Does Celery Have Negative Calories?

 By Steve D Wright

The term 'negative calorie foods' is one that is branded around a fair bit in relation to dieting and weight loss. The myth that there are actually foods out there that are not only calorieless, but in fact contain a negative amount of calories, is a bit of an urban legend, and one that some people unfortunately believe is true.

One food that is heavily linked with the negative calorie food myth is the vegetable celery. It's a fact that hundreds of people come online to ask the question 'does celery have negative calories?', every single month.

Just think about the question for a minute though, a food that has a minus number of calories, it's quite simply ludicrous.

However, if you look at it in a different light, such as how few calories a food might contain, and the number of calories the body is going to burn up by eating such a food, then you are getting a little bit warmer.

I do have to point out though, that even the smallest stick of celery has two or three calories in it, an amazingly tiny amount in comparison to pretty much every other food you are every likely to eat. So I am sorry to disappoint anybody who was hoping to find out that celery has negative calories, it is just not true.

It's a fact that water has zero calories in, that's one you can take to the bank, but as far as calories found in foods go, you will be hard pushed to find anything with less calories in than celery.

Is celery a negative calorie food?

So this is where things get interesting. You have heard about celery being a negative calorie food, and have even been told before that it actually contains less than zero calories, but what does it all mean?

Celery is a negative calorie food in the sense that the body will use up more calories in chewing it, digesting it, processing it, absorbing it's nutrients, metabolizing and then getting rid of the any waste remains, than it will take on board from the celery. If a small piece of celery contains 2 calories and your body burns up 3 calories while all of this is going on, then your total is a negative number. This is what makes celery a negative calorie food.

Negative calorie food examples

If there were hundreds of foods that the above explanation of negative calorie foods applied to, then diet and weight loss would be a piece of cake, but there aren't.

In order for this calculation to be anywhere near effective the foods that you eat need to be incredibly low in calories, and also cause the body to work harder than normal when it comes to the processing the food and so on.

Below are a few more examples of negative calorie foods:

* Celery

* Water cress

* Watermelon

* Tomatoes

Summary

So does celery have negative calories inside it? No. Does eating it mean you are likely to lose calories rather than gain them? Yes.

Sadly you can't fill your diet with so called negative calorie foods and lose weight overnight, that is just not possible. However, foods that come under this umbrella are going to help to boost your metabolism, and also ensure that your calorie count stays low. If your aim is to lose weight, then introducing these foods, and taking out high calorie processed foods from your diet, is going to be a very positive step in the right direction. Every little bit of helps contributes to big changes over time.

Weight Loss Eating Plan for Women - Factors to Consider in Designing A Weight Loss Plan For Women

By M Edward

Maintaining a healthy weight loss eating plan for women is not easy, it takes lots of commitment. The key to a healthy weight is to develop a healthier and more satisfying relationship with food. Weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: if the intake of calories is greater than the calories expended then a weight gain occurs. Far from providing a safe and sustainable solution to weight loss dieting dilemmas, quick-fixes only leave one feeling unhappy and discontented.

The best weight loss eating plan is one that lasts for a long time. The plan should be practical with lifestyle strategies paired with delicious foods. The diet plan should be comprised of natural foods that hasten the body fat-burning metabolism, leaving one full and feeling great.

Breakfast should be taken early by women, as soon as they rise in the morning. A good breakfast consists of proteins and complex carbohydrates. One can take eggs on whole-wheat toast, an omelet, or a bowl of oatmeal accompanied by a couple of mixed berries. This breakfast is relatively slow to digest. Fresh fruits, low-fat yoghurts and high-fiber low-sugar breakfast bars also provide a good meal for women. To make breakfast more appealing, women are encouraged to eat dinner early, lay off alcohol and get a good sleep. They should avoid junk foods, late-nights, excess alcohol consumption and bad sleeping patterns.

Breaking the sugar hold is a vital factor to consider when coming up with a good weight loss eating plan for women. Sugar makes people fat. The battle against sugar cravings must be fought and won by all means possible. Sugar is also highly addictive and one must regulate its intake as its side effects are grave.

Healthy weight loss eating plans normally have salads incorporated in them. The fat profile for salads must be limited by going easy on salad dressings. Salads can be juiced up with lean-meats, fish and beans. A good reason for juicing up salads is because proteins build up muscles, and are vital for fat-fighting. This implies that the more proteins women take, the easier it is for them to slim down.

Smoothies must be included in a weight loss eating plan for women. Smoothies are essential in filling the void in the stomach, crushing the hunger pangs and satisfying the sweet-tooth. Smoothies are necessary for lean-body successes. They are made from low-fat milk and ice, and topped up with power foods like berries, fruit yoghurt, protein powder and peanut butter. Ingredients are mixed in a creative manner to make them more appealing. They can be taken for breakfasts, before or after work outs or even as meal replacements at anytime.

Finally tantalizing the taste buds is a significant aspect which must be considered when designing a meal plan for weight loss. For women, losing weight should not be a bland and boring affair. Flavor acts upon the brains satiety centre. This helps in keeping hunger at bay and is important in keeping cholesterol levels in check. Eating good fat (mono & poly-unsaturated) tantalizes the taste buds and keeps the waistline in check. Good fats have health benefits such as decreased inflammation and reduced cholesterol levels.

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