gen-briefly-explain-the-thermic-effect-of-food-and-one-common-mi-529b

Briefly explain the thermic effect of food and one common misconception about it.

# The Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) **What it is:** TEF is the energy your body expends to digest, absorb, and process nutrients from food. It accounts for roughly 10% of your total daily energy expenditure. Different macronutrients require different amounts of energy to process: - Protein: 20-30% of calories consumed - Carbohydrates: 5-10% - Fats: 0-3% ## Common Misconception **"Negative calorie foods exist"** — Some believe certain foods (like celery or ice water) burn more calories during digestion than they contain, creating a "negative calorie" effect. **Reality:** While some low-calorie foods do have a relatively high TEF, no food truly costs more energy to digest than it provides. Even celery, which is very low in calories, still provides a net positive calorie contribution after accounting for its thermic effect. The TEF never exceeds 30% of the food's caloric content, so you always net at least 70% of the calories consumed.