Catabolic diet plans encourage diet followers to eat mostly so-called "negative calorie" foods for weight loss. You may be tempted to try a catabolic diet since it focuses on nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables. However, such diets aren't necessarily based on solid science and they have their share of potential risks, according to the MayoClinic.com.
The Theory
According to proponents of catabolic diet plans, catabolic foods are "negative calorie" foods that burn more calories through digestion than they supply. According to Dr. Jeremy Kaslow of DrKaslow.com, a medium sized apple would offer about 85 calories, but your body would burn off 99 calories to metabolize the apple. In theory, eating enough of these foods would lead to weight loss.
Diet Plans
Those who follow catabolic diet plans should eat at least 10 servings of catabolic foods spread out through every day, recommends DrKaslow.com. Catabolic foods are broken into two categories: high grade, which are more effective, and low grade. High grade catabolic foods include celery, asparagus, lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe, oranges and strawberries and low grade catabolic foods include tuna, crab, meat without fat, cabbage, beets, apples and nectarines. Dieters can eat other proteins and carbohydrates in moderation, according to DrKaslow.com.
Proof
Approximately 10 percent of your body's energy output helps your body digest and store the food you eat, according to the MayoClinic.com. Foods such as celery require a large amount of energy to digest compared to how many calories they offer, meaning they could theoretically be "negative calorie." However, no reputable studies have proven that certain foods have that effect, according to the MayoClinic.com.
Risks
The foods involved in a catabolic diet plan are generally low-calorie and nutritious. However, following an extreme diet that focuses on only a few choice foods may lead to malnutrition because it may cause you to miss out on some important nutrients, according to Chow Line at Ohio State University Extension.
Considerations
Many "negative calorie" foods are plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, which are generally part of any healthy weight loss plan. However, they probably aren't actually "negative calorie" and eating only such foods isn't likely to result in dramatic results, according to the MayoClinic.com. To ensure that your body is satisfied as you drop pounds, rely instead on eating a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy and mono- and polyunsaturated fats.
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