Planet Shark Fitness’ Sally Hughes returns with an interesting, well-timed piece about food, weight loss, diet and health. There’s always been chatter about “negative calorie foods” (even as a teenager, my mom told me to eat specific things to burn more calories due to the minimal calorie count of certain foods). Then there’s the “3 Day Diet” or the “Military Diet” whereby you eat a significant amount of protein per day. Very low calorie but big on the supposed *negative calorie foods* (where the hot dogs fit in, I don’t know). If you google the Military or 3-Day Diet, you’ll find lots of info. Is it healthy? Not really – in the long or short term. Better to read Sally Hughes’ blog post to see what the potential weight loss and health benefits are in terms of consuming “negative calories.”
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The Possible Benefits of “Negative Calorie Foods” For Weight Loss + Good Health
Much like everything else when it comes to diet, health and fitness, for every expert who recommends one thing, another will dispute it. Hence, all the confusion (and ongoing debate) about the *hot topic* of negative calorie foods.
According to some, there’s no such thing. Meanwhile, others not only believe it, they embrace it.
For starters, it’s important to understand how negative calorie foods could potentially rev your metabolism and assist your weight loss efforts. In simple terms, foods containing few calories, such as celery, require MORE energy to digest than be consumed. As such, it’s theoretically possible to have a negative calorie food.
Since they also tend to be packed with power nutrients such as vitamins and fiber, you’ll most likely reap additional health benefits (as noted below).
Consequently, whether you’re looking to shed some unwanted “cushion” or just be more healthy, you might consider adding some of the following to your nutrition game plan.
Veggies:
Some yummy vegetables include:
Asparagus,
Bean sprouts,
Cabbage,
Carrots,
Cauliflower,
Celery, |
Radicchio,
Cucumbers,
Endive,
Jicama,
Kale,
Leeks,
Onions,
Romaine
Lettuce,
Radishes,
Spinach,
Tomatoes.
Fruits:
Delish fruits you might enjoy include:
Blueberries,
Blackberries,
Cranberries,
Grapefruit,
Lemons,
Limes,
Raspberries,
Strawberries,
Watermelon.
Spices and Herbs:
Spices and herbs to consider include:
Cayenne,
Chili pepper,
Cinnamon,
Cumin,
Flax seeds,
Garlic,
Ginger,
Parsley,
Mustard seed,
Turmeric.
Weight Loss & Other Possible Health Benefits of Negative Calorie Foods:
While it’s never been scientifically proven – or disproved – there’s a chance that consuming more “negative calorie foods” might also help:
* Boost your metabolism and assist with fat-burning vs. excess fat-storage.
* Increase your energy level – making fitness activities less challenging.
* Reduce your hunger pangs which ultimately equates to weight loss.
* Act as gentle diuretics, eliminating excess water weight from your body.
* Stabilize your blood-sugar levels and improve your digestion.
* Cleanse your liver so it can burn fat more efficiently.
* Manifold an anti-inflammatory effect plus improve your circulation.
* Lower your cholesterol levels.
As the experts continue their heated debate, I say: let’s hear it for negative calorie foods! Best case scenario, they really DO help you lose weight. Worst case scenario, you’ll eat ‘cleaner’- which is a commonly accepted path to weight loss even amongst all the experts – while reaping additional health benefits.
These are my thoughts. What are yours? As always, I greatly value your feedback and thank you for your support
*DISCLAIMER* – To date, there are NO scientific studies proving that “negative calorie foods” have a positive effect on your weight loss goals and you MUST ALWAYS contact your doctor before altering your health, fitness and nutritional regime. This is just my humble opinion based upon over a decade of fitness training and nutrition consulting.
Yours in fitness and health,
Sally Hughes
Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritionist
© 2015 by Planet Shark Fitness
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Thanks to Sally Hughes for her great post. I love her ideas. Despite that she’s on the “right coast” and I am on the left, she’s one of my ‘go-to’ people for advice on strength-training, flexibility and proper nutrition. If you have questions or want to work out with Sally either IRL or via skype, reach to Sally and talk to her. She’s a whiz at all this stuff!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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Interesting. I was just reading an interesting take on lettuce that made me think twice. Lettuce by and large has very little nutritional value, it is primarily water yet it takes a vast amount of resources in terms of land usage and water to grow it commercially. It is also the most wasted vegetable we grow (HUGE waste). I’m a big salad eater myself but my salads contain very little or often no lettuce at all. On the other hand it may be great filler for people that need to reduce their caloric intake – IF they are conscience of what’s going in their salad. It’s often one of the highest calorie and fat items on a restaurant menu.
The article was about specific foods and being negative calorie. There are foods within that article that could be combined to make a salad that would be healthy..
with little use of salad dressing (Personally I use balsamic vinegar for dressing)
The person who wrote this article is in Georgia where there is no drought like there in California. Depending on the section of the country one is at and how much rain that area gets, there are definitely ways to grow lettuce.. including new ways that require little water and less expensive growing methods
thank you for your comment.