Flat-Belly Foods and Nutrients

10 Super-Nutrients for a Flat Belly

Lose weight faster—and see results where it matters most—by packing your diet with these secret weapons
By Erin Hicks fitbie
 

Beta Carotene and Lycopene

What they are: Both are pigments found in plants and colorful vegetables, and both are also high in antioxidant properties. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the liver.

The belly-flattening science: According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, people who ate higher amounts of carotenoids, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lycopene had smaller waists as well as less body fat.

Foods to choose: As a general rule, orange and yellow vegetables are rich in beta-carotene. Load up on carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and other leafy green vegetables, and fruits such as cantaloupes and apricots.

Tomatoes are some of the richest sources of lycopene. (Bonus tip: According to a study at Cornell University, if you heat up tomatoes, it spikes the lycopene content and makes it easier for your body to absorb the nutrient). You can get lycopene in tomato sauce and ketchup. Other sources of this important nutrient include watermelons, pink grapefruits, and apricots.

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