Are you having trouble losing your little belly? Good news: a popular anti-inflammatory drink could help get rid of abdominal fat.
An anti-belly fat drink
By incorporating this simple anti-inflammatory drink into your daily routine, it could be possible to achieve your weight loss goals – and see your baby belly (finally) disappear. But does this trick actually work? Before issuing conclusions, let’s take a closer look at its composition.
For a homemade drink, you need:
- Turmeric and black pepper;
- Ginger;
- Amla, also called “Nepalese or Indian gooseberry”;
- Squeezed orange juice;
After peeling the turmeric and ginger, the whole thing would be put in a blender (without the seeds and with a little water if necessary) then filtered. But is this trending drink enough to reduce inflammation? Here’s what our nutrition expert thinks.
The ideal? Strive towards a global anti-inflammatory diet
First of all, understanding what inflammation is in the body is essential.
“Chronic low-grade inflammation, often silent, can promote insulin resistance and fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area. It is often linked to an ultra-processed diet, high in refined sugars, trans fats and low in essential nutrients. Stress, fatigue, lack of sleep and other stressful situations for your body can also increase your cortisol levels and thus promote inflammation and fat storage in the abdominal area, but also cause other harmful effects on your health”, warns Julie Boët, dietician-nutritionist.
To limit the damage, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet – rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, legumes and spices – is therefore wise. An approach in which the famous turmeric, ginger and amla drink fits perfectly.
As a dietitian, “I confirm that this type of drink can be part of an interesting health approach, particularly for its anti-inflammatory potential. Fresh turmeric, rich in curcumin, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fresh ginger acts in a similar way, in addition to supporting digestion. Amla, or Indian gooseberry, is one of the fruits richest in natural vitamin C, thus strengthening immunity and limiting oxidative stress. Finally, orange provides sweetness, vitamin C and soluble fiber.”
That being said, the expert would like to point out that this juice, as beneficial as it may be, is not a miracle solution.
“It will never replace a balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle. To reduce abdominal fat, you must adopt a global approach: regular physical activity, stress management, restful sleep and an anti-inflammatory diet. In addition, drinking fruit juice low in fiber can, on the contrary, increase your blood sugar, especially if it is consumed alone or on an empty stomach, and therefore increase cravings throughout the day.” she emphasizes.
The dietitian advises instead to tend towards a global anti-inflammatory diet, including in particular:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables;
- Good sources of protein (oily fish, eggs, legumes);
- Omega-3 (linseed oil, nuts, fish);
- Fiber (whole grains, legumes, chia seeds).
Processed products, added sugars and excess red meat should obviously be avoided.
“It is also crucial to reinforce the satiating effect of meals: integrate proteins into each meal, do not neglect fiber, hydrate well and distribute intake regularly throughout the day. Even if we cannot target weight loss, reducing inflammation and improving our overall diet often helps to reduce the waistline. In short, this juice is a good boost to integrate into a healthy lifestyle, but it cannot act alone. It’s the synergy of all the small changes that will make the difference!”, concludes Julie Boët.