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Home 
Diets
Calorie Counting
How Does
Cabbage Soup Diet Compare?
BACKGROUND
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PRO
CON
DIET and NUTRITION
EXERCISE
CONCLUSION
Common Misspellings
Whats better than
Cabbage Soup Diet?
Diets
Calorie Counting
What is it?
Cabbage Soup Diet is a weight loss plan said to be a short term solution for 10 pounds of weight loss in a week. It emphasizes eating an unlimited amount of cabbage soup, and many different websites offer different variations.
Generally, one is allowed to eat certain added fruits and vegetables depending on the day of the diet. It’s unknown who came up it with this plan, but it’s believed to have started in the 1980’s. It’s considered a crash diet, and much like other similar diets is advised only for a few days with no guarantee of long term weight loss. Our experts reviewed many diets and found the 18Shake Diet to be the best solution for weight loss. Discover more about the 18Shake Diet by clicking on the link found here.
Do You Know the Best Diets of 2024?
Cabbage Soup Diet Ingredients and Side Effects
The Cabbage Soup Diet dies not rely on diet pills or pre-packaged foods, all the food eaten have to be prepared. One website that promotes the Cabbage Soup Diet says:
“not suitable for long-term weight loss”
It’s instead intended:
“If you have a special occasion coming up or you simply need to lose weight fast”
Often it will be advised that in order to maintain the diet one should follow these rules:
- Drink a minimum of 4 glasses of water.
- Take a multivitamin.
- Eating as much soup as possible, not starving oneself.
- Introducing different recipes to avoid boredom.
A 2 week break is recommended for people who want to restart the diet. Cabbage isn’t the only produce allowed; one can also add things like onions, celery, asparagus, zucchini, squash, barley, some meats, and many different seasonings.
Though this can be healthy, relying on it solely can potentially lead to nutritional deficiencies. Web MD also adds:
“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”
Furthermore, they add:
“Health experts don’t recommend following very low-calorie diets unless you’re under a doctor’s care”
This is due to there being numerous damaging health effects that the diet can have. A list of the highest rated diet plans is found in the link provided here.
The results of this diet are not likely to continue, as Web MD confirms:
“you’ll like regain any weight that you lose”
“It will likely leave you feeling hungry, weak, and bored. You might even feel sick”
This is because there’s a lack of adequate food options. It’s not offered as a long term solution, and instead is said to be a quick weight loss solution. There’s one Cabbage Soup Diet website that admits:
“A lot of people quit because the soup can be a bit bland, and they quickly tire of eating it every day”
There are several considerations to keep in mind. It’s not recommended for long-term use, and it’s believed the only reason one might lose weight is due to water weight and not fat. Live Strong.com adds:
“It’s possible to lose as much as 20 pounds of body weight during one week, most of which is water”
This is likely the reason why one sees any weight loss from this diet, since it’s low in carbohydrates and high in fluids, most water weight is flushed out of the body. As you’ll see in the “Customer Opinions of Cabbage Soup Diet”, many customers regained their weight as soon as they stopped the diet.
One popular variation of the diet allows for the following:
- Day one: Unlimited fruit except for bananas alongside water, tea, and coffee.
- Day two: No fruit, only raw vegetables and one baked potato
- Day three: Unlimited fruits and vegetables except for potatoes and bananas.
- Day four: 8 bananas and unlimited skimmed milk.
- Day five: 6 tomatoes and 565g of beef
- Day six: Unlimited vegetables and beef but no potatoes.
- Day seven: Some brown rice and sugar free fruit juice.
A comprehensive list of the top 10 diet plans is offered in the link provided here.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.
Cabbage Soup Diet Quality of Ingredients
Many of the ingredients are healthy as it relies on fresh produce and grains. However, there is an issue with boredom as the same basic good groups have to be eaten repeatedly.
Also, there’s no science that eating only cabbage soup is healthy and safe. A Dr. Melinda Ratini says:
“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”
“The pounds come off quickly, but mostly you’ll lose water weight”
“chances are, you’ll regain it all back as soon as you start eating a normal diet again”
The diet was made to help one with weight loss in a one week period, but this does not mean it will help with long term weight loss. Health experts also agree it’s likely not a quality solution for weight loss due to its limited food options. A top 10 list of the highest ranked diet plans is offered in the link provided here.
The Price and Quality of Cabbage Soup Diet
The price depends on where one gets their grocery from, as no prepackaged foods are needed.
The diet does advise to get a multivitamin, due to the lack of food options that are high in nutrients. It’s also necessary to eat unlimited amounts of cabbage soup. This means one will have to cook for the full 7 days, as the diet also limits the kinds of seasonings through reducing sodium provided from salt.
Due to the lack of clinical studies proving that this is an effective and safe weight loss solution, it’s a very poor diet. A comprehensive top 10 list features the highest rated diet pills.
The Mayo Clinic also had this to say:
“Fad diets like this one may be tempting, but keep in mind that long-term weight loss depends on making lasting healthy changes”
The changes needed in this diet are too short term to truly be a quality solution for weight loss.
Business of Cabbage Soup Diet
It’s unknown who created this diet, though many websites offer books and tips. Each group offers slightly different advice, with the only key thing being that you can only eat cabbage soup alongside some fruits and vegetables for a total of 7 days.
The diet will often be presented in either a free format via a PDF, or through a book. There are no claims that anyone made this diet, though each book claims it has the optimal guide. There are often recipe books offered as well as tips.
No studies or proof that this diet actually works and is safe is available anywhere. This makes it impossible to determine why the diet was created and suggested in the way it’s displayed. It also allows many different groups to make claims about what to add to the diet, without providing any proof. Our experts compiled a list of the highest rated diet plans in the list featured here.
EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.
Customer Opinions of Cabbage Soup Diet
Here are some reviews from users who have used this diet:
“Cabbage soup is not a filler upper”
“I see no real physical weight loss”
“have quite a headache”
“worst heart burn I have ever had”
People did mention they lost weight, but that they often gained it all back one they resumed eating. This makes sense as it’s likely the only reason one is losing weight is due to water weight.
Some also experienced side effects such as gas, bloating, and nausea. There were also concerns from people that they quickly became bored of it, and that they often felt like quitting. A list of the highest ranked diet plans is available in the link provided here.
Conclusion - Does Cabbage Soup Diet Work?
There are many things to consider about the Cabbage Soup Diet. There’s no science or proof that this diet actually works, and that’s why there’s many different variations on it. Many people who tried it say they regained all their weight loss, which is common for crash diets that serve to reduce water weight instead of fat. Health experts on the Mayo Clinic and Web MD website also confirm its likely not safe or effective for real weight loss.
The highest rated diet plan of 2024 was found to be the 18Shake Diet. It combines a high protein, appetite suppressing meal replacement as well as a natural stimulant free metabolism booster. Many customers say it’s effective for weight loss, and that it’s easy to use. There are no added filler ingredients, stimulants, or processed additives. It contains only natural extracts and ingredients clinically shown to help with weight loss. Many users have left glowing testimonials and positive reviews on their website.
The 18Shake Diet offers its supplements with a full 30 day money back guarantee. Returns are allowed within these 30 days with no risk and no questions asked. Learn more about the 18Shake Diet by clicking the link provided here.
- Product Name
- User Rating
- Easy to follow
- Cheap Price
- Fast Results
- High Protein Diet
- 91/100
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- Dukan Diet
- 89/100
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- Paleo Diet
- 87/100
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- Plexus Slim
- 77/100
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- Cabbage Soup Diet
- 29 /100
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Wikipedia
The Cabbage soup diet is a radical weight loss diet designed around heavy consumption of a low-calorie cabbage soup over the time of seven days. It is generally considered a fad diet, in that it is designed for short-term weight-loss and requires no long-term commitment. It has inspired several copy-cats based around similar principles.
BACKGROUND
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Look up the definition of fad diet and you’ll see a picture illustrating the Cabbage Soup Diet. It should not be followed as a long-term eating plan, as it is dangerously low in calories and could do more harm than good. It is possible to lose 10 pounds in a week when you stick to this uber-low calorie plan.
The Cabbage Soup Diet does offer fast weight loss, but it is completely lacking in nutrition, flavor and variety. You'll consume mostly soups of cabbage, onion, celery, carrots, tomatoes and mushrooms. Nutritionists argue that the pounds shed are more likely attributed to the dramatic and dangerous loss in calories and not the proposed fat-burning power found in the cabbage. This diet deprives your body of essential nutrients and has been correlated to difficulty concentrating, feeling light-headed and weak.
Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2024?
PRO
- You will lose weight
CON
- Unhealthy
- Dangerously caloric intake
- Primarily losing water weight
- Will regain lost weight if don't stick to healthy eating and exercise following completion
- Does not promote exercise; would be too weak to do so
DIET and NUTRITION
The one-week Cabbage Soup Diet relies on this simple plan:
Day One All-you-can-eat soup and fruit (no bananas). Consume plenty of water, cranberry juice and unsweetened tea.
Day Two Consume all the soup and vegetables you like (no beans, peas or corn). Have a buttered baked potato with dinner. No fruit today.
Day Three Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you like, nothing else.
Day Four Eat your soup, no more than eight bananas and all the skim milk you want.
Day Five Have at least one serving of soup today. You can also have 10-20 ounces of skinless chicken or beef and no more than six tomatoes. Drink plenty of water.
Day Six Eat plenty of vegetables and your servings of beef. Today is the day you can go a bit overboard with the meat (2 steaks if you like) - just make sure to add salad and vegetables. Stay away from the carbs - no fries, potatoes, etc.
Day Seven Have at least one serving of soup. Only eat brown rice, vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice.
EXERCISE
No recommendations are made. Given the severely low calories you'll be consuming, you likely won't have the strength for physical activity.
CONCLUSION
For rapid weight loss as a jump-start to a more healthy eating plan, the Cabbage Soup Diet could possibly be a solution. However, fasting or liquid diets like Cabbage Soup promising dramatic weight loss results in only a week are typically only helping you shed water weight. This weight will creep right back on once you stop the diet and continue with previous poor eating habits. Finishing the Cabbage Soup Diet and beginning a healthy eating and exercise regimen is the best advice anyone following this unhealthy approach can receive. Be sure to speak with your physician before beginning.
Common Misspellings
cabbge soup diet, cabbage soup deit, cabage soup diet, cabbagge soup, cabbagesoupdiet.com, cabbage diet, cabagge soup diet, soup diet
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Cabbage Soup Diet?
User Feedback
(Page 15 of 37, 727 total comments)Amanda Cassel
How is the cabbage soup diet, which promotes fresh fruit and vegetables along with unsweetened soft drinks unhealthy? Meanwhile the site is promoting Diet V8 Splash which has high fructose corn syrup in it, known to cause type 2 diabetes. This site is a joke!
posted Jun 26th, 2010 6:59 pmRUZGAR
This is my day four but I didn't loose any weight. Why is wrong with me :((
posted Jun 26th, 2010 2:30 pmsharmeen
I started the diet today....I exercise intensely so I felt a bit tired when on the cross trainer but I do feel great :-). I made the soup using a lot of vegetables and added some garlic granules, pepper, parsley, oregano and thai spices.....tasted yum....Good luck to all.....
posted Jun 26th, 2010 9:29 amKim
+So I have completed day 1....and I won't lie....I struggled. But I'm a person that never eats soup and doesn't really care for fruit (terrible I know). And I had some really weird cravings like McDonalds cheeseburgers - which I never normally would want at 8am!! I do feel less bloated though :)
posted Jun 8th, 2010 9:20 pmSo today is day 2....and I am hungry! I am just eating some veg which is helping.....but I am really looking forward to potato tonight!
But I am determined :) I just wish that the office girls would stop trying to share their box of chololates!
suni
I am starting it tommorow. Hoping to see positive results.....Good Luck!!! for me :-)
posted Jun 8th, 2010 1:00 pmMe
+If you get tired of eating the soup, I figured out a way of disguising the soup..
posted Jun 3rd, 2010 1:40 pmPut soup in the blender and add cumin.
Eat hot or cold. Taste's like Salsa!
Savs
I am on Day 5 havent weighed myself yet will do so once i finish the diet i hope i have lost a bit of weight though i feel like i havent lost any ...
posted May 28th, 2010 9:22 amDay three was the hardest for me but i pushed through on banana and skimmed milk day i had butternut sqaush soup hope this did not derail my weight loss will update on day 7 when i weigh myself ...fingers crossed
kasey
+Finished the week!
posted May 24th, 2010 2:05 pmI lost a total of 9 lb and may have been able to to better.
On the last day I actually had 2 bowls of rice and veggies mixed together and I got a small blizzard from dairy queen and still lost 2lb haha...The blizzard killed my stomach...so not only does this diet work, but it will teach you a lesson when you go to eat something that is unhealthy.
I will be starting again in a week!
Betty
+I just finished day 7. It seemed like the week went by fairly slow and I actually lost 11 lbs in the 7 days! I will wait 2 weeks then restart again. Good luck to everyone!
posted May 24th, 2010 12:32 amkasey
Day 7
posted May 23rd, 2010 7:09 pmLAST DAY
Im almost done with the diet!
I have lost another pound so I am down 7 lb in 6 days
kasey
Day 6 is today - ALMOST DONE!
posted May 22nd, 2010 11:27 amI lost 1lb since yesterday which isnt too bad. I am officially down 6lb in 5 days.
I really hope this is helping people out.
I have pretty much stuck to the diet. The last 2 days I have ate 1 slice of pepperjack cheese just because I felt like it haha. Also, I have not stopped drinking coffee. Every morning I have about 2 cups with CoffeeMate French Vanilla creamer and a few times a week i get iced coffee from mcdonalds with the cream and sugar.
Maybe if I would have given that up I would have done better but I dont think it would have made that much of a difference
Only today and tomorrow then I am done. I will update on Monday with my final weight loss after a full 7 days.
I plan on going off of it for the next week since I will be at a business meeting, but I am going to try my best to eat very healthy while I am gone and go back on it for the following week.
kasey
Day 5 today.
posted May 21st, 2010 10:00 amSad to announce I didnt loose anything. But I am going to keep with it. Its just confusing me how I could possibly loose anymore now with adding meat into the mix for the next 2 days but im going to finish the 7 day thing.
kasey
+Day 4 Starts today!
posted May 20th, 2010 9:48 amI hope this is helping some people who aren't sure about doing this....
I only lost 0.5 yesterday, but its better than gaining. That brings my total weight loss down to 5lb in 3 days.
Today is Bananas and Milk day! I bought 8 bananas and a gallon of skim milk, but I hope I dont use all of it haha it kind of grosses me out.
Anyway - ill check in tomorrow
kasey
+Day 3 starts today!
posted May 19th, 2010 9:34 amI am down to 188.5. (Day 1 lost 2.5lb, Day 2 lost 2.0lb) Down 4.5lb in 2 days!!!
Yesterday was def. hard until dinner time...once I had the baked potato i was so full i just wanted to go to sleep haha.
Today shouldnt be too bad with fruit and veggies
Ill update again tomorrow.
kasey
+Day 2 starts today
posted May 18th, 2010 9:43 amDay 1 was pretty hard but I just pushed thru it. I lost 2.5 pounds in one day. SWEET. down to 190.5
ill report back tomorrow. Today is going to suck with just veggies
Kasey
+So...Im on day 1 and im kind of excited. I made the soup last night. Its ok...doesnt taste like anything but then again I HATE soup in general.
posted May 17th, 2010 2:10 pmStart Day 1 - 193.0lb
I will check in everyday to compare. I have a wedding coming up and my goal is 175 by July 3. My plan is one week on and one week off with this diet until the wedding. Im not going to work out during the diet weeks, but I will be working out on the off weeks.
Good luck to everyone and you can do anything you set your mind to. Dont look at other food haha and avoid driving by McDonalds at all costs haha
rachel
+i am on day one of the cabbage soup diet and i am enjoying it i have 51 pounds to lose i am now at 189 pounds and ii am 5.3 in hieght.
posted May 12th, 2010 10:16 amBlakeley
+Definitely not the easiest diet in the world ... but whay diet IS easy?! It definitely beats counting calories or drinking meal replacement drinks. I messed up on Day 1 because it just wasn't doing it for me, but got mad at myself for doing that and started over again today. Definitely can feel the lack of energy and concentration, but it's refreshing to know that I am only eating fruits and veggies (in the soup). I am so excited for banana/milk day and meat day! If it's only for 7 days, I know I can do it. May be tough, but I think it will get easier in the next day or so. My mom did this diet and was VERY successful - I think the end results will make one week worth it!! Good luck everyone!
posted May 4th, 2010 1:33 pmCelia
I am now on day 6.... I have had lots of energy until today. I kinda pushed to hard yesterday. Almost finished though:) I am down 6 lbs so far. I will be happy to lose just 1 more to meet my 1st goal.
posted May 2nd, 2010 8:08 amtoti
+i just started today hope i can make it .
posted May 1st, 2010 12:53 ami really need to lose the weight for prom =)))