Bye Bye Muffin Top

By Elizabeth Barker

6168863_lGetting your fill of fiber might help trim away fat packed deep in your abdomen, recent research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center shows. After following 1,114 people for five years, the study’s authors determined that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber eaten daily, abdominal fat decreased by 3.7 percent over the study period. Previous studies suggest that carrying too much abdominal fat can raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.

To rev up your intake of soluble fiber (the kind that draws in water during digestion), turn to foods like kidney beans (3 grams per ½ cup), oatmeal (2 grams per cup), and barley (1 gram per ½ cup).