Is there any science behind the cabbage soup diet?

The Cabbage Soup Diet has never been studied , so it's impossible to confirm its effectiveness. While it may result in temporary, short-term weight loss, it is unlikely to lead to sustainable weight loss. Because the Cabbage Soup Diet is very low in calories, it will likely result in short-term weight loss.

How much weight can you lose on the 7 day cabbage soup diet?

People who follow the diet strictly will likely lose some weight, potentially 10 pounds per week or more. This is because it involves eating so few calories each day. However, in most cases, people quickly regain this lost weight once they return to their regular diet.

What do you eat for breakfast on the cabbage soup diet?

No fruit, corn, beans, or peas. One russet or sweet potato baked with butter or oil is allowed. Breakfast: You can begin the day with the baked potato. Dice the potato into cubes, sprinkle it with some cinnamon and olive oil, then roast in the oven with onions and bell pepper.

Why am I not losing weight on the cabbage soup diet?

The diet plan is extremely rigid. Most of the weight lost will likely be water weight. The diet is only meant for short-term weight loss. The diet does not yield long-term results and most dieters will gain the weight back as soon as they stop the diet.

How many times a day are you supposed to eat cabbage soup diet?

Most variations of this diet suggest that people eat this soup two to three times a day —although some variations enable the participants to consume even more of the soup. The cabbage soup used in this diet combines ingredients like broth, nonstarchy vegetables, pepper, herbs and, of course, cabbage.

Can you eat eggs on the cabbage soup diet?

They are high in calories and sugar, so they are not recommended on the cabbage soup diet. High-Fat Foods: Foods rich in saturated fats, such as fried foods, fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, vegetables like avocado, and high-fat sauces or dressings, should be avoided. It is also recommended to avoid eggs .

Can I drink coffee on the cabbage soup diet?

Most versions allow black coffee while following the cabbage soup diet , but not coffee with milk.

Does cabbage soup diet burn belly fat?

No Scientific Evidence : Regardless of anecdotal evidence, the cabbage soup diet does not have scientific evidence backing its claims. Nor does cabbage or cabbage soup offer any extravagant fat-burning properties it's purported to have.

Can you have salad on the cabbage soup diet?

I do cabbage soup for lunch, and a salad sprinkled with salt, pepper, and olive oil . It's pretty good. I do rice cauliflower topped with a stir fry of zucchini, roasted carrots, and bell peppers with light soy sauce (cheating) for dinner. I snack on baked spinach chips.

Does cabbage burn belly fat?

Does cabbage burn belly fat? Although cabbage is a nutritious low-calorie vegetable, many people associate it with weight loss because of the popular "cabbage soup diet". Some creative marketing has led people to believe that cabbage actually burns body fat. In fact, no food, including cabbage, burns body fat .

Does cabbage detox the body?

Cabbage does double detox duty . Its diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it. Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled.

Cabbage Soup Diet Review: Ingredients and Effectiveness (2024)

The Promise

Fans claim you can drop 10 pounds or more in a week. Some people use it to kick-start their weight loss plan, or to trim a few pounds for a special event.

But before you stock up on cabbage, know that this crash diet won't help you in the long run, and it doesn't give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

What You Can Eat

Just like the name says, the bulk of this diet is fat-free cabbage soup, eaten two to three times a day with other allowed foods assigned each day. Here's what you can add:

Day 1: Fruit, except bananas
Day 2: Vegetables like leafy greens (not starchy), but no fruit
Day 3: Fruits and vegetables
Day 4: Bananas and skim milk
Day 5: Beef (or baked chicken without the skin) and tomatoes
Day 6: Beef and vegetables
Day 7: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and vegetables

There are different recipes for the soup, which is recommended every day of the diet. They all have similar ingredients, such as tomatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, and bouillon.

Level of Effort: Medium

Limitations: Your menu options are severely limited on this diet. It gets very boring, very quickly. If you want to try it again, it's recommended that you wait 2 weeks first.

Cooking and shopping: Get out your soup pot. You will need to make the cabbage soup and cook some of the vegetables recommended in the plan. Your shopping list will be very short for the week.

Does It Allow for Dietary Restrictions or Preferences?

There's not a lot of room to tweak the diet, since it's so rigid.

It is low in fat, because you eat mostly vegetables. But it's not vegetarian or vegan, since some meat is allowed.

What Else You Should Know

Cost: The only cost is for the ingredients, which you buy yourself. Some websites promoting the diet say you should take a supplement to make up for the nutrients you'll be missing from food.

Support: None. You do this diet on your own.

What Dr. Melinda Ratini Says:

Does It Work?

You'll lose weight, but only in the short run. This is strictly a lose-weight quick scheme.

You'll likely get less than 1,000 calories a day on the limited menu. That's far fewer than the 2,000 daily calories recommended for most adults.

Since you're getting so few calories, the pounds come off quickly, but mostly you'll lose water weight. And chances are, you'll gain it all back as soon as you start eating a normal diet again.

Health experts don't recommend following very low-calorie diets unless you're under a doctor's care. A better bet is to aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds each week on a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Is It Good for Certain Conditions?

Because it includes so few carbs, this diet could wreak havoc with any diabetes treatment plan.

Salt is not addressed on the plan, so if you've been told to cut back on the sodium, you'll have to hold back on using the salt shaker and bouillon when making the soup or cooking your food.

Since you'll likely regain any weight that you lose, the diet won't have a lasting positive impact on heart disease, cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

The Final Word

Though this diet is fast, cheap, and simple, it's not easy to stick with. It will likely leave you feeling hungry, weak, and bored. You might even feel sick. And if you follow the Cabbage Soup Diet for more than a week, you could run short on key nutrients.

Nor does the diet encourage the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be healthier and have lasting weight loss.

The drastic weight loss you might experience with The Cabbage Soup Diet can cause health problems and can be dangerous even when it’s done under a doctor’s supervision.

Never start this diet without talking to your doctor first. If they thinkyou need a very low-calorie diet, they'lllikely show you a much healthier way to go about it.