Lose belly fat without exercising by eating more of 'most important' food source
Slimmers have been told to up their intake of one food group
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Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for those embarking on a weight loss journey. To target stubborn belly fat, a nutritionist suggested that slimmers up their protein intake.
While exercise has many health benefits, clinical nutritionist Autumn Bates believes that you don't need to spend hours in the gym to lose weight.
The expert shared five ways slimmers can torch belly fat without working out. Autumn urged dieters to "eat more protein".
She said: "Protein is the most important food source when it comes to losing body fat while maintaining muscle mass."
'Protein is the most important food source when it comes to losing body fat while maintaining muscle mass'
GETTY IMAGESResearch published in the National Library of Medicine points to the same conclusion: a high-protein diet is an effective way to fight fat.
Experts said: "Several clinical trials have found that consuming more protein than the recommended dietary allowance not only reduces body weight but also enhances body composition by decreasing fat mass while preserving fat-free mass in both low-calorie and standard-calorie diets.
"Fairly long-term clinical trials of six to 12 months reported that a high-protein diet (HPD) provides weight-loss effects and can prevent weight regain after weight loss."
Adding plenty of protein to your diet also helps to reduce any muscle loss associated with lower levels of activity and the effects of ageing.
The best protein sources to include in a healthy diet include beans, peas and lentils, nuts and seeds, lean meats, fish, dairy products, and soy products.
Slimmers can also burn belly fat without exercising by ensuring they get eight hours of sleep per night.
How to lose belly fat without exercising
- Sleep for eight hours per night
- Avoid drinks with added sugar, or adding your own
- Stop snacking between meals
- Drink zero-sugar alcohol
- Eat more protein
The expert explained that poor-quality sleep raises the stress hormone cortisol, which increases weight gain around the tummy.
The expert also advised slimmers to stop drinking sugar, explaining that added sugar causes insulin resistance, which makes it harder to lose tummy fat.
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Soy products are some of the best protein sources GETTY IMAGESThis goes for soft drinks that contain added sugar, or adding spoons of sugar to cups of tea or coffee.
Reducing snacking is also important for those who want to lose stubborn fat around their midsection.
Autumn explained that going without snacks between meals allows insulin to dip down between meals, which "turns on fat burning". Lastly, for those who drink alcohol, it is wise to go for zero-calorie options.
Another way slimmers can lose weight is by considering the order they are eating their meals.