1.  How can I lose weight only on my abs?  2. How many crunches (abdominals) do I need to do to reduce my tummy?  3. I see TV ads that advertise these great machines to have a flat tummy. Should I buy one?

4. Do some herbal remedies help to get a flat tummy?

5. What about controlling carbs and the tummy size?

6. Are some races more prone to having big bellies? All my relatives have them. 

4. Do some herbal remedies help to get a flat tummy?

Yes, there are many you can get. Many concoctions are sold in stores and online shopping websites. These suppliers use traditional herbs and recipes to prepare these remedies. The question is, do they work? And as far as we know, they do not work.  There is one remedy that helps and many people swear by it: linaza oil or flax seeds oil. This oil provides omega-3 fatty acids. The human body does not produce this oil so we need to take it from external sources. This oil helps in cellular regeneration and the people who recommend it to lose weight say that it accelerates the metabolism. In Central America and in parts of Mexico, people who use the flax seeds to lose weight or to control cholesterol, but do not use the oil as it is. They use the following method. Boil the seeds and let it cool and drink the resulting fluid (it has the consistency of a gel) during the day. They tend to drink at least 3 glasses a day. It is not a sure path to a skinny body and neither it is easy. The drink is not pleasant to drink and there is no hard evidence that it works.

5. What about controlling carbs and the tummy size?

Low carb diets are in fashion. They are not new. The famous Dr. Atkins diet came to life in the 70s, but it is in the new millennium that these diets reached the peak of their popularity. There are many low carbs diets that are popular: Atkins, South Beach Diet and The Zone. These diets are designed to help people lose weight; therefore, they will help you to get a flat tummy.  There are many other diets to lose weight and improve your body fat ratio. You do not need to follow a low carb diet to get a flat tummy.   (Related article:  Tips to cut sugar)

6. Are some races more prone to having big bellies? All my relatives have them. 

Good observation. Big bellies or big tummies are one of the results of being overweight. For example, there are more overweight Latinas in the US than white women but less than African Americans and Native Americans. The situation for men is also similar.  In general, in the USA, two out of three people are overweight. So chances are most people you will meet in the street are overweight and have some degree of visible fat on their tummies.  (Related:  Tummy by Thermage) It is, however, true that bodies of women of some races are more curvaceous, for example, Vida Guerra, than other races. There are no studies about Latinas or African Americans storing more fat in the tummy than other races like Caucasians or Asians but just looking at people in the mall you do get that impression. Our food in the USA is very rich and we are not so health conscious. Most mothers are worried about their families having delicious foods every time and do not worry much about the fat content and the nutritious value. These are generalizations, and of course, there are exceptions. Also we do not practice as many sports or exercise enough.   Even more important in some ethnic groups is that a little bit of curves are highly appreciated; so women and men do not mind a few extra pounds.

Also there are many studies going on about the effect of genes and the environment on getting fat and we do not have conclusive results yet. Because your mom and aunties are fat and have big bellies does not mean that you have to have them too. If you eat healthy and keep an active lifestyle, you most probably will not gain weight, but if you eat more than you need to, chances are you may have a similar body as that of your relatives.

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