If you’re looking for ideas for a quick weight loss or detox, the ‘cabbage soup diet’ may help you burn body fat and flatten your tummy. This cruciferous vegetable isn’t just a culinary delight but also provides a host of health benefits. Cabbage is a healthful low-calorie vegetable that can be added to your daily diet when trying to shed a few pounds. Proponents of the cabbage soup diet claim it help you lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) in just one week.
Generally, consuming fruits and veggies has been associated with weight loss and a lower risk of many adverse health conditions. Many studies have shown that the compounds in cabbage can reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, etc. Cabbage also contains sulforaphane that may help protect against certain types of cancer. Here’s what you need to know about the ‘cabbage soup diet’ for weight loss and whether or not it can really help you burn your belly fat.
What is the ‘cabbage soup diet’? How can it help you lose weight and detox?
As the name suggests, the ‘cabbage soup diet’ is a short-term weight loss diet plan that involves eating large amounts of cabbage soup for seven days. Reportedly, following the diet for just a week can lead to weight loss of up to 4.5 kilos as it dramatically limits calories. When on this diet, you can also eat certain foods, such as fruits, veggies, skim milk, etc - as per a set schedule.
It is claimed that the cabbage soup diet helps you lose weight by jump-starting your metabolism and fat mobilisation. The low-calorie diet helps to restrict your calorie intake and makes your body to use fat as the energy source. Moreover, cabbage is rich vitamins, minerals and nutrients, including fibre, which helps detoxify and support your weight loss.
How to prepare and use the cabbage soup diet for weight loss
The cabbage soup diet is easy to make. The ingredients used in the diet can vary based on the source, and here’s a simple basic recipe of the soup.
Ingredients
- 1 head of cabbage
- 2 large onions
- 2 green peppers
- 3 carrots
- 1 large tomato
- 1 bunch of celery
- 3-4 mushrooms
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 5-6 cups water or vegetable broth
- Coriander leaves and a pinch of black and white pepper for garnishing
Directions
- Chop all the vegetables into cubes or small pieces.
- Boil the broth in a large soup container.
- Add all the ingredients to the container and stir well.
Cover and bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat. Let the soup simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
Season the cabbage soup with salt, coriander leaves, peppers etc.
Serve hot.
While on this diet, it is recommended to consume as much cabbage soup as you want, at least for several meals. Purportedly, the more soup you have, the more weight you lose.
Conclusion
The cabbage soup diet is an eating plan that is ideal for a quick weight loss and detox. But it is intended to last no longer than 1 week at a time. While on this diet, you may feel weak or tired while on the diet since you’re not getting all essential nutrients required by your body - the diet is low in complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, consuming large amounts of sulphur-containing veggies such as cabbage can cause bloating. Many health experts also warn that the eating plan is unhealthy and will not yield sustainable results.
The bottom line is that fad diets like the cabbage soup diet may be tempting, but making healthy changes in your diet and exercise habits and sticking to them can help you lose weight safely and keep it off for life.
