Negative Calorie Foods are Not Foods That Have Less Then Zero Calories
Actually, negative calorie foods do have calories. The reason that certain foods are considered negative calories is because it takes more calories for your body to break them down. Thus you are burning more calories then you just took in. Celery is one of the better known negative calorie foods. This is why we often see a dieter chewing on celery stalks in a diet commercial or cartoon.
Is There a List of Negative Calorie Foods?
Yes, there are many websites that offer you a list of negative calorie foods. I will save you the trouble and offer a list of negative calorie foods.
Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus
Beet Greens, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Buffalo Fish
Cabbage,Cantaloupe,Carrots,Cauliflower,Celeriac,Celery,Cherries,Chervil,Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Chives,Clams,Cod,Corn,Crabs,Cranberries,Cucumbers,Currants
Damson Plum, Dandelion Greens,
Egg Plant, Endive
Flounder, Frog Legs
Garlic, Grapefruit, Grapes, Green Beans
Honeydew, Huckleberries
Kale, Kohlrabi, Kumquats,
Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Lobster, Loganberries
Mangoes, Mushrooms, Muskmelons, Mussels, Mustard Greens,
Nectarines
Okra, Onions, Oranges, Oysters
Papaya, Parsley Leaves, parsnips, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Peppers, Pineapple,
Pomegranates, Prunes, Pumpkin,
Quince
Radishes, Raspberries, Red Cabbage, Rhubarb
Salsify, Sauerkraut, Scallions, Sea Bass, Shrimps, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Steaks, Strawberries, String Beans
Tangerines, Terrapin, Tomato, Turnips,
Watercress, Watermelon
Is There a Diet Solely Based On Negative Calorie Foods?
As far as I know there is a diet called the Cabbage Soup Diet which is based on negative calorie foods! However, As far as the cabbage soup diet is concerned it is something that should only be done no longer then a week. The basic idea of the cabbage soup diet is to detoxify, which in turn helps you lose weight a little easier. I know a few people that had success with the cabbage soup diet, but they followed the directions precisely. They did not extend the length of the diet because there is no proof that it is safe to do it for a long period of time.
Is it Safe to Eat Nothing but Negative Calorie Foods?
Looking at the negative calorie food list I would have to say no. Not to say that you can’t base the better majority of what you eat every day with these foods. If you take another look at the negative calorie food list you will notice there is not one grain or fat source listed. We need some whole grains in our diets, whole grains are important to heart health. Whole grains are also essential for energy. Remember you need to exercise too! We also need some fat in our diets, not a lot but some. So throw a little pat of butter on your green beans, it’s OK! According to the food pyramid you should get at least 20% of fat in your daily food intake. The only foods that we do not require are the ones high in sugar. Another thing missing is dairy, which is important to teeth and bone health. I do think that it is safe to replace all your snacks with negative calorie foods.
If you are looking to lose a lot of weight there is a great website that can help you plan every aspect of it. It’s called sparkpeople.com and it can determine the best plan for you based on your goals and current status. You will probably notice a lot of the negative calorie foods in the meal plans. You will also notice that there are also a lot of grains too.
There is nothing wrong with eating a lot of negative calorie foods, but there might be with eating all negative calorie foods. There are some studies that are examining if it’s really that unsafe. Until then you’re best bet is to follow a well balanced diet.
