Negative Calorie diet should be especially careful if
they are pregnant or breastfeeding because the very
limited nature of the diet means that it will be difficult
to get daily requirements of fat,protein, and other
nutrients. Because the recommended foods are very
low in calories, this diet may be a very low calorie diet
(a diet involving fewer than 800 calories a day). Very
low calorie diets can have serious side effects and
should be undertaken under the supervision of a med-
ical professional.Risks
There are some risks with any diet, and these risks
are often especially great when the diet severely limits
the foods that can be eaten. It is often difficult to get
enough of some vitamins and minerals when eating a
limited variety of foods. The Negative Calorie diet
limits the dieter mainly to the list of foods that are
believed to be negative calorie. Although these foods
are fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of
many important vitamins and minerals, they are not
enough to maintain good health.
The Negative Calorie diet limits dairy products, as
they are not considered to be negative calorie. Because
these foods are excellent sources ofcalcium, it is pos-
sible that people who do not eat any of these foods
may not get enough calcium in their diet. Lack of
calcium can lead to many different disease and con-
ditions such asosteoporosisand rickets. Anyone con-
sidering this diet might want to consider taking a
supplement or vitamin to help reduce the risk of this
and other similar deficiencies.
Protein and fat are also not included in any of the
foods that are considered to be negative calorie.
Although too much fat in the diet can be harmful,
some is required to maintain good health. Protein is
also necessary for good health. Not getting enough
protein can have many negative effects on the body
and people considering this diet should closely mon-
itor their intake to make sure that they are getting
enough.Research and general acceptance
There have been no scientific studies of the Neg-
ative Calorie diet. Although it is generally accepted
that food does require energy for the body to digest,
the amount of energy expended depends very heavily
on the body’s metabolism, and there is no way for
dieters to accurately measure how much energy their
body is expending to digest any given food. The diet
also claims that these foods will increase the dieter’s
metabolism, which has not been scientifically proven.Following the diet’s recommendations for breathing
has not been scientifically proven to increase metabo-
lism, or rid the body of toxins.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s
MyPyramid, the updated version of the Food Guide
Pyramid, recommends that healthy adults eat the
equivalent of 2 to 3 cups of vegetables each day. The
Negative Calorie diet would more than adequately
meet these requirements for most people because the
majority of the foods considered to be negative calorie
are vegetables.
MyPyramid recommends that healthy adults eat
the equivalent of 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fruit per day. 1 cup
of fruit is equivalent to 1 small apple, 1 large orange, or
1 cup of pineapple cubes. Because these and many
other fruits are considered to be negative calorie, it is
likely that a person following the negative calorie diet
would consume the recommended daily amount of
fruit.
The Negative Calorie diet severely limits the
intake of dairy products for dieters. Dairy products
are generally considered to be part of a healthy diet.
MyPyramid recommends the equivalent of 3 cups of
low-fat or non-fat dairy per day for healthy adults.
Following the Negative Calorie diet would generally
not meet this recommendation.
Starches and grains are also severely restricted on
the Negative Calorie diet. Whole grains are generally
considered a necessary and important part of any
healthy diet. MyPyramid recommends that healthy
adults eat the equivalent of 3 to 4 ounces of grains
each day, of which at least half should be whole grains.
The Negative Calorie diet would not generally meet
this recommendation.
The Negative Calorie diet does not provide many
options for getting enough protein. MyPyramid rec-
ommends that healthy adults eat between 5 and 6 oneQUESTIONS TO ASK THE
DOCTOR Do I have any special dietary needs that this diet
might not meet?
Is this diet safe for me?
Is this diet safe for my entire family?
Is it safe for me to follow this diet over a long
period of time?
Are there any sign or symptoms that might
indicate a problem while on this diet?Negative calorie diet