A dietitian has revealed how you can lose belly fat by ‘programming’ your body through proper eating habits.
Susie Burrell, from Sydney, said people over the age of 30 are more prone to gaining weight around the middle because of hormonal shifts.
She told Sunrise managing the problem was a case of changing ‘dietary patterns’ so the body wasn’t as prone to producing excessive insulin which can cause visceral (belly) fat.
Susie’s top tips for losing weight include increasing fibre intake for better gut health, ditching sugary foods and drinking extra juice when working out.
Sydney-based dietitian Susie Burrell (pictured) said creating better dietary habits was key when it came to shifting unwanted belly fat
1. Increase your fibre serves to five a day
According to dietary recommendations, the average Australian requires 30 grams of fibre per day.
Susie said a high-fibre intake helps to lower cholesterol problems and regulate insulin, particularly when it is consumed in the morning.
To meet daily requirements, the dietitian suggested eating two slices of dark, seedy bread, two servings of fruit as well as five servings of vegetables (a serving is considered half a cup).
‘Include some fresh fruit and vegetables as part of every meal – at breakfast, lunch and dinner to get that bulk,’ Susie said.
She said by eating the recommended amount of fibre daily you’ll be naturally fuller this was an easy way to regulate appetite and hormones.
A fibre serve is generally regarded as half a cup and this is something that can be easily consumed in a salad at lunch
2. Caffeine helps kick-start the metabolism
Caffeine in any form helps stimulate your metabolism and is particularly effective when you drink in the morning.
Susie explained the stimulating properties of caffeine helped to ‘mobilise fat stores’ as well as to repress the appetite.
She said if you are watching your weight, you will need to check how milky your coffee is as this is where hidden sugars can be found.
3. Eating sugar makes you crave more sugar
If you prefer breakfast on-the-go, there’s a chance you may be drawn to muffins, banana bread or smoothies.
Susie said the problem these types of foods, particularly in the morning, is they increase insulin and will drive up your appetite.
This means despite having eaten, you’ll still feel ravenous and may find yourself constantly snacking as a way to satisfy ‘hunger’.
It’s all too easy to reach for a slice of banana bread if you’ve not had breakfast, however, doing so can set you up for poor choices throughout the day
4. Make sure you drink plenty of fluid throughout day
In addition to drinking two litres of water a day, something that helps you naturally feel fuller, Susie also recommends drinking green tea.
She said research has shown green tea helps increase metabolic rate (how fast your body converts food to energy) and the beverage can also quash sugar cravings.
The nutritionist also said there’s some evidence to show drinking water that’s ice-cold is a way to get your metabolism firing.
‘If you sip on iced water all day, you could burn about 100 extra calories over the course of the day,’ she said.
While dietary recommendations advise 40g of vitamin C per day, boosting this to 100g a day can help you burn fat
5. Drink juice while working out to burn fat
Susie said while the recommended daily intake of vitamin C is 40g per day, ‘bumping’ this up to 100g can help shift stubborn kgs.
The nutritionist said there is evidence which shows your body will burn more fat when your vitamin C levels are increased.
She explained you can boost vitamin C levels by eating a range of foods like oranges, limes as well as capsicums.