Buzz
Across the internet, countless self-proclaimed gurus claim that for just a few easy payments, they can unlock the secrets to a weight loss plan built around 'negative calorie' foods. The pitch? Eat as much as you like and shed pounds because the energy required to chew and digest these foods supposedly exceeds the energy they provide. But is that actually the case?
While some of the energy from food is effectively canceled out due to the energy spent on chewing and digestion, the thermic effect of food—or diet-induced thermogenesis—only accounts for about 10% of your total caloric intake (though some foods, especially high-protein ones, can lose as much as 30% of their calories during digestion, and certain fats have a much lower thermic effect, sometimes only 2-3%).
Celery is often touted as a prime example of a negative-calorie food, largely because its caloric content is bound up in cellulose, a type of fiber humans can't digest. The energy we can actually extract from celery is minimal—just 6 calories per medium stalk. However, digesting that small amount of energy costs us less than half a calorie (and possibly even less, as the thermic effect tends to be lower after consuming high-fiber foods).
The reality is that negative-calorie snacking, whether it's celery or something else, is a myth. However, celery still has its place: it's undeniably a healthier option for your calorie intake compared to something like a candy bar or Slim Jim. Just don’t expect it to work miracles or be a magic bullet for your diet.
