4 Tricks to getting flat tummy

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All fruits have health benefits, of course, but some are better for the belly than others. If you're trying to whittle away your middle, try to slip some of these fruits into your regular snack rotation:

Blueberries

They may be small, but they're nutritional powerhouses! These tasty berries have many health and weight-loss benefits. Consider the following:

• They're powerful inflammation fighters, thanks to their super-high antioxidant content.
• They're potent belly shrinkers. Researchers from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center found that when rats consumed just 2 percent of their calories from blueberries over a 90-day period, they significantly reduced their percentage of belly fat.
• Blueberries can also cut triglyceride levels and increase insulin sensitivity, perhaps cutting the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
• They have been shown to help reduce food cravings.
• They contain high levels of the polyphenol catechin. This powerful chemical has been shown to increase your body's fat-burning potential and may even help boost metabolism, making it a strong belly-fat fighter. To further promote weight loss, catechins may also decrease appetite, helping to prevent overeating.
• Blueberries may help decrease fat buildup in the arteries, making them as healthy for the heart as they are for your waistline.

Pomegranates

With their red, juicy seeds, they're a potent tool to include in your weight-loss arsenal. Here are the main benefits:

• They have some of the highest levels of antioxidants when compared to many fruits.
• They contain high levels of catechin. (See above.)
• They may help decrease fat buildup in the arteries. (See above.)

Tart Cherries

These babies are different from the sweet cherries you may often eat raw. They're not usually found in the fresh produce aisle. Instead, you can usually find them frozen or dried. Just be sure you buy an unsweetened variety. Here's why you may want to seek them out:

• A University of Michigan study found that when mice were given food that contained added tart-cherry powder, their body fat reduced by 9 percent more than mice fed the same diet without the additional cherry powder. Even better, most of the weight loss came from fat stores in the abdominal area. The mice fed the cherry powder also showed significant decreases in cholesterol levels, as well as a decline in inflammatory markers.
• Tart cherries are rich in the plant chemical anthocyanin. Not only does this chemical give the cherries their bright color, but it also helps you burn belly fat.

Grapefruit

This citrus superstar is a super fat burner and has long been linked to weight loss. It also has diuretic properties, which leave you looking and feeling slimmer, especially in the midsection. Here are a few studies to chew on:

• A 2011 study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University found that when obese adults consumed half a grapefruit or 4 ounces of 100-percent grapefruit juice before three main meals, they experienced a significant decrease in both body weight and waist circumference. Why? Perhaps because the high water content and volume of the liquid helped make participants feel fuller sooner, allowing them to eat smaller portions at the next meals.
• A 2009 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that eating a low-glycemic-index food such as grapefruit for breakfast before exercising helps you burn 50 percent more fat.

If you're taking medications, make sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. Grapefruit products can have potentially adverse interactions with some medications.