We live in a world of acronyms. There are thousands, if not millions of them. Many are related to the medical field, others to business and still more associated with the military. But when it comes to our daily health and well being there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest: ZCF.
That acronym stands for Zero Calorie Foods. Put quite simply they are foods that burn more calories than they contain. So whether you are attempting to lose weight or if you just want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle ZCF should be a integral part of your daily diet. Now for those of you who can recall the science class way back in high school that defined what a calorie exactly is, you remember that it is a unit of heat invented by Nicolas Clement in 1824 that is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of water by 1 degree Centigrade. The daily recommended calorie intake for men is 2,500 and for women it is slightly less at 2,000. 3,500 calories is equivalent to 1 pound of body fat.
For years nutritionists have advised us to steer clear of empty calories, that is, calories from solid fats and /or added sugars. Those kinds of calories have few or no nutritional value. Solid fats are just that, fats that are solid at room temperature: butter, beef fat and shortening. And while some are found naturally in foods, others are added to foods when they are processed or prepared, like the added sugars and syrups added to foods and beverages to increase flavor. We all know that they are in abundance in many sodas and chips (and those wonderful beef fat fries!)
ZCF are things like fruits and vegetables, the foods that we are supposed to eat 4 to 5 times a day. They help us to feel fuller and healthier because they lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and they also reduce the risk of heart disease and ease joint pain.
There is no shortage of ZCF available to us so there is no excuse not to enjoy an apple or peach instead of reaching for the canister of Pringles. Here's a partial list of ZCF for you to consider including in your daily diet:
Apple Chili Peppers Mango
Apricot Cranberries Mushroom
Asparagus Cress Onion
Aubergine (eggplant) Cucumber Papaya
Beet Endive Peach
Blackberries Garlic Pineapple
Blueberries Grapefruit Radish
Broccoli Green Beans Raspberries
Butternut Squash Honeydew Spinach
Cabbage Kelp Strawberries
Cantaloupe Lemon Tangerine
Carrot Lettuce Tomato
Cauliflower Lime Turnip
Celery Watermelon
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