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{{label}}Staff writer - 1 min read
22 September 2017
You asked, we answered.
I’ve been told that eating celery means your body is burning more calories than it’s actually getting from the celery. Is this really true? If so, do any other foods do the same thing?
Olivia, VIC.
In the past, celery has been dubbed as a ‘calorie negative’ food. Last year, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and the University of Warwick conducted a small experiment for television show Food Unwrapped, in which they fed a participant celery and a celery smoothie over the course of 12 hours, counting the calories burned as time went on. The celery smoothie proved most effective, coming in at a negative count of 59 calories. The participant was, however, enclosed in a ‘calorie chamber’ and, as you may agree, that doesn’t sound like a particularly appealing drink.
Perceiving food in this ‘calorie negative’ way may not be the best approach to manage your weight in the long term. Joel Feren from Healthy Nutrition agrees: “Although foods such as celery, lettuce and cucumbers are very low in calories, they still count towards a day's worth of energy. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. Focusing on positive lifestyle changes, portion control and moving your body in a positive way will all likely help you fight the battle of the bulge. Nevertheless, including celery, cucumber and lettuce in your salad may be a good start.”
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.