A catabolic diet is designed around the idea that the body uses more energy to digest foods than the calories that those foods actually provide for the body, according to the Diet Spotlight website. Promoters of the catabolic diet claim that this diet promotes weight loss by making the digestion system burn more calories than normal and use the body's fat reserves for energy. There are certain foods that you can eat during the catabolic diet to help promote this process, but be sure to consult your health care provider or nutritionist before starting.
Vegetables
The foods that fall under the catabolic diet plan are divided into high-grade catabolic and low-grade catabolic foods, based on the level of calories burned through digestion as compared to the actual calories absorbed, according to Diet Spotlight. High-grade catabolic foods are primarily made up of foods that are low in calories, carbohydrates and fat, and high in fiber. Most vegetables meet these criteria, particularly the high-fiber content, and it is the fiber that makes your body work hard to digest food. Vegetables such as artichokes, celery, asparagus, cucumbers, peppers, tomato, broccoli, eggplant, zucchini, spinach, carrots and lettuce are considered high-grade catabolic foods.
Fruits
Catabolic foods such as fruits neutralize the effects of fattening foods by promoting the production of the fat reducing hormone, glucagon, according to Joseph Patrick Jakubal of the JKL Company, a Multimedia Information Network serving the general public. Glucagon works most effectively in the presence of catabolic foods, which include whole raw fruits such as apples, apricots, cantaloupe, strawberries, tangerines and watermelon.
Seafood
In addition to eating fresh fruits and vegetables on the catabolic diet, you can also eat some low grade catabolic foods such as seafood, according to Jeremy E. Kaslow, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.A.A.I. Since your body still needs to get its protein, eating any white meat without fat is a safe choice during your catabolic diet. You can eat seafood such as crab, flounder, cod, mussels, tuna, clams and cooked lobster, but it is best to spread out your catabolic foods throughout your day.
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