How to get rid of visceral fat: Swapping carb-heavy foods for pulses may burn belly fat

Dr Zoe Williams discusses visceral fat on This Morning

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.

Weight loss and burning away dreaded belly fat is a very touchy topic and has most of us pondering on what to do to cut the extra flab from the body. Many of us have tried several fad diets with little to no results. As most know diet and exercise will always the be the best options, but food swaps are also important to remember. Experts advise swopping your carb-heavy meals with more pulses to help you burn your belly fat – particularly visceral fat.

Just one serving a day of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils is enough to contribute to modest weight loss by making people feel fuller and by vastly reducing “bad cholesterol” levels, according to new research.

Almost 1,000 adult men and women lost an average of 0.75lbs over six weeks by adding a single serving of pulses to their diet.

Dr Russel de Souza, lead author of the study, said that 90 per cent of weight loss interventions fail, resulting in weight regain, which may be due in part to hunger and food cravings.

“This new study fits well with our previous work, which found that pulses increased the feeling of fullness by 31 per cent, which may indeed result in less food intake,” he added.

Pulses are a great source of fibre – and fibre has been shown to get rid of visceral fat.

A study undertaken by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre found that eating 10g of soluble fibre a day resulted in a 3.7 per cent reduction in visceral fat over five years.

Pulses are also a great source of protein, said the NHS.

The health body continued: “This means they can be particularly important for people who don’t get protein by eating meat, fish or dairy products.

“But pulses can also be a healthy choice for meat-eaters.

“You can add pulses to soups, casseroles and meat sauces to add extra texture and flavour.

“This means you can use less meat, which makes the dish lower in fat and cheaper.”

DON’T MISS
Baking soda: How to make baking soda toothpaste [INSIGHT] 
Apple cider vinegar benefits – can it treat diabetes? [ADVICE]
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Doctor warns of damage [TIPS]

The beauty with eating more pulses in your diet and how it helps to burn belly fat is that a person can replace their usual high carb meals with more pulses.

By eating less carbs, especially refined carbs, it has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to lose belly fat.

This is supported by numerous studies delving into how carbohydrates in fact increase a person’s appetite and thereby increase fat.

More than 20 studies have shown that low carb diets sometimes lead to two to three times more weight loss than low fat diets.

This was true even when those in the low carb groups were allowed to eat as much as they wanted whilst those in the low-fat group were calorie restricting.

“Becoming a bean lover can help you lose weight and whittle your middle,” said registered dietitian Cynthia Sass.

She continued: “Beans are loaded with soluble fibre, which eliminates inflammation in your digestive system.

“Having chronic inflammation can increase your weight gain.”

Pulses make for a great food option and can be cooked in several ways.

One can eat pulses in its original form or even add it with poultry and meat for some delicious and healthy recipes.

Pulses are easy-to-make and are incredibly light on the stomach.

By adding more pulses and replacing them with carb meals, along with exercise, you could burn away your belly fat.

Source: Read Full Article