negative calorie foods

lisa46219

So, I've been reading about "negative calorie foods"- foods that burn more calories while eating and digesting than the calories the food actually contains. Anyone have any insights on this?

As a side note.. included in the list are strawberries, oranges, watermelons, asparagas, and many more!

a2902c

It's a myth. There are no foods that are magically going to create a calorie deficit. Just watch your caloric intake, and you'll lose the weight.

s1lence

I don't think it works that way. The items you mentioned seem to have a high glycemic index but they won't burn themselves away.

Athijade

They don't exist.

Pebble321

It's a myth - but if it encourages you to eat lots of fruit and veggies, go for it, they are very good for you!

atjays

It's called water, zero calories in yet the body is expending energy to warm it up and use it. I'd imagine you're not going to get super skinny on this alone buuuut it does keep your metabolism going if you're drinking throughout the day in between meals

JoshuaL86

Water is a negative calorie

delilah47

no no no and no sorry

WishfulShrinking331

These foods are high in fiber and water, it might take more calories to burn these items off than they contain, but it won't log in as negative calories. These foods are really good to eat anyways so it is healthy and it will help with your weight loss goals!

chachita7

There is no such thing - research, research, research - be successful

smor27

I hear celery is good... they say you burn more calories digesting than you take in eating it.

seraphinaglitter

My best friend's mum works in Goverment as a nutritionist, I was speaking to her about negative calorie foods and she said that although not all the ones listed online are correct, it does take your body more energy expanditure in the digestion process than the calories consumed. So of course, the misunderstanding is you're not consuming calories, of course you are but because of the digestion you burn more off than you can make up with a normal portion of green vegetables, particularly celery and similarly high water-based vegetables.

I noticed other posters have mostly said it's a myth so thought I'd just put out what I've heard. :-)

lisa46219

My best friend's mum works in Goverment as a nutritionist, I was speaking to her about negative calorie foods and she said that although not all the ones listed online are correct, it does take your body more energy expanditure in the digestion process than the calories consumed. So of course, the misunderstanding is you're not consuming calories, of course you are but because of the digestion you burn more off than you can make up with a normal portion of green vegetables, particularly celery and similarly high water-based vegetables.

I noticed other posters have mostly said it's a myth so thought I'd just put out what I've heard. :-)

Thanks! I know we used to refer to them as free foods, and was wondering about the science of it. Always heard about lettuce, celery, and some other veggies, but never the fruit (although this explains WW "free fruit and veggies")

I think others assumed I would be deducting calories everytime I ate them... or maybe count the extra digestion as exercise? LOL

sisierra

i'm pretty sure celery is -2, but I can't really see myself gorging on it lol

wftiger

They do not exist. All foods have calories. Digestion is counted in your BMR so you can't count it twice just because you eat a stalk of celery.

WW considers many "free foods" just because the calories are nominal and who really is going to eat a head of lettuce at a time? Even that is less than 100 cals.

Mercenary1914

Is it something like this:

For example isn't there 4 calories to every gram of carb?

Fiber one has 25g of carbs half of which is Fiber...for some reason it's only 60 cals...how is it not 100 cals?

sullykat

[/quote]

I know we used to refer to them as free foods, and was wondering about the science of it. Always heard about lettuce, celery, and some other veggies, but never the fruit (although this explains WW "free fruit and veggies")

[/quote]

WW new system is not working for as many people any more because of this very reason. Fruit can not be considered a non contributor to calories. Fruit has a lot of carbs. No one should eat as much fruit as they want, that is unhealthy. The "free" fruit thing was because the old system didn't promote healthy eating; if someone could eat a cookie or a banana for the same amount of points, what will they likely choose if they aren't given proper nutrition information or education?