There is a less often talked about strategy to weight loss utilizing negative calorie foods (NCF). A negative calorie food is a food item that requires more calories to digest per serving than the calories which that serving contains or is very low calorie per serving.
This makes perfect sense since we know most successful weight loss diets require that you expend more calories than you ingest to loss weight. Most negative calorie foods are high in fiber and come from fruits and vegetables. These high fiber foods help control appetite and due to the fiber content will make you feel more satisfied longer. Much longer than those fad diet shakes.
NCF's are loaded with vitamins, minerals, micro-nutrients and enzymes that boost the metabolism and enzyme reproduction helping the body to trigger its fat burning processes.
By adding moderate portions of high quality proteins to the list of items below you not only will be on your road to weight loss success but you will be healthier, leaner and wise.
Blending the whole food item is an option but DO NOT juice. The fiber content is the main factor of the NCF rating. Eating at least 50% of your daily intake of any combination of the below items raw will have added benefits.
Negative Calorie Food Benefits:
- Guilt free non-fat
- Improve sleep
- Improve nails, hair and skin
- Packed with nutrients
- Lower stress, anxiety, depression
- Improve mental focus and energy
- Improve cholesterol
- Natural anti-inflamatory
- Improve liver function
- Control appetite
- Improvement in insulin sensitivity or reversal of insulin resistance.
Vegetables:
Asparagus, Bean sprouts, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory/Radicchio, Cucumbers, Endives, Green beans, Jicama, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips, and Zucchini.
Fruits:
Apples, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cranberries, Grapefruits, Honeydew, Lemons/Limes, Mangoes, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pineapple, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangerines, Watermelon.
Spices and Herbs:
Anise, Cayenne, Chili peppers, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander/Cilantro, Cumin, Dill, Fennel seeds, Flax seeds, Garden cress, Garlic, Ginger, Parsley, Onion, Mustard seeds, Watercress.
SEMPER FI