Negative Calorie Foods & Weight Loss: Beyond the Myth

What are negative calorie foods? They're foods that basically must burn more calories than the food contains to digest them. What that means, in theory, is that since you end up with a negative calorie count, you are helping your body to lose weight. After all, normally, one must burn more calories than one consumes to lose weight. This is a proven scientific fact.

But what about negative calorie foods?

Well, the old politics of the health industry prevails. Bottom line, the facts above are simple and would point to the obvious. But to officially "approve" these foods would cost millions. Scientific data needs to support a governmental thumbs up. A good example is the natural sweetener stevia, made totally from crushed plant leaves. So why is it still being sold primarily in health food stores with the message not approved? Because for the Food and Drug Administration to call it an officially proved food intended for use as a sweetener would require -- you got it. Millions of dollars. And it could prove a big profit maker for some major food manufacturers who have, by the way, tried to sue for the privilege. It remains to be seen what happens in the end. The American government has always been slow to put their seal of approval on consumer products.

Anyway, health nuts have sworn on the truth regarding negative calorie foods. And if you'd like to join them, the following is a list of those foods. Remember, however, to be careful in what you may add to these foods to make them high in calories. Salad dressings, gravies and sauces and the like may kill their reputed benefits to you.

A few additional tips .... Eat until you're full, and no more. Avoid eating at a certain time always. Eat only when you're truly hungry. Makes sense, right?

Do not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Processed foods contain more calories and sodium -- guaranteed. Learn to shop daily or every few days. You're shopping for fresh foods. We don't think about it these days, but that's the way they shopped here in the States in the old days. But other areas of the world like Japan and Europe still have shoppers going to market daily, or per meal. They eat mostly fresh foods. And they're feeling and looking better than us, and they're living longer.

No one says you can't have treats. Learn to enjoy the treat, not the volume of the treat. For instance, eat a healthy meal, and afterwards, have a chocolate kiss (for example) as a treat. One's enough, really.

Drink plenty of ice water. It keeps you full, flushes out your body, and .... it's a scientific fact that it burns calories. Really. It's a few calories here and there with all honesty, but every one counts, right? Your body works harder to digest that cold water than say room temperature water.

Also, your body gets used to what you feed it. If you make it one month without excessive sweets and red meat and soda pop (the killer), most of your desire for them is gone. True fact, absolutely.

Talking about soda pop, it's the worst. Stay away from it. Totally. It's full of bad calories. Big time sodium (salt) and carbs (sugar). And most cola fanatics drink several a day. Ouch! Same goes for artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet. They're not natural, no matter what the manufacturers claim. It's a manufactured sweetener. Use something like stevia, which I mentioned above. It will surprise you. If you just want the punch that bubbles provide, choose instead to "doctor" a glass of tea or naturally low-cal fruit juice with a few splashes of soda water or club soda. A lot of the fun is what creations you can come up with. Even Kool-Aid spikes well.

Again, stay away from processed foods. White bread, white sugar, bleached flour ... anything pearly white is a good clue. Why do they bleach and polish these items? For looks. They look clean, hence healthy, so they must be good for me, right. Don't be fooled.

Lay off the salt. Start experimenting with spices and seasoning blends such as Mrs. Dash. Most foods contain saltiness naturally; you don't need to add much or any at all to enhance them. Learn to enjoy these foods naturally with different seasonings.

Watch the dairy products. They serve a good purpose, but in moderation. Just like anything. The exception is yogurt. If you must have dairy, choose yogurt. It's proven to have healthy enzymes for your body and is low in calories and fat.

We Americans want results fast and quick. Give me the food that loses me the most calories! Collective results is what will be your ticket to success. Remember, it took you time to add pounds. Give yourself some time to revert back. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the food, and enjoy looking in the mirror every day and weighing yourself and getting totally excited when you lost another pound.

Are organizations like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig good? Well, in many people's opinions, maybe. If you're a person who needs that physical support from friends to keep on track with losing weight, then yes. Remember, too, that organizations such as these push their food product sales. But again, it works for some.

Is it true that you shouldn't eat at least an hour before going to bed? This has been the word of fact for many years. It was said to cause weight gain. However, scientists have now just confirmed that this is not true. They said it makes no difference.

Make time to prepare a good meal. The longer it takes you to prepare a meal, the more satisfied you will be when you eat it. Drink water or nibble on something small like celery or carrot sticks while you cook. This age of "pop it in the microwave wham bam thank you ma'am" is bad. A lot of Americans tend to choose a meal based on how fast it is ready to eat. And for the excuse, "I don't have time to cook!" Set aside a special cook day (for many, this is Sunday after church). While the kids do their homework, your husband the lawn, enjoy your cook time. Turn on your favorite music and pre-prepare food for the week and store in Gladware type containers. Then, during the week, yes, these become fast food for you and your family. But good fast food.

Slow cookers are coming back in favor, as well. You can load them up with healthy ingredients and let your meal low cook for hours. After a hard day at work, you walk into your kitchen filled with the delicious aroma of a slow cooked meal.

Most of us eat way too much red meat. Try to slowly cut back. Use more chicken or pork. Also, a big tip ... did you know that tough cuts of inexpensive beef can be made tender, pull-apart soft by cooking in a crock-pot? The heat and the time involved softens tough meat tendons and simply makes meat moist.

Also, it's a proven fact that those who eat more frequently keep their weight in check. But you still have to watch what you eat. You normally eat smaller portions but more often. Supporters of negative calorie foods say you can eat all you want with these foods. You be the judge.

Good luck to you.

apples

apricots

artichokes

asparagus

beets

blackberries

blueberries

broccoli

brussels sprouts

cabbage

cantalope

carrots

cauliflower

celery

cherries

chives

clams

cod

corn

crab

cranberries

cucumbers

damson plum

eggplant

flounder

frogs legs

garlic

grapefruit

grapes

green beans

honeydew

huckleberry

kale

kumquats

leeks

lemons

lettuce

limes

lobster

mangoes

mushrooms

mussels

mustard greens

nectarines

okra

onions

okra

oysters

papaya

parsley leaves

parsnips

peaches

pears

peas

peppers

pineapples

pomegranates

prunes

pumpkins

radishes

raspberries

red cabbage

rhubarb

rutabagas

saurkraut

scallions

sea bass

shrimp

sorrel

spinach

squash

steaks

strawberries

string beans

tangerines

terrapin

tomato

turnip

watercress

watermelon