The soup diet is considered a fad diet by most doctors. It is suited for younger men and women and those that do not suffer from serious medical conditions. It helps you lose 10 pounds within the week by eating cabbage soup every day. The other foods that are allowed are fruits, raw and cooked vegetables, baked potatoes, skim milk, beef, fruit juice, and brown rice.
How It Works:
On the Cabbage Soup Diet website they have several recipes for cabbage soup to use. It is recommended that when you try the diet you only try it for one week. On the first day you can eat any fruits except bananas, the cabbage soup, and drink as much unsweetened tea, coffee, cranberry juice or water that you want. The second day you can eat as many raw or cooked vegetables as you want, soup, and a large baked potato with butter and no fruit. On day three eat as much fruit as you want, vegetables, and the soup but no baked potato.
Day four allows up to eight bananas and skim milk, and you are allowed as much soup as you want. On the fifth day you can have 10 to 20 ounces of beef and six fresh tomatoes (or a large tin). Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water, eat soup, and substitute skinless chicken or fish for beef if you wish. On the sixth day eat beef with fresh vegetables or salad, and eat soup at least once. On the 7th day eat brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice, vegetables, and soup.
Weight loss on the soup diet is often a combination of fat and water loss. You may even lose muscle too. The diet is low in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It can be high in sodium depending on the cabbage soup recipe, but this can be adjusted by using less salt. It limits calorie intake to lose weight quickly. This can leave you feeling weak and hungry.
Doctors think it works but after losing weight you may put it back on quickly. Those with chronic conditions should talk to a doctor before trying it. After one week eating the same foods does become rather boring. This means you’re less likely to stick to it. It is almost like fasting to lose weight.
Overall the Soup Diet does work, but weight loss may be only temporary. Do not try this diet for more than one week. After weight loss, have a sensible weight loss diet plan and exercise to lose weight over the long term. Remember that long term weight loss means adopting healthy eating habits and exercise.
By Joan Russell