1. Dairy products

Lactose intolerance can range from mild to severe, but either way, gas is usually a symptom. If you are feeling bloated, try limiting the amount of milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream you eat and see if that helps. If it does, you don’t have to ditch dairy altogether. Drink lactose-free milk, or take Lactaid pills to help your body digest milk products.

2. Potato chips

One of your favorite snacks may be giving you belly fat. Most potato chip brands are cooked in hydrogenated oils. This type of oil is called a trans-fat. Trans-fat is known to increase cholesterol, contribute to heart disease, and increase weight. Chips that don’t contain hydrogenated oil may have high amounts of fat from other oils they’re fried in.

There are baked and low-fat potato chips on the market that make better choices. However, be aware of the calorie count. High calories still contribute to belly fat.

3. Soft drinks

Soda is not only unhealthy for you, it increases belly fat. It has empty calories that add excess weight and also provides large amounts of sugars. This sugar comes in the form of fructose and other additives. Your body has a hard time burning this sugar off, especially in the mid-section.  You may think that diet soft drinks are better, but they also contain artificial sweeteners that contribute to bad health. It’s best to drink pure water to lose your belly fat.

4. Processed baked goods

So convenient, so tasty (if we’re being honest here), but so not worth it. Those pre-packaged mini muffins, doughnuts, and dessert cakes will add tons of calories and loads of unwanted sugar to your diet, plus they aren’t easy to digest.

These foods are bad on so many levels because they are filled with high sugar content and preservatives for a longer shelf-life — they can literally sit there forever! Sugar increases inflammation, which is not only bad for you but can also make you look puffy and bloated. Skip the wrapped stuff and grab fresh fruit for a sweet fix instead.

5. Fried foods

Deep-fried chicken and french fries taste good, but they will not do your stomach any favor. Fast food, for example, is usually greasy and has very little vitamins and minerals or fiber. Instead, it is loaded with sodium and trans-fat which manifests itself in your stomach. If you must have fast food, choose more healthy options from the menu.

6. Margarine

Choose a small amount of regular butter or soft spread over margarine when topping foods or baking! Margarine is usually loaded with trans-fat and is found in plenty of pastries, crackers, snack foods, and even microwave popcorn, so limit intake to keep cholesterol levels in check.

7. White flour and rice

Try to cut back on the white carbs if you are truly determined to see your belly vanish. Trade your white bread, flour, rice, and pasta for whole-grain products such as brown bread and rice. White carbs have already been processed and are therefore digested rapidly by the body to be stored as fat.

8. Refined sweeteners and sugar

Refined sugar helps to raise the insulin level in the body which promotes the storage of fat. It also affects the immune system and makes it harder to fight off germs and diseases.

9. Cereals

Cereals are not necessarily bad for you, but some people usually double the serving size which means more is eaten than the box actually recommends. So if you find that your pants are getting a bit snug in the mornings, you might want to try weighing your cereal with a measuring cup before you start to gulp it down. Also, choose a nut milk like almond milk, and avoid the temptation to add sugar.