Prevention's Flat Belly Diet
Could the cure for belly fat not include any exercise?
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BACKGROUND
Popular health magazine Prevention has what they call the secret to getting a flat tummy, and they claim a 91 percent success rate, which by dieting standards is phenomenal. Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, nutrition director at Prevention assembled a panel to test the diet, and everyone lost weight - 91 percent lost a significant amount of belly fat. The idea of spot reduction - targeting specific problem areas - is generally a fallacy. In other words, doing a solid ab routine won't make your waistline shrink. You will have a beautiful six pack... just under whatever fat you may have around your midsection. It requires the total package of a healthy diet and exercise program. But recent research suggests that there may be one way to help target your belly fat. According to a study that appeared in Diabetes Care, by the American Diabetes Association, a diet rich in monounsaturated fats (MUFA) may help reduce abdominal fat.
Another emphasis on the program is water consumption. When you get enough water, your body runs on all cylinders, warding off fatigue and water retention. The Flat Belly Diet has users drink "Sassy Water," which is named after Prevention's nutrition director Cynthia Sass. The water includes ginger, which is good for soothing your gastrointestinal tract.
The online portion of the Flat Belly Diet program is similar to most online diets, in that it provides a way to track your progress, interact with others who are also on the plan, get your questions/concerns answered, and all around support. One problem arises with the de-emphasizing of exercise. It's an optional part of the program.
PRO
- The Flat Belly Diet offers good value for your money
- Online network
- Creator is registered medical professional
- 91% success rate in studies
CON
- It downplays the need to exercise
- Somewhat low in calories
FOOD and RECIPES
The Flat Belly Diet proudly touts that it's high in fat - good fat. The emphasis is on "MUFAs," or monounsaturated fatty acids. Each of your meals include them. Examples of "MUFA foods" are olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, olives, and even chocolate. Here's a sample dinner recipe:
- 4 oz. grilled tilapia
- 1 cup steamed green beans
- 1/2 cup roasted red potatoes drizzled with olive oil
EXERCISE
The Flat Belly Diet says you can target belly fat without exercise, by purely focusing on what you're eating.
EXPENSE
You get three free Prevention health guides with the Flat Belly Diet book risk-free. Your credit card will be charged $31.95 plus $7.99 shipping and handling. You also get a subscription to Prevention. There is an online program as well, which is free for three months when you buy the book.
CONCLUSION
The Flat Belly Diet espouses a healthy eating plan. While it's not entirely revolutionary, it is based on some interesting new data. We've known for a while about healthy fats, but the prospects of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) targeting your midsection is exciting news. It's exciting for two reasons: the results for starters, and second, foods that are rich in monounsaturated fats are super tasty. That's a great one-two punch!
Common Misspellings
flat belley diet, flatt belly diet, flat belly deit
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