How Many Calories in Cabbage Soup? Nutrition Breakdown

Understanding Cabbage Soup Calories

Cabbage soup is a staple ingredient in many diet and weight loss plans. But exactly how many calories are in cabbage soup? And does the number of calories vary between different cabbage soup recipes?

When following a diet plan like the cabbage soup diet, understanding the calorie content of cabbage soup is key for keeping your daily calorie goals on track and achieving sustainable weight loss.

What is Cabbage Soup?

Cabbage soup refers to any vegetable soup made with cabbage as the main ingredient. Along with cabbage, cabbage soups typically contain a variety of low-calorie vegetables like carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes and spinach.

The basic cabbage soup recipe only has around 100-150 calories per one cup serving. However, other ingredients like meat, grains, beans or oil can dramatically increase the calorie count of cabbage soup recipes.

Calories in Homemade Cabbage Soup

Homemade cabbage soup recipes can vary widely in their calorie content. This depends on the specific ingredients used in the recipe.

For example, a basic homemade cabbage soup made with cabbage, carrots, onions and tomatoes contains approximately:

• 100 calories in 1 cup
• 150 calories in 1.5 cups
• 200 calories in 2 cups

On the other hand, a creamier homemade cabbage soup made with ingredients like milk, cream, butter or oil would be higher in calories. For example:

• 250 calories in 1 cup
• 375 calories in 1.5 cups
• 500 calories in 2 cups

Calories in Canned Cabbage Soup

Like homemade versions, canned cabbage soups can also vary widely in calories depending on the specific brand and recipe.

Many popular canned cabbage soup brands range from 60-180 calories per one cup serving. Lower calorie options typically contain just cabbage and garden vegetables, while higher calorie creamy or condensed canned soups contain added ingredients like pasta, beans or meat.

Comparing Cabbage Soup Calories

When counting cabbage soup calories, pay attention to ingredient lists and nutrition labels for the most accurate information. As a general guide:

• Basic garden vegetable or homemade cabbage soup is around 100-150 calories per cup
• Condensed or cream-based canned cabbage soups range from 150-250 calories per cup
• Hearty cabbage soups with ingredients like beans, pasta or meat can contain 200-300 calories per cup

Cabbage Soup Nutrition

In addition to being low in calories, cabbage soup is highly nutritious. Cabbage itself packs some impressive health benefits, as do the other vegetables commonly added to cabbage soup recipes.

Benefits of Cabbage

Cabbage is an exceptionally healthy cruciferous vegetable. Some of the top nutrients and health benefits of cabbage include:

• High in vitamin C and vitamin K
• Contains potent antioxidants like sulforaphane
• Anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties
• Supports heart and brain health
• Aids digestion

Benefits from Other Soup Ingredients

Along with cabbage, most cabbage soup recipes contain a medley of other nutritious vegetables like:

• Carrots - High in vitamin A and antioxidants
• Onions - Contain anti-inflammatory quercetin and prebiotic fiber
• Celery - Excellent source of vitamins B6, C, K
• Spinach - Packed with vitamins A, C, K, iron, folate
• Tomatoes - Provide essential nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, folate

Together, this combination of veggies significantly boosts the nutrient profile of cabbage soup.

Cabbage Soup Health Benefits

Thanks to its high fiber and nutrient content, cabbage soup offers many impressive health benefits. These include:

• Aids healthy digestion
• Supports heart health
• Boosts immunity
• Fights inflammation
• High antioxidant content
• May protect against certain cancers

Overall, cabbage soup is highly nutritious and linked to a variety of health perks when consumed as part of a balanced diet.

Calories and Weight Loss

Due to its low calorie and high nutrition content, cabbage soup is popular for use in diet plans aiming to reduce calories and lose weight.

Cabbage Soup Diet

The cabbage soup diet is a rapid weight loss diet that involves eating primarily cabbage soup multiple times per day for seven days. The restrictive diet claims followers can lose up to 10 lbs in one week.

By structuring the diet around low-calorie cabbage soup, daily calorie intake is limited to facilitate rapid weight loss in the short term.

Is the Cabbage Soup Diet Safe and Sustainable?

While the cabbage soup diet may cause quick, initial weight loss, many health experts warn against following the restrictive seven day plan.

Potential concerns with the cabbage soup diet and plan include:

• Too low in calories for most people
• Risk of nutritional deficiencies over time
• Lack of protein and unhealthy fats
• Only meant for short term use
• Highly restrictive and difficult to sustain
• Often causes rebound weight gain

For sustainable, long term weight management, balanced diets with moderate calorie deficits are recommended over extreme low-calorie diets like the cabbage soup diet.

Healthy Cabbage Soup Recipes for Weight Loss

While the full cabbage soup diet is not the healthiest option, incorporating beneficial, low-calorie cabbage soup into a balanced diet can support weight loss.

Some tips for healthy cabbage soup recipes include:

• Keep ingredients simple
• Emphasize vegetables
• Avoid heavy creams
• Limit high fat meats
• Use broth for more flavor over oils
• Season with herbs and spices

Pairing fresh, homemade cabbage soup containing 100-200 calories per serving with other wholesome foods can promote safe, gradual weight loss over time.

The Takeaway on Cabbage Soup Calories

When it comes to calories in cabbage soup, most basic recipes range from 100-150 calories per one cup serving. Heartier recipes with added ingredients like beans, pasta or cream can get up to 250-300 calories per serving.

Thanks to its high nutrition and low calories, cabbage soup can be a healthy choice when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Just be mindful of added ingredients that can increase the calorie count.

While the restrictive cabbage soup diet is not a sustainable long-term eating pattern, incorporating beneficial cabbage soup along with other wholesome foods can support safe, gradual weight loss over time.

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.