5 Foods Not to Eat to Lose Belly Fat

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Belly fat is one of the hardest to blast, with various exercise moves specifically designed to target this problem area. But with exercise comes a proper diet, and here are some foods to avoid and replace with for a better belly form.

Need carbs? Go for oatmeal, as it's packed with fiber, and according to Good Housekeeping, stays in your stomach for hours, keeping you full and not wanting to chomp on unhealthy carbohydrates such as sugary doughnuts. Best to stay away from white rice, bagels, breads, pasta and pastries.

It is highly recommended to eat often in small portions to stave off hunger and eventual overeating throughout the day. Keep your tummy satisfied with almonds and other nuts, but in moderate servings. Koat reports that most nuts contain a health source of dietary fat. Walnuts are highly recommended for its fatty acid content. Keep away from salted varieties of nuts, as too much salt increases blood pressure.

Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water. Not only is it good for your skin, it also helps remove toxins from your body. If you're the type who likes chugging down juices and other artificially sweetened drinks, here's some bad news: Reader's Digest reports that low-carb sweeteners naturally found in some foods and added to others "don’t easily pass through our cell walls, so gut bacteria digest them, which can cause gas and bloating." If you're into juices, make your own by buying fresh fruits and juicing it yourself rather than buying prepackaged ones at the grocery. These are commonly processed with added sugar and preservatives. Another way to flavor your liquids is to add lemon and cucumber slices to your water. This will not only add a zesty taste to your regular water, but also helps detoxify the body, according to Popsugar.

As with meats, keep away from those packed with trans and saturated fat such as, unfortunately, bacon. Nutritionist Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, and director and owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants, LLC, told Fitness Magazine, "It's only 45 calories a strip, but it is really high in fat, sodium, and the preservative sodium nitrate."

If you're looking to reward yourself or indulge after a long work week, refrain from frosted cakes, or worse, store-bought frosting. According to nutrition expert and coauthor of The Calendar Diet, Melina Jampolis, MD, they contain transfat, which are "terrible for your health and waistline. Transfat raises bad cholesterol, lowers good cholesterol, and causes inflammation, which can lead to belly fat and diseases ranging from heart disease to diabetes." Stick to naturally sweet, fiber rich foods instead, such as apples, mangoes, berries, and bananas, or better yet, make a fruit smoothie using low- or non-fat milk.