Negative Calorie Foods

kym_lewis08
kym_lewis08 Posts: 393
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
I was searching the net and found this to be quite interesting..so I thought you guys would too.


-Negative Calorie Foods-
There are several fruits and vegetables that occur in nature that while they have calories when consumed, actually result in negative calories to the body after digested. It is because these foods cause the body to extend more calories to digest them than they have through their nutritional content that they become zero calorie foods.

These foods can basically be consumed in whatever quantity you want without feeling guilty. They are healthy and provide nutritional content your body needs. Keep in mind, however, that these foods only have this negative calorie effect when consumed without extras added to them like butter, sugar or dips.

Negative Calorie Foods
Asparagus
Apple
Beet
Cranberries
Broccoli
Grapefruit
Cabbage
Lemon
Carrot
Mango
Cauliflower
Orange
Celery
Pineapple
Chile peppers
Raspberries
Cucumber
Strawberries
Dandelion
Tangerine
Endive
Garden cress
Garlic
Green beans
Lettuce
Onion
Papaya
Radishes
Spinach
Turnip
Zucchini



I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this before..seems logical..but you have to be careful with the things you read on the net these days.

Replies

  • lisawest
    lisawest Posts: 798 Member
    I had heard of celery being a negative calorie food. I heard that years ago. However, I have never done any real research on the topic. Although I'm excited to see carrots on that list. I could eat a 1 lb bag of baby carrots (no dip even:bigsmile: ) without even trying! I'm interested to see what some others who are more knowledgable than I have to say!
  • kym_lewis08
    kym_lewis08 Posts: 393
    Did a little research..It's from a site that I use so maybe there is truth behind it..I sure hope so :happy:

    http://www.healthrecipes.com/negative_calorie_foods.htm

    Negative calorie research
    Reference #1:
    According to a recent study performed by Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D., of the University of California, at San Francisco, a vegetarian diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables, was adhered to by research subjects as an experimental study on the reversal of heart disease. As a result each of the research subjects (all suffering from heart disease), lost an average of 20 pounds without cutting calories or limiting serving sizes.

    In light of the fact that these subjects were 40 years and older (with relatively slowed metabolisms) and the research performed involved no prescribed exercise program, this constitutes a dramatic weight loss that could only be attributed to the consumption of various fruits & vegetables.

    Reference #2:
    In an article in the January, ’94 Issue of Self Magazine, contributed by Dr. Neal Barnard M.D., author of “Food For Life” (Harmony Books), he basically supports the concept of “negative calories” foods (keep in mind there were no research studies referenced in this article to support his claims).

    Let’s speculate for a moment, shall we? With the above information in mind, while obviously not conclusive, let us assume the transport of these “surplus digestive enzymes” into the blood is a given and pick it up from there. The fact is, enzymes are responsible for the acceleration of ALL chemical reactions in the body. The acceleration of chemical reactions in the body then equates to a faster metabolism (this effect is implied by the earlier referenced studies performed by Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D.).

    If CONCLUSIVE this discovery would truly be a tremendous breakthrough. The greater value then, in identifying and ingesting these negative calorie foods is not in their ability to break down other existing calories in digestion at all.

    The true potential benefits lie in the increased enzymes produced being absorbed through the mucosa in the small intestine thus entering into the bloodstream where they can positively effect the rate of metabolism.

    In building upon the above conjectures, to optimize this metabolic acceleration, these researched & identified negative calories should preferably be ingested in the absence of additional enzyme robbing “empty calories” (junk food). This would insure that an optimum amount of enzymes are produced for absorption into the bloodstream and not wasted during digestive processes on assimilating calories from foods with poor vitamin and nutrient content.

    The article above came from the NFPT Personal Trainer Magazine Over 12 Years of Personal Trainer Certification, Credibility & Support. The Most Trusted Name in Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Internationally.
  • ebkins7
    ebkins7 Posts: 427 Member
    i've heard this too... I think it's totally AWESOME! Eat up!!! lol
  • mbmomof4
    mbmomof4 Posts: 172 Member
    I had heard of celery being a negative calorie food. I heard that years ago. However, I have never done any real research on the topic.


    I was wondering about neg. calorie foods today, I talked about it with a friend of mine on the way home from the gym, in fact. I heard celery was one because of it being so stringy it actually makes your body work to digest it.
  • hkuiuc99
    hkuiuc99 Posts: 79 Member
    I think its a myth....

    I saw this on a page when I googled "negative calorie foods"

    " The idea that certain foods could take more energy to digest them than they actually provide in and of themselves certainly took the diet industry by storm. The notion that you could eat from a list of "wonder foods" and not only not put on weight but help counteract some of the calories contained in the rest of your diet certainly has an instant appeal.

    The sad fact is, however, that all foods contain calories. Some, not that many. However the body has one thing which actively works against you. It's the most efficient engine known to man. The calories delivered by even the lightest foods render many times more energy than is required to digest them."

    and this on Wikipedia
    "A negative calorie food is a food that is purported to require more calories to be digested than it provides. That is, its thermic effect is greater than its calorie content.

    While this concept is popular in dieting guides, there is no scientific evidence that any of the foods claimed as negative calorie foods are such[1]. Celery, a commonly cited negative calorie food, actually requires only about 10% of its calorie content to be digested (due to the thermic effect)[2]. The consumption of grapefruit, another commonly cited food, leads to weight-loss simply by taking up space in the stomach that might otherwise go to higher calorie foods.
    [edit] References"
  • kym_lewis08
    kym_lewis08 Posts: 393
    Bummer..seriously..lol
  • Eliaheart
    Eliaheart Posts: 73 Member
    Whether negative calorie or not, all the foods you listed are super good for us :) So I say, let's eat up!! :)
  • mia66
    mia66 Posts: 425
    I showed this to my son who is studying human kinetics in University. He says it is totally false. Do not believe everything you read.
    Mia
    EAT LESS MOVE MORE:flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • kym_lewis08
    kym_lewis08 Posts: 393
    Whether negative calorie or not, all the foods you listed are super good for us :) So I say, let's eat up!! :)


    Agreed!!! :drinker:


    Thanks for the input everyone!!
  • mia66
    mia66 Posts: 425
    yes you are right, all of the foods on your list are great healthy choices.
    EAT LESS MOVE MORE:flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    commonly cited food, leads to weight-loss simply by taking up space in the stomach that might otherwise go to higher calorie foods.

    Ding, Ding!
  • mablesyrup
    mablesyrup Posts: 286 Member
    You can never use Wikipedia as a good source for ANYTHING- it's edited and updated by USERS.
    Anyone can make an account and change things and/or put their own opinion into something. Wiki is
    never valid as a research tool =)

    Very interesting topic though =)
    All the better if it is true- because i fill up on so much broccoli and romaine lettuce everyday!
  • ks2001
    ks2001 Posts: 40
    I agee that the foods listed can be great for us, but wouldn't go overboard with the negative calorie idea. I have a really TOUGH time saying this, but I think moderation is still the key. Wish that weren't the case though!! :drinker:
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    I agee that the foods listed can be great for us, but wouldn't go overboard with the negative calorie idea. I have a really TOUGH time saying this, but I think moderation is still the key. Wish that weren't the case though!! :drinker:

    This quote is the winner! You can gain weight eating too much of any type of food, although the idea is wonderful and whether proven true or false MODERATION is key to losing and then maintaining any real weight loss. These are good options if you are just starting your "journey" and find that you are hungry in between meals because they are typically fibrous foods and will help tide you over until your next meal and they are healthy foods so please add them to your diet, your digestive track will enjoy the cleaning and you will feel better for choosing these foods over other options (horrible 100 calorie packs) because you will know you have done something truly good for yourself!
  • kermiehiho
    kermiehiho Posts: 193 Member
    Actually, I did see on Food Network (I think the program was called food detectives) that celery IS a negative calorie food, because of the energy it takes to chew and digest it. Here's the url to prove it. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food-detectives/index.html
    But as the video says, eating just celery as a diet is not a good idea, as it doesn't contain all the nutrients your body needs, and is no substitute for exercise.

    And just a side thought, maybe cabbage and papaya were considered negative caloric foods because of their *ahem* laxative effects? :tongue:
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    Nah, this is a myth, I've done a bit of research into this, and even talked to a registered dietitian about this, it's not really true. There is a great article about this in the current issue of OnFitness magazine (you can pick it up at Barnes and Noble) which is a Personal training magazine that has some awesome articles in it (it's really technical though, not for the regular exerciser).

    I do agree though, that the foods listed there are all very healthy foods and are all on my list of things to eat.

    also I love this article from webmd it's a good read.

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/quack-diet-red-flags-feature

    I'm gonna post this article in it's own thread just because I love it so much.

    -Banks
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