Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a 7 day meal plan, aimed at achieving fast weight loss. It is not a long-term weight loss solution, but is known to be effective over the short term. Apparently it originally came from a hospital (Sacred Hearts Hospital) to stimulate weight loss for surgery patients - but this cannot be verified.

Pros

• Fast weight loss.
• The change from some of our normally junky eating habits can be beneficial.
• Vegetables from the Brassica family (such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) have been found to aid in preventing cancer.
• Many say they enjoy eating the soup.

Cons

• Some complain that the Cabbage Soup a little too bland.
• Be prepared for gas…
• Requires will power.
• Lacks good nutrition
• High in salt.
• Not a long-term answer.

Cabbage Soup Diet Plan

This diet is not recommended

Day 1
Homemade cabbage soup, plus any fruit, apart from bananas.

Day 2
Homemade cabbage soup, plus other vegetables, including a baked potato with butter for dinner (potatoes are off-limits on other days)

Day 3
Homemade cabbage soup, plus other fruits and vegetables.

Day 4
Homemade cabbage soup, plus anything up to 6 bananas and fat-free milk.

Day 5
Homemade cabbage soup, plus 6 tomatoes and up to 450 grams of meat or fish.

Day 6
Homemade cabbage soup, plus meat(beef) and vegetables.

Day 7
Homemade cabbage soup, plus brown rice, pure fruit juice, and vegetables.

No bread, carbonated beverages, or alcohol.

Cabbage Soup Recipe

6 large green onions
2 green peppers
1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
1 bunch celery
1/2 head cabbage
1 package Onion Soup Mix
1 or 2 cubes bouillon (optional)
1 48 oz. can V8
Juice (optional)
Season to taste (salt, pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc).

Note: There are a number of variations to this recipe.

Summary

The biggest drawback of the Cabbage Soup diet plan is the sheer monotony of eating cabbage soup. However some diets (such as the negative calorie diet) basically look at the nutritional properties of the cabbage soup diet, and make it more interesting by combining other foods that have the same effect.

There are also serious concerns regarding the nutritional quality of this diet. On many days the diet is low in protein, calcium, and essential fatty acids. There also high levels of sodium or MSG (Monosodium Glutamate).

Weight loss will probably occur due to the low calorie intake.

See also:

Cabbage Soup Diet