Can You Jump Start Weight Loss with Catabolic Foods?

Guest Post:

Jump Start Weight Loss with Catabolic Foods

So many diets focus on how much not to eat in order to lose weight. Wouldn’t it be great if you could eat more and still lose weight? A Catabolic Diet promises to let you do just that. The idea behind the diet is that certain foods actually expend more energy to digest than they contain. They’re often referred to as negative calorie foods.

For example, proponents of the diet say that an apple has an average of 85 calories, but uses 180 calories to digest. That creates a deficit of 95 calories.

What You Eat

A catabolic diet focuses on foods that are considered “high grade,” meaning they expend the greatest amount of calories in relation to the calories they contain. The following is a generally accepted list of “high grade” catabolic foods:

Fruits

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Grapefruit
• Lemons and limes
• Oranges
• Raspberries
• Pineapple
• Plums
• Pears
• Cantaloupe
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

Vegetables

• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Leeks
• Peppers
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Sweet Potato
• Tomato
• Zucchini
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Parsley

“Low grade” catabolic foods include:

• Apples
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Honeydew Melon
• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Tangerines
• Green beans
• Cauliflower
• Peas
• String beans
• Chives
• Garlic
• Pumpkin
• Beets
• Corn
• Onions
• Red cabbage
• Dill pickles
• Turnips

It is recommended to eat these foods in their raw form to get the most benefit. Other catabolic foods include many types of seafood.

Pros and Cons of Catabolic Dieting

A catabolic diet reinforces healthy eating habits with its focus on a high intake of low-sugar fruits and vegetables. In general, the diet is low in calories, carbohydrates, and fats, and is high in fiber. This type of diet naturally helps control blood sugar and insulin, helping you to maintain a healthy weight and to easily lose excess weight.

No scientific research has been conducted to verify the claims that certain types of foods can expend more calories than they contain. The claim has been widely debated. However, anecdotal evidence supports the claim that people who follow this diet are able to achieve healthy weight loss. The key is to eat at least 10 servings of catabolic foods each day, including plenty of water and healthy exercise.

Guest Post by Bridget Sandorford:

Bio: Aside from school and working part-time as an Assistant Chef, Bridget Sandorford is the resident Culinary Schools blogger where recently she’s been researching Boston culinary colleges as well as San Francisco culinary colleges. Her passion for food has followed her research into many different areas, such as nutrition, fitness, organic foods, gardening, and cooking on a budget. She lives outside of Charleston, South Carolina.

Have you tried increasing your catabolic diet foods to lose weight? What was your experience like?