Related Articles
The cabbage soup diet is a seven-day program intended for rapid weight reduction.
The cabbage soup diet is a diet plan that is intended for rapid weight reduction. The diet in combination with 30 minutes of exercise can provide better results with weight loss than months of strenuous workouts.
This diet, however, is highly calorie deficient, restrictive, and not sustainable. Thus, experts warn against its potential health hazards.
- The cabbage soup diet stimulates the body's metabolism and fat mobilization.
- This diet limits your calorie intake and causes your body to burn fat for energy.
- Low sodium, low calories, and high fiber allow you to lose weight faster if you followed a reasonable long-term dietary plan.
Do you lose weight with the cabbage soup diet?
There has been no extensive study to demonstrate that this diet contributes to long-term weight reduction.
When you follow this diet, you may eat as much soup as you like because it is quite low in calories. Even the other things you eat while on the diet are low in carbohydrates. This suggests that following it will result in weight reduction.
When you decrease calorie intake, you lose a lot of weight in a short time. These diets may not work in the long run because they decrease the body's metabolic rate gradually and lead to an unavoidable weight loss plateau. You must increase your body's metabolism to sustain the lost weight. If you are not careful, the weight you have just lost will be recovered in due course.
Diets that are low in calories but not as restrictive have advantages. Studies report that people with obesity, who follow a low-calorie diet under the supervision of a doctor, lose weight healthily. They demonstrate improvement in metabolism.
How does the cabbage soup diet plan work for weight loss?
There is a general layout to follow the cabbage soup diet. It is a seven-day program, and you must pay special attention to the criteria for each day.
- Day 1
- Consume several servings of cabbage soup, along with fruits, except bananas.
- The high fiber content of cabbage soup kickstarts the calorie-burning process while keeping your caloric intake low.
- Day 2
- Consume as much soup as you can the next day, along with vegetables, particularly leafy greens.
- The diet forbids you from eating peas, corn, and beans, but you are permitted to consume one baked potato with oil or butter.
- Day 3
- In addition to fruits (except bananas) and vegetables, you should consume as much cabbage soup as possible.
- While you could eat a potato on day 2, you should avoid consuming it on day 3.
- Day 4
- Have as many servings of cabbage soup as you like, and you can consume bananas and skim milk.
- Day 5
- You may include fresh protein in your diet along with plenty of cabbage soup.
- You may have up to 20 ounces of beef. If beef is not your preferred meat, you can substitute chicken or fish.
- Eat up to six tomatoes.
- Day 6
- Have as much soup as you like and meat and vegetables. You should avoid potatoes.
- You may consume green leafy vegetables.
- Day 7
- You can consume as much soup as you like, but now you should add brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice, and fresh vegetables to your diet.
You must have plenty of water to keep your body hydrated alongside this diet. It helps balance the electrolytes in the body and aids in weight loss.
4 health benefits of the cabbage soup diet
- Boosts immunity
- Cabbage is rich in antioxidants, which protect the cells from damage caused by free radicals.
- Vitamin C in cabbage acts as an immunity booster and improves immunological functions in the body.
- Improves bone health
- The vitamin K in cabbage can help maintain bone health and strength.
- It is beneficial to dental health as well.
- Prevents heart diseases
- Fiber reduces bad cholesterol, maintains blood glucose, and prevents high blood pressure levels, which reduce the risk of potential heart diseases.
- Soothes stomach ulcers
- Cabbage is high in soluble fiber, which reduces the risk of developing ulcers.
2 possible downsides of the cabbage soup diet
Cabbage soup diets are often generally suggested for a week at most. This diet can cleanse the digestive system if you do not eat too much meat. However, you should see a certified health practitioner for meal plan recommendations depending on your medical history.
- Deprives you of energy
- Even though the cabbage soup diet contains carbohydrates, meat, and vegetables, it does not include enough carbs to provide energy.
- Due to this, you may feel a lack of energy.
- The lack of energy may cause headaches, lightheadedness, and other symptoms in some. These negative effects are caused by not consuming enough calories, especially carbohydrates.
- Negative effects on overall health
- Furthermore, the cabbage soup diet reduces muscle mass.
- Most of the weight loss could be due to muscle mass and water loss instead of fat.
- If this type of diet plan is followed for an extended time, it might lead to nutritional deficiencies.
