If you’ve done much research on diets at all, then you’ve probably already run across the concept of negative calorie foods. The negative calorie food diet is one that has come under a lot of scrutiny, but despite this it’s an idea that has created a lot of imitators based around the same basic principles. For a much criticized diet, it sure has a lot of imitators!
Many diets are based at least in part (if not entirely) around foods that appear on the negative calorie foods list. This includes the grapefruit diet, pineapple diet, and cabbage soup diet, just to name a few. Obviously vegetarian diets will have a lot in common with negative calorie foods, as well, since all the foods on this list are either fruits or vegetables.
The pineapple diet has several different forms, but all revolve around eating a lot of pineapple. Pineapple is found on the negative calorie foods list, and is often mentioned as a healthy food that has enzymes that are hard for the body to break down, encouraging weight loss.
Of all the diet examples listed, perhaps the cabbage soup diet is the most well known, and also the eating plan that most firmly uses negative calorie foods. Aside from the three days where only certain types of fruits and vegetables are allowed (other than the soup), the base soup of this diet is made almost completely from ingredients that appear on the famous list of these foods. Compare the two and the similarities will jump out at you.
The grapefruit diet is another example. Grapefruit is a hugely popular diet food because it is low in calories, high in water & vitamins, and is hard for the body to process ” meaning more calories are used to burn it up. Grapefruit is also yet another food on the negative calorie list.
Vegetarian diets are going to have large portions that mirror foods found on the negative calorie list because all negative calorie foods are going to be fruits and veggies. The huge difference between the two is that a vegetarian eating plan will be complete and include grains and rice, while the list is there to supplement an eating plan, not be the end all be all of dietary restrictions.
This article only lists a few of the dietary plans that copy a lot from the idea of negative calories. Pretty impressive for something that some people insist on calling a fad, but the proof is in the pudding as the old saying goes - and the diets listed in this article aren’t the only ones who get their root idea from the same place.
While the argument is likely to continue, it’s hard to argue that the fruits and vegetables on this list are all very healthy and a key part of any eating plan designed to lose weight. No matter what the additional arguments are, imitations show that negative calorie foods are likely to remain popular.
