The 5: Foods for flat abs

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Dec 5th 2007 10:24AM

Flat abs are like the holy grail of fitness. Ok, I'm being a bit dramatic because some people actually do have real six packs, but for most of us? A flat stomach seems unattainable, despite hours of cardio and countless crunches. But don't give up. Here are some foods to load up on if you're trying to trim the bulge around your midsection:

Fruits and Veggies. With lots of fiber and antioxidants, fruits and veggies will make your whole body healthier
Selenium. This nutrient has been linked to smaller waistlines. To make sure you're getting enough, eat a varied diet full of fruits, veggies and whole grains.
Protein. It will keep you full and full of energy, which will lead to weight loss.
Red wine. A glass of red wine with dinner has been linked to smaller waistlines, particularly in women. If you don't already drink, don't take up the habit, but if you like wine, drink up (in moderation.)
Healthy fats. Think olive oil, fish and flaxseed -- and anything else with Omega-3. Fats to avoid? Omega-6s (found in baked good, corn oil and cereal) -- they'll pile pounds onto your tummy. And always avoid trans fats.

Don't be fooled by these 12 "healthy" foods that really aren't:

Why? Click to find out!

Source

Comments (51)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

JGM 1-25-2008 @ 11:30AM

The cereal is a problem. I had surgery in early December and had to slow things down. I started making my own Chex-Mix and eating plently of it. Skipped meals because I was already full. I've put on ten pounds in five weeks.

Vishaal 12-05-2007 @ 12:55PM

The frustrating thing is that I do all these....exept the alcohol part....BUT I top it all off with LOTS of sugar, LOL.

chaz 12-05-2007 @ 3:51PM

i still don't understand why I should stop eating cereal?

Carolyn 12-05-2007 @ 3:33PM

This was misleading, because there's no place that I see to ready why I shouldn't eat cereal. I'm already working on the other suggestions given, though I don't do the wine.

Frank 12-06-2007 @ 4:46PM

Why always recommending to drink fermented red wine with its alcohol content? As the benefit is in the skin of the red grape, it is safer and cheaper simply to drink red grape juice? Yes/No ?

W.D.C 12-05-2007 @ 3:43PM

AOL will do this crap, put a headline up and don't say nothing about it.I think AOL should " stop writeing about something and leave us hanging' And who makes the such experts on any subjects like Food, Cars, ect.

Beth 12-05-2007 @ 3:44PM

Maybe they're talking about Omega 6s or the Granola Bars. Otherwise I can't see anything about not eating cereal!!

Saurav 12-05-2007 @ 3:47PM

There is a negative reference to cereal in this article -- it just isn't that prominently emphasized, in the "Healthy fats" section of the article:

Fats to avoid? Omega-6s (found in baked good, corn oil and cereal) -- they'll pile pounds onto your tummy.

Saurav 12-05-2007 @ 4:41PM

Ummmm... Okay, maybe I didn't emphasize it enough myself when I posted earlier, because people still aren't getting it. In the "Healthy fats" section, the author wrote:

Fats to avoid? Omega-6s (found in baked good, corn oil and CEREAL) -- they'll pile pounds onto your tummy.

Martha Edwards 12-05-2007 @ 4:48PM

Hey, thanks for your feedback and I totally get where you're coming from, but I got this 'omega-6 in cereal' idea from the source article from WebMD. It seems a bit odd to me too but they usually know what they're talking about.
Cheers,

George and Veronica 12-05-2007 @ 3:50PM

WHY should we STOP EATING CEREAL DAMMIT???!!!!!

Whoever set this up is a pain in the +_ss!

mitchell 12-05-2007 @ 4:23PM

never read this again!
what are you fox news?
misleading, unprofessional, ridiculous.

zack model 12-05-2007 @ 3:53PM

First of all, I am a 31 year old male with a flat stomach and nearly a six pack, and I eat cereal every day. Granted, I excersize 4 - 5 times a week and eat well overall, but certain cereals are extremely high fiber (some Kashi cereals, etc) and are very healthy. A study published in Nutrition Action linked men that eat high fiber cereal every morning with less heart problems and longer life span. So the trick is, eat high fiber, natural cereal.

Becky 12-05-2007 @ 3:54PM

I love cereal-thought I was gonna read something....

Indigo Nocturna 12-05-2007 @ 3:54PM

Mmm, this sure is good CEREAL!

MK 12-05-2007 @ 4:09PM

Then WTF are we supossed to eat? Rabbit food?

Mary 12-05-2007 @ 4:08PM

Martha Edwards......Are they doing any hiring ??Apparently, I could get a job with your company, cause, I could write articles as such, BUT they would actually relate to the Title....

CEREAL is YUMMY, your article, and writing SUCKS!

kmonahan 12-05-2007 @ 4:13PM

Fats to avoid? Omega-6s (found in baked good, corn oil and cereal) -- they'll pile pounds onto your tummy. And always avoid trans fats.

. 12-05-2007 @ 4:36PM

I actually stopped eating cereal and started eating granola. One of my friends said that her hunger went down, felt more energized, had a better digestive system and actually lost weight. Her stomach got flatter too. Maybe it's cause of the higher protein content, depending on what kind you get.

But there's this new product out. I forget the name of this new food product (they atleast sell them at Ralph's Supermarket in CA). It is a better version of boring, tasteless trail mix. I wish I had the name of it, but you'll notice this new product and it's packaging if you look around (particularly at Ralph's, where I spotted it). It's a tastier version of trail mix with different flavors. Some have chocolate chips in them (which I like). It doesn't look boring to eat either. It has some new fancy name to it, but I've only seen it around recently. Since I like to snack on things, rather than eat whole meals which make me sluggish and more hungry (especially since I don't exercise and just walk alot), I think I'm going to start buying this new product.

I've always felt cereals were addictive, especially when you snack on them dry out of the box and they also have additives in them. I never felt they filled me up for a long time, even if I had them for breakfast in a bowl with milk. Even the healthy kind. I also felt like my blood sugar would drop more quickly a little while after I had cereal and I got hungrier.

RICHARD 12-05-2007 @ 4:40PM

WHO WROTE THIS HEADLINE? DID THEY HAVE A DEADLINE TO MEET? WHO MADE THEM THE FOOD EXPERT? HAVE THEY STUDIED NUTRITION? I LIKE CEREAL VERY MUCH (CHEERIOS). THE OATS ARE FAR SUPERIOR TO CHOCOLATE BARS. REGARDS, RICHARD

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments