Belly fat, or “bilbil” as we Filipinos like to call it, is a common frustration among men and women alike. While hundreds of crunches and minutes of planks can help tone the abdominal muscles, it is more important to watch what we eat in order to reduce the belly bulge. Below are 5 items that you can eat to shrink that belly:

 

Greek yogurt. The live bacteria in yogurt improves the health of your colon and boosts your immune system. It’s a great snack or dessert that helps stave off hunger due to its protein content. Go for low fat or greek yoghurt varieties instead of flavored yoghurt which can be loaded with sugar.

 

Brown rice. Filipinos can’t live without rice, but it doesn’t mean that there are no healthy alternatives to reduce our waistline. Instead of white rice, pasta, or bread, choose whole grains, such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta, which doesn’t spike up your sugar level and contains fiber to keep you feeling satiated throughout the day.

 

Almonds. Nuts, such as almonds, are packed with protein, which keep you feeling full longer rather than a pack of crackers. Choose almonds that aren’t salted and eat just a handful to keep the calories down. You can drop slivered almonds on your oatmeal or add it to your homemade granola.

 

Coconut oil. We Filipinos love coconuts, so it’s simply wonderful that coconut oil is not just great for our hearts but for our tummy as well. The monounsaturated fats in coconut oil keep us full while keeping our cholesterol in check.

 

Eggs. Eggs contain Vitamin B12 which helps our bodies metabolize fat. While eggs used to be feared due to its cholesterol content, experts now share its benefits for the body.

 

Include these 5 foods into your diet, coupled with your favorite core workouts, and say good bye to that nasty belly bulge!