weight loss, including loss of belly fat.

Those shown to reduce belly fat include members of the Lactobacillus family, such as Lactobacillus fermentum , Lactobacillus amylovorus , and Lactobacillus gasseri 61 , 62 , 63 , However, while probiotics may be beneficial for weight loss , more research is needed.

Taking probiotic supplements may help promote a healthy digestive system. Studies also suggest that beneficial gut bacteria may help promote weight loss. Intermittent fasting has recently become very popular as a weight loss method.

One popular method involves hour fasts once or twice per week. Another consists of fasting every day for 16 hours and eating all your food within an 8-hour period. One study found that combining intermittent fasting with protein pacing — which involves consuming nutrient-dense meals spaced evenly throughout the day — led to greater reductions in body weight, total fat, and visceral fat compared to calorie restriction Although certain modified intermittent fasting methods appear to be better options, stop fasting immediately if you experience any negative effects.

Additionally, talk with a doctor before trying intermittent fasting or making other changes to your diet. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and fasting.

Studies suggest that it may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat. Green tea is an exceptionally healthy beverage. It contains caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate EGCG , which appear to boost metabolism 68 , EGCG is a catechin, which several studies suggest may help you lose belly fat.

The effect may be strengthened when green tea consumption is combined with exercise 70 , 71 , Interestingly, one review concluded that green tea could increase weight loss, especially when consumed in doses of less than milligrams per day for 12 weeks Another review showed that regular consumption of green tea could be beneficial for reducing body weight and waist circumference Though more research is needed, regularly drinking green tea has been linked to weight loss.

Interestingly, many of these methods are generally associated with balanced eating and an overall healthy lifestyle. Therefore, changing your lifestyle for the long term is the key to losing your belly fat and keeping it off.

When you have healthy habits, stay active, and reduce your intake of ultra-processed foods , fat loss tends to follow as a natural side effect Losing weight and keeping it off may be difficult unless you maintain consistent dietary habits and lifestyle measures.

Studies suggest that intermittent fasting may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat. While there are healthy ways to lose weight, it will likely take longer than 7 days. There are no magic solutions to losing belly fat.

Adopting some or all of the strategies and lifestyle goals discussed in this article may help you lose belly fat and improve overall health.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. Belly fat is the most harmful fat in your body, linked to many diseases.

But there is no specific, prescribed schedule. Some people have more or less generous eating windows, setting the rule that they will not eat after, say, p. During a period without eating, insulin levels drop to the point that the body begins burning fat for fuel. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of intermittent fasting for weight loss.

One possible reason for the success of intermittent fasting is that most practitioners have quit the habit of eating during the late evening and night hours.

There are certain people who should not try intermittent fasting without first checking with their doctor, such those with diabetes or heart disease. It sounds counterintuitive, but many people find success losing weight—especially initially—by eating more fat, not less.

The theory is that by eating so many healthy fats and restricting carbohydrates, you enter an altered metabolic state in which you force your body to begin relying on fat for energy, burning away your fat stores instead of sugar for fuel.

Research does show that keto is an effective way to jump-start weight loss and improve blood-sugar levels. However, it is hard to maintain, and to date we are lacking long-term studies that show it to be a sustainable eating pattern for keeping weight off. Because both weight loss and overall health are tied to some basic eating patterns, we have developed the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate as a model for meal planning and for your overall balanced diet.

Imagine a round dinner plate with a line running vertically down its center dividing it evenly in two. One half of the plate should be taken up by equal portions of whole grains not refined grains like white bread and white rice and healthy protein such as fish, nuts, beans and poultry—not red meat or processed meats.

Two-thirds of the other half should be filled with vegetables, with the remaining portion consisting of fruit. To the other side of the plate, imagine a vessel containing healthy oils such as canola or olive oil.

Use it for cooking or at the table instead of butter. Adhering to its guidelines will optimize your chances of remaining healthy and of maintaining a desirable body weight. Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift.

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For example, an 8-ounce milliliter serving of unsweetened apple juice contains 24 g of sugar, over half of which is fructose Research suggests that consuming high amounts of fruit juice could contribute to weight gain due to the excessive amount of calories that it provides rather than the fructose that it contains Still, to help reduce excess belly fat, moderate your intake and enjoy other beverages with lower sugar content, such as water, unsweetened iced tea, or sparkling water with a wedge of lemon or lime.

Fruit juice often contains as much sugar as soda and may contribute to weight gain if consumed in high amounts. Probiotics are bacteria found in some foods and supplements.

They may have health benefits, including helping improve gut health and enhancing immune function Researchers have found that different types of bacteria play a role in weight regulation and that having the right balance can help with weight loss, including loss of belly fat.

Those shown to reduce belly fat include members of the Lactobacillus family, such as Lactobacillus fermentum , Lactobacillus amylovorus , and Lactobacillus gasseri 61 , 62 , 63 , However, while probiotics may be beneficial for weight loss , more research is needed.

Taking probiotic supplements may help promote a healthy digestive system. Studies also suggest that beneficial gut bacteria may help promote weight loss. Intermittent fasting has recently become very popular as a weight loss method. One popular method involves hour fasts once or twice per week.

Another consists of fasting every day for 16 hours and eating all your food within an 8-hour period. One study found that combining intermittent fasting with protein pacing — which involves consuming nutrient-dense meals spaced evenly throughout the day — led to greater reductions in body weight, total fat, and visceral fat compared to calorie restriction Although certain modified intermittent fasting methods appear to be better options, stop fasting immediately if you experience any negative effects.

Additionally, talk with a doctor before trying intermittent fasting or making other changes to your diet. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and fasting.

Studies suggest that it may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat. Green tea is an exceptionally healthy beverage.

It contains caffeine and the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate EGCG , which appear to boost metabolism 68 , EGCG is a catechin, which several studies suggest may help you lose belly fat. The effect may be strengthened when green tea consumption is combined with exercise 70 , 71 , Interestingly, one review concluded that green tea could increase weight loss, especially when consumed in doses of less than milligrams per day for 12 weeks Another review showed that regular consumption of green tea could be beneficial for reducing body weight and waist circumference Though more research is needed, regularly drinking green tea has been linked to weight loss.

Interestingly, many of these methods are generally associated with balanced eating and an overall healthy lifestyle. Therefore, changing your lifestyle for the long term is the key to losing your belly fat and keeping it off.

When you have healthy habits, stay active, and reduce your intake of ultra-processed foods , fat loss tends to follow as a natural side effect Losing weight and keeping it off may be difficult unless you maintain consistent dietary habits and lifestyle measures.

Studies suggest that intermittent fasting may be one of the most effective ways to lose weight and belly fat. While there are healthy ways to lose weight, it will likely take longer than 7 days.

There are no magic solutions to losing belly fat. Adopting some or all of the strategies and lifestyle goals discussed in this article may help you lose belly fat and improve overall health. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. Belly fat is the most harmful fat in your body, linked to many diseases. Here are 6 simple ways to lose belly fat that are supported by science. We all have belly fat, but having too much can harm your health.

This article explains the different types of belly fat, how they affect your health…. Losing weight overall is the only way to lose any belly fat in a healthy way.

Here are some exercises, eating habits, and lifestyle changes you can…. Working out your upper body and core will strengthen and tone your muscles, but you can't "spot-treat" the layer of fat on your upper belly. Patients with diabetes who used GLP-1 drugs, including tirzepatide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide had a decreased chance of being diagnosed….

Some studies suggest vaping may help manage your weight, but others show mixed…. The amount of time it takes to recover from weight loss surgery depends on the type of surgery and surgical technique you receive. New research suggests that running may not aid much with weight loss, but it can help you keep from gaining weight as you age.

Here's why. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 18 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat Backed by Science.

Medically reviewed by Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD — By Franziska Spritzler — Updated on November 30, Was this helpful? Eat plenty of soluble fiber. Avoid foods that contain trans fats. Moderate your alcohol intake. Eat a high protein diet.

Reduce your stress levels. Explore our top resources. Do aerobic exercise cardio. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs. Perform resistance training lift weights.

Limit sugar-sweetened beverages. Get plenty of restful sleep. Track your food intake and exercise. Eat fatty fish every week. Limit consumption of fruit juice. Eat probiotic foods or take a probiotic supplement.

Consider intermittent fasting. Drink green tea. Change your lifestyle and combine different methods. Frequently asked questions. The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: History. Nov 30, Written By Franziska Spritzler. Nov 29, Medically Reviewed By Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD.

Share this article. Read this next. By Kris Gunnars, BSc. The 2 Types of Belly Fat and How to Lose It. By Jillian Kubala, MS, RD. This diet strategy is becoming more popular.

It is often compared to fasting, but the two strategies are slightly different. Time-restricted eating limits the number of hours per day that you can eat. A popular strategy is the For this diet, you have to eat all of your meals during an 8 hour period, for example, 10 am to 6 pm.

The rest of the time you cannot eat anything. There are some studies that this method can cause rapid weight loss, but there is little information so far about whether the weight loss is sustained. Fasting is an ancient form of caloric restriction. It has become more popular recently. This is partly because some animal and human studies have shown benefits to fasting for people with diabetes and obesity.

There are many different fasting regimens and it is unclear which may be the best. One of the most popular is the system. This involves 2 days a week of fasting or VLCD and 5 days a week of eating your normal diet.

Diets that incorporate fasting can cause rapid weight loss. Some fad diets also severely limit calories to achieve rapid weight loss. In some cases, these diets are not safe.

In most cases, these diets are not sustainable for long enough to cause long-term weight loss. Once you stop the diet, you are at risk for regaining the weight if you return to your old eating habits. Rapid weight loss is more about cutting calories than exercising. Talk with your provider about what type of exercise you should do while you are on this type of diet.

Your provider may suggest waiting until you are on a more long-term diet to start exercising. Rapid weight loss diet is usually for people who have health problems because of obesity. For these people, losing a lot of weight quickly can help improve:. You should only follow one of these diets with the help of your provider.

Losing more than 1 or 2 pounds 0. It can cause you to lose muscle, water, and bone density. Rapid weight loss can also cause some side effects including:.

People who lose weight quickly are also more likely to gain back the weight quickly. This can lead to other health problems. In general, a rapid weight loss diet is not safe for children. It may also not be safe for teens, pregnant women or older adults unless a provider recommends it.

If you have a health condition, it is a good idea to talk with your provider before starting this or any diet plan to lose weight. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Updated January 24, Accessed January 11, Staying away from fad diets. Updated April 13, Flier EM.

In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Parretti HM, Jebb SA, Johns DJ, Lewis AL, Christian-Brown AM, Aveyard P.

Clinical effectiveness of very-low-energy diets in the management of weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. PMID: pubmed. Reviewed by: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA.