6 Foods No One Should Be Eating Anymore Because They Cause Visceral Fat

Processed Sugar Or White Sugar

Refined white sugar is one of the most common causes of weight gain. It's high in calories and skyrockets your blood sugar, experts warn.

"Refined sugars provide empty calories which can lead to weight gain due to excess calorie intake. They also cause a spike in blood sugar levels followed by a crash, leading to cravings and energy slumps throughout the day," says  Rebecca Novak, a registered dietitian, and chef at the Hungarian Chef. "This makes it difficult to maintain healthy eating habits as well as adhere to a consistent exercise routine. Furthermore, research has linked high-sugar diets with many chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity."  Yikes!

White Refined Flour

“Refined wheat, aka white flour, contains no nutrients and leaves your body hungrier than when you sat down to eat,” Dr. Marizelle Arce, a naturopathic doctor, tells us. This ingredient is frequently found in baked goods like bread, pastries, cakes and more—we'll talk more about the dangers of sweet pastries below.

Fruit Smoothies With Added Sugars

"Premade smoothies are often very high in sugar, despite no-sugar-added labeling," health practitioner Amy Spindel, BCHN, of Food With Thought tells us.

"For instance, a premed smoothie can contain the equivalent amount of sugar in a single-serve bottle of Coca Cola, both measuring in at an astounding 14 teaspoons!" Say it ain't so!

Salty Potato Chips

"Potato chips are traditionally processed and fried with added sodium or artificial flavors," Best explains. "The consumer may also use high fat dips or cheeses when eating them and is likely to mindlessly eat them without noticing the quantity."

"If you eat a few chips, the calories really don’t add onto the waistline," Dr. Lee explains. But we can’t just eat one, because they're delicious, and because of the added salt, our mouths feel dry and dehydrated. "The sense of thirst and food cravings are pretty similar psychologically, so a lot of people don’t grab a bottle of water to quench a thirst but may find themselves eating more food, hence calories that could be stored," she explains.

Drinks With Alcohol

Drinks such as hard seltzers, beer, wine, hard liquor, can also be to blame, Dr. Lee warns.

"If you look at the caloric density of a serving of alcohol, the calories ranges from 70-160 calories which in all reality isn’t that high. But what happens when we put alcohol into the body, the immune system kicks in to attempt to get rid of it whole slowing down on other metabolic pathways (such as burning calories)."

Plus, alcohol can speed up signs of aging. All in all, it's best to limit your intake as much as possible.

Sugary Pastries

Starting your day with a sugary pastry like a danish or a donut may taste delicious, but it can have seriously consequences on your health and your weight. Dietitian Dana Ellis Hunnes says that "ultra-processed carbohydrates that are frequently found in packaged foods such as pastries, think Pop-Tarts," are "the least healthy type of carbohydrate to eat." This is because they contain tons of calories that do absolutely nothing for your health.  Hunnes warns that they provide "no nutritional benefit, they are often devoid of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds."  Yikes! When you consume all of those calories without nourishing your body, your metabolism will take a turn for the worse.

Of course, keeping your body healthy by maintaining a balanced diet is about more than cutting out a few foods. The best way to lose weight healthily is to build healthy habits and create a personalized diet and exercise plan based on your body's needs. Overall, though, steering clear of these foods definitely isn't a bad idea.