Leena Watts
The cabbage soup diet is a popular weight-loss fad diet that has been around for decades. It involves eating almost nothing but cabbage soup for seven days and promises a quick weight loss of up to 4.5kg (10 pounds). While the diet is inexpensive and may lead to short-term weight loss, it is not recommended by doctors or nutritionists as it is not a balanced, healthy, or sustainable way to lose weight. The diet is also nutritionally unbalanced and may cause muscle loss, fatigue, weakness, and digestive issues. One of the most common side effects of consuming large amounts of cabbage is bloating and flatulence, which can be uncomfortable. However, it is unclear whether the cabbage soup diet causes constipation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of diet | Fad diet, short-term, rapid weight loss |
| Calories | Very low |
| Weight loss | Temporary, short-term, mostly water weight |
| Weight gain | Likely after stopping the diet |
| Nutritional value | Nutritionally unbalanced, lacks key nutrients |
| Side effects | Muscle loss, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, light-headedness, bloating, flatulence, gallstones, gallbladder blockages, constipation, diarrhoea, intestinal gas, abdominal bloating and cramping |
| Safety | Not safe for long-term use, not recommended by doctors, nutritionists, or other experts |
| Benefits | Inexpensive, filling, promotes fullness, lowers cholesterol, promotes weight loss |
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What You'll Learn
Cabbage soup diet: Nutritional value and health risks
The cabbage soup diet is a highly restrictive diet that involves eating almost nothing but cabbage soup for seven days. It is designed for rapid weight loss and is considered a fad diet. The soup is made with cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, spices, and other vegetables.
Nutritional Value
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that offers numerous health benefits. According to the USDA, one cup of raw cabbage provides 41% of the daily vitamin C needs and 2 grams of fiber, which aids digestion. Carrots contain beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which supports immunity and helps fight inflammation.
Health Risks
The cabbage soup diet is not recommended by doctors or nutritionists due to its lack of nutritional balance and sustainability. It is very low in calories, which can lead to weakness, fatigue, and muscle loss. Most of the weight lost on this diet is water weight, which is easily regained once a person resumes their normal diet. The low-calorie and low-protein intake can also cause lightheadedness and dizziness.
The diet may also lead to digestive issues such as bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea due to the high fiber content of cabbage. Additionally, the low-fat content may hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
While the cabbage soup diet may result in short-term weight loss, it is not a safe or effective long-term solution. It is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet.
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Weight loss and weight gain
The cabbage soup diet is a short-term weight loss plan that has been around for decades. It involves eating almost nothing but cabbage soup for seven days and can result in rapid weight loss of up to 4.5 kg (10 pounds). However, this weight loss is primarily due to water weight loss and is not sustainable. Most of the weight is likely to be regained once a person resumes their normal diet.
The soup is typically made with high-fibre vegetables like cabbage, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and onions. While fibre is essential for normalising bowel movements and maintaining bowel health, excessive fibre intake, especially over a short period, can lead to intestinal gas, abdominal bloating, and cramping. Therefore, it is important to gradually increase fibre intake and ensure adequate water consumption to minimise these side effects.
The cabbage soup diet is a highly restrictive and unbalanced diet that may not provide all the necessary nutrients. The low-calorie and low-protein intake can lead to weakness, fatigue, and muscle loss. Additionally, the low-fat content may hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The diet's rapid weight loss can also increase the risk of gallstones and gallbladder blockages.
While the cabbage soup diet may lead to short-term weight loss, it is not a sustainable or healthy approach. It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian before starting any new diet, especially if there are existing health concerns. Combining proper nutrition with a steady cardio and weight-lifting routine is a healthier strategy for weight loss and long-term weight management.
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Cabbage and digestive issues
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, and like all cruciferous veggies, cabbage has numerous health benefits. According to the USDA, 1 cup of raw cabbage provides 41% of your daily vitamin C needs and 2 grams of dietary fiber, which can help keep things moving through your digestive system.
However, cabbage commonly causes bloating and flatulence because of its high fiber content. It also contains raffinose, a complex sugar that is hard to digest. Both of these can make you feel very uncomfortable.
Cabbage soup diets are very low in calories, so they should cause short-term, temporary weight loss. This weight loss is unlikely to be sustainable unless followed by another low-calorie eating plan. The cabbage soup diet is considered a fad diet that's not sustainable or effective, and no prominent doctors or medical institutions promote it. It is also nutritionally unbalanced and not safe.
The cabbage soup diet is a strict regimen that involves eating almost nothing but cabbage soup for seven days and claims to leave those who complete it around ten pounds lighter. The diet is so popular because it promises quick weight loss, but any nutrition expert will discourage it. The diet involves a strict schedule, allowing only small amounts of other foods.
The cabbage soup diet is not balanced, healthy, or sustainable, and is not the answer for long-term weight management. As cabbage is a member of the brassica family, eating it regularly and in quantity may cause some people to experience mild digestive discomfort, including bloating and flatulence.
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Recommended alternatives to the cabbage soup diet
The cabbage soup diet is a fad diet for short-term weight loss and is unlikely to result in sustainable weight loss. The diet is nutritionally unbalanced and not safe, lacking key nutrients. It is also not suitable for long-term use.
- Combine proper nutrition with a steady cardio and weight-lifting routine to ensure healthy changes.
- Reduce the level of sugars and carbohydrates in your diet. When you cut out sugar and carbs, you'll find that your hunger levels start to diminish, and you'll need far fewer calories to feel satisfied.
- Try to ensure all your meals include a protein source, a fat source, and plenty of low-carb vegetables.
- The Mediterranean diet is a more balanced option.
- Time-restricted eating plans like intermittent fasting.
- The very low-calorie ketogenic diet, for 4-12 weeks under a doctor's supervision, before transitioning to a low-calorie diet.
- Other low-calorie soups, such as the Hairy Biker's golden vegetable soup, Feel Good Foodie's Mediterranean White Bean Soup, and Fitness Blender's Moroccan-style turkey and lentil soup.
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The history of the cabbage soup diet
The cabbage soup diet is a short-term rapid weight loss plan where dieters eat primarily cabbage soup for seven days. It is very low in calories and is claimed that it can help people lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in a single week. However, many health experts warn that the diet is unsustainable and may be unsafe for certain people.
The origins of the cabbage soup diet are unclear, but it may date back to World War I (1914–1918), when American soldiers fighting in France ate cabbage soup to protect against scurvy, a deficiency disease caused by a lack of dietary vitamin C. There is also a recipe for "Doughboy Cabbage Soup" from this period. After the 1950s, the diet was revived in the early 1980s with new names such as the Dolly Parton Diet, the Trans World Airlines (TWA) Stewardess Diet, and the Model's Diet. It was passed around in photocopied form and often claimed that dieters would lose 10-17 pounds during the first week. The diet resurfaced again in the mid-1990s, when fax machines and the internet made it even easier to transmit. It was also published in magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Gentlemen's Quarterly (now GQ) in 1995.
The cabbage soup diet has been criticised for being unsustainable and ignoring basic food groups. It also does not encourage portion control, and dieters are told to eat as much soup as they want. While the diet may lead to short-term weight loss, this is mostly water weight and not fat, and the weight is likely to be gained back as soon as the diet is stopped. The diet is also very restrictive and could be harmful to people with certain medical conditions.
Despite the criticisms, the cabbage soup diet has persisted and resurfaced over the years, with some people claiming it has helped them lose weight. It is a cheap diet to follow and can be appealing to those looking for a quick fix or miracle solution to weight loss.
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Frequently asked questions
The cabbage soup diet is a highly restrictive diet that involves eating almost nothing but cabbage soup for seven days. It is designed for rapid weight loss and is considered a fad diet.
No, the cabbage soup diet is unlikely to cause constipation. Cabbage is high in fiber, which promotes movement within the intestinal tract. However, too much fiber too quickly can cause intestinal gas, abdominal bloating, and cramping.
Yes, the cabbage soup diet can cause muscle loss, fatigue, and bloating. It is not a balanced, healthy, or sustainable diet and can negatively impact your health. It is not recommended by doctors or nutritionists.
The cabbage soup diet may lead to short-term weight loss. However, this weight loss is mostly water weight and is unlikely to be sustainable unless followed by another low-calorie diet.
