Are negative calorie foods for real or are they a hoax?

I know that they don't really have "negative calories" but they have the same effect. I've just found mixed reviews on them. I know that they are supposed to take more calories to digest than are consumed. Would it be worth my while to include more of these in my diet? I know that they are healthy no matter what, but should I eat even more of these or just continue my normal healthy diet? Any knowledge that you have on them is great!!







here is a list of some, but not all of the foods that are included:







Asparagus, Fennel, Aubergine, Gourd, Broccoli, Cabbage, Lettuce, Carrots, Cauliflower, Peppers, Celery, Radish, Chicory, Spinich, Cress, Tomato, Cucumber, Turnip, Apricot, mandarin orange, blackberry, melon canteloupe, blackcurrant, peaches, clementines, plums, damsons, raspberry, grapefruit. rhubarb, guava, strawberry, honeydew melon, tangerine, lemon, watermelon.

Are negative calorie foods for real or are they a hoax?
There's not been proof the negative calorie theory works. If it did, then everyone who wanted to lose weight could eat JUST those foods or mostly those foods and drop pounds like crazy...in fact, according to how it's supposed to work, the more you ate the more you'd lose.



It really doesn't sound plausible and calorie intake is looked at per day, not per food. If you take in more calories in a day than you burn, then you will gain...the reverse equals weight loss.



"From what I have read on "negative calorie foods" it is not something that has been scientifically proven. It is only an assumption. All foods have calories and what you need to look at is calories on a whole, not for each individual food. You need to know what your estimated BMR is or how many calories your body burns at rest (which includes digestion) and than add to that your daily activity including exercise to see how many calories your body burns each day. Than (sic) you need to compare that to how many calories you eat each day. It really doesn't figure by individual foods but by calories on a whole. When your calorie needs are estimated, calories used for digestion are included."
Reply:Misty Dawn,



The answer to your question is both yes and no.



Yes, there are a few foods that use more calories to digest them than the actual food holds but (there is always a but), many of the items on your list are not negative calorie foods and a few like oranges and peaches and plums are high in natural sugar, causing your blood sugar to spike.



When you look at apples, celery, lettuce and peppers, you will note that they have a few similar traits. They are not sweet, they take allot of chewing to eat and they are very high in fiber. Although apples taste sweet, your blood sugar levels stay fairly level.



Adding the four above foods to your diet will help you stay fuller longer, satisfy your crunchy-chewy needs and contain a fair amount of water, and are low in calories. Eat them because of these reasons, not because you may burn extra calories eating them.



Scientists have yet to agree whether or not negative calorie food really do exist. In some testing it appeared that they do take more calories to digest them and in other testing it is said that they still contain more calories then you will burn.
Reply:Well some of the ones you listed should already be in your diet, you should be eating green veggies every day as they are very good for you for the nutrients that they provide. I eat about everything you have on the list minus tomatoes, because they are good and they are good for you. I would eat healthy, not eat stuff that might have negative calories, but eat things that to you taste good, and that you get the calories and nutrients you need. I know that Spinach is very tasty with light vinegar when you steam it. Asparagus is really good steamed, as with Broccoli and you can make this really good meal with hamburger and cabbage. Carrots are really good for your eyes, I mean there are so many tasty things you listed. If you eat meat put Fennel on your meat before you cook it, bake meat is better than fried. You said that you already eat healthy, so if you get you recommended servings of veggies and fruit then if you like some of this fruit then trade it with others. don't worry about negative calories, because in the long run eating healthy will overrule eating negatively:)
Reply:I don't know about negative calories, but all of these have so much positive nutritional value that I don't set any limits when snacking on them.



Its unlikely that you COULD eat enough of any of these to gain weight. You'd be full to bursting before you got to that point.



Broccoli and carrots. Yum.
Reply:You say "continue (your) normal healthy diet" A healthy diet should include the foods that you listed.