This diet centers on the assumption that the energy the body needs to digest certain foods eliminate the calories in the food themselves (hence, the “negative caloric effect”). The irony lies in the fact that the more you eat, the more calories you burn.

But you’ll also be able to eat a lot less types of food. Food that falls under this category of negative calorie foods are celery (made of water and cellulose, and vitamins and minerals with no calories), and very fibrous fruits and vegetables like blueberries, applies, cantaloupes, cranberries, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and asparagus.

So how much weight can you lose with negative calorie diets? The claims vary. Some say that you can lose up to two pounds a day, an astounding 14 pounds a week, but it’s all pretty subjective. Largely because you can take all the carrots and celery you want, but if you serve them with high-fat bleu cheese dressing you will gain weight. Furthermore, this fatburning diet is a definite no-no among nutritionists, because you’ll be getting so little proteins.

The lesson this diet does teach us is the importance of taking fruits and good thing about the negative calorie diet is that it recommends fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Just take it with other foods as well, watching the calories but never completely cutting them out.

The Verdict: The idea of being able to burn more calories without doing anything sounds too good to be true. But it can happen, but not though this diet. The way to do it? Build muscle mass, which helps speed up your metabolism so you’re burning more calories per minute.

The Category: short term, low maintenance, regimented, body

Feedback: “I didn’t practice this diet in its purest form, but I do have days when I just eat salad and celery. It’s refreshing, especially when it’s too hot to cook in the kitchen. That works for me better than embracing the diet as an actual eating routine.” – Melissa, (STATE).