Baked products, pastries, muffins, flavored yogurts, morning cereals, granola and protein bars, prepackaged meals, sugar-sweetened drinks (SSBs), and other processed foods may include added sugar (5Trusted Source).
SSBs are the biggest source of sugar in the US owing to their cheap cost, convenience, and simplicity of ingestion. SSBs may be eaten rapidly and in large quantities since they need little processing (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
Two 16-ounce (480 mL) Coke bottles in a day provide 384 calories and 104 grams of sugar. If eaten with other high-sugar foods and beverages, this may increase daily calorie consumption and visceral fat (8Trusted Source).
Some claim that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in SSBs is the main contributor to visceral fat, but most research suggests that HFCS and regular sugar (sucrose) both cause weight gain by providing excessive calories, not by storing fat.
Sugary meals and drinks should be reserved for special occasions, although all foods and drinks may be eaten in moderation. Most commonly, choose water, unsweetened coffee/tea, and whole, less processed meals.
However, excessive alcohol use may cause inflammation, liver illness, cancer, weight gain, and other health issues (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding alcohol or drinking one drink per day for women and two for men (16Trusted Source).
Small quantities of trans fat exist in nature, but most are made for the food system by adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats to make them more stable and solid at room temperature.