For those looking to get rid of their belly fat and adopt a healthier lifestyle, the cabbage soup diet is an all-natural, low-calorie diet that appears to be effective. The diet often consists of a simple broth-based soup with bland starches such as rice or potatoes, and no meat or vegetables.
Although it may not seem obvious at first, this popular diet option is based on science. Before you write it off as a fad diet, consider the evidence.
What Is The Cabbage Soup Diet?
The cabbage soup diet is a low-calorie diet that was first mentioned in print in 1936. Its popularity has persisted even into the present day. The name comes from the fact that the diet is mostly based on liquid food such as soups and broths, and due to its low calorie intake, it has been referred to as a ‘soupy diet’.
According to a 2004 study by the American Academy of Cancer Researchers, the diet may be an effective strategy for weight loss – but only under certain circumstances. In the study, which was published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, eating a diet rich in green vegetables and avoiding processed meats were associated with a lower risk of getting cancer.
While certain types of cancer were associated with a higher intake of red meat and processed meat, these foods did not correlate with a higher overall risk of cancer. Instead, the research suggests that the type of food you eat could potentially play a role in whether you get cancer or not.
Other studies have shown that the diet might be effective in treating certain types of cancer. One 2013 review looked at the existing evidence and concluded that people who eat a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and brussels sprouts) could possibly see some benefits in terms of cancer prevention.
In the diet review, nine mammalian (animal) studies and 16 human studies were identified that examined the effects of the diet on various types of cancer. The reviewers found that the evidence was sparse and generally of low quality, but suggested that the diet could be effective in treating gastrointestinal cancers including colon cancer and gastric cancer. The reviewers also suggested that there could be ‘some evidence’ that the diet might be effective in preventing breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Why Is The Cabbage Soup Diet Such A Popular Choice?
For those hoping to lose weight, the cabbage soup diet is a popular choice because it’s a relatively simple strategy that offers a rapid weight loss. According to a 2014 review of the nutrition and health benefits of cabbage, the diet has the potential to quickly reduce body weight and improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
One of the primary reasons why the cabbage soup diet is so popular is because it’s a diet that people can adhere to. According to Mieko from the Mayo Clinic, most people can follow the guidelines of the diet easily and understand why it’s effective. The fact that it’s mostly made up of easily accessible, common foods makes it simple for anyone to follow.
As people get used to the idea of following a diet that’s mainly made up of vegetables and starches, they may start to see the diet as a healthy option and not a temporary diet fad. For those who struggle with obesity, the cabbage soup diet is an easy, all-natural option that may help them achieve their weight loss goals. The diet appears to be a good choice for those who want to lose weight because it’s low in calories, and high in fiber.
Does The Cabbage Soup Diet Work?
While the evidence is limited, existing studies suggest that the cabbage soup diet could be an effective strategy for weight loss. Several studies have examined the effects of the diet on animals and humans, and the results have been positive. For example, a study performed in 2014 found that rats that were fed a diet rich in cabbage had lower body weights and diminished waist circumference compared to rats that were fed a standard diet.
In that study, female rats that were fed the cabbage-rich diet had lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and healthier blood pressure and sugar levels. The rats also had diminished fatty liver disease, which is often associated with obesity and diabetes. The findings suggest that the cabbage soup diet could be an effective strategy for weight loss and improved health.
While scientific evidence suggests that the cabbage soup diet is an effective strategy for weight loss, it’s important to note that a diet is only as good as you make it. If you want to achieve your optimal weight, you have to adhere to the diet consistently, and you have to make sure that you’re getting the right nutrition from the food that you’re eating. Remember, too, that the diet may not suit everybody’s needs. For example, those who have diabetes or other metabolic conditions might want to avoid the diet if it contains a lot of refined sugars. Still, for the majority of people, the cabbage soup diet is an easy and effective way to drop a few pounds.
How Is The Cabbage Soup Diet Different From Other Diets?
The cabbage soup diet is different from other fad diets because it doesn’t require you to avoid certain foods or to follow a complicated meal plan. Instead, it simply asks you to avoid foods that are high in calories and to eat more nutritious food instead.
The diet also asks you to avoid foods with added sugars, and it suggests that you consult with your doctor before you start following the diet, due to its possible effects on those with metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Many fad diets, on the other hand, ask you to avoid foods that are considered ‘bad’ or ‘unhealthy’ and to focus on foods that are considered ‘good’ or ‘healthy’.
Fad diets are also often very restrictive, and they ask you to avoid a huge number of foods – even foods that you may need for survival such as lentils, beans, and brown rice. This is mainly because these types of diets are often designed as temporary measures to shed weight for a specific event, such as a wedding or party. Once the diet is over, the person adhering to it is then supposed to go back to their regular diet.
In contrast, the cabbage soup diet is a long-term diet plan that is supposed to be followed for the rest of your life. It’s a strategy that is proposed to prevent and/or treat obesity and its associated diseases. Even if you lose a large amount of weight on the diet, you’re still supposed to continue following it, as the health benefits are thought to be long-lasting.
This is why many people refer to the cabbage soup diet as a ‘diet for life’, as opposed to other fad diets that are usually only supposed to be followed for a certain period of time.
In some cases, the weight loss achieved on the cabbage soup diet may be due to the fact that it is a very low-calorie diet. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition & Cancer, people who followed the diet for just a month lost an average of 8.5 pounds. That’s a lot of weight loss for just a month! For reference, a typical American diet consists of around 2000 calories per day, so 8.5 pounds of weight loss in just a month would make the cabbage soup diet the most effective diet ever conceived. If that weight loss is sustained, it would certainly be effective in treating or preventing obesity and its associated diseases.
What Forms Does The Cabbage Soup Diet Consist Of?
The cabbage soup diet is mostly made up of liquid foods such as soups and broths, and it doesn’t require you to follow a specific meal plan. This makes it easy for anyone to follow, as you don’t have to think about what to eat or when to eat it. You simply need to follow the guidelines that the diet provides.
The only food that you’re required to eat is cabbage. You aren’t supposed to eat any other vegetable, and you aren’t supposed to eat any kind of meat. Some people who are adhering to the diet for therapeutic purposes may choose to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet, as there’s some evidence that this could help improve health. However, this is usually not the case, and instead, people who are doing so report that their health improves simply because they’re eating more fruits and vegetables than usual.
It’s also worth noting that not everyone will experience the same effects from the diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, weight loss on the diet is highly variable, and it may depend on a variety of factors.
These factors include your metabolism, how long you’ve been eating a high-calorie diet, and the size of your waist. If you are overweight, but you have a fast metabolism, you may lose a lot of weight quickly on the diet. In this case, you may be able to drop a dress size within a few weeks.