6 Flat-Belly Drinks

1. Water

Plain water prevents overeating. Research from the American Chemical Society found that if you start a meal with two eight-ounce glasses, you’ll most likely eat fewer calories.

2. Green Tea

Catechins and caffeine make this popular drink a natural fat-burner. Three cups a day has been shown to boost metabolic rate and burn fat at a faster rate for 24 hours.

3. Soy Shakes

Throwing a scoop of silken tofu or soy protein powder into an afternoon shake can foster a leaner middle by curbing cravings. Soy proteins mimic the action of leptin, a hormone that tells you to stop eating.

4. Low-Fat Chocolate Milk

A convenient choice for muscle recovery as it offers an ideal carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. But very active women can benefit from more calories to fuel their training.

5. Cherry Juice

Tart cherries have anti-inflammatory compounds that may help speed up muscle recovery after strenuous activity, according to the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.

6. Coffee

Caffeine is reported to burn body fat at a steady rate. Caveat: The more caffeine you drink, the greater your tolerance to it which means less fat-burning potential over time.