Is the Cabbage Soup Diet an Effective Way to Lose Weight Quickly?

Understanding the Cabbage Soup Diet

The cabbage soup diet is a fast weight loss diet that has been around since the 1980s. It is also sometimes called the military diet or the Sacred Heart diet. The cabbage soup diet promises that you can lose up to 10 pounds in just one week by eating primarily cabbage soup and a few other low-calorie foods.

How the Cabbage Soup Diet Works

The cabbage soup diet is a very low-calorie diet that lasts for seven days. Each day focuses on eating mainly cabbage soup, along with a few other low-calorie foods like fruit, vegetables, and lean protein. The extremely low calorie intake is intended to induce rapid weight loss. However, because so few calories are consumed each day, nutrition experts warn that the diet is very restrictive and potentially dangerous.

Rules of the Cabbage Soup Diet

The basic rules of the cabbage soup diet involve eating homemade cabbage soup one to three times per day, every day for seven days. Here are the basic guidelines:

• Eat unlimited cabbage soup
• Drink at least 4 cups (950ml) of water per day in addition to the soup
• Take a multivitamin supplement each day
• Do not eat baked, broiled, or grilled meats on the diet

In addition to cabbage soup, different foods are allowed each day. These include limited fruits, vegetables, beef, chicken, brown rice, and tomato juice. Ice cream is allowed on days six and seven.

Benefits of the Cabbage Soup Diet

Proponents of the cabbage soup diet point to its ability to deliver quick, short-term weight loss as the main benefit. However, there are a few other possible benefits as well.

Fast Weight Loss

The extremely low number of calories consumed each day, coupled with the diuretic effect of the salty cabbage soup, usually results in large short-term weight loss. Losing 5-10 pounds in one week is fairly common.

Detoxification

The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. This focus on whole foods may help eliminate processed foods, salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats from your diet. Eliminating these inflammatory foods may promote a short-term detoxifying effect.

Satiety

Cabbage soup is filled with vegetables that can provide satiety on very few calories. Feeling satisfied and full while restricting calories is helpful for short-term weight loss success.

Downsides of the Cabbage Soup Diet

While the cabbage soup diet may have a few benefits, there are many downsides to this fad diet that make it a very poor choice for sustainable, long-term weight loss and health.

Extreme Calorie Restriction

Consuming so few calories every day can be dangerous. It can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, mood swings, and even loss of menstruation in women. Such a low calorie intake may promote binge eating when you finish the diet.

Lack of Variety

Restricting your diet to primarily cabbage soup does not provide enough variety for adequate nutrition. The diet is lacking in whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein for most days.

High Sodium

To make the cabbage soup palatable, most recipes call for very high amounts of sodium from bouillon cubes or tomato juice. This can promote fluid retention and joint pain.

Weight Regain

While fast initial weight loss is common, most people regain all the weight back quickly after the diet ends since it promotes unsustainable, short-term fixes rather than long-term lifestyle changes.

Healthier Approach for Sustainable Weight Loss

For sustainable, long-term weight loss results, most nutrition experts recommend an approach focused on lifestyle changes like:

• Eat more whole, minimally processed foods
• Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats
• Restrict sugar, refined grains, and unhealthy fats
• Reduce overall calorie intake to a modest deficit
• Participate in regular physical activity

This balanced approach based on whole foods, calorie control, and an active lifestyle can promote gradual, sustainable weight loss over time.

Trying Cabbage Soup

While the cabbage soup diet itself has considerable downsides, incorporating some low-calorie, vegetable-based cabbage soup into a balanced diet can be part of a healthy approach. Give this simple cabbage detox soup recipe a try:

Ingredients:

• 1 small head green cabbage, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to large soup pot
2. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally
3. Remove bay leaf before serving
4. Optional toppings: grated Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes

You can add Lean protein like chicken, turkey, or beans to turn this low-calorie vegetable soup into a meal. Enjoy this healthy cabbage detox soup as part of a balanced diet.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.