I refuse to believe summer is winding down. It just doesn’t seem possible that September is almost here. I feel like the warm weather just got here! To help hold onto summer as long as possible, I decided to recreate one of my all time favorite smoothies from my book Belly Fat Diet For Dummies– the stress busting, Belly Fat Blasting Berry Smoothie.
Now before you start thinking this smoothie is some fat blasting miracle, let me state that there are no quick fixes when it comes to getting rid of belly fat. This type of fat, as much as we all want it gone for appearance reasons, is way more than just a nuance that prevents us from zipping up our skinny jeans. This type of fat, also called visceral fat, increases inflammation in the body. As inflammation increases, so does the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. On top of that, chronic inflammation drains energy levels and keeps you from feeling like your best self.
Regardless of your body weight, you can be at risk for having excess belly fat at any size. Have you ever weighed yourself and saw your weight was the same as it had always been, but all of a sudden your pants were tighter? Stress, lack of sleep, poor dietary choices, and limited exercise (sound familiar?!) can all trigger your body to increase fat storage in your midsection. Even if your weight doesn’t change, if you start to gain inches around your waist, your health is at risk.
If this sounds like you, don’t panic. There are some very simple, small steps you can take daily to fight against belly fat, improve energy, and prevent future disease. And it doesn’t involve hiring a full-time nanny, housekeeper, or chef (although all of those things do sound amazing at times). One of the best ways to fight against belly fat is to increase your intake of nutrients that fight against stress hormones and inflammation. Foods rich in calcium, protein, antioxidants, and plant-based fats have all been shown to have a positive impact on shedding belly fat. And this smoothie packs in all of the above. Losing belly fat never tasted so good 😉
This protein packed berry smoothie from Belly Fat Diet For Dummies will help to satisfy cravings while fighting belly fat and reducing inflammation.
- 1 cup Greek yogurt plain
- 1 cup frozen organic berries (blueberries, strawberries, or açai berries make great choices)
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbs chia seeds ground
- 1/2 cup ice
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In a blender, combine the yogurt, berries, vanilla ground chia seeds and ice.
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Blend on high for 1 minute, or until desired consistency is reached.
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Serve cold. Enjoy!
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