Considering The Zero-Calorie Diet? Get Answers To The Questions You Have

Posted on: 11 April 2016

If you are looking to lose some weight, and are looking for weight loss advice on how to do it, you may hear about zero-calorie foods. The zero-calorie diet, centered around these zero-calorie foods, is becoming popular. There are many different varieties of this diet out there from many different sources, but most of them are pretty similar. Zero-calorie foods, also referred to as negative-calorie foods, are believed to help you lose weight. The theory behind these foods is that your body uses more calories breaking them down and digesting them than they have in them, resulting in no gain or a loss. If you are considering using these foods to lose weight, you may have many questions about them. Here are a few frequently asked questions about zero-calorie foods.

Is There Any Scientific Research to Support Zero-Calorie Foods?

At this time, there are no medical studies that show that there are foods that result in a negative caloric intake due to the body using more calories to digest the food than the food has in it. However, that doesn't mean that the foods that are commonly referred to as zero-calorie foods cannot help you lose weight. The majority of foods that appear on the zero-calorie list are low calorie fruits and vegetables. These are great items to munch on in between meals or incorporate into your meal plan because you can eat a lot of them and fill up, without eating a ton of calories.

When People Say Zero-Calorie Foods, What Foods Are They Talking About?

As mentioned above, there are no foods that are actually zero calories. However, when people refer to zero-calorie or negative-calorie foods, some of the foods they may be referring to include the following:

  • Apples
  • Asparagus
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Grapefruit
  • Green Beans
  • Lettuce
  • Oranges
  • Pineapple
  • Spinach
  • Squash
  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini

Can the Negative-Calorie Diet Help People Lose Weight?

While the food you consume on the negative-calorie diet does not technically have zero calories in it, there are studies that show that you can lose weight following the negative-calorie diet. A 2005 study conducted on those eating a low-fat, plant-based diet, which is what the negative-calorie diet is, showed that the average participant lost about 13 pounds in 14 weeks. Combining this diet plan with an exercise routine can further boost your weigh loss.

Is it True that Water is a Negative-Calorie Drink?

If you are reading up on the negative-calorie diet, and are considering doing it, you may see that water is a negative-calorie drink. Since there are unsubstantiated claims about negative calorie foods, you may be wondering if this is true. Ice water is actually a negative-calorie drink. Research has shown that you do burn calories when you drink ice water. This is because your body has to warm the ice water to body temperature in order to consume it. And since water has no calories, the body is expending more calories doing this than you consumed with the drink. However, the number of calories you burn by doing this is minimal. It is estimated that you only burn about 10 calories for every five to six glasses of ice cold water you drink. So, while it is important that you drink enough water each day, you don't have to go out of your way to ensure it is ice water or over-drink just to burn a few calories.

If you are looking to lose weight, the most effective way to do so is to eat a low-fat, healthy diet and exercise for 30 to 60 minutes four to five times a week. However, if you struggle to come up with your own meal plan, a diet plan such as the zero-calorie diet may steer you in the right direction. Each plan features healthy food lists that can help you determine what foods you should incorporate into your meal plan. However, it is important to go into this type of diet knowing the facts. Zero-calorie foods have not been proven to really have zero-calories, but they can help you to lose weight because of their low caloric content.

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