It should come as no surprise to know that holiday season is the time of the year where people are bloating and gain the most weight. With good food, bundle-up weather, and cold temperatures, it’s easy to avoid the gym during the winter months. No gym means no weight loss, and if you’re not losing weight then you may be gaining it! A belly bloat is taking over most of us right now, including the CGS Team.
While hitting the gym is your best bet for getting your summer body back, we’re sharing a few simple tricks to help you get rid of the belly bloat in the meantime. Incorporating the following four things into (and out of) your diet this holiday season will help you deflate in no time!
Get Zesty
We mean lemon zest! Start spiking your drinking water with lemon slices. Lemon water doesn’t have to be reserved for restaurants, add your own slices to a nice sized water bottle and drink it throughout the day. If you don’t want to get too sour, then just squeeze a lemon. Squeeze a quarter of a lemon for every cup of water you drink. Studies have shown that adding lemon into your diet can lower your chances of gaining abdominal fat.
Add Some Fat
By fat, we mean monosaturated fatty acids that actually help reduce belly fat. It seems counterintuitive, but studies show its effectiveness. Foods like avocado, dark chocolate, olives and almonds all contain monosaturated fatty acids. Add an avocado to your smoothie or add it to a sandwich in place of mayo. As far as dark chocolate, keep the intake low. One ounce will do the trick. Substitute it for your current dessert of choice. 16 almonds and 10 olives will also have the same effect.
Don’t Forget the Asparagus
Although asparagus isn’t as popular as broccoli or carrots, it’s actually a natural diuretic. This means that the veggie naturally flushes excess water weight from your body, reducing your bloating appearance. The best part? The effects of asparagus work right away! According to NYC nutritionist Brooke Alpert, the disappearance of bloating and the removal of excess water should work within one to two hours after eating. Make sure you get a full serving though! 12 stalks of the veggie should ensure maximum results.
Skip the Salt
As hard as this one is, try your best to do it! Salt helps your body keep water in, which is the primary culprit of bloating. The US Department of Agriculture recommends 2300mg a day. That is equivalent to just a little more than 1 teaspoon. According to studies, most people who eat processed foods can intake up to 3400mg a day. It’s very hard to cut salt out completely, but you can be mindful of how you eat it. Limit the amount of processed foods you eat and substitute other spices in place of salt. Onion powder, garlic, and cumin all offer great taste alternatives.
See, you don’t have to hit the gym to get your bloated belly under control! Try the 4 tips above and let us know how they work for you. What do you do to get rid of belly bloat? What is your holiday workout routine? Share your thoughts with the community by leaving a comment below. We encourage discussion, especially when it comes to health!
3 thoughts on “Say Goodbye To Bloating”
Who knew that asparagus helps get rid of belly bloat?! Me personally, I try to stay away from too much salt and dairy. I definitely notice a difference in my belly when I overdue on those 2!
Wow, good advice. I drink Chamomile tea…that always helps.
My body is super reactive to salt so I’ve been researching this topic for a while now 🙂 Foods that are high in potassium also help – bananas especially, and sweet potatoes! And try dandelion root tea, which you should be able to find at most grocery or health food stores. Lots of celebrities will drink this leading up to red carpet events!