A CALORIE is a unit of energy. Our body burns calories to do everything from walking to sleeping, and we get this energy from food.

Our body even uses calories to digest the food that gives us energy.

There are claims that certain foods require more energy for our body to process than they provide.

This suggests that one could lose weight simply by eating these foods.

So, do negative-calorie foods exist?

Verdict:

False

Fruits and vegetables that were often touted as negative-calorie foods include broccoli, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, apples, carrots and lettuce.

Although they are water-rich foods that contain low levels of calories, our bodies are so efficient that digesting them requires less energy than they provide.

In fact, the energy the body expends to process food is typically expressed as a percentage of the calorie intake.

But don't lose hope. Although no food can make you lose weight, these fruits and vegetables are just some of the low-calorie, high-nutrient foods that, when combined with a balanced diet and exercise, can help you stave off hunger while losing weight.

References:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/negative-calorie-foods

https://www.fittr.com/article/are-negative-calorie-foods-real-149

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-holiday-season-don-t-burden-yourself-with-the-nonsense-of-zero-calorie-foods