Nutritionist Debunks 'Cold-Effect' and Fat-Burning Food Myths

Nutritionist María de los Ángeles García, known as Boticaria García, said that foods with a "cold-effect" and fat-burning properties do not exist.

These misconceptions often lead consumers to make dietary choices based on biological myths rather than scientific evidence. By clarifying the limits of how food affects body temperature and weight loss, health experts aim to reduce the reliance on misleading marketing claims.

During an appearance on the program Zapeando on July 7 ^[1], García said that certain foods cannot lower body temperature. She explained that while no foods can act "como un aire acondicionado" — like an air conditioner — some may function "como el ventilador de la abuela" — like a grandmother's fan ^[2]. This distinction suggests that while some foods may provide a sensation of coolness or mild relief, they cannot fundamentally alter the body's core temperature in the way a cooling system does.

García also tackled the concept of fat-burning foods. She said that fat-burning foods do not exist, though there are substances that can influence metabolism slightly ^[3]. This clarification separates the idea of a "miracle food" that eliminates fat from the biological reality of metabolic stimulants.

Throughout her explanation, García said that there is often "fine print" involved in these health claims. The nutritionist noted that while certain substances may have a marginal effect on how the body processes energy, these effects are not sufficient to justify the label of "fat-burning" in a clinical or practical sense.

Her appearance in the Zapeando studio in Madrid served as a public effort to debunk these recurring nutritional myths [1, 2].