Scary Movie Diet?
According to an article in The Telegraph, researchers at the University of Westminster say that watching horror movies can help you burn the caloric equivalent of a small chocolate bar.
Films which make the audience jump in terror are the best calorie burners. Dr. Richard Mackenzie, senior lecturer and specialist in cell metabolism and physiology at the University, explains why. “As the pulse quickens and blood pumps around the body faster, the body experiences a surge in adrenaline. It is this release of fast acting adrenaline, produced during short bursts of intense stress (or in this case, brought on by fear), which is known to lower the appetite, increase the Basal Metabolic Rate and ultimately burn a higher level of calories.”
However, we believe the participants in this experiment didn’t have a giant bowl of buttery popcorn while watching these scary movies.
Photo from IMDB
The top 10 calorie-burning frightening films were:
1. The Shining: 184 calories
2. Jaws: 161 calories
3. The Exorcist: 158 calories
4. Alien: 152 calories
5. Saw: 133 calories
6. A Nightmare on Elm Street: 118 calories
7. Paranormal Activity: 111 calories
8. The Blair Witch Project: 105 calories
9. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 107 calories
10. [Rec]: 101 calories
Of course, watching horror movies is no substitute for a healthy diet, exercise and drinking plenty of ionized alkaline water, but it is a fun way to burn a few extra calories. This Halloween, after you’ve indulged in some candy, watch a scary movie or two so you don’t have to feel too guilty about eating those delicious Halloween treats. What’s your favorite scary movie?
Happy Halloween!
