In reality there is no such thing as a "negative calorie" food. To say so would imply that a food does not have calories at all. The truth is that there are some foods that are so low in calories that your body will burn more calories in the digestive process than the food contained to begin with, thus helping you to reach your calorie burning and weight loss goals.
Negative Calorie Vegetables
There are more than a dozen different negative calorie vegetables that, when added to your diet, can help you to burn excess calories. These include asparagus, broccoli, carrots, celery, chili peppers, endive, lettuce, papayas, turnips, beets, green cabbage, cauliflower, chicory, cucumbers, garlic, onions, spinach, and zucchini. Also included are artichokes, green beans, string beans, beets, Brussels sprouts, beet greens, Chinese cabbage, chervil, chives, tomatoes, corn, dill pickles, dandelion greens, eggplant, garlic, kale, leeks, mushrooms, kohlrabi, and mustard greens.
Still haven't found a veggie you enjoy? Try okra, turnips, watercress, peas, parsnips, red or green peppers, radishes, pumpkin, red cabbage, rappini, sauerkraut, rhubarb, salsify, rutabaga, shallots, sorrel or scallions.
Negative Calorie Fruits
While some people shy away from fruits due to their natural sugar content, there are quite a few wholesome fruits that are considered to be negative calorie foods as well. These include apples, blueberries, cranberries, figs, grapes, kiwi, limes, muskmelons, papaya, pineapple, quince, and tangerines. Additional negative calorie fruits include apricots, cantaloupe, currants, honeydew melon, kumquats, loganberries, nectarines, peaches, pomegranates, raspberries and watermelon.
Want to try a few others? Consider adding blackberries, cherries, damson plum, grapefruit, huckleberries, lemons, mangoes, oranges, pears, prunes or strawberries to your diet.
Negative Calorie Meats
There are a few meats that take more calories to digest than they contain, though most are from the fish family. These include abalone, catfish, crab, frog legs (without fancy sauce, of course), shrimp, tuna, fresh water bass, sea bass, cooked clams, crayfish, mussels, terrapin, buffalo fish, cod steaks, flounder, half shell oysters, and trout.
Negative Calorie Examples
Are you still confused as to how negative calorie foods are beneficial? Consider this example. A single 100 gram piece of broccoli contains 25 calories. The process of digesting that single piece of broccoli requires the use of 80 calories, burning an extra 55 calories more than you consumed.
Your favorite dessert, on the other hand, may contain as many as 400 calories and your body may only use 200 during the digestive process. This means you've actually gained 200 calories which may then be stored in the form of body fat.
Negative Calorie Warning
It is not safe to consume a diet that consists of only negative calorie foods as doing so may result in malnutrition. Start by replacing your high-calorie snacks or side dishes with negative-calorie foods to ensure your body still receives the right amount of vitamins and minerals.
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