Are There Zero-Calorie Foods

Are There Zero-Calorie Foods?

Are There Zero-Calorie Foods? No, precisely speaking, when answering the question about “Are there Zero-Calorie Foods?” you cannot come to the conclusion that there is an edible available there that contains no calories whatsoever. So, the marketing hoax created by people saying that zero-calorie foods can be provided to consumers for losing weight is more a way to build up sales revenue rather than giving any benefit to the people. In that regard, you should know that there are, however, some natural foods that you can use for the purpose of going on a calorie-restrictive diet as they contain a minimum amount of calories.

What are Zero Calorie Edibles?

Zero-calorie edibles are those nutritive ingredients that contain almost no calories. The total amount of the caloric content is not sufficient enough to create a significant difference between our total caloric intake when compared to calories contained in other foods. These minimal calories help in a number of reasons, some of which are discussed next.

Why Are Zero Calorie Edibles Important?

Zero-calorie edibles are important to give you lower calorie content throughout the day. This is especially helpful when you talk about following weight loss programs. According to rules of losing weight, you should be consuming less calories than you burn throughout the day – in a simplified sense, you should go for a diet that comes with restrictive caloric content.

Most of the diets that are programmed for losing weight are restrictive in calories, but that does not mean you have to starve yourself – you will need to take foods that are rich in minerals and vitamins so that you can take to fulfill your dietary and nutritional needs. While you can do it through regular foods, finding the right foods that come with minimal calories and high nutrients can do it for you in a way that is more beneficial for your health and, certainly, your weight loss technique.

Examples of Zero Calorie Foods

Calories are an integral part of any food as technically speaking, and they are the energy units that are found into anything produced by nature. The “natural heat” in foods when “burnt” during consumption acts as a fuel to use in the provision of energy and staying alive. We cannot go absolutely zero with the unavoidable calories we need; however, limiting caloric content is essential for getting the results you want.

Let’s see some foods – fruits and vegetables – that will help you go on a restricted-calorie mode and ultimately help you lose weight.

1. Apples

Alphabetically speaking, apples come off as the first in our list when it comes to the list of extremely low caloric content. Although sweet in taste, apples are nutritious, with a whole cup of apples, you get to have 3 grams of fiber and just 57 calories. Your body also consumes some energy to digest this in the raw form, so the calories you consume through this fruit are not so significant as they balance out well.

2. Asparagus

Asparagus is a vegetable in green, purple, and white varieties. Different types of asparagus are healthy. However, purple asparagus comes with additional properties that include prevention from heart disease, which serves as a preventative tool for people that are aspiring for losing weight. A cup of asparagus comes with 27 calories containing loads of folate and vitamin K.

3. Beets

Beets are roots with a purple or deep-red color, and one of the most important benefits of using a beet is that it lowers blood pressure in the body. Beets contain almost the same calories as apples do when consumed cup wise, totaling up to 59 percent. Also, the root vegetable contains 13 percent of the daily value of potassium.

4. Broccoli

Broccoli is regarded as one of the highly nutritious vegetables ever known. Broccoli is a member of the plant cruciferous family and also has a preventative role against cancer. A cup of broccoli contains roughly 30 calories with surpassing the total amount of vitamin C people need to consume in a day.

5. Broth

Vegetable and meat broths, when strained out of the fat content, serve to be highly nutritious liquids filled with calcium, potassium, and protein. A cup of broth that tops to 240 ml contains a dramatically low caloric content of about 7 to 12 calories.

6. Cabbage

Cabbage, also a member of the cruciferous family such as broccoli, is commonly eaten raw or in a fermented form known as sauerkraut. It is extremely low in calories containing about only 22 calories in each cup.

7. Carrots

Carrots are great for skin and eye vision. The vitamin A that gets produced from the beta carotene present in the vegetable is highly necessary for a better vision. A cup of carrots contains only 53 calories and comes with more than 400 percent of the daily value of vitamin A.

8. Grapefruit

Grapefruits are highly nutritious with their citrusy, juicy taste. You can make juice, add them in yogurt or salad, and even in fish. Certain grapefruit compounds might alleviate cholesterol levels and elevate metabolism. Half a grapefruit contains 52 calories.

9. Iceberg Lettuce

Iceberg lettuce contains a high amount of water and is used as an accessory in burgers, salads, or sandwiches. Although most individuals might not take it as a nutritious vegetable, it is rich in folate, vitamin K, and vitamin A. You will be surprised to know that iceberg lettuce is filled with only ten calories.

10. Kale

It is a leafy green vegetable that is highly popular and comes with a lot of nutritional benefits. You can add kale in smoothies, salads, and vegetable dishes. You can get seven times more vitamin K than your daily vitamin K requirement on consuming a single cup of kale per day with only 34 calories.

11. Lemon

Lemons and limes are great digestion boosters and flavor enhancers used in many dishes. You can add them in drinks, salad dressings, and whatnot. Citrus fruits like lemon contain a high amount of antioxidants for preventing and fighting diseases in the body. A fluid ounce serving of lemon juice only comes with eight calories.

12. White Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a kind of fungus having a sponge-like texture that people use as a meat substitute. Mushrooms come with essential nutrients and contain as low as 15 calories in each cup. You can add them in salads and in cooked dishes to increase the taste.

13. Onions

Onions come in a lot of varieties categorized by colors, including white, yellow, and red, along with scallions and spring onions. Although all types come in different varieties and tastes, the caloric content is quite low for a serving – a medium onion weighing 110 grams contains only 44 calories.

14. Peppers

Peppers are available in a lot of shapes, colors, and sizes. The most popular types include bell peppers and jalapenos. Studies suggest that the bell peppers are especially high in antioxidants and shield the body against the harmful damage caused by oxidation. A cup of chopped bell peppers come with only 46 calories.

15. Spinach

If you want to know are there any zero calorie foods, then you must take into account green leafy vegetables such as spinach that is rich in minerals and vitamins. The vegetable is high in folate, vitamin A, and vitamin K, and protein – the latter one being more abundant in leafy vegetables. A cup of spinach will only contain seven calories.

16. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are added in almost all kinds of cuisines in all forms, including cooked, raw, and pureed form. They are highly nutritious with lycopene, which fights against cancer, heart disease, and signs of inflammation. A cup of cherry tomatoes contains only 27 calories.

17. Watermelon

Watermelon, as the name indicates, is loaded with water content and comes with an amazingly delicious taste. It comes as a highly nutritive fruit with lots of vitamin C. A cup of watermelon in diced form only contains 46 calories.

Other Zero Calorie Items

Beverages contain very little calories as compared to foods in general as long as there are no added sugars in the drink. For example, black coffee, espresso, tea, and others. You can also drink lime water with no worry about taking excessive calories in return. Moreover, herbs and spices are also very less in calories. Thyme, mint, oregano, basil leaves, turmeric, coriander, and others come with minute quantities of calories. If you want to add flavor to your food without going at the risk of getting extra calories, a zero-calorie food choice in the form of natural herbs and spices are the wisest options for you.

Final Words

Summarizing it all, if you want to answer the question: Are there zero-calorie foods? The technical answer is that there is no such food that comes with absolutely no calories. However, you can consume foods under 100 calories per serving and get all the nutrients you need without getting worried about excessive caloric intake. In such terms, we hope the article helped you gain some insight into foods that you can consume with minimum calories involved.

References

• https://www.usda.gov/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23596162/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24079774/