The chemicals in our environment and food supply can change the effect of hormones in our bodies, but this can actually be increased by stomach fat in both men and women which can have an estrogenic effect – the release of steroid-like hormones. This can be difficult in a world where even organic products have been exposed to some element of pesticide or petrochemical – they can even be found in cleaning products!
Eating a range of vegetables and fruits is important to get a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, vegetables such as kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage are powerful fat burners and can help to promote muscle growth and burn stomach fat. In many cultures, these vegetables are known as cross vegetables, due to the way and shape in which they grow. Certified nutritionists and personal trainers recommend this diet trick as a great addition to exercise and a general balanced diet. As well as eating more of these handy vegetables, it has also been noted that sit ups and crunches are not the best form of exercise for creating a toned and firm stomach – shorter, full body exercises are actually better for creating toned muscle.