I think you are probably refering to "negative calorie foods."
The negative calorie phrase refers to a small list of foods (shown below) which contain such little energy that the body uses more energy to digest and absorb the energy and nutrients.
This means just from eating these foods there is potential for a net loss of calories from the body or a negative calorie balance, and this is required in order to lose weight.
Negative calorie list for vegetables
Asparagus
Fennel *
Aubergine *
Gourd *
Broccoli
Leek
Cabbage *
Lettuce *
Carrots
Marrow *
Cauliflower
Peppers
Celery *
Radish *
Chicory *
Spinach
Cress *
Tomato *
Cucumber *
Turnip
Negative calorie list for fruits
Apricot
Mandarin orange
Blackberry *
Melon
Canteloupe *
Blackcurrant
Peaches
Clementines
Plums
Damsons
Raspberry *
Grapefruit
Rhubarb **
Guava *
Strawberry
Honeydew Melon
Tangerine
Lemon *
Watermelon
* indicates very good negative calorie foods
** Indicates excellent negative calories but stewed without added sugar
What are the potential benefits of negative calorie foods?
-Increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables = good move for most people!
-A natural decrease in calorie intake = a must for losing weight!
-A possible boost to motivation = pushes up consistency which is essential for weight loss.
Therefore even if the experts are wrong with the theory of negative calorie foods, the fact is, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables could help some people on the road to weight loss success.
2007-03-08 23:48:42
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answer #1
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answered by malysah 2
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The most effective way to lose weight is to change your eating habits. Eating more fruits and vegetables are great with meals and as snacks. fruits and vegetable that can be helpful to losing weight are apples, bananas, citrus, broccoli, carrots, celery, etc. there are many options to choose from and i only listed a few. good luck!!!
2007-03-08 23:14:42
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answer #2
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answered by ixheartxmcr89 2
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The easiest and most effective ways are not always the same.
Given your interest in vegetables and fruit, however, it seems you recognise a healthy diet as a key factor.
Still, fruits and veggies seem like the best way to lose weight but there are so many other factors and making sure you take in enough protein to keep your body healthy and your metabolism high is just one of them.
My advice: Go nuts on the vegetables. They are nearly all incredibly healthy for you in so many ways. Some, like iceberg lettuce, have little nutritional value but they cause no harm, either. If you don't change your level of food intake but eat a higher proportion of vegetables than before and less breads, meats, sweets, etc... you will likely take in fewer calories and will definitely take in less empty calories ans well as helping your over all health.
Avocados are the only vegetable I can think of (ok, so it is really a fruit, still, you know what I meam) that might be a cause for concern. They do have a relatively high fat content. Still, it's a healthier fat than you'll get from meat or anything hydrogenated and avocados are chock full of anti-oxidants. Don't fear them too much.
Fruits are stickier. They have more sugar and less useful sugar than vegetables. They are still, however, pretty darn good for you. Red and blue berries, especially. I have fruit for breakfast, usually in a smoothie with fat-free milk and fat-free yoghurt. Also a little side for a snack or dessert won't hurt.
Fruit juices are not, generally, a good idea, however. They don't have as much nutritional value as the actual fruit and tend to have added sugar and, even without added sugar, just way more sugar than you'd need.
The only exceptions I'd suggest are bluberry juice, cranberry juice, and, maybe, orange juice. They have enough added benefits to excuse the extra empty calories. You can also mix it with water or soda water to reduce the amount of sugar you take in without really affecting the taste or health benefits. One note: You can get "diet" cranberry, cranberry sweetened with sugar, and cranberry sweetened with other juices. Go with the last one, it's usually apple or white grape juice but the natural sugar is better than corn syrup or cane sugar.
Don't drink "diet" anything. Just google "diet soda weight loss" and you'll find a wealth of research that shows diet beverages and sugar substitutes actually tend to increase weight. It tricks your brain. You taste something sweet and your brain expects to be taking in calories. When it realizes those calories aren't coming it triggers your sense of hunger. It also makes you crave even more sweet stuff. If you must have sweetness in your coffee, for example, sugar is better for you than equal despite the extra calories. Honey, however, is an even better option. Less calories and tons of added health benefits.
I don't go for the whole negative calorie thing. There's no harm in it but the amount of calories your body expends in digestiing even ice cold water really isn't that much. One calorie is the measure of energy it take to raise the temperature of one cubic centimeter of water one degree. Nutritional calories, the ones we use to describe calories in food, are actually kilo-calories. It's just more convenient (and less scary!) to call them calories. One calorie in dietary language is actually 1,000 calories in science language. It may sound complicated but it means that the energy it takes your body to heat up the water you drink isn't as much as it seems. The same goes for the so-called "negative calorie" foods. exercise is a far more effective means of increasing the amount of calories you use compared to the amount you take in. Still, any vegetables are good vegetables.
Yoghurt is something else I highly recommend. Fat-free dairy products, especially milk and yoghurt, will actually help your body to lose fat. Yoghurt is especially healthy because it contains active cultures of beneficial bacteria. They'll stay in your intestines for a little while (a day or two) and help digestion. I suggest plain, fat-free yoghurt mixed with fresh fruit rather than the pre-mixed versions and flavours as they have lots of extra stuff like sugar. Also check the label to be sure it has active cultures. If it does they will say so on the label. Still, your best bet is plain as it pretty much always has active cultures.
And never underestimate the power of water. You'll feel hungry less when you drink lots of H2O, and the hydration is just so important to weight loss and health in general. I, personally, hate flat, unflavoured water. I drink sparkling water with lemon or lime. Nothing fancy, just the 5 two liter bottles for $3.00 (US) available at my local grocery store. Sometimes I do go for the perrier as I do like the taste better but the difference is so barely even noticable.
Fried food is your worst enemy. Even fried green beans. The fat content is just unbelievable. If you feel yourself tempted imagine that half of that fried food is a big ball of lard. That's pretty close to the truth.
And, of course, increase your level of exercise if even only a little. Taking a nice walk a few times a week will even help if you aren't very active.
Whatever you do for diet and exercise make sure you enjoy it. If it's unpleasant, uncomfortable, and/or feels like work you won't stick with it and keep the changes long term. You either won't lose the weight you want to or will gain it back. Keep it fun and realistic.
Don't expect or even try to lose more than two pounds per week. It sounds painfully slow but it's the best for your body. You can lose more if you eat too little or exercise too much but it'll have negative effects on your metabolism and you'll reach a point where it gets harder to lose the same amount of weight with the same routine. If/when you do lose the weight you will, again, gain it back when you go back to a healthier diet and level of exercise. You're metabolism will be too slow and you'll just have to start at the begining to get it back to where it should be.
Do have treats. Even a big slice of full fat cheese cake smothered in chocolate or strawberry sauce or a small side of french fries with ranch dressing (ok, yeah, one of my faves)once a week. You can even have smaller treats a couple times a week. Do it! You totally deserve it and denying yourself things like that only makes it more work than fun. An occasional treat won't set you back.
If you do slip off the wagon, as it were, don't beat yourself up. It happens to all of us and it is going to happen. You'll have a lazy week or a flu, , a holiday'll come around and people will be shoving cookies and cakes at you left and right. It's ok. In the grand scheme it's just a week or whatever. It's easier and healthier to forgive yourself and get back in your routine than to feel awful about it.
Like I said: easiest isn't always the same as most effective. It is, though, easier to make little but permanent changes like these to your regular diet than to go on some drastic fad diet, like Atkins, and not enjoy it.
Good luck and have fun!
2007-03-08 23:54:47
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answer #5
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answered by ophelliaz 4
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