10 Foods to Avoid to Get the Flat Stomach You’ve Always Dreamed of

 

Carbonated drinks are full of empty calories and slow down your metabolism, causing your body to store more fat. Diet sodas aren’t any better because they contain artificial sweeteners that can increase hunger. A can of soda contains about 150 calories and causes bloating due to the carbon dioxide. Store-bought fruit juices aren’t an ideal alternative because they’re often full of sugar and devoid of nutritional value. Choose water or homemade iced, unsweetened infusions.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum signals your brain and stomach that a meal is coming, causing an overproduction of gastric juices and a feeling of hunger. Furthermore, mint-flavored gum alters the flavor of fruits and vegetables, encouraging you to eat sweeter foods.
High-sodium foods
Foods high in sodium are not only harmful to your health, but also cause bloating by retaining fluids in the body. Daily sodium intake is often double the recommended amount. Therefore, limit your salt intake and check food labels to avoid excessive sodium intake.

Fast Food

Fast food combines large amounts of fat, sugar, and chemical additives. Fats take time to digest, causing bloating, while sugars go directly to the intestines. Furthermore, additives negatively affect the good bacteria in the stomach, promoting obesity. Choose alternative snacks such as fresh fruits or vegetables.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is 80% fat, and a tablespoon of this sauce contains about 100 calories. Replace it with pureed vegetables or hummus for a healthier, lower-calorie alternative.

Fried Foods

Fried foods absorb a lot of harmful fats, which affect brain function, reducing mental clarity and making it difficult to remember how much you’ve eaten. Furthermore, these foods take time to digest, slowing down the metabolism.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is very sweet and often leads to a drug-like addiction, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The more ice cream you eat, the more you crave it, resulting in excessive calorie intake. If you can’t live without it, you can try making homemade ice cream using frozen bananas, which contain less than 100 calories per serving.

Gas-Producing Foods

Dairy products, apples, lentils, beans, and artichokes can cause bloating, even in the thinnest people. Unsweetened almond milk can be used as a substitute for traditional dairy products to avoid these discomforts. Baked apples can be consumed without the side effects of bloating, while still providing essential vitamins.

“Sugar-Free” Foods
Products labeled “sugar-free” may contain artificial sweeteners, which, while calorie-free, can increase appetite and encourage overeating. Therefore, it’s best to avoid these products and opt for natural, healthy alternatives.