For something that sounds so unappealing, the Cabbage Soup Diet has definitely found a following and claims to be able to help you lose up to 10 pounds in a single week.
It seems that with some a limited diet, weight loss is inevitable. But how long can you sustain such a diet? And will you actually be able to keep the weight off?
What is The Cabbage Soup Diet?
The Cabbage Soup Diet, thankfully, is more than just water and cabbage. The recipe varies depending on the source, but the basic ingredients are:
-6 large green onions (also called “spring” onions)
-2 green peppers
-1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
-3 carrots
-1 container (10 oz. or so) mushrooms
-1 bunch of celery
-half a head of cabbage
-1 package spice-only soup mix
-1 or 2 cubes of bouillon (optional)
-1 48oz can Low Sodium V8 juice (optional)
-Season to taste with pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc. (Little to NO SALT!)
These ingredients are combined, the vegetables simmered, and the soup is seasoned to taste. This is the staple of the diet, but the 7-day plan offers variety. On most days, you can eat all of the fruit and vegetables you want in addition to the soup, and on other days you can eat random food items, like beef or a baked potato.
What the Experts Say
Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, a consultant for WebMD, says “Cabbage Soup Diet is sure to lead to quick weight loss. However, since the food choices are so limited and the calories so low, boredom and inadequate nutrition are inevitable.” This means that you will either quit or you will get sick or feel unhealthy.
This diet is not sustainable.
Furthermore, Zelman says, this diet plan is not specialized – “There are no recommendations about exercise, no behavioral tips, no advice on changing bad habits — just a strict list of what to eat each day of the week.”
Will The Cabbage Soup Diet Work?
The answer is kind of. Yes, it will help you lose weight fast, but it will not help you to keep it off and you will probably just go back to eating worse than before after you stop. A good way to combat this is to look for an appetite suppressant that will help you to reduce your calorie intake after you have finished a restrictive diet. Some of the best diet pills can even make diets like this obsolete, because they enable you to eat what you want, because you want to eat less.
Overall, The Cabbage Soup Diet is no more harmful than other diets out there, but it is not recommended for long-term weight loss.