Negative calorie foods are a myth – here’s why

There are many different kinds of foods, but is easting ‘Negative calorie’ foods such as grapes and celery help you lose weight?

Well, Calories are units of energy in energy containing foods; mainly expresses as kilocalories (kcal). The theory about negative calories foods is; it is believed that some foods contain lower calories amount compared to the amount of energy it takes to absorb and digest the food in the body. In theory, this sounds probable, but the reality is that even the lowest calories foods like celery, contain more calories than it takes to be absorbed or broken down by the body.

The Body needs energy to maintain 3 basic functions:

•  Body at Rest Energy: the body does need energy to maintain the body while it’s at rest. This energy is used to carry out basic processes that sustain our lives.
•  The Thermic effects of eating: Energy is needed to increase metabolic rate after eating.
•  Activity and exercise: The body needs energy to keep up with daily physical activities a

Out of all the above, the body needs few calories to maintain thermic effects, which is generally about 10% of the energy consumed. In other words, the body needs about 1/10 of the calories we consume to process foods and this does also include chewing, moving digested foods through the digestive system, storing, and absorbing nutrients.

Foods such as tomatoes, broccoli, grapefruit, celery, and cucumber have been classified as Negative Calorie Foods. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The truth is that they have low calories, which is usually 7 to 30 kcal per 100 g, and it takes less energy to digest them. This is due to the fact that they contain large numbers of fiber and water.

Replace, don’t add

The truth is that these foods are helpful for those looking to lose weight, due to the low calories factor. By replacing certain foods of your diet with one of these will help greatly. This generally means replacing let’s say chips, with a side salad. They are helpful when it comes to losing weight because they contain minerals, vitamins, and fiber, which offers a lot of health benefits.

As such, it is wise to replace high calories food items with vegetables and fruits. Remember, by increasing healthier options on your plate, the better it is for you. If you then have unhealthy foods on your plate, the more you increase your calorie intake.

For someone to lose weight efficiently, they must use up more energy than they consume. Remember, this is not an easy task. As a matter of fact, research shows that many tend to underestimate the calories content they consume.

On the other hand, another research shows that when a person goes into a fast food joint, with healthier images of foods, they tend to underestimate the calorie content of the meal they are consuming; compared to a similar fast food joint where there are images of less healthy foods. As such, they end up consuming more calories than they need. Therefore, you need to watch what you consume.

Unfortunately, negative calorie foods are a myth, and there is no easy way to lose weight and keep it off in the long run. Changing your food and drink options for healthier ones on a permanent basis is more likely to lead to sustained long-term weight loss than short-term dieting alone.