The idea behind negative calorie diet foods is that you will use more energy--or calories--to digest the particular food than the food itself contains. By eating negative calorie diet foods, you body will have to work harder to extract their calories, which is an ideal way to burn up stored fat. Negative calorie diet foods also can help you lose weight without the sensation that you are starving, as these foods are generally nutritious and can be eaten in abundance. All foods contain various amounts of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and calories. Foods with negative calories contain the vitamins to create a surplus of enzyme-producing biochemicals that break down excess calories. Because negative calorie diet foods are not empty calorie foods, they make great snack foods and when combined with good protein sources, are ideal for maintaining a healthy metabolism and producing enough amino acids to build and stabilize muscles.
What to Look for
There are a wide range of delicious, nutritious negative calorie foods found in both vegetables and fruits. Some of the best negative calorie vegetables are asparagus, beets, carrot, zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower, celery cucumber, garlic, green beans, lettuce, onion, radish, spinach and zucchini. Negative calorie fruits include apples, cantaloupe, blueberries, cranberry, grapefruit, honeydew melon, lemon, lime, mango, oranges, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, tomato, watermelon, papaya, strawberries and raspberries. Create a delicious soup or salad with any number of the vegetables, eat them raw as finger foods or steam them for a delicious side or main dish. Additionally, you can make wonderful fruit salads with lemon dressing as the perfect substitute for dessert.
Common Pitfalls
Some negative calorie foods are high in glucose, such as watermelon. Though it is said that you cannot eat too many negative calorie diet foods, it is best to be careful when eating high glucose foods in general, especially if you have a tendency to be hyperglycemic. Remember, too, that you want to be eating a balanced diet. Be sure to add appropriate proteins to your daily menu, such as fish, chicken or meat. If you are a vegetarian, tofu, lentils and other legumes combined with grains will give you the protein you need.
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