Cabbage Soup Recipe Method & Diet
Most people have heard or read about the Cabbage Soup diet. It is a lose weight quickly type diet and is not sustainable over a long period of time. It is intended to be a short term loss of weight and does not need long term stabilization. This diet has inspired many other hypo-caloric based diets.
What is a hypo-caloric based diet?
It is a diet that is centered on the number of calories consumed.
The cabbage soup diet is based on the principle that you can eat as much as you want of this soup that is low in calories and fat, and rich in vitamins.
The length of this diet is supposed to be 7 days, and advocates of it claim that you can lose 10 lbs in those 7 days. These experts are clear to say that it is mostly a loss of weight based on water retention loss.
The origin of this diet is largely unknown. It became popular during the 80’s. The first papers written about it, make reference to a diet used for obese patients who needed to loose some weight quickly before undergoing surgery, in order to reduce risk, but this affirmation has never been verified.
Today, supporters and promoters of this cabbage soup recipe diet, advise to use it as a jump-start to a more moderate diet that would provide long term weight loss.
cabbage soup ingredients
Best Cabbage Soup Recipe :
6 green onions
2 green peppers
1 or 2 can(s) of diced tomatoes (you can use whole tomatoes)
3 carrots
1 can mushrooms
1 celery bunch
1/2 a cabbage head
1 package of onion soup
1 or 2 bouillon cubes (optional)
Seasonings to suit your own taste, salt, pepper, parsley, curry, garlic powder, etc…
How to prepare the cabbage soup :
Slice green onions, add to a large pan and start to sauté.
Cut green peppers in half and remove all seeds and pith, then cube green peppers and add to the pan.
Take the outer leaves of the cabbage and add them to the pan.
Clean and peel the carrots, slice them (fairly thick slices or they might disappear in the soup) and add to the pan.
If you are using whole mushrooms slice them and add to the pan.
To spice up the soup a little, you can add pepper, or curry or even cayenne pepper at this time.
Use beef or chicken bouillon cubes to add flavor. These cubes have a sufficient amount of salt and add flavor to the soup.
Add about 12 cups of water, cover the pan and cook on low heat. Cook for at least 2 hours.
Add salt and pepper to soup if needed after cooking.
7 days plan for a cabbage soup diet :
Day 1 – all you care to eat of cabbage soup (this applies every day of the diet). Drink unsweetened tea, or cranberry juice of water only.
Day 2 – all you care to eat of cabbage soup ✛ vegetables including a large potato with a little butter. (Avoid peas and corn, give preference to green leaf vegetables.)
Day 3 – cabbage soup ✛ fruit and vegetables. (Do not eat potatoes or bananas.)
Day 4 – cabbage soup ✛ bananas (up to 8,) ✛ all the skim milk you want. This is the day that is supposed to reduce your craving for sugar.
Day 5 – cabbage soup ✛ between 8 and 16 oz of lean beef ✛ tomatoes (up to 6). Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water on that day to cleanse your body from uric acid. You can replace beef with skinless chicken if you want.
Day 6 – cabbage soup ✛ Beef ✛ vegetables at will (no potatoes.)
Day 7 – cabbage soup ✛ brown rice ✛ vegetables (no potatoes) ✛ drink unsweetened fruit juice.
Tips to succeed with the cabbage soup diet :
Follow the diet strictly
Drink at least 4 large glasses of water every day
Remind yourself that it is only for 7 days
Supplement your diet with multiple vitamins
Print this page so you can refer to it
Eat a lot of soup, as much as you want or can
Don’t try to starve yourself, it might lead to cheating and you will not succeed
Try different spices every day to change the monotony and add variety
Advantages of the cabbage soup diet:
If you must attend a special occasion in a week’s time, or if you need for whatever reason to loose weight quickly (10lbs in 7 days) this diet is perfect for you. You will lose weight quickly and eat as much as you want as long as it is on the list of approved foods.
It is encouraging to see that it is possible to lose weight in as little as 7 days, you are seeing results, which might spur you into following a long term diet. It is a great jump-start to any long term, less restrictive diet, you might opt for after the 7 days.
It cleanse the body, it is a detox type diet.
Disadavantages of the cabbage soup diet
Some people might find it too restrictive and tasteless, hard to swallow and monotonous. Other feel nauseated by the smell of cabbage (specially on the last day.) This can be a major obstacle for some people, but you should in no way think that it is a lack of determination on your part as it is very real. I have written a book to help you make it less boring and more fun to eat cabbage soup. Check out my Best Cabbage Soup Recipes From Around The World.
Some people notice a loss in concentration, and feelings of weakness of lack of energy, as well as mood swings.
Most of the weight loss is due to loss of retention of water, therefore no fat is lost, and the results do not last.
Depending on the seasonings you add, it could be high in sodium.
This diet does not provide proteins for severals days (on days 1 to 4 and on day 7.) It is therefore important to supplement it with vitamins and minerals that are lacking.
Another side effect is usually people experience an increase in gas.
People with gastric problems or with a delicate stomach should avoid this diet.
You should consult your doctor, or a nutritionist before starting any diet including the cabbage soup diet, as your health is what should be considered first.
did you know
Did you know that…
3.5 oz of cooked cabbage gives you 41 calories, 15% of your daily requirement in vitamin A, 16% vitamin B1, 8% vitamin B2, 125% vitamin C, 0% vitamin D and E. It’s true adding cabbage to your diet is good for you.
