Weight loss: 7 negative calorie foods you can add to your diet

It takes a lot of work to lose weight! Add these 7 negative calorie foods to your diet and see the difference.
negative calorie foods
These foods are lower in calories and can help in weight loss. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock
Aayushi Gupta Published: 22 Jan 2023, 08:59 am IST
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They say, counting your calorie intake is crucial for weight loss. However, given our hectic lifestyle, this could be challenging. But your regular calorie consumption is directly related to obesity and fat storage, and can even slow down metabolism. This can eventually result in weight gain or slower weight loss. One of the popular suggestions is to eat negative calorie foods, so that won’t have to worry about your calorie consumption.

What are negative calorie foods?

You’ve probably heard about low-calorie foods that aid in weight loss. But when you hear the term ‘negative calorie food’, your first instinct might be a food with zero calories. Right? However, it refers to foods that require more energy to absorb into the body than they provide the body during digestion. In other words, the amount of calories required to digest the food is greater than the amount of energy it contains. These types of foods often contain a lot of fiber, water, and have a low glycemic index. They not only have fewer calories but also help in burning calories. Thus, negative calorie foods aid in weight loss.

Negative calorie foods for weight loss

HealthShots spoke to Deepti Lokeshappa, Senior Consultant, Nutritionist and Dietitian, Motherhood Hospital, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, who listed down a few foods which can help in weight loss.

cucumber so refreshing
Negative calorie foods can also help in burning more calories. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Lokeshappa says, “Negative calorie foods are the ones that are supposed to be beneficial for weight loss because they burn more calories to digest than what they contain. Adding them to your diet could speed up your weight loss journey by making it easier to stay in a caloric deficit.”

Here are 7 negative-calorie foods to lose weight, according to Lokeshappa:

1. Lettuce

Be sure to include some lettuce in your salads; it’s incredibly nutritious with good amounts of fiber, folic acid, and vitamin B while having a low-calorie content of just 15 per 100 grams.

2. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are incredibly hydrating and high in minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes. On hot days, it is also regarded as the traditional cooling food since it works to improve the body’s water balance. They contain around 16 calories per 100 grams.

negative calorie foods
Cucumbers are so refreshing! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Apple

Apples are a great fruit to snack on. With roughly 50 calories per 100 grams, it’s a fiber-rich food you must have to combat mid-day hunger. Apples are abundant in pectin, a kind of soluble fiber that promotes weight reduction and gradually releases sugar to help balance blood sugar levels.

Also read: Keep these 5 low-calorie snacks on your work desk to fight hunger pangs

4. Zucchini

Zucchini has as few as 18 calories per 100 grams. Zucchini’s phytonutrients also help with bowel regularity and water balance in the body, making it an excellent choice for a weight-loss diet.

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5. Tomatoes

There are just 19 calories per 100 grams. Plus, in addition to being juicy and tasty, it’s a great source of potassium, vitamin C, and nutritional fiber.

negative calorie foods
Tomatoes are really good for your overall health. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

6. Broccoli

With only 34 calories per 100 grams, broccoli is considered a superfood. It is high in fiber and antioxidants, which have been found in research to have anti-cancer qualities.

7. Carrots

Around 100 grams of carrots provide roughly 41 calories. Additionally, they are low in cholesterol and saturated fats and are a wonderful source of dietary fiber in addition to being high in vitamins A, C, and K.

 

 

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About the Author

Aayushi Gupta is a health writer with a special interest in trends related to diet, fitness, beauty and intimate health. With around 2 years of experience in the wellness industry, she is connected to leading experts and doctors to provide our readers with factually correct information. ...Read More

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