If you’re asking what this headline is really getting at, visceral fat is the fat stored around internal abdominal organs. It’s more strongly associated with metabolic problems than fat stored just under the skin.
There isn’t an official medical list of exactly “six worst foods,” and no single food selectively causes visceral fat. However, regularly eating large amounts of these categories can contribute to excess body fat:
6 foods/drink categories to limit
- Sugary drinks 🥤
Soda, sweetened tea, energy drinks and similar beverages provide lots of added sugar without much satiety. - Processed meats 🌭
Bacon, sausages, hot dogs and similar products are often high in calories and saturated fat and are best eaten sparingly. - Refined carbohydrates 🍞
Large amounts of pastries, cakes, cookies and highly refined breads can make it easier to consume excess calories. - Deep-fried foods 🍟
Fries and fried fast foods can be very calorie-dense, especially when eaten frequently. - Highly processed snack foods 🍪
Chips, packaged sweets and similar foods can combine refined carbohydrates, fat and salt in ways that make overeating easy. - Heavy alcohol consumption 🍺
Alcohol supplies substantial calories, and excessive intake is associated with increased abdominal fat and other health problems.
The important part
You don’t need to completely eliminate one particular food to lose visceral fat. Visceral fat generally decreases when overall energy intake, physical activity, sleep and diet quality improve. Even modest weight loss can reduce visceral fat.
If you’re trying to reduce abdominal fat, prioritize vegetables, fruit, beans/lentils, whole grains, lean protein, nuts/seeds and minimally processed foods, while reducing sugary drinks, excessive alcohol and highly processed foods.
Also, you cannot reliably “burn visceral fat” from just one area with a special food or drink. Claims promising that a particular morning drink melts belly/visceral fat are usually marketing rather than good medical evidence.
