The zero-calorie diet

Can you imagine a diet minus any calories?
Sudeshna Chatterjee
presents the perfect platter

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

    HEARD of zero-calorie food? Never thought that it existed? If you believe clinical exercise specialist Namita Jain, water is a zero calorie nutrient. In addition to water, certain diet sodas and herbal teas are also zero in caloric content. But, since they are beverages, they can't take the place of solid food.
    She lets us in on a trick, though. There are foods that call for extra calories when being digested. So, in effect, they become zero-calorie foods. "Keep in mind that they have this negative calorie effect only when consumed without extras like fats or sugar," warns Jain.
    Explains master chef, author and television host Sanjeev Kapoor, "You consume a generous wedge of Mocca Gateaux at a five-star buffet, which is around 400 calories. To digest this, your body requires only about 150 calories. So, about 250 calories are added to your body fat! On the other hand, you munch on a stick of celery which is only five calories. Your body may require 150 calories to digest it, resulting in a net loss of 145 calories." This doesn't mean that the more you consume such foods, the more weight you lose. Anything in excess is harmful, he warns.
    Meat and eggs don't fall under zero-calorie food. "Select those foods which involve a lot of chewing as your body burns more calories than are consumed while chewing, digesting, metabolising and eliminating," explains Dr Mahesh Jukar, applied sports and exercise consultant. So, go for a celery stick, rather than a celery soup. Similarly, opt for whole fruits rather than fruit juices. Select fruits and vegetables that are high on moisture and fibre, maintains Jain.
    "It's a well-established fact that the extra bulk from fibre helps you feel fuller longer, staving off hunger pangs and helping you lose weight," adds Kapoor. Fruits and vegetables taken raw provide essential fibre, moisture, vitamins and minerals to our daily diet. "In fact, vitamins stimulate the tissues to produce enzymes that break down the caloric nutrients of the foods," asserts Kapoor.
    Veteran nutritionist Dr Vijaya Venkat is all for raw food, but against any compartmentalisation and food measures. For her, terms like calories, fat, carbs, etc don't exist. "All of us are products of nature and nurture. Nature remains the same, but nurturing has changed, which includes what we eat," she holds. Dr Venkat recommends one eats fruits and vegetables whenever hungry. Have it raw, flavoured with herbs and spice, add nuts, dried fruits and sprouts if you like, and you have a potent recipe.
    Even those who prefer their meals cooked can make healthy adjustments. In your favourite sandwich, include lettuce leaves and thick tomato fillings. Start with a fruit bowl and salad spread before proceeding onto your main meal. Opt for fruits in your desserts. Before you know it, you may be hovering somewhere close to size zero!
sudeshna.chatterjee@timesgroup.com 

ZERO-CALORIE FOODS
CUCUMBER, CELERY, TOMATO, LETTUCE, ASPARAGUS, GARLIC, SPINACH, ZUCCHINI, LEMON, GRAPEFRUIT, CABBAGE, GOURD, TURNIP, PAPAYA
AND PINEAPPLE

Size zero: Eat your way to health