The Zero Calorie Myth

So as you may or may not know, I wrote about myths before and it seems there are a lot of them. One myth that's been in heavy rotation is the negative calorie myth. Allegedly, some foods require more calories to digest, than they're actually worth. Insert Michelle Obama side eye here. 

                                                           

According to Time Magazine: 

"You may have heard that some foods, because they are difficult to  digest, will make you lose weight. Dubbed "negative-calorie foods," citrus fruits and celery have both basked in this flattering light in fad diets over the years. The problem is that it's not true. The calories your body burns in fueling the digestive cycle are minuscule compared with the calories in the food itself. Although chewing celery might seem like a strenuous activity, it burns about the same amount of calories as watching grass grow."

                                                          
Over at Mayo Clinic you'll find the same thing: 

 "Here's the reality. Throughout the day, about 5 to 10 percent of your total energy expenditure goes to digest and store the nutrients in the food you eat.Foods that contain few calories, such as celery and other nonstarchyvegetables, provide a small number of calories but still require energy todigest. That means it is theoretically possible to have a negative-calorie food,  but there are no reputable scientific studies to prove that certain foods have this effect."

I think the Mayo Clinic doctor  said it best:  

   "The bottom line: Following extreme diets that promote eating only a few foods can cause you to miss out on important nutrients. The key to successful weight loss is adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise.  "

What do you think? Let me know, below!