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Dieting for Weight LossThe
Negative Calorie Diet/Foods
One of the hottest new diets getting attention these days
is the Negative Calorie Diet. This diet is based on consuming
what are called negative calorie foods. A negative calorie
food or drink is one that causes the body to use more calories
during the digestion process than the food or drink contains.
Some opponents to the Negative Calorie Diet claim there is no
such thing as negative calories. While this might be true,
there are certainly a variety of foods that use up more
calories during chewing, digesting, and metabolizing than the
number of calories the food actually contains.
Celery is probably the most notable example of a negative
calorie food. Celery contains both water and a form of
undigestible fiber called cellulose, and it is extremely low
in calories. If you've ever eaten a piece of stringy, crunchy
celery, you can attest to how long it takes to chew and
swallow each bite. The effort exerted by your body to process
the celery continues after you swallow, resulting in the
burning of calories. But is celery the only food you can eat
on this diet? No way! There are many other fruits and
vegetables that can be enjoyed on the Negative Calorie Diet.
The reason this diet is based around certain fruits and
vegetables is because many are low in calories and high in
fiber and water. Besides celery, examples include: cucumber,
asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbage, garlic, zucchini, green
beans, apples, cranberries, grapefruit, radishes, spinach,
strawberries and watermelon. One of the best things about this
diet is that you'll be eating large quantities of foods that
you should eat anyway. Most people don't get the recommended
five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, but on this
diet you definitely will!
It's important to understand the importance of eating a
healthy balance of foods while on the Negative Calorie Diet.
While it's true that fruits and vegetables are very good for
you, the human body cannot survive on negative calorie foods
alone. Make sure you're getting some form of healthy fat, lean
protein, whole grains and lowfat dairy on a regular basis.
Great examples include salmon or chicken cooked in extra
virgin olive oil served over whole grain brown rice, with
lowfat yogurt for dessert. By supplementing your negative
calorie foods with healthy choices like these, you can lose
weight in a safe and healthy way.
So, how much weight can you lose on the Negative Calorie
Diet? While it depends on your actual calorie intake and level
of activity, one to two pounds weekly is ideal. This is a good
weight loss goal for any diet. Losing weight too quickly can
be unhealthy, even dangerous. Before beginning the Negative
Calorie Diet or any other diet plan, consult with your
physician. He or she will give you a thorough examination and
make sure you are healthy enough to start a new diet and/or
exercise program.
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