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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Is it true that eating celery can help burn calories?

    Related Topic
    Nutrition
    I have heard that eating celery is like eating “negative calories” because the energy it takes to chew/consume celery is greater than the number of calories in the vegetable itself. So can eating it help me burn calories?
    • 1 answer
    • Courtney Bates
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    Courtney Bates

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    Courtney is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD), Accredited Nutritionist (AN) and member of the Dietitians Australia. She runs her own online practice Healthy Bods Nutrition. … View Profile

    Yes and no. For years, celery has topped the list of “negative calorie” foods, because it requires more energy to chew and digest it than the celery itself. Other foods that are on this list are cabbage, lettuce and cucumbers. But it is not a quick-fix. Although snacking on celery might create a slight energy deficit; the calories burned are just too small to make a real impact. It can make a small difference if the celery is replacing other fattening or high calorie mid meal snacks.

    I wouldn't focus solely on celery. Include as many non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, carrot, capsicum and green leafy vegetables in your diet everyday. We call these “free foods”, meaning they provide very little energy. They are also chock full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and are filling! 

    Courtney Dinnerville
    Accredited Practising Dietitian

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