Jessica Biel’s Fat-Burning Food Rules, Say Dietitians

Jessica Biel might be out of the Hollywood spotlight for now—she's been living in Montana with her husband Justin Timberlake and their two sons, and is an executive producer behind the scenes of The Sinner, but she still posts plenty of Insta pics and shows fans how she stays in such great shape. (Hint: a lot of hard work.) CelebWell talked with experts who explained why her diet and workout routine works. Read on to see the ways Jessica Biel stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

---

1. Limits Dairy and Wheat

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Biel has been known to limit her dairy and wheat intake and told the Los Angeles Times that she's "not all-out anything. Just creating a balance if possible… but honestly I just feel better when I don’t have gluten or wheat or dairy. My digestion is better, I feel better, I have more energy… I just try to eat really healthy." Dr. Seema Bonney, the founder and medical director of the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia explains, "Dairy in and of itself does not cause weight gain but some types of dairy are less healthy. Milk, plain yogurt and even unsweetened dairy products contain lactose, a natural sugar. Lactose can cause bloating in some people. Also some types of dairy - like cheese and ice cream - are easier to overeat than others which can lead to extra pounds due to those extra calories.

Foods high in gluten also tend to be high in refined sugars, fats, and artificial ingredients which is why many people find that a gluten free diet promotes weight loss and better digestive health. And if you have non celiac gluten sensitivity, you may have problems with weight gain and digestion, causing symptoms like gas, cramping, and bloating. "

2. Eats Whole Foods

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

The actress broke down what she ate daily to the LA Times and revealed she eats really healthy. For "dinner, if we’re home, it would be cooking up some salmon, some rice, grilling some vegetables, or going out and having some chicken, something a little heartier for dinner." Reda Elmardi, a Registered Dietician, Certified Nutritionist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Trainer, and owner of thegymgoat.com says, "Whole foods are foods that have not been processed into smaller pieces. They include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, eggs, dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, and even some types of oils. When you eat these foods, your body gets all the vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and other nutrients they contain. This helps you feel full longer, burn calories better, and maintain healthy blood sugar levels."

3. Everything in Moderation

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

While the mother of two eats very clean, she doesn't cut anything totally out of her diet. She told the LA Times, "of course I have cheat-days and will go out and have, like, cookies and pizza. Elmardi says it's important to:

1. Balance your diet. The first step to losing weight is to maintain a healthy diet. When we eat too much, our bodies store fat. If we don't consume enough calories, our bodies begin to break down muscle mass. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you take in. This can be achieved through exercise and proper nutrition.
2. Exercise regularly. Exercise helps us burn calories and build muscle. Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat, so building lean muscle mass is a great way to boost your metabolism. Try to work out three times per week for 30 minutes each time. You should aim to do cardio exercises like running, biking, swimming, etc., and strength training exercises like pushups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, crunches, planks, and bench presses.
3. Eat right. Eating well isn't just about what you put into your mouth; it's also about how you prepare food. Eating healthy foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar and salt will make you feel fuller longer and help you avoid overeating. Foods that are rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants will give you energy while helping you build muscles."

4. Cardio

Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage

The Sinner star has mentioned in several interviews that she does a lot of cardio and Antoine Hamelin, a kinesiologist, a trainer with 20+ years of experience and CEO of First Step Fitness Trainings explains, "Weight loss and weight gain follow the same premise. If you consume more calories than you expend, you gain weight. The opposite is true as well. Cardio type training helps to create a caloric deficit that -- combined with good dietary practices -- will help lose weight or at least maintain it. Moreover, it is a great tool to keep the heart and lungs healthy."

5. Yoga

Phillip Faraone/WireImage

Biel has been practicing yoga for years and according to Shape she said, "I think it takes a lot of years to really start to accept who you are. I believe that the philosophy behind yoga and the yoga community is not about what shape you are; it's not about what you look like; it's really about health from the inside out. Yoga has brought me a lot of feelings of power and confidence." Hamelin says, "Yoga is a great tool in your workout routine. It will strengthen deep stabilizing muscles by holding poses, muscles that may be hard to target otherwise. It helps in creating better flexibility, thus providing protection from injuries. Also, some yoga poses require a great deal of muscle strength and can definitely help create greater muscle tone.Yoga is an amazing tool for mental health. It requires great focus on breathing, which in itself allows for deeper diaphragmatic breathing—which has an impact on relaxing both the mind and body—and allows one to concentrate intensely on something else than daily problems and stresses; which in itself is great for mental health.”