Thermal Effect of Food - is this measure legit?

[Pellice]

Thanks to whomever it was in this forum who recommended Cronometer (that name does not mean what they meant it to mean, I think!) It's been interesting to track so much in the diet.

I have a question for the nutrition gurus here - the site includes an estimate for "thermal effect of food," apparently a guess at how many calories are expended in digestion. I get that this varies wildly from person to person and food to food - so should I be looking at it at all? Once I included it in daily calculations, my calorie expenditure increase by a little over 100 kcal.

I never heard of this measurement before. I assume it's legitmate, with the understanding that it's just a guess - but that some amount of calories ARE expended in digestion, correct?

 

[chassis]

Yes, the body consumes energy (calories) in the act of carrying out its business. For example digestion.

 

[Koolau]

Yes, the body consumes energy (calories) in the act of carrying out its business. For example digestion.

Kidneys use a lot of energy. I think I've read that it's around 7% of the body's average energy needs. I've often wondered if drinking more water would be a way to burn more calories. I've heard that there are negative-calorie foods (such as celery.) YMMV

 

[chassis]

Likely yes, to a point. How much water can a person drink, in practice?

If burning calories is interesting, is caloric balance also interesting? If it is, reduction of caloric intake is a more effective action to take.