We all strive for a flat stomach, but despite intense workouts and restrictive diets, losing belly fat is often very difficult. The key to losing weight is avoiding certain foods. Here’s a list of ten foods to avoid if you want a flat stomach.

Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages are often high in calories. But that’s not all: alcohol also increases appetite and disrupts the part of the brain responsible for feeling full. Therefore, even if you feel full, you can easily snack after drinking beer. Furthermore, alcohol slows your metabolism, making it harder to burn calories. To avoid these effects, it’s best to choose wine or beer without snacks and avoid cocktails, which are often high in sugar.

Soda

Sodas are full of empty calories and slow down metabolism, causing fat storage. Light sodas aren’t any better because they contain artificial sweeteners, which can increase hunger. A can of soda contains about 150 calories and causes bloating due to carbon dioxide. Store-bought fruit juices aren’t an ideal alternative because they’re often high in sugar and have no nutritional value. Instead, choose water or homemade, unsweetened iced tea.