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Cabbage Soup Diet

Cabbage Soup Diet

The very definition of an ill-advised fad diet.

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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.

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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.

How Does Cabbage Soup Diet Compare?
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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.

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User Feedback

(Page 19 of 37, 727 total comments)

Kristi

My daughter and I are on day 2 on this diet. We are having a hard time with it. Definitely getting the headaches and feeling hungry a lot. Excited about the potato tonight, real FOOD! Wish us luck :)

posted Jul 23rd, 2009 3:23 pm


Anusha

+

I am trying this today .....im hearing a lot of good things from this diet......good luck to everyone!

posted Jul 22nd, 2009 8:41 pm


chris

+

works great, but its very hard to do!

posted Jul 22nd, 2009 5:18 pm


Jessi

+

so im on the final day of my diet and I just weighed myself.. I lost in total 14 lbs... in 7 days.... which is ridiculous and awesome.

dont give up... it totally lessons your cravings for anything else at all... and i have tons of energy.... plus 14 lbs is totally wort it.
ps; i wont look at the soup again for at least a month....now onto the south beath diet! =]

posted Jul 18th, 2009 6:04 pm


betty

+

i have been on this diet for 1 and a half days now and im having a lot of cravings. and i am 5'2 and 112-113 pounds and im trying to get to 108 so wish me luck and does it matter i workout moderatly for the 5 dyas while taking a multi vitamin ??
please help thnx so much in advance

posted Jul 18th, 2009 2:11 pm


shy

+

tried the diet before and almost died, wont lie i lost 4 lbs and quit on the 4th day. I have a new take to the diet. instead of making the broth i used 4 cans of french onion soup with 4 cans of water with the cabbage, mushrooms, and carrots. i eat all fruit instead of vegetables. and in 4 days i lost 6 lbs...best thing ever to think of that french onion soup.....dont give up everyone.. the fruit i eat are fresh cherries, clementine oranges, and green apples. always take a tylonal when you wake to avoid headaches or drink a protien shake...you will still lose the weight you wanted(1 protien shake a day prefer muscle milk)

posted Jul 17th, 2009 5:28 pm


sarahghee

Stephanie, I'm on day three now and I ate some raw carrots sticks and celery for breakfast yesterday. Also, since juices are allowed I had some orange juice. Day three is easier since you can do fruit in the morning. I did this diet 6 months ago and lost 7 lbs so im trying it again. good luck!

posted Jul 17th, 2009 1:27 pm


sarahghee

+

lost 7 pounds in 7 days!! thats a lot for me since im 5ft tall and was 110lbs. i looked and felt great after the diet. its tough but worth it. on the downside, i started eating junk again eventually and 3 months after the diet i was back to 110.

posted Jul 17th, 2009 1:17 pm


stephaniepaige

Okay. Im on my second day and I really don't know if i can eat veggies for breakfast? Any suggestions people?!? ahh. i really wanna stick to this diet, but i need some help. =) thanks a bunch!!

posted Jul 17th, 2009 10:49 am


Lila

+

Started off today, its pretty easy!! But how much is everyone eating? I know what were supposed to eat but how much of it is everyone having?

posted Jul 16th, 2009 2:09 pm


stephaniepaige

I just started this diet today! I tried a bite of soup this morning before class and it actually tasted decent! (and i havent even added any seasoning yet!) I'm 5'7 and weigh around 140. Hoping to lose 10 lbs in the diet! I used to do competitive taekwondo, which had weigh ins and such, so im used to crazy diets. Im pretty excited to see how this one goes! Wish me luck! And ill be checking in everyday or two to keep everyone posted! =)

posted Jul 16th, 2009 12:41 pm


Jessi

I LOVE THIS DIET. i feel fantastic.... i have more energy than ever and i already feel skinnier (im in the middle of day 4). I could really care less about the scale but ill weigh myself on day 7 just to see. ( and ill let you all know) I'm 5'8" and 168 lbs so im hoping to get down to about 155 by the end of the month!



i truly do recommend this as a jump start to any diet. i feel wonderful.



i can say you should drink A LOT and make sure to take a daily vitamin, im taking womens on-a-days.



but honestly this diet is amazing.

good luck everyone!

posted Jul 14th, 2009 8:19 pm


MElcat

I did this diet a few years back, I lost 21lbs in 7 days!!!!! However, with such success i tried it again shortly after and my legs started to go numb, and my blood sugar dropped to like 30. Be careful not to be too active when on this diet. You will feel like crap. Just be careful and if you really start to feel bad, eat some food, not everyone's body can take it.

posted Jul 1st, 2009 8:13 am


Teresa

+

Im starting tomorrow. I need to shed some pounds for my 28 birthday which is July 13 and my boyfriend will back in town that weekend. Im trying to get that wow factor from him. Wish me luck. I will keep you all posted

posted Jun 27th, 2009 8:20 pm


Shayray

I am on day 4 of my diet I hate bananas so this should be fun. I feel a ok I guess. I have been working out doing Kim K work outs I need to lose 10 IIb's by my 31st b-day and that's on the 4th of july I'll report back tomarrow!!!!!!!!!

posted Jun 25th, 2009 2:49 pm


Sarah

Hey everyone,

I am going to be starting the diet tomorrow, I am wanting to drop anywhere from 10-15 pounds on this diet over 14 days. . .

I weighed myself thismorning and I am at : 144 pounds. . . So my goal after I am finished that I am hoping to get to would be: 130-135 pounds. . .

I will keep you guys posted ! ! ! Wish me luck =)

posted Jun 24th, 2009 2:42 pm


Freckles

Ok, i was going to do the liquid diet, but this one seems to be more popular and have better reviews. I will let you guys know in a week!

posted Jun 18th, 2009 11:07 pm


Ashley

I'm on day day 11 I'm going to fo the diet for s month. So far I ahve lost 18 pounds I was at 157 now im at 139. I still need to loose another 19 pounds =)

posted Jun 12th, 2009 10:58 pm


klue

my o my... i started this diet on saturday and today is my third day and i am already dieing... it the contents of day 2 that did it... i just couldn't take it... my stomach flipped and i kept feeling super nauseated! and then i cheated! :( but i am still going to finish it and then start again hopefully without cheating... i have a horrible horrible headache ever since i started... and i never have headaches! check out my blog for updates!

posted Jun 8th, 2009 8:06 pm


Anna

I love this diet. It always work for me when I get a litle out of hand.
I am not really overweight but I like to be
rather skinny. I always loose 5pounds
a week when I am on it. And I love all
foods which are on the diet. Fruits, vegetables, beef etc..For me it is the greatest diet if you want to see results fast.

posted Jun 6th, 2009 5:13 am



 

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND Start the Diet Now Advertisement

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.

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PROPRO
  • You will lose weight
CONCON
  • 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 NUTRITIONDIET 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.

EXERCISEEXERCISE

No recommendations are made. Given the severely low calories you'll be consuming, you likely won't have the strength for physical activity.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

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 MisspellingsCommon Misspellings

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