Flat Belly Diet: What To Know

Overview

The aim:

Weight loss.

The claim:

You’ll drop up to 15 pounds in 32 days and lose several inches of belly fat.

The theory:

Monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, target and destroy belly fat while promoting fullness and preventing overeating, according to the diet’s creators, former Prevention magazine editor Liz Vaccariello and registered dietitian Cynthia Sass. These plant-based fats are found in foods like nuts, seeds, chocolate, avocados and olive oil – and the "Flat Belly Diet" (Rodale, 2008) calls for a precisely specified serving at every meal and snack. Unlike saturated fats, which harden and clog the arteries, MUFAs keep blood vessels soft and pliable after digestion. In addition to emphasizing these healthy fats, the Flat Belly Diet is modeled after a Mediterranean eating approach. The key ingredients – fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fish – are thought to help keep weight off.

Balanced Diet

These diets fall within accepted ranges for the amount of protein, carbs, fat and other nutrients they provide.

Pros & Cons

• Tasty menu recipes
• Abundant guidance and resources

• Skimpy evidence that “good” fats are magic bullet
• Fewer days of menus than other plans