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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 29 of 37, 727 total comments)Lulu
I did this diet a few years ago and it worked wonders for me. I was pretty tiny then and didn't really *need* to lose weight - more for vanity reasons - and I lost about 5kg in one week! Now, as the years have gone on I have gained a little extra weight and am now on day 2 of the diet (being very strict!). I do think however that it being a weekend I will probably drink some wine (very bad I know)... but if I stick to everything else im hoping it wont make too much of a difference. And if I don't lose much - I will just do it again in a week!
posted May 16th, 2008 8:39 amNanci Lynn M.
I have been on this diet before and lost 14 pounds in 7 days! I am starting it again tomorrow and even tho I don't like the soup I know it works. I will post my progress. Keeping my fingers crossed!
posted May 15th, 2008 4:44 pmbrenda
i was just wondering after reading through everysingle comment no body has said anything about if they put on weight after the diet- many people are stating that they're continously going bakc on it but is it becuase u have put back on all the weight or want to lose more?
posted May 15th, 2008 9:44 amOllie
I"ve been doing this diet for three days and I wat to eat my dog's legs. He better not get in my path!
posted May 15th, 2008 9:44 amSarah
Wow im really inspired by everyones comments. i have always struggled with my weight but now i really wanna take action considering the fact that i am 278pounds and only 5'11. i gave birth to my daughter back in september and have been really struggling to get back to my pre pregnancy weight (240) and so i am def. gonna try this diet tomorrow. i will keep yall updated on the results!
posted May 15th, 2008 9:44 amYael
It works well. I've used it for years to maintain my ideal weight of 95 - 98 pounds. I use the diet whenever I'm over 100 pounds, my upper limit. I find the diet quite healthy, completely boring 90% of the time, and very effective. I first used it back in the '80's when it was called the TJ Miracle Diet. So I've done this several times a year for over 20 years. I'm now 59, 5'3 and 100 pounds. I have no health problems at all. Boring as the diet is, it appears to be pretty good for you. It definitely detoxes your system.
posted May 15th, 2008 9:44 amtee
IT WORKS!
posted May 13th, 2008 9:25 pmAvril
I am 5'6" and 123 lbs......in 3 months I have gone from my usual weight range of 95-98 lbs to this weight.....I'm a model so I can't really get to be the weight I am now....it's weird how it came out of nowhere but I have been craving more food for the past 3 months....anyways I am starting this diet modified (just the soup) tomorrow and staying on just soup for 2 weeks and then introducing raw veggies for the next 2 weeks after that....I plan on using this to lose the new poundage and then get back into the raw food lifestyle I was in for the past 3 years.
posted May 13th, 2008 9:25 pmamanda
Today is day one for me!! i had 2 apples fror breakfast and i have to admit it was pretty hard! I really hope I can make it through the week! i cant wait to see if it really works!!
posted May 13th, 2008 3:40 pmTiffany
In all I've lost 24lbs in 2 and a half weeks already... I only did the diet for the 7 days the diet I did was called the sacred heart medical diet.. but its the same thing as this one.. it really works, but you cant cheat and you really have to eat as much soup as possible, this will keep you from getting dizzy or lightheaded.. day one I had cut pineapples and strawberries 4 breakfast.. soup for lunch... lots of grapes as a snack.. soup for dinner.. late night snack of more pineapples grapes and strawberries.. and TONS OF WATER.. I regularly workout out 4 times a week for an hour at my gym(this is all prior to the diet) so I already had my excersise routine already b4 doing this soup thing...I cant stress the fact that you have to excersise daily to lose weight because there are no "miracles" in dieting.. anyways day two veggie and soup day.. I had raw carrot sticks and celery sticks and cucumbers(with salt cuz thats the only why I can eat the cucumbers) for breakfast, big bowl of soup for lunch, more raw veggies as after noon snack little bowl of soup for dinner and 2 baked potaotos from Wendys with lots of butter I was full, not shaking, because I basically ate all day.. thats the trick, the more you eat the better...3rd day.. soup, fruit like grapes, strawberries, melons pineapples. water water, and cranberry juice.. and yeah it makes u pee alot but that is the detoxification..4th day I made a milkshake of the skim milk, bananas, I added ice and it was actually tasty and sweet..soup for lunch and breakfast.. the 2 beef days I ordered the 15oz beef tips from Steak Out OMG they were soo good.. and just followed the diet as is the rest of the days... so 4 days a week doing my 45 min spin class, then 20 min on the elliptical and I have lost 24lbs in just 2 and half weeks and I feel great, I dont look sick, I am not dizzy or sick.. the only thing is that I pee a lot!!!! when making soup add boullion cubes, a little worchesteir sauce too.. eat tons of the soup.. and on fruit and veg days eat tons of fruit and tons of veggies and you'll be to stuffed and full to think about anything that is fattening to eat.. BUT WHEN U GET OFF THIS DIET IT DOESNT GIVE YOU A GREEN LIGHT TO HIT UP THE NEAREST TACO BELL, BURGER KING, PIZZA HUT DRIVE THRU lol.. so CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS eat a nice fruit inspired breakfast.. snack on fruit b4 lunch, have a nice chicken salad with low fat dressing for lunch..maybe graham crackers as a sweet.. low calorie dinner with protein.. lots of water excersise daily for more than 30 min or do 4 times a week for at least an hour in cardio and you'll keep the weight off and be fine.......
posted May 12th, 2008 9:19 amtracie
THIS IS MY 2ND DAY AND IT IS BETTER. I STARTED AT 153.1 AND THIS MORNING I WEIGHT 150.0. I AM EXCITED. IT IS NOT THAT BAD. I ACTUALLY HAD A STROKE A YEAR AGO AND ALL MY MEDICINE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO TAKE PILLS SO I AM GOING TO TRY THIS. WISH ME LUCK
posted May 8th, 2008 4:48 pmKat
Can anyone tell me if you can eat pickles on the diet????
posted May 8th, 2008 4:12 pm[email protected]
im on my 4th day and i lost till now 7 pounds
posted May 7th, 2008 10:32 pmLM
The reason why you lose weight is because you are limiting your calories. If you eat a healthy amount of calories a day and exercise, you dont have to torture yourself. I would rather lose the same amount of weight in 2 weeks than I would in 1 eating would I like. I eat 1200 calories a day and only 20 grams of fat during the week. Saturday I bump it up to 1500 calories and 30 grams of fat. Sunday I eat what I want...Your body needs fat so I use my free day to consume what my body is asking for. You should never put your body through a diet that would cause your body to start shutting down, by feeling lightheaded and having headaches. I have lost 11 pounds in 1 1/2 months and continue to lose. I came on this site for a soup recipe and was really concerned with some the comments. Losing weight is not worth being unhealthy. It puts much strain on your heart. Be careful.
posted May 7th, 2008 9:39 amina
guys can i just skip the skin milk??
posted May 6th, 2008 8:54 amB
I don't know the last time this site was updated, but today is Cinco de Mayo 2008. I have always been overweight and have somehow reached my all time high weight of 250. For some reason that number really jolted me and caused me to take action. I have done a protein sparing modified fast (PSMF) in the past and was successful but it's hard to stick to. I think if I could stick to nasty protein shakes, fresh summer fruits, veggies, and steaks will be a walk in the park. I should think this diet would be much easier in the summer months when fresh produce is abundant and ripe, and steaks and hamburger patties call for the grill. I will be doing this diet throughout the summer, either until mid-August (when classes recommence) or Labor day. After seeing the stories of some other obese individuals who did so, I'm energized and enthusiastic. I will be swimming and walking daily and lifting weights on the higher calorie days. I'm halfway through my first day, and though I've only just begun, I have a renewed sense of well-being and empowerment. I will take any weightloss being that I have only succeeded in gaining weight in recent months, but I hope for 50-75lb. loss over the course of the summer. I have tried to begin this diet before, and here is what I think is different about this time: 1. If eating the soup is going to make you quit the diet, don't eat it, or change it to your liking. 2. Have a lot of food available and a wide variety. Previously I was stingy and bought little fruits and vegetables. Yesterday I bought cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, peaches, plums, strawberries, blueberries, apples, and kiwi. For the vegetables I got mixed colors of bell peppers, jalapenos, portabello mushrooms (I think these are allowed), broccoli florets, sugar snap peas, and lettuce. 3. Get creative! Especially knowing that I'm going to be following this plan all summer, I'm in no hurry to gulp down boring food. I love to grill and I plan to grill the portobellos with some steak seasoning and vinegar marinade tomorrow night, char up the peppers, mince some jalapeno, and wrap in a lettuce leaf. Roasted asparagus is also very yummy. I tend to like anything on the grill. Sugar snap peas are the portable goldmine! I also love to broil zucchini and squash with rosemary-"yum-o." 4. Stay positive. Many of the diets I've started before I began with the thinking of "You know you'll never stay on it. Why are you kidding yourself? Just go ahead and stop now." This may not be easy, and it certainly isn't a long-long term plan, but I think the philosophies of eating more fruits and vegetables and lower GI foods is something everyone can benefit from. I look at it as being exciting and try to imagine how healthy it feels to not only look good but to not have so much junk clogging up my system. 5. The buddy system--sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Just make sure that you remember you're doing this for you and someone else's success/failure has nothing to do with you. It's like when you help someone up from a fall on the ice: you need to be strong enough that their fall doesn't pull you down with them. I know that was a lot of information, but I received so much inspiration from hearing the stories here that I hope my progress might inspire someone else.
posted May 6th, 2008 8:54 amann
hi this is my first day and i was wondering since im useing v8 juice in soup can i drink it as well water gets a little boring even with the added lemon juice and i dont like to drink cranberry juice. any help will be great
posted May 5th, 2008 8:38 amina
oh i hope will work for me as well..im starting today ...guys wish me good luck..im 5'7'' and 255 pounds
posted May 2nd, 2008 10:16 amAlex
Hello everyone...my husband sister and I have all started the diet today. We are excited to loose weight and be healthy. A few years back my parents did the diet and ended up loosing a combined weight of 28 lbs. Dad lost 18lbs and mom lost 10. I am currently 220 and would like to drop down to 160lbs like I was when I married my husband.Wish me luck as I do to you all!!
posted Apr 28th, 2008 6:41 pmLori
I am on my 4th day (bananas and milk) and since yesterday it started getting very hard,I dream about food all the time but I am determined to continue.I started at 225lb and my goal is 150.Im only weighing myself on the 7th day.The biggest problem is that I find myself smoking alot more.At the end of the 7 days I will post how much I have lost.I was very exited to do this diet because of Rich�s experience! congratulations Rich!
posted Apr 28th, 2008 8:31 am