If you’re on a quest to achieve a flatter stomach, a doctor has revealed three common foods that might be standing in your way.
The post-festive period often triggers a wave of resolutions among many individuals aiming to lose excess pounds put on due to Christmas treats.
One doctor claims that simply cutting down on certain foods could help speed up your weight loss journey.
TikTok star Dr Pedi Mirdamadi, who has a following in the hundreds of thousands as a licensed naturopathic doctor and holistic nutritionist, uses his channel to give advice on weight loss and general health issues.
In a popular TikTok upload, the San Diego-based practitioner said that if your goal is swiftly banishing belly fat, there are three culprits to cut back on but his comments sparked debate.
Dr Pedi started his list with: “The first is fruit – yes, fruit – especially watermelons, bananas and grapes because these are high sugar fruits and these fruits can cause a rise in blood sugar which causes the body to release insulin. Insulin is a fertiliser for fat, causing fat cells to grow, so be sure to stick to lower sugar fruits like berries.”
He warned: “Next is bread; bread is a highly processed carbohydrate that also causes a rise in blood sugar. Bread also contains gluten which is very inflammatory and inflammation contributes to weight gain as well.
“The last food is rice. Rice is very high in carbohydrates which means it also causes a rise in blood sugar. A rise in blood sugar, as I mentioned before, causes a rise in insulin and insulin is the enemy when it comes to losing body fat.”
The advice split opinions across social media users, with comments pouring into the section below. One jokingly quipped: “Thank God he didn’t say cake. Phew.”
A different user lamented: “Every day I see a new video of a doctor telling me what I shouldn’t eat… there’s nothing left to eat!”.
Another said: “I’m sorry but I will never give up my grapes,” and one echoed the sentiment: “Nothing can make me leave watermelons.”
Meanwhile, another advised: “Eat whatever you want. Just stay within your calorie limit.”
The NHS continues to recommend striving for ‘5 a day’, stating that 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables qualify as one portion.
It also recommends that the average men sticks to around 2,500 calories a day, while women should aim for around 2,000.
For those struggling with managing their weight, the NHS advises that services are available that individuals can access directly without needing a referral from a GP.
