“0 calorie.”
You’ve seen it on soda cans. On sweeteners. On snacks that feel too good to be true. It looks bold. It sounds healthy. But what is 0 calorie really?
Let’s decode the label — with help from Theta Wellness AI, your no-nonsense (but very nerdy)health companion.
⚗️ What Does “0 Calorie” Mean?
0 calorie = “This thing contains very little usable energy per serving — often less than 5 calories.” It’s legally allowed to round down to zero. (Yes, that means some “0 calorie” drinks do have a tiny bit of calorie sneakage.)
So no, it’s not made of dreams and dust — just math and marketing.
🥬 What Counts As 0 Calorie?
Here’s the usual lineup of zero calorie heroes:
- 🧊 Water & Ice: Truly 0.
- 🥒 Super low-cal veggies: Celery, cucumbers, lettuce — high in fiber, low in everything else.
- 🍭 Zero calorie sweeteners: Stevia, erythritol, monk fruit, sucralose — the sugar swaps of our time.
These foods don’t “do nothing” — they hydrate, satisfy, or trick your sweet tooth. But they don’t give you measurable fuel (a.k.a. calories).
🤖 Why Does Theta AI Care?
Because food isn’t just about calories. It’s also about micronutrients, blood sugar response, gut impact, metabolic load, and how your body responds. Curious about what’s actually in your drink, dressing, or dessert? At Theta Wellness, we help you make sense of what you’re really eating.
📸 Snap Your Food, Get the Truth
Use Theta Wellness AI or head to food.thetahealth.ai. Just snap a food label or meal — we’ll tell you:
- Actual calories
- Micros & macros
- If that “0 calorie” snack is lying to you politely
Theta Wellness health blog 