Promises to get rid of belly fat fast are everywhere. Miracle pills and shakes plus bogus belly-flattening gizmos are out to seduce us, left and right. Yet, none of these get to the root of the problem.

As you read on, you'll discover what's holding Americans prisoner to their stomachs. And learn to break free from belly fat jail once and for all.

The Blood Sugar Connection

Anytime we eat, we raise the blood sugar level in our bloodstream. Blood sugar is the glucose our cells use as fuel to support all brain and bodily functions.

Some foods have a moderate effect on blood sugar levels. Others, cause major spikes.

The key to getting rid of belly fat once and for all is to keep our blood sugar levels within a normal range. Once you know how to do this and make it a regular habit, you'll get rid of belly fat once and for all.

The Blood Sugar - Insulin Process

Insulin is a hormone which moderates the level of glucose in the blood. It's created and released into the bloodstream by the pancreas.

As insulin reaches the cells of our muscle tissue, these cells open up to take in the glucose. Now the cells have the food they need to keep functioning properly.

Insulin Resistance is Belly Fat Prison

Insulin resistance occurs when the cells ignore insulin. Instead, unused glucose makes its way into the fat cells. This is the moment when the body stores fat as future fuel and our bellies get bigger.

Meanwhile, our muscles go begging for glucose. The pancreas try to help by making more insulin. This creates an over-supply of glucose in the blood. And the body decides to cling to fat rather than burn it.

A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds insulin resistance in muscles boosts the amount of fat in the bloodstream. And this adds fat to the whole body - including the belly.

Keep Good Carbs, Banish Bad Carbs

What's the source of blood sugar in the body? And how does this help or hinder getting rid of belly fat? For the most part, blood sugar comes from carbohydrates. The digestive system converts the "carbs" we eat into glucose. Consider there are good and bad carbs. Good carbs include:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grains

Good carbs are good because they're packed with fiber and nutrients. For this reason, they don't raise your sugar levels dramatically. This keeps your insulin levels within the normal range.

Bad carbs include:

• Soda
• Cookies
• Chips
• Alcohol

Bad carbs are bad because they lack nutrients yet, they're full of calories. This is why they trigger rapid rises in blood sugar.

Also, it explains why we feel a rush after we eat foods high in sugar. Soon, the rush subsides and we feel hungry all over again.

This cycle of surges and crashes in blood sugar levels is the culprit making us fat. Left unchecked, it can lead to diabetes.

The Glycemic Index is Your Friend

The Glycemic Index ("GI") measures how fast a food will raise our blood sugar level. The higher a food's GI, the faster the rise in blood sugar. Stick to foods with lower GIs and you'll get rid of belly fat fast.

What You Can Do Right Now

To break free from belly fat prison, apply what you've learned here:

1. When blood sugar enters our muscle cells, fat burns more easily
2. This keeps insulin sensitivity high
3. Choose foods low in sugar with more fiber and vitamins
4. Eat foods with lower GIs (to keep blood sugar in check, start meals with a fat or protein before you eat a higher GI food)

Clearly, the power is in your hands. And as you make these modest changes, you'll start to stabilize your blood sugar and get rid of belly fat right away.