Eat Beef and Be Thin
Eating a diet that's rich in protein reduces abdominal fat, according to two recent Australian studies. The first study looked at 100 overweight men and found that those whose diets were high in lean red meat and fiber lost the most weight around their waists. The second study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people on high-protein diets (more than 88 grams of protein a day) lost more weight than those who reported lower protein intake. Lean cuts of grass-fed beef are the best choices for healthy weight loss. Visit BestLifeOnline.com/bestbeef to find grass-fed beef at a grocery store near you.

Avoid Bottle Belly
Too many of us are drinking the Kool-Aid: The number of calories we drink increased by 93 percent since 1965, according to a new study in the journal Obesity. The researchers estimate that sweetened beverages account for most of this increase and that we consume 222 extra calories a day from beverages alone. The worst news about these extra calories is that they provide no additional nutritional benefit. For a healthy carbonated alternative to soft drinks, mix 100 percent fruit juice with seltzer water to make a fruit spritzer.

Unrefine Your Palate
Whole-grain foods can shrink your belly. Researchers from Penn State University put 50 obese adults on a restricted-calorie diet; half the participants replaced all refined grains with whole grains, and the other half avoided whole grains. While both groups lost weight, the whole-grain eaters lost 2.4 times more belly fat than those who ate refined grains. Choose whole grains such as brown rice, oatmeal, and 100 percent whole-grain breads and pastas to shrink your gut.

Stay Full Longer
Previously considered a dietary villain because of its high cholesterol content, the egg is undergoing a makeover. A new study in the Journal of Nutrition found that eating eggs increases your amount of good cholesterol (HDL) but not bad cholesterol (LDL). Because of its nutrient density, an egg will keep you satiated longer than most foods. Add to that a recent study in the Journal of Gerontology, explaining how dietary cholesterol actually helps you build muscle mass, and you have the return of the perfect hard-boiled snack.

Get the Skinny on Fats
Trans fats are not only worse for your heart than other fats, but they're also a prime culprit for weight gain, according to Harvard Medical School researchers. While mono- and polyunsaturated fats are not associated with weight gain, for every 1 percent increase in the percentage of calories you consume from trans fats, you gain 2.3 pounds. Buyer beware: Foods that are "free of trans fats" can still contain up to 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, and those 0.5 grams add up quickly. If the label reads "interesterified," "partially hydrogenated," or "stearate rich," the food contains trans fats.