With the weather warming up and the sun starting to poke its head through the clouds; doing up those denim shorts may seem a daunting task for some. Enter Operation Flat Tummy.
Winter foods may have wreaked havoc on your bod, but fear not, there are ways to fight the case of the persistent muffin top.
Here are five quick ways to fight the flab and get that taught tummy in time for the swimming season.
1. An apple cider vinegar a day keeps the doctor away
You know what they say…a shot of apple cider vinegar keeps the fat away. One or two (morning and night) shots of apple cider vinegar every day flushes toxins and reduces water retention which likes to reside around the belly, say studies. One 2009 study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, hypothesised that the acetic acid led to a lower body weight and girth in users. Other studies say that apple cider is good for regulating insulin levels, meaning you won’t store as much fat after eating too many carbs.
2. Lose the gum
Remember what happened to Violet in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory? Avoid similar blueberry incidents, and ditch the gum. Chewing gum causes you to swallow excess air, which can cause stomach pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and bloating. It also sends your body physical signals that food is about to enter your body which means enzymes and acids are activated, leading to even more potential bloating.
3. Drink dandelion tea
This is a fine and dandy way to beat the bulge. Studies have shown that dandelion tea flushes water retention, plus is packed full of zinc, iron, potassium and magnesium. It is also a great alternative to coffee, so you can have your fix and fight the bloat at the same time.
4. Pop a celery and juniper berry pill
Banish the bloat with this magic little supplement. Celery has long been known as a natural diuretic, as too its partner in crime, juniper berry, which also flushes out the system, aids with water retention and your digestive system and is an all round stomach-settler.
5. Freeze the fat
The latest bulge-busting craze, a fat freezing treatment, like Coolsculpting, literally freezes your fat off – for good. Particularly perfect for tummy fat, your muffin top fits perfectly into the suction head and up to 25% of the fat in the targeted area can be removed per CoolSuclpting treatment. Give your tum that Ice Queen treatment.
