10 SCIENCE-BACKED TIPS TO BLAST STUBBORN BELLY FAT

January 14, 2019

Google “stubborn belly fat” and you may be told to go low carb, take shots of apple cider vinegar, or use expensive wraps. You may even read that belly fat is no different from any other body fat, you just need a calorie deficit and exercise to burn it off. In reality, none of these claims are completely true.

First of all, there are two types of “belly fat”: subcutaneous and visceral.¹ Subcutaneous is that pudge you can grab; visceral is the fat surrounding your organs, indicated by a firm, protruding gut. Although undesirable, subcutaneous fat is largely harmless.

Subcutaneous belly fat is stubborn because abdominal fat cells have fewer beta-receptors to receive fat burning signals (catecholamines) compared to fat stores in other areas.² Frustrating, but the good news is that reducing overall body fat will eventually melt off your spare tire. It just may be the last to go!

Visceral fat, on the other hand, carries serious health risks. Visceral belly fat, unlike subcutaneous pudge, has a hormonal component that promotes inflammation and insulin resistance (the inability to metabolize carbs properly). This double-edged sword perpetuates metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. In turn, metabolic syndrome paves the way to obesity, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

“Skinny” people can have excess visceral fat too if their lifestyle is unhealthy, putting them at risk for serious health issues. Overweight and obese people are more likely to have both subcutaneous and visceral belly fat. If you’re not overweight, but still have belly fat, these below tips will improve both your appearance and overall health! If you’re overweight, you need these tips along with a 20-30% calorie deficit for weight loss.

Check out this article to find out how many calories you need!

1. Eat More Healthy Fats

Too little healthy fats (along with too much of the unhealthy kind) can promote inflammation and insulin resistance. If you remember, inflammation and insulin resistance are the two main contributors to stubborn belly fat. Not to mention, metabolic syndrome, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes!

Two fats are essential for ditching belly fat: polyunsaturated omega-3 fats and monosaturated (omega-9) fats. Omega-3 fats reduce inflammation³ and promote insulin sensitivity,⁴ a one-two punch against belly fat. Omega-3 fats are found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts and walnut oil, and high omega-3 canola oil. Monosaturated fats also promote insulin sensitivity,⁴ helping your body burn carbohydrates for energy rather than store them as fat. They’ve also been shown to reduce visceral fat.⁵ Sources of monosaturated fats include olive oil, avocados and avocado oil, almonds, macadamias and most other nuts, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Two fats you should avoid or at least limit are polyunsaturated omega-6 fats and trans fats. When consumed in excess, polyunsaturated omega-6 fats promote inflammation (which contributes to stubborn belly fat) plus various inflammatory diseases (metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease, heart disease). Omega-6 fats are found in safflower, soybean, sunflower, grapeseed, corn and peanut oils. While “some” omega-6 is necessary for immune function, our modern culture gets way too much. The recommended ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is 4:1 or less, but the average American gets closer to 16:1!

Trans fat is another unhealthy fat that has been directly linked to insulin resistance, stubborn belly fat, obesity and metabolic syndrome.^6,7 Trans fat is found in processed foods containing “partially hydrogenated oils,” such as bakery items, snack foods, frozen pies and pizzas, fast food, margarine, shortening, and coffee creamer (check your nutrition label).

While saturated fat isn’t as bad for us as once claimed, health authorities like Harvard School of Health and the American Dietetic Association still agree that saturated fat should be limited to 10% or less of total calories. Too much saturated fat can promote insulin resistance, and in turn, excess belly fat.⁷ Sources of saturated fat include coconut oil, palm oil, butter, ghee, egg yolks, dairy products, and other animal fats (fatty cuts of beef and pork, chicken and turkey with the skin on, salami, pepperoni, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, liverwurst, bologna).

2. Scale Back Sugar Intake (Especially Fructose)

Getting most of your carbs from simple or added sugars (rather than whole grains, vegetables and fruit) could lead to a wider waist, research shows.⁸

Added sugar intake from fructose specifically has been linked to excess belly fat and obesity.^9-11 In addition, high intakes of fructose can cause elevated blood lipids, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, fatty liver, and inflammation.⁹ A recent controlled study showed that subjects who consumed 25% of calories from fructose-sweetened beverages like soda gained more abdominal weight and exhibited worse insulin sensitivity compared to subjects who consumed 25% of calories from glucose.¹² Another study went as far as to say that for every fructose-sweetened beverage a child drinks per day, their risk of adult obesity goes up six times!¹³

Part of the issue is that fructose does not stimulate leptin (our appetite-suppressing hormone) or suppress ghrelin (our appetite-stimulating hormone) like glucose does! This makes it easier to overeat. The other issue is that excess fructose is metabolized differently than excess glucose, releasing inflammatory by-products, promoting insulin resistance, and encouraging fat accumulation, particularly stubborn belly fat.⁹

Fructose intake in the US has increased by 40% over the last 30 years (alongside the increase in obesity).⁹ Check your ingredient list for these hidden sources: high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose/table sugar/white sugar (only 5% less fructose than high-fructose corn syrup), caramel, invert sugar, agave, honey, molasses, and palm sugar. You’ll find these ingredients in sodas, salad dressings, condiments, syrups, jams and jellies, flavored coffee creamers and yogurts, commercial baked goods and breads, sweetened beverages like soda but also sports drinks, lemonade, and sweet teas, sugary cereals and cereal bars, packaged snacks and sweets, candy, pre-marinated meats… it’s everywhere! Even dried fruit and fruit juice are concentrated sources fructose.

So, how much fructose is okay? About 25-40 grams of fructose is associated with low rates of obesity, according to an article published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.¹⁴ This amount would be the daily equivalent of 1/4 cup of honey, 2/3 cup of raisins, 3/4 cup of dates, 2 cups of orange juice, 4-5 medium pears, 5 large bananas, 7-8 medium apples, or 9 medium oranges (source: USDA Food Composition Database). As you can see, you can eat quite a bit of fruit without fattening your midsection, assuming calories are kept in check. It’s the soda and added sugars we have to limit (one 16-fluid-ounce soda has roughly 50 grams of sugar and 30 grams of fructose).

3. Limit Alcohol Intake

There’s a reason why they call it a “beer belly!” Alcohol suppresses fat burning and promotes visceral fat storage around the organs.¹⁵ In fact, those who have more than three drinks per day are 80% more likely to have excess belly fat.¹⁶

Don’t drink often but get drunk when you do? One study found that those who enjoy a standard “drink” or less on a daily basis had the least abdominal fat, while those who drank infrequently (less than weekly) but in large quantities (four drinks or more) had the most belly fat.¹⁷ In other words, it’s better to drink in moderation regularly than occasionally binge-drink!

While having a glass of red wine per day is beneficial to your health,¹⁸ drinking more could increase your waistline – not to mention, your risk for heart attack, diabetes, stroke, breast and colorectal cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Exercise Regularly

Anything you can do to reduce time spent sitting in front of the TV will help reduce stubborn belly fat!¹⁹ However, research suggests that a combination of cardio and strength training (versus one or the other) is the best approach for reducing both subcutaneous and visceral fat.^20,21

To maximize fat loss, you don’t have to trade heavy lifting for a ton of plyometrics and fast-paced circuits! In fact, one study showed similar post-exercise calorie burn comparing 40 minutes of circuit training (50% of 1RM x 15 repetitions x 4 sets) to 40 minutes of heavy resistance lifting (80-90% of 1RM x 3-8 repetitions x 3 sets).²²

When it comes to targeting stubborn belly fat, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) doesn’t have any advantage over low-intensity steady state (LISS) cardio. However, HIIT does have the advantage of being more efficient. That is, you get a greater overall calorie burn from 15 minutes of HIIT than 15 minutes of LISS (thanks to excess post-exercise oxygen consumption).²³

5. Eat Enough Protein

Studies show that those who consume a high-protein diet have less belly fat.^8,24,25 Protein reduces stubborn belly fat for several reasons – for one, protein helps maintain and build lean muscle mass, and having more muscle mass increases metabolic rate.²⁶

Second,protein directly increases metabolic rateduring digestion and absorption (thermic effect of food). It takes more calories to break down protein than any other macronutrient! For example, 20-35% of protein calories are lost to digestion and absorption, compared to only 5-15% of carbohydrate calories and 0-5% of fat calories.²⁷

Third, protein suppresses appetite.²⁸ Surely, you’ve noticed that you’re much fuller after a 200-calorie chicken breast than a 200-calorie snack size bag of chips.

Last but not least, consuming protein with a meal helps moderate blood sugar,²⁹ which in turn, reduces the likelihood of developing insulin resistance, a main culprit for stubborn belly fat.³⁰

These benefits can be seen within the range of 0.6-1.4 grams per pound (1.3-3.1g/kg) of bodyweight, or between 25-45% of total calories. Consuming more than this poses potential health risks with no additional health or muscle-building benefits.

6. Get More Fiber

There is a reason that higher intakes of whole grains, vegetables and fruits are associated with smaller waists,⁸ and that is fiber!

Soluble fiber specifically appears to diminish belly fat. In fact, for every 10 grams of soluble fiber consumed daily, researchers measured an almost 4% reduction in visceral abdominal fat.³¹ Oats, beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pears, oranges, apples, and avocados are all good sources of soluble fiber.

On the other hand, diets low in fiber and high in refined carbs are linked to weight gain and increased visceral belly fat.^32,33 This is not to say you should never have refined carbs, just don’t make them the bulk of your diet!

7. Foster Gut Health

More and more research is accumulating on gut bacteria and their influence on obesity, as well as overall health. Interestingly, your gut bacteria play a role in determining how many calories you get from the food you eat, as well as how those calories are metabolized and stored.³⁴

There are clear distinctions between the gut flora of obese people and that of healthy individuals. For example, researchers find higher levels of the Firmicutes strain and nearly 90% less Bacteroidetes in obese populations. This trend of bacterial growth seems to be propagated by a Western diet high in fat and sugar.³⁵

Luckily, diet can influence gut bacteria in as little as 24 hours! Switching to a high-fiber diet provides prebiotics to foster healthy bacteria.³⁶ In addition, taking probiotics daily (like those found in kefir and Greek yogurt) has been shown to reduce visceral belly fat as much as 8.5% over the course of 12 weeks.³⁷

Other great sources of probiotics for those that can’t handle dairy include sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, kombucha, and pickles fermented in water and salt (not vinegar).

8. Stress Less

Cortisol, known as the “flight or fight” hormone, is a hormone released by the adrenals in response to stress. Cortisol has many positive actions in the body, such as fat burning, increasing focus, and suppressing inflammation.³⁸

However, when cortisol is chronically elevated due to stress, it can create a cascade of negative effects in the body. These include elevated blood sugar (cortisol stimulates glucose release but suppresses insulin), insulin resistance (due to chronically elevated blood glucose), elevated blood triglycerides promoting cardiovascular disease, suppressed immune function, fertility issues (cortisol suppresses sex hormone production), fatigue, insomnia, chronic fatigue, dementia, depression, thyroid issues, and finally, weight gain… specifically abdominal weight gain! This is because visceral belly fat has more cortisol receptors than other fat stores.^38,39

Many things cause stress and boost cortisol: excessive exercise (overtraining), excessive calorie restriction (<70% of maintenance calories), excessive caffeine or alcohol intake, sleep deprivation, an inflammatory diet high in unhealthy fats and added sugar (cortisol released in attempt to reduce inflammation), traumatic events, personal loss, even day-to-day challenges like traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties.³⁸

Fortunately, our response to stress can be manipulated, both physically and emotionally.

Physically, we can take a balanced approach to diet and exercise rather than going to extremes. We can use exercise to release stress, give our bodies time to rest and recover when needed, fuel our bodies with adequate calories, limit alcohol and caffeine intake, and emphasize an anti-inflammatory diet (high in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and healthy fats).³⁸

From an emotional approach, we can practice relaxation techniques (deep abdominal breathing, prayer, visualization, meditation, aromatherapy, massage). We can also find peace with things we cannot control, refuse to focus on things that do not foster happiness, choose a positive outlook, and maintain close relationships with family and friends for social support. These things are key to get rid of stubborn belly fat!

9. Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain, including subcutaneous belly fat and visceral belly fat.^40-43 In one study, women who slept less than five hours gained more weight over a 16-year period than those who got seven hours or more.⁴² In another 6-year study, those who slept less than five hours or more than nine hours gained more belly fat than those who got seven to eight hours.⁴³

Sleep deprivation not only increases cortisol levels, but also decreases leptin levels.⁴¹ Leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite and increases calorie burn, so having low leptin levels sets you up to eat more and burn fewer calories.

Besides getting 7-8 hours of sleep, it’s important to get quality sleep. In one study, men suffering from sleep apnea were shown to have a higher visceral belly fat than those who did not have the condition.⁴⁴ While studies are limited, it makes sense that other conditions affecting sleep quality might pose similar risks.

10. Rule Out Hormone Imbalance

If nothing else has worked, I would recommend seeing a doctor or naturopath that specializes in endocrinology to check for major hormone imbalances. Disproportionate abdominal fat is common with estrogen imbalance – for example, in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and postpartum.⁴⁵ Estrogen dominance increases subcutaneous fat gain, while low estrogen increases visceral belly fat. For men, low testosterone is a double whammy – promoting both subcutaneous and visceral belly fat storage (testosterone starts to decline after age 30).⁴⁶Abnormalities in thyroid and adrenal hormone levels can also contribute to obesity, particularly stubborn belly fat.^47,48

I hope you’ve found this article both informative and practical. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

No part of this article may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without written permission from Sarah Wilkins. Violation is subject to prosecution by copyright law, and punishable by up to 5 years in Federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

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