If you’re on a journey to “whittle your middle,” you’re likely doing your research on how to target belly fat, also known as visceral fat.
So what exactly is visceral fat?
“Visceral fat is a type of fat that’s stored in your abdomen,” says Cory Ruth, MS, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist, women’s health expert, and CEO of The Women’s Dietitian. “It can be dangerous because it can build up in our arteries and increase our risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.”
She notes, however, that working on overall weight loss will in turn reduce visceral fat stores as it is not technically possible to target belly fat directly.
Of course, one of the biggest factors in successful weight loss is nutrition. And an important part of nutrition to help you achieve visceral fat loss is honing in on what you are (and aren’t) drinking. Certain drinks have been found to help decrease visceral fat loss.
While adding these drinks to your diet aren’t a magic pill for weight loss, they may be huge supporting aids to your visceral fat weight loss goals. Read on for the best drinks for reducing visceral fat, and for more on how to eat healthy, don’t miss Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians.
Making yourself a cup of green tea during your day is a great way to help you start attacking your visceral fat.
“It helps boost our metabolism and is full of EGCG, an antioxidant that studies have shown specifically targets fat cells,” says Ruth.
Including apple cider vinegar in your diet may help you achieve some visceral fat loss.
“Studies show that apple cider vinegar improves our metabolism and decreases insulin, which may lead to weight loss,” says Ruth.
A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, & Biochemistry found that participants who consumed 1 tablespoon of ACV over a 3-month period lost 2.6 pounds, and those who consumed 2 tablespoons lost 3.7 pounds in the same time frame.
READ MORE: Ways Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help You Lose Weight, Say Dietitians
Yes, it can be as simple as that! Water plays an integral role in the body’s process of burning fat (called lipolysis), so upping your water intake may help you get rid of visceral fat, as a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that increased hydration was associated with weight loss.
Stick to black coffee, and it may help you get rid of your visceral fat.
“Don’t go adding in tons of half and half, but coffee contains theobromine, theophylline, and chlorogenic acid, which positively affects our metabolism as well, leading to potential weight loss,” says Ruth.
In fact, a study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that drinking four cups of coffee daily could reduce body fat by about 4%.
RELATED: Best Coffee Habits for Inflammation, Says Dietitian
White tea is packed with antioxidants, which may be vital to helping you reduce visceral fat.
“Studies demonstrate the antioxidants found in white tea may help prevent new fat cells from forming,” says Ruth.