No, not the delicious edible blueberry raisin muffin top, silly…. the one that’s spilling over the top of your jeans! The last thing any of us want to do is have to buy a pair in the next size, right? Such a pain. The pants always fit so perfectly except when it comes to zipping them up! Grrr. Well here are the best foods to eat to get rid of that darn thing once and for all!
1. Lemons
I call lemons the body’s Roto-Rooter because they work so well at cleansing the liver and gastrointestinal tract. To see how powerful lemon water is, take one of the nastiest stained coffee cups in your house and fill it with lemon water. In a few hours it will be sparkling clean! If it can do this to coffee stains imagine what it can do to your GI tract!
High in Vitamin C, lemons aid the body in breaking down toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water and eliminated from the body. This citrus fruit also stimulates liver function, making lemon water daily essential for our muffin top elimination mission.
2. Beets
Beets have a lovely affinity for the liver and both stimulates and improves its functioning. Beets actually work so well at supporting liver function that eating beets every day for two weeks will eliminate the nasty burn and itch of hemorrhoids. (Hemorrhoids are a symptom of an overburdened liver).
ALERT! Beets will turn urine and feces red/purple. Know that this is not blood and is very normal. Beets are often used to determine transit time (mouth to anus digestion time). Normal transit time is between 10 and 14 hours. What’s yours?
3. Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green veggies are extremely high in plant chlorophylls, which facilitate the elimination of toxins from the blood stream. They are able to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides. All-Star leafy greens include arugula, dandelion greens, beet greens, spinach, kale, mustard greens, and watercress.
4. Garlic
Garlic activates liver enzymes that assist your body’s ability to get rid of toxins. Garlic is also high in selenium and allicin, two compounds that support liver detoxification. Garlic is an amazing food that can get rid of your muffin top and boost your immune system at the same time.
5. Grapefruit
Grapefruit is known to boost the liver’s production of detoxification enzymes, which help to eliminate carcinogens and toxins. If you have ever heard of the grapefruit diet, this is one reason it became so popular.
6. Cabbage
Cabbage, along with broccoli and cauliflower help to stimulate the activation of two crucial liver detoxifying enzymes that help flush out toxins. Combine garlic with these liver supporting foods and your muffin top doesn’t stand a chance!
7. Turmeric
Turmeric also has favorable enzymes which actively flush out dietary carcinogens. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory, making this a fabulous addition to any muffin top-reducing regimen.
8. Green Tea
Green tea contains antioxidants known as catechins, which are compounds known to assist liver function. If you are a coffee drinker, substituting green tea in place of your coffee will give you your caffeine and support your liver at the same time.
9. Apples
Apples are rich in pectin, a substance that is cleansing for the GI tract. A clean GI tract means less for the liver to deal with. In my book I promote the apple as a magnificent way to keep constipation at bay. A constipated body puts extra pressure on the liver and can contribute to the development of that extra fat.
10. Walnuts
Walnuts are rich in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which support normal liver cleansing actions. Walnuts go well on a beet and arugula salad, which can make this work a very tasty adventure!
Have you noticed what all of these foods have in common? Cleansing your liver! This organ is built for filtering out toxins from our bodies, and when it is congested or overburdened, guess where there toxins get stored? Right around your waist, within fat.
The best way to get rid of your muffin top is first and foremost, to eliminate any fast foods, refined foods, and processed foods from your diet. Alcohol and sugar can also be hard on the liver and pancreas.
When you rely on wholesome real foods, which are very cleansing, you not only eliminate your muffin top, but also set yourself up for a healthier and happier life. When you make Good Decisions Most of the Time your liver will be well equipped to handle the occasional indulgence. Because after all, life is too short not to eat chocolate or drink red wine!