Diet Information

Negative Calorie

May 28, 2009
By J White

When something is described as being negative, it is usually something to be avoided. When it has to do with negative calories, this is not the case.

But what exactly are negative calories. Well we all know that foods have calories associated with them. A medium apple has around 80 Calories. So when you eat one, you can expect 80 Calories of energy to now be in your body.

But to be useful your body must first process the apple. This starts with the first bite, followed by the secretions of saliva, swallowing, being broken down in your stomach with digestive enzymes, and being transported throughout your body to supply your cells with energy. All of these steps require your body to expend energy or calories. This total processing of the apple may burn 100 calories.

So when you subtract this number from the 80 Calories supplied by the apple, something remarkable happens. You get a negative 20 Calories. That’s -20. So instead of adding calories to your body, the apple causes you to burn more calories than you consume. I’m sure you can see the implications for this when you are trying to lose weight.

How Does it Work

Certain foods are already naturally low in calories. However, in addition to the substance in the food that supplies caloric energy, these foods are also composed of substances that are processed by the body, but do not add calories to your diet. This substance is known as fiber.

Fiber is an indigestible substance whose main purpose is to provide bulk to your stool for easy elimination of waste. It also provides some essential vitamins and minerals.

By your body having to process this substance, you are able to burn extra calories. And with some foods, you are able to burn more calories than the food contains.

Negative Calorie Foods

Negative calorie foods are mainly fruits and vegetables, but not just any type. They need to be fresh to get the full effect. For instance, canned apples have their skins taken off, but this is where most of the fiber resides.

So by discarding the skin of the apple, you discard the primary source of the negative calorie effect. The same can be said of other foods in which the skin may be discarded, such as grapes and carrots.

Besides the items just mentioned, some foods that are considered to have a negative calorie effect are broccoli, cabbage, squash, and tomatoes. Some fruits are apricots, blackberries, blueberries and cantaloupes. In fact almost any food that can be eaten in it’s natural form or requires little cooking may be a candidate for a negative calories.

Diet of Negative Calories

Many diets already suggest that you should consume lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. So chances are that you may already be consuming these foods and not realizing it.

If your diet plan consists mainly of processed foods, than you need to add these to your list. Besides burning more calories, they are also rich in essential nutrients.

Also keep in mind that though certain foods have a negative calorie effect, weight loss still comes down to the total amount of calories that you consume. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will continue to gain weight. Negative calorie foods are a good way to counter this.

In addition, besides the negative effect these foods have on your body, many of these food types are dense, which means that they will leave you feeling full, which will further aid in controlling how much you eat.

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