7-Day Cabbage Soup Diet

A Week-Long Diet That Claims To Help You Slim Down

Although the best weight loss method is exercising regularly and following a balanced diet that would allow you to burn more energy than you get from food, some people don’t care for the good old slow and steady approach, which is why they find themselves gambling with their health, trying out crash diets like a 7-day cabbage soup diet. This nutritional plan may be perfect for those who want to quickly drop a couple of pounds before an important event and don’t plan to maintain their results.

The Concept Behind A 7-Day Cabbage Soup Diet

This diet is a low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber nutritional plan, based on the consumption of cabbage soup 2-3 times a day, with some sources suggesting a day-long intake. The 7-day cabbage soup diet dates back to the 1950s. Some myths claim that it was prescribed for overweight patients with cardiovascular problems.

For those who are wondering how much weight you can lose on the 7-day cabbage soup diet, this nutritional plan claims to help you shed around 10-17 pounds a week, as a result of significant caloric restriction. The menu of this diet will provide you with less than 1000 calories a day, which is below the recommended minimum of 1500 calories for men and 1200 calories for women. This will lead to the loss of water weight, meaning that such a result will not last. Another aspect that makes this diet unsustainable is drastic calorie restriction, which slows down your metabolism, making you burn fewer calories overall.

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Nutritional Value Of Cabbage

The main ingredient of this 7-day cabbage soup diet is obviously, cabbage. It belongs to cruciferous vegetables, which are among the best foods for weight loss. This type of vegetables is low in calories and high in vital nutrients and fiber, which prolongs the feeling of satiety and aids in digestion. So, to be able to better understand what exactly this week-long diet can offer you, first, let’s take a look at the nutritional value of a cabbage. 1 cup (89g) chopped cabbage contains the following:

Calories 22.2

Protein 1.14 g

Fiber 2.22 g

Calcium 35.6 mg

Magnesium 10.7 mg

Phosphorus 23.1 mg

Potassium 151 mg

Vitamin C 32.6 mg

Folate 38.3 µg

Vitamin A 29.4 µg

Vitamin K 67.6 µg

As you can see, this cruciferous vegetable is quite rich in various essential nutrients, while being very low in calories. These properties make cabbage a perfect option for a soup diet.

Health Benefits Of Cabbage

If you are still not sure about whether you should include this vegetable in your menu, here are some of its main health benefits:

• Improves cardiovascular health

Red cabbage may raise levels of heart-protective antioxidants and help lower “oxidized” LDL, which is connected to the hardening of the arteries. It eases inflammation, thus helping prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Promotes healthy digestion

Cabbage contains nutrients that add to the strength of your gut lining. Its juice can help heal stomach ulcers. This cruciferous vegetable is also packed with insoluble fiber, which can’t be broken down in the intestines. It helps to maintain gut health by promoting regular bowel movements. Soluble fiber from cabbage also promotes healthy digestion by increasing the number of healthy bacteria in your stomach.

• Lowers the chance of developing cancer

Due to its high antioxidant content cabbage possesses anti-inflammatory properties. This may help prevent certain types of cancer. It also contains glucosinolates – special sulfur-containing substances that your body uses as a weapon against cancer.

Should You Try a 7-day cabbage soup diet?

Pros:

Here is what this nutritional plan has to offer:

• Leads to rapid weight loss, especially for obese and seriously overweight people.
• Provides you with low-calorie, high-fiber food all day, so you are unlikely to be hungry.
• It is affordable and easy to prepare.
• May decrease insulin resistance due to low carb contents and weight loss.

Cons:

Like any other diet, this nutritional plan has its cons, which are:

• Discourages exercise due to very low-calorie meals which fail to provide you with enough energy for a workout.
• Not recommended by specialists. This diet offers you rapid weight loss, which is often unhealthy and unsustainable. Experts recommend a more gradual weight loss approach of 1-2 pounds a week.
• Contradicts any diabetes treatment plan because it is very low in carbs.
• Lacks many vital nutrients. The diet provides you with limited food options, which minimizes the variety of nutrients that you get from your menu.
• May cause flatulence and cramping as a result of the high fiber content of your meals.

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Conclusion

If your main goal is to shed a couple of pounds fast, then this diet may work for you. But don’t expect your results to last long, since this 7-day cabbage soup diet is a very low-calorie crash diet that leads to rapid weight loss, which for the most part is water weight. If you are determined to try this diet out, make sure to consult a doctor and get their approval first.

If you feel like this diet is not for you and you would like to slim down in a healthy way, then you should exercise more and follow a healthy diet that creates a caloric deficit. Make sure that your menu offers you plenty of proteins from lean meat, fish, eggs, and dairy; fiber from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which will also provide you with a great plethora of vitamins and minerals; healthy fats from avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds.

DISCLAIMER:

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!