Many people are under the impression that certain foods may actually help them burn fat. These foods have become known as "negative calorie foods." "Time Magazine" explains that the theory is: Chewing these foods requires more energy than the caloric content of these foods. The net difference supposedly results in you burning calories while you eat. While this is appealing, "Time Magazine" and the American Council on Exercise reports that it is simply untrue. Certain foods that are "negative calorie foods" are healthy and can help you lose weight, but there is no such thing as a food with a negative caloric content.
Celery
Celery is often first the food that is associated with the "negative calorie foods." Rightfully so, celery is extremely low in calories and takes quite a bit of effort to chew, especially if it has not cooked. Columbia University explains that although celery sticks will not actively help you burn large amounts of calories while you are chewing it, it does make an excellent substitute for traditional snacking foods like potato chips. Replacing foods that are high in saturated fat or sugar with foods that are low in fat and high in protein will help you lose weight. According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 10 small celery sticks have only 20 calories.
Fruit
Certain kinds of fruit such as apples and pears tend to appear on negative calorie food lists because, like celery sticks, they are low in calories and seem to take quite a bit of effort to chew. Like celery, fruits can help you lose pounds and inches and make an excellent substitute for traditional "sweet tooth" snacking foods such as ice cream or candy bars. In their discussion of negative calorie foods, the American Council on Exercise specifically recommends blueberries, grapefruit, oranges and watermelon. These fruits are an abundant source of vitamins and minerals and a full serving contains less than 60 calories. Fruit is also a good source of dietary fiber. Fiber can assist you in your weight loss goals because it tends to suppress your appetite and help control your blood sugar, according to the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Egg Whites and Tuna
Foods that are high in protein and that have no fat and no carbohydrates are ideal for losing weight. Consuming protein will allow you to lose fat instead of muscle as you drop pounds. The American Council on Exercise recommends egg whites. Egg whites contain no fat, carbohydrates or dietary cholesterol. The protein from egg whites is extremely good quality as well. Canned tuna is another food that is almost 100 percent protein.
Remember, every gram of protein is just four calories. Each gram of fat is 9 calories, twice as much as protein. Sustainable weight loss requires a healthful lifestyle and a balanced diet; please talk to your doctor about your fitness goals before you make any extreme changes to your diet.
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