--- title: Are 'Negative Calorie' Foods Real? description: Are negative calorie foods real? Why celery doesn't burn more energy than it provides, what chilli really does and why these foods are still worth eating. --- [![HealthBank](https://blog.healthbank.io/hs-fs/hubfs/HB_Logo.png?width=100&height=91&name=HB_Logo.png)HealthBank/Blog](https://blog.healthbank.io) [Blog](https://blog.healthbank.io) [Write for us](https://blog.healthbank.io/write-with-healthbank?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=contributor&utm_medium=nav) [Help centre](https://help.healthbank.io) [Contact](https://www.healthbank.io/talk-to-us) [Back to HealthBank](https://dashboard.healthbank.io/app/dashboard) [Blog](https://blog.healthbank.io)  ›  Weight & metabolism # Are Negative Calorie Foods Real? The Truth About Celery and Co. [![Robbie Clark](https://blog.healthbank.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Authors/robbie-clark-avatar.png?width=32&height=32&name=robbie-clark-avatar.png)Robbie Clark](https://www.healthbank.io/p/robbie-clark) 26 Oct 2026 Written by [Robbie Clark](https://www.healthbank.io/p/robbie-clark), BExSc (Nutrition), M (Nutr+Diet), Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and Exercise Scientist · Last updated 19 October 2026 · [4 references](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#references) The short answer - No. Negative calorie foods are a myth. Digesting food uses only a small share of the energy it contains.[1](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-1) - Even celery gives you more energy than it takes to digest.[3](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-3) - Foods like celery, cucumber and lettuce are still great choices: they're low in kilojoules and high in water and fibre. - Aim for 5–6 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit a day, rather than relying on a few "special" foods.[4](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-4) Celery, cucumber, grapefruit: you've probably heard that some foods burn more energy than they contain, so eating them helps you lose weight. It's a tempting idea, but it doesn't hold up. Here's why, and why these foods are still worth eating. ## What are negative calorie foods? A "negative calorie" food is one that supposedly takes more energy to chew, digest and process than it gives your body. The idea is that eating it leaves you with an energy deficit, so the more you eat, the more weight you lose. Foods usually given this label are high in water and fibre and very low in kilojoules, such as celery, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, radishes, grapefruit and apples. Spicy foods are sometimes included too. ## Are negative calorie foods real? No. Your body does use energy to digest food, but it accounts for only about 5–15% of the energy you use each day.[1](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-1) That's nowhere near enough to cancel out what a food provides. Researchers tested the celery claim directly by feeding celery to bearded dragons and measuring how much energy they used digesting it. About a third of the celery's energy went on digestion, but the animals still came out ahead, absorbing more energy than they used.[3](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-3) Celery is so low in kilojoules that the overall effect is tiny either way. It won't make you lose weight on its own. Get support from a practitioner who helps with weight and metabolic health Find practitioners on HealthBank who work with weight management, metabolic health and type 2 diabetes. Many offer a free discovery call, online, by phone or in person. [Find a weight management practitioner →](https://www.healthbank.io/practitioners?specialties%5B%5D=Weight+Management&specialties%5B%5D=Metabolic+Syndrome&specialties%5B%5D=Type+2+Diabetes) ## Does spicy food burn more energy? A little. Capsaicin, the compound that makes chillies hot, slightly increases the energy you burn and may reduce appetite, but the effects are small.[2](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-2) Adding chilli to your meals won't make a meaningful difference to your weight on its own. ## Are these foods still worth eating? Absolutely. Most so-called negative calorie foods are vegetables and fruit, which belong in any healthy diet. They're: - **High in fibre,** which keeps you regular and feeds your gut bacteria - **High in water,** which adds to your daily fluid - **Rich in vitamins and minerals** - **Low in kilojoules,** so you can eat a satisfying amount without a lot of energy Filling half your plate with vegetables, or snacking on cucumber, carrot or celery sticks, can help you feel full while keeping your energy intake in check. Australian adults should aim for 5–6 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit a day.[4](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-4) ## What's the problem with focusing on negative calorie foods? Building your diet around a handful of "special" foods can mean missing out on important nutrients from other food groups, such as protein, wholegrains and dairy. Labelling foods as good or bad can also make eating feel stressful and make social occasions harder. A better approach is to eat a variety of foods from the five food groups, enjoy vegetables and fruit for what they offer, and pay attention to your hunger and fullness. Get support from a practitioner who helps with weight and metabolic health Find practitioners on HealthBank who work with weight management, metabolic health and type 2 diabetes. Many offer a free discovery call, online, by phone or in person. [Find a weight management practitioner →](https://www.healthbank.io/practitioners?specialties%5B%5D=Weight+Management&specialties%5B%5D=Metabolic+Syndrome&specialties%5B%5D=Type+2+Diabetes) ## Frequently asked questions ### Does celery have negative calories? No. Digesting celery uses some of its energy, but you still absorb more than you use.[3](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-3) ### How much energy does digestion use? Digesting and processing food accounts for about 5–15% of the energy your body uses each day.[1](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-1) ### Can eating more vegetables help with weight loss? Vegetables are low in kilojoules and high in fibre and water, so they can help you feel full on less energy as part of a balanced diet. ### Does chilli speed up your metabolism? Slightly, but the effect is small and won't change your weight much on its own.[2](https://blog.healthbank.io/are-negative-calorie-foods-real#ref-2) ### Which foods are lowest in kilojoules? Water-rich vegetables such as celery, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini and spinach are among the lowest. ## References **Research (PubMed)** 1. Westerterp KR. Diet induced thermogenesis. *Nutr Metab (Lond).* 2004;1(1):5. [PubMed 15507147](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15507147/) 2. Ludy MJ, Moore GE, Mattes RD. The effects of capsaicin and capsiate on energy balance: critical review and meta-analyses of studies in humans. *Chem Senses.* 2012;37(2):103–121. [PubMed 22038945](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22038945/) 3. Buddemeyer KM, Alexander AE, Secor SM. Testing the validity of "negative-calorie" foods with a reptile model. *Integr Food Nutr Metab.* 2020;7. [DOI 10.15761/IFNM.1000278](https://doi.org/10.15761/IFNM.1000278) **Australian guidelines** 1. NHMRC. Eat for Health: recommended number of serves for adults. [View source](https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/how-much-do-we-need-each-day/recommended-number-serves-adults) *This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with your practitioner about your own situation before changing your diet.* [Weight & metabolism](https://blog.healthbank.io/tag/weight-metabolism) [![Robbie Clark](https://blog.healthbank.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/Authors/robbie-clark-avatar.png?width=72&height=72&name=robbie-clark-avatar.png)](https://www.healthbank.io/p/robbie-clark) Written by **[Robbie Clark](https://www.healthbank.io/p/robbie-clark)** Robbie is a Sydney-based Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) and Exercise Scientist with over 17 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Nutrition) and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics, and is the Director and Co-founder of HealthBank. [Book a free 15-min call](https://dashboard.healthbank.io/booking/attendance-modes?practitionerId=7a900b23-04a3-4c3c-b14e-e3405c1af6d7&consultationTypeId=4e536270-c479-40a5-af89-691502f4578d) [View Robbie's profile →](https://www.healthbank.io/p/robbie-clark) ## Related articles ### [Weight & metabolism Are Eggs Bad for Cholesterol? And Other Diet Myths, Explained Are eggs bad for cholesterol? How many eggs are safe, who should limit them, and why weight loss is about ... Read article →](https://blog.healthbank.io/diet-and-exercise-myths-health-experts-wish-would-disappear) ### [Weight & metabolism 5 Weight Loss Myths It's Time to Let Go Of Weight loss myths, busted: does fat make you fat, are low-fat foods better, does skipping meals slow your ... Read article →](https://blog.healthbank.io/5-weight-loss-rules-its-time-to-let-go-of) ### [Nutrition What Does 8,700 kJ (~2,000 cals) Look Like? Kilojoules and Food Labels Explained What does 8,700 kJ look like? 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