Negative Calorie Foods

fitmom · 07-13-2011, 08:12 AM

Anyone else taking advantage of what they call 'negative calorie foods': apples, grapefruit, blueberries, green beans, cucumber, broccoli, etc. to help you with your weight loss? You can google the term 'negative calorie foods' for a complete list.

They've really helped me since changing my diet. I don't feel hungry anymore and I can eat a lot more. Also, I've noticed I always feel good, no sniffles, cough or anything like that.

mimi86 · 07-13-2011, 09:09 AM

I take advantage of cucumber all the time...I didn't know it was a negative calorie food though! Alls I know is it's delicious, and they're mostly water! It's my go-to snack...I eat between 1/3 and 1 whole cucumber per day!

When I googled 'Negative Calorie Foods' I got a lot of top results saying this was a myth, though. The list sounds like a healthy one, so you'll probably still lose weight eating those foods unless you somehow consume 3,000 calories in celery per day!

mortonpixie · 07-13-2011, 09:24 AM

I love fruits and veggies and eat a ton every day...though I don't buy into the "Negative Calorie" foods. But, whatever works to get folks chomping veg!

skinnyelle39 · 07-13-2011, 09:50 AM

fitmom I remember reading about this theory a few years ago. I think in small amounts it could be true. But I feel if one ate 3 large apples the calories would count!

How do you factor them into your daily count? Do you just not count them when consumed?

Dianne042425 · 07-13-2011, 10:21 AM

I WISH this was true. If fruits and apples were negative foods, oh man I'd be a bean pole. But unfortunately, they can be calorie dense and have lots of carbs and sugar.

I too eat a lot of cucumbers to help fill me up. Probably about 1 HUGE 9" cucumber a day!

Mimi Do you calculate the cucumber into your daily calories?

fitmom · 07-13-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnyelle39

fitmom I remember reading about this theory a few years ago. I think in small amounts it could be true. But I feel if one ate 3 large apples the calories would count!

How do you factor them into your daily count? Do you just not count them when consumed?

skinnyelle39: I don't strictly count calories, per se but I kind of 'fill in' with these foods. For example: if I ate a salad for lunch with grilled chicken on top, I put more of these 'negative calorie foods' in the salad and watch my portion of chicken, olive oil and walnuts.

I do agree with you that they are not necessarily negative calorie foods but b/c they are not as calorie-dense as say an avocado, then the theory is (I think) that you can eat more of these therefore feeling less deprived. Also, they fill you up as opposed to more processed foods. Hope that makes sense.

skinny fast · 07-13-2011, 01:43 PM

I always thought the same, it's a myth. I mean, by definition a negative calorie food is something that your body uses more calories to digest it than the calories the food actually holds, right? So maybe this is true with super low cal foods, like cucumber. But I think it's a myth when it comes to the fruits you mentioned. JMO. Either way, the fiber in those foods really does help to make you feel full, among tons of other nutritious benefits you can get from them. Good snack choices!

mimi86 · 07-13-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianne042425

Mimi Do you calculate the cucumber into your daily calories?

I actually don't, cucumbers and lettuce (1 cup or less) are the only foods that I'll eat as a snack and won't count the calories for. According to the internet, one whole cucumber is 45 calories...I mean I guess I should count it if I eat a whole one per day, but since I usually eat 1/3 to 1/2 per day (I'll only eat a whole one on weekends when I'm home all day, half in the morning and evening) it's not a whole lot to count and macronutrient-wise it just adds good carbs. I figure if I don't log 15 carbs for 1/3 of a cucumber it's not going to kill me...I'm probably 'off' by ~50 calories or so just due to everyday factors like not being able to measure things accurately at work meals etc. I do count egg-whites even though they're 15 calories each because I want to count the protein.

Let me tell ya, my current plateau isn't because I'm not counting my cucumber calories, that's for sure! Like I said cucumbers are really the only thing I omit...if I chose not to log all of my very-low calorie snacks, it'd add up!

belmagick · 07-13-2011, 02:50 PM

I've never heard of negative calorie foods-except celery. I do buy into the idea that Green tea and chilli can boost your metabolism. I can't help but feel a little more angelic after I've eaten spicy food.