Foods to Avoid for Abs

Whether you are a bodybuilder, fitness model or just want to look good on the beach, you are probably after "six-pack" abs. According to Net Wellness, a service of the University of Cincinnati, "spot reduction" -- losing fat only on a specific region of your body -- is impossible. To have ripped abs, you will have to have to lower your overall body fat percentage. There are foods that you simply have to avoid if you are going to achieve your ideal set of abdominals.

Fast Food

Avoid fast food in your quest for abs. Fast food is high in unhealthful saturated fats and trans fatty acids. According to the University of California at Berkeley, the proximity of fast food restaurants is directly linked to obesity. Ninth graders are at least 5.2 percent more likely to be obese if there is a fast food restaurant within 1/10 of a mile of their high school. It doesn't help that fast food is so affordable either. While you know that burgers, fries and milkshakes are full of fat that will cover your midsection, the grilled chicken sandwich is often not much better. According to the University of Pennsylvania, many fast food chains cook their grilled chicken sandwiches on a grill that is covered with margarine. The university lists margarine is as the No. 1 food that you should beware of.

Desserts

Most desserts contain large amounts of saturated fat, trans fat and sugar. Raising your blood sugar will promote fat storage, and often your midsection can be the first place the fat is stored. The University of Pennsylvania lists baked goods and other desserts among several foods to beware of. Foods like doughnuts, pound cake, cookies and cakes will all accumulate on your midsection if you consume them on a regular basis. Trans fats are used in commercially baked products more than any other foods. If you have a sweet tooth, fruit in moderation is a better option.

Soda with High Fructose Corn Syrup

Regular soda is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup that will dramatically raise your blood sugar levels and can promote immediate fat storage. According to Princeton University, high fructose corn syrup can make you gain significantly more weight than table sugar when consumed in equal quantities. More specifically, Princeton says that "long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen." Opting for diet soda is a better alternative. Green tea is even better, it can specifically target belly fat, according to Tufts University.