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Diets for Achieving Six-Packs

To achieve the coveted yet elusive flat abs or a "six pack," it's commonplace to do exercises that strengthen these muscles such as situps, crunches and the captain's chair leg raise. But there are also a number of foods you can eat daily to help you get a sexy mid-drift.

  1. Diets for Achieving Six-Pack Abs

    • You want to focus on foods that aid your goal, including antioxidants to boost your abs routine's effectiveness, and protein for maintaining a healthy metabolism. Almonds are packed with antioxidants, protein, fiber and vitamin E. These nuts are a great source of magnesium, a mineral your body needs to produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue, and regulate blood sugar. Eggs are a healthy way to stay on your diet track -- according to a study at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, people ate who eggs in the morning felt less hungry throughout the day than they did when they had breakfasts consisting of complex carbohydrates such as bagels.

    An Apple a Day Keeps Flab Away

    • Apples contain antioxidants as well as fiber, which can help you stick to your diet by providing satiation without the empty calories. Elisa Zied, RD, author of "So What Can I Eat?" says, "A large apple has 5 g of fiber, but it's also nearly 85 percent water, which helps you feel full." Soy is also a good source of fiber. Try snacking on dry-roasted soybeans, or add shelled edamame into soups. You can also get soy in the form of milk and tofu. Fiber can cause bloating, which at first may seem counterproductive to your goal, but once your system gets used to it, the long-term benefits will kick in and bloating will subside.

    Leafy Greens

    • Leafy green vegetables are a great source of calcium, which is a vital ingredient for muscle contraction, and can help charge your workouts. Collard greens, spinach and mustard greens all have cancer-fighting properties as well -- but it's their low calorie count -- 1 cup of spinach has 40 calories -- that will help keep your waistline slim.

    Other Foods to Try

    • Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that can help promote fat burning by increasing your metabolism's efficiency. Quinoa is a whole grain that boasts 5 g of fiber and 11 g of protein per half cup. And the probiotic bacteria in many yogurts can help maintain a healthy digestive system, promoting a lower incidence of gas, bloating and constipation -- both of which can make your stomach look bigger.

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