Slimming Food Combos for Your Body Type

You can diet smart—not hard—when it comes to working on your problem areas. Much of winning the battle is in knowing what to eat to optimize your weight loss. Those who carry excess weight in their bellies need foods that can work together to fight cortisol, the stress hormone that slows metabolism and increases inflammation. Those who want to get rid of excess fat from a big bottom do well on a low-fat, high-calcium diet. And if you have fat distributed all over, your biggest challenge is igniting your body’s natural fat burners.

The following food combos work with your body type to melt away your unwanted pounds.

Oranges and Avocados for a Big Belly

People with big middles tend to have higher levels of cortisol, the body’s key stress hormone. Too much cortisol slows your metabolism and also breaks down muscle, making you hard-wired to store fat. Vitamin C is known to reduce levels of cortisol. Pair oranges with avocados, rich in monounsaturated fats (or MUFAs), which are known to reduce inflammation and decrease fat storage in the belly.

Slim-Belly Salad: Take 1 avocado, pitted and sliced, and mix it with 3 oranges, peeled and parted. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, another MUFA, and a dash of salt. Eat this every day for lunch; add grilled chicken for protein, which will provide prolonged satiety and satisfaction.