Whether man or woman, a flat stomach should not only be of interest to you for visual reasons.
According to the American internist, high blood pressure and cardiovascular specialist Dr. Mark Houston's hip-to-waist ratio is an excellent indicator of cardiovascular status.
Here are three tricks for a flatter stomach:
1. Improve your stress management. There can be many causes of stress, and it can be different for everyone. Organize your everyday life in such a way that you have as little negative stress as possible. Surround yourself with positive people, do a job that fulfills you, think solution-oriented instead of problem-oriented, spend time in the great outdoors or treat yourself to a stretching session. When measuring skinfolds, it is the folds on the stomach and thus the body fat in this area that correlates with stress management. Have your abdominal fold measured to keep a record of your stress management.
2. Avoid foods that you cannot tolerate. The most common suspects - or evil twins - are grain products, primarily wheat, and dairy products. Many people digest these products poorly and their consumption prevents optimal nutrient absorption and promotes intestinal inflammation, which causes the stomach to swell.
3. Eat regular meals consisting of protein, vegetables and healthy fats. When your blood sugar levels drop, your body begins to release the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol can shoot microscopic holes in the intestinal wall, causing what is known as leaky gut syndrome. This can increase body fat in the abdominal area.
The most important meal to change first is your breakfast , as this has the biggest effect on your blood sugar and energy levels throughout the day. For dinner, you can eat gluten-free carbohydrates such as rice or potatoes as a side dish, which will make you tired and help you sleep better. Alcohol, especially beer, should be avoided.
You can find more tips on how to get a flatter stomach, as well as more information on nutrition, training and supplements in Wolfgang Unsöld's book "Your Best Training"
Picture: Eva K. our Before'n'After #23 – your pictures here…