Why Celery is Associated with “Negative Calories”, Explained in Simple English
Have you ever heard people say that celery has “negative calories”? It’s a term that often pops up in conversations about weight loss and dieting. But what does it mean, and is it even true? In this blog post, we will break down the idea of negative calories, why celery gets labeled this way, and what science really says about it — explained in simple and easy-to-follow language.
What Are Negative Calories?
First, let’s talk about what “negative calories” actually means. The idea behind it is pretty straightforward: A food is said to have negative calories if the number of calories your body burns while digesting and processing that food is more than the calories that food actually contains.
For example, if you eat something with 10 calories, but your body uses 15 calories to chew, digest, and absorb it, the food would leave you with a calorie deficit of -5 calories. This means you’d burn extra energy just by eating it! Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, that’s where celery comes in.
Why Is Celery Linked to Negative Calories?
Celery is often the poster child for the “negative calorie” myth. This is because celery is incredibly low in calories. A medium stalk of celery has about 6 calories — that’s almost nothing compared to most other foods. Plus, celery contains a lot of water (almost 95%) and fiber, so it’s not dense in energy.
At the same time, your body does burn calories during digestion, a process known as the thermic effect of food (TEF). TEF is the energy your body uses to break food down into usable nutrients. For most foods, your body burns about 5-15% of the calories you consume just during digestion.
So, the idea is that since celery is so low in calories, the effort your body puts into digesting it might actually burn more calories than what the celery provides. This is why people think of celery as a “negative calorie” food.
Is the Negative Calorie Claim True?
Now comes the big question: Is celery really a negative-calorie food? Short answer: Not really.
The science behind digestion and calorie burning doesn’t fully support the idea that celery (or any other food) has negative calories. While the thermic effect of food does use some calories, it’s usually not enough to create a calorie deficit, even for something as low-calorie as celery.
Let’s look at the numbers:
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Calories in Celery: As mentioned, a stalk of celery has about 6 calories.
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Calories Burned During Digestion: If you burn around 10% of the calories during digestion, that’s less than 1 calorie (0.6 calories, to be exact) for that stalk of celery.
When you do the math, you can see that the calories burned during digestion don’t outweigh the calories in the celery itself. So, the idea that eating celery leads to a calorie deficit is more a myth than a scientific truth.
Why People Still Love the Negative Calorie Idea
Even though the “negative calorie” claim isn’t scientifically accurate, celery remains popular in diets for good reasons.
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Low-Calorie Snack: Celery is super low in calories, which means you can eat a lot of it without worrying about calorie overload. It’s a great option for people trying to lose weight.
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High in Fiber: The fiber in celery can help you feel full, even though it doesn’t add many calories to your diet. This makes it a useful snack when you’re trying to curb hunger between meals.
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Hydrating: Since celery is mostly water, it’s a great way to stay hydrated while snacking.
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Healthy Nutrients: Celery might be low in calories, but it’s not low in nutrients. It contains vitamins like vitamin K, vitamin A, and folate, as well as minerals like potassium.
Even if it’s not technically a “negative calorie” food, celery is still a healthy choice that can support your overall wellness.
Foods Similar to Celery
Celery isn’t the only food that gets associated with the negative-calorie idea. Other low-calorie, high-water-content foods like cucumbers, lettuce, and zucchini also often get mentioned. Like celery, these foods are all great for weight loss because they provide nutrition without a lot of calories.
But, just like celery, none of these foods can truly be classified as “negative calorie.” While they require energy to digest, the calories they contain are still slightly higher than the amount your body burns to process them.
The Verdict on Negative Calories
At the end of the day, celery and other super low-calorie foods aren’t actually “negative calorie” foods. However, they are still fantastic options for anyone trying to eat healthy, lose weight, or snack guilt-free.
The myth of negative calories may sound exciting, but it’s more of a fun exaggeration than a scientific fact. If you want to burn calories, focus on maintaining an active lifestyle combined with a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.
So, go ahead and enjoy your celery sticks — not because they magically burn calories but because they’re tasty, hydrating, and good for your body!
Conclusion
While celery doesn’t have negative calories, it does hold an important place in healthy eating. The myth may be busted, but celery’s benefits are real. So, the next time you hear someone say celery has “negative calories,” feel free to share the facts and spread the real story behind this crunchy, green veggie!
