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The #1 Best Food to Burn Abdominal Fat, Says Dietitian

Try incorporating more of this refreshing and healthy food into your diet.
FACT CHECKED BY Olivia Tarantino

Finding easy ways to burn abdominal fat has been a quest that many of us have been on for many years. From "fat-burning" pills to following complicated diets, the goal to reduce belly fat is one that many people have been trying to accomplish for ages.

Unfortunately, to truly burn abdominal fat, you will have to do a bit more than simply pop a supplement or include one specific food in your diet. Reducing your belly fat involves embracing a healthy lifestyle that includes participating in physical activity, following a healthy diet, and limiting alcohol and added sugars.

Once you get those habits down, you can start making a point to include foods that may help take your abdominal fat-reducing mission to the next level. And one food that may do just that is the juicy and tart-sweet grapefruit.

Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, don't miss The #1 Best Juice to Drive Every Day, Says Science.

Grapefruit is the best food to help reduce abdominal fat.

red ruby grapefruit
Shutterstock

Made famous by the old-school grapefruit diet, the humble grapefruit has been theorized to be a fat-burning fruit that can help you get a flat tummy simply by including it in your daily life.

While no clinical data confirm that eating grapefruit will literally burn off your belly fat to the point that you will be blessed with a svelte physique within days, some studies show that eating this fruit may naturally support your weight loss goals, and in turn, help reduce your abdominal fat.

Grapefruits are a source of nutrients that help support weight loss, including satiating fiber. And data published in the Journal of Medicinal Food shows that eating half of a fresh grapefruit before meals is linked to significant weight loss.

According to observational data published in Food and Nutrition Research, body weight, waist circumference, and BMI were lower among female grapefruit consumers compared to grapefruit non-consumers.

And when evaluating the effects of eating specific varieties of grapefruit on weight, data from a small study shows that eating one-half of a Rio Red grapefruit before each meal for 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in waist circumference.

Can eating grapefruit burn abdominal fat? While animal data suggests that consuming naringenin, a flavonoid present in citrus foods like grapefruit, can reduce fat mass, more clinical trials conducted on humans are needed for us to make that claim with confidence.

The health benefits of grapefruit.

Although more research is needed to confirm the fat loss benefits of grapefruit in your diet, including this juicy fruit in your overall healthy diet may help give your body the boost that it needs to see the results you crave.

This fruit has few calories, is fat-free, and contains no added sugars, making it a fantastic addition to any diet that focuses on burning abdominal fat.

And since eating grapefruit also fuels your body with good-for-you nutrients like vitamin C, folate, and vitamin A, making a daily habit of eating this fruit comes with little downside.

Just keep in mind that this fruit can interact with certain medications, so you should make sure eating this fruit frequently is ok with your health care provider before you jump on the grapefruit bandwagon.

Takeaway

Whether you are enjoying your grapefruit sliced, diced, or even juiced, know that enjoying this classic citrus fruit may help you reach your weight loss goals in a hydrating, natural, and enjoyable way.

READ MOREThe #1 Best Juice To Drink Every Day, Says Science

Since losing weight often means reducing visceral fat mass, including grapefruit in your healthy diet may indirectly help your body burn that stubborn belly fat while you are on your weight loss journey.

So, when you are trying to reduce your belly fat, feel free to slice open a fresh grapefruit to accompany your morning breakfast meal— it may just be the missing link your body is needing.

Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC
Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, book author, and recipe developer who has been in practice for almost 20 years. Read more about Lauren