Everything You Need To Know About The Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet is not new to the scene (in fact, VeryWell Fit says it has been around for decades), but before you grab those leafy greens and get started, you may want to think about what you're putting into your body — or not putting into it for that matter. Diets, in general, can have severe consequences if you're not careful, so to help you on your journey, we've broken down all the important details you need to know surrounding the infamous cabbage soup diet.
According TimesNowNews.com, people have been said to lose up to 10 pounds in just seven days on the cabbage soup diet. The weight loss component is only one of many reasons people flock to the health-boosting meal plan. The outlet claims the reasoning behind eating only cabbage is plentiful: it's great at "jump-starting your metabolism and fat mobilization" and it also offers calorie restrictions that help you "use fat as the energy source." TimesNowNews.com states that cabbage is also known for its slew of "vitamins, minerals, and nutrients". While cabbage soup is clearly the namesake and mainstay of this diet plan, the outlet does offer things like "fruits, veggies, skim milk" for you to consume as well.
VeryWell Fit also notes that the diet is likely particularly popular because it is so easy to follow. Make the soup from "a head of cabbage, canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other vegetables, along with broth, water, or tomato juice," eat whatever else is on the approved eating list, and restrict whatever is on the no-eat list. Easy peasy!
So what's the catch?
When it comes to fad diets like these, there is always a catch, or in some cases several. In fact, VeryWell Fit's con list far surpasses its pros. Among them are issues including the diet being "not nutritionally or medically sound" and only producing short-term results that they describe as unsustainable and unhealthy due to the severe lack calories.
The Metabolic Research Center also notes that the cabbage soup diet "does not have enough of the carbs that you might need for energy," so you may feel a little more sluggish than you're accustomed to. Associated issues include headaches and dizziness for some, plus they state that the cabbage soup diet mostly takes weight from your muscles, not fat cells, meaning you could be ultimately doing more harm than good.
At the end of the day, we all need to do our due diligence and check the facts before committing to any fad diet. We hope we've armed you with the basic information you need.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).