Losing weight becomes problematic for those who enjoy snacking or who are habitual eaters. Weight loss requires that you burn more calories than you consume. Individuals who like to sit in front the TV and snack may have a problem because nibble food, such as potato chips, are high in fat and calories. One answer to this problem may be negative calorie foods such as celery.
Negative Calories
The negative calorie approach to snacking may be one way to reduce calories throughout the day. This is especially true for those who enjoy nibbling. The theory behind negative calorie diets is that you will burn more calories trying to digest some foods than you get from that item. For example, foods such as celery contain a lot of fiber. This means your body must work to digest them. On the flip side, celery adds few calories to your diet. In theory you are burning more calories than you are eating, so you have negative calories.
Celery
Celery stalks contain primarily water and cellulose. Cellulose is a vegetable fiber and undigestible by the human body. This makes one stock of celery low-calorie and high fiber. High fiber foods, such as celery, will through the digestive tract and push out waste material. The Mayo Clinic suggests women should eat 21 to 25 g of fiber a day and men 30 to 38 g. According to the website Organics for All, 1 cup of raw celery contains 2 g of dietary fiber.
Strategies
Celery may be the perfect food for those who like to snack between meals. Go through your kitchen and throw out all the usual nibble food, such as chips and candy. Replace the junk food with a refrigerator full of cut celery stalks. Make things interesting with a mix of other negative calorie foods, such as asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower. The Mayo Clinic also recommends grapefruit and berries for a negative calorie approach. If raw vegetables are too bland and boring for you, try adding a fat-free, low-calorie dressing as a dip.
Benefits
There are other benefits to eating celery on a regular basis besides just reduction in calories. Fiber found in vegetables will help to relieve constipation and may lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Celery is composed primarily of roughage. Increasing the roughage in your diet can lower blood cholesterol and blood sugar plus normalize bowel movements. The cellulose in celery is filling and may keep you from overeating or snacking inappropriately.
Considerations
There may be some side effects to suddenly increasing the fiber in your diet. Start slow and add a little more each day to allow your body time to adjust. Drink plenty of water to help flush out the system and avoid complications such as constipation and gas. Talk to your doctor before beginning any weight loss program to ensure you have no underlying medical condition that may interfere, such as diabetes. Include an exercise plan with low-calorie dieting to lose weight effectively. Exercise should include both cardiovascular and strength training.
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