Because your body is constantly burning calories to accomplish all of your basic bodily functions, including digestion, sometimes the calories burned by eating a food exceed the number of calories in the food. The result is a negative net calorie count. The idea of losing weight simply by eating has yet to be scientifically proven, so it's best to consult your doctor before basing your eating habits on negative calorie foods.
The Facts
Although the name is a bit deceiving, a food that is said to have a negative-calorie count is one that contains fewer calories than it takes to digest it. Dr. Donald Hensrud, of MayoClinic.com, points out an example of how this works. You burn 80 calories digesting a 25 calorie piece of broccoli, which leads to an overall net loss of 55 calories.
Significance
While the idea and effectiveness of negative-calorie foods used for weight loss purposes is debatable, eating low-calorie foods that are full of vitamins and nutrients is an effective way to lose weight. Many of the negative-calorie foods you'll find are not only low in calories, but they're also highly nutritious. As part of a healthful diet and exercise plan, these types of foods will help you maintain a healthy weight.
Types
Negative-calorie foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables. FatFreeKitchen.com offers a free list of fruits and vegetables that are considered to have a negative calorie count. Some of the vegetables include zucchini, onions, green beans, lettuce, celery, cabbage and asparagus. Negative-calorie fruits on this list include lemons, oranges, papaya, raspberries, tomatoes, pineapples, watermelon and apples. Though these are all considered to be negative-calorie foods, they vary according to calorie counts, nutrient-content and overall nutritional value.
Warning
Eating negative-calorie foods exclusively would be unhealthy if done incorrectly. Not all negative-calorie foods contain enough of the essential vitamins and nutrients, such as protein and fats, needed for good health. MayoClinic.com recommends eating a diet consisting of a variety of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and lean protein. A diet plan focusing exclusively on a small list of foods is never advisable and can lead to long-term health issues or vitamin and nutrient deficiency.
Theories/Speculation
Proponents of the negative-calorie diet plan theorize that simply by eating negative calorie foods, you will lose weight. Hensrud disagrees. He states your body burns about 10 percent of its total energy expenditure each day through basic bodily functions, such as digesting and storing food in the body. Hensrud says that while the theory of the negative-calorie diet plan looks good on paper, more scientific studies are needed in order to prove that it is a healthful and effective weight loss strategy.
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