Nutrition in the Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet appears on many websites and blogs throughout the internet. While the recipe for the cabbage soup may vary slightly from one source to another, the basic concept of the diet remains the same. Dieters are encouraged to eat as much cabbage soup as they like during a seven-day period along with a strict selection of other foods to achieve fast weight loss. This diet is deficient in key nutrients such as fat, protein and carbohydrates and is not considered nutritious by the U.S. Department of Agriculture dietary guidelines.
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The Facts
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The cabbage soup diet claims to help dieters achieve dramatic weight loss. This is done by following a strict meal plan that allows unlimited servings of cabbage soup. The soup consumed during the cabbage soup diet usually contains green onions, green peppers, canned tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, cabbage, packaged soup mix, bouillon cubes and vegetable juice such as V8.
Time Frame
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The cabbage soup diet is a seven-day plan featuring unlimited amounts of cabbage soup along with specific foods which vary from day to day. Fruits, excluding bananas, are allowed along with the soup on the first day. The second day allows soup, vegetables and one baked potato. Day three consists of fruits and vegetables, excluding bananas and potatoes, and cabbage soup. Bananas are allowed on day four along with skim milk and more soup. On day five, dieters can consume up to 20 oz. of beef, up to six tomatoes and cabbage soup. Cabbage soup along with unlimited beef and vegetables make up day six. The last day of the diet allows brown rice, vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice in addition to the cabbage soup.
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Features
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The cabbage soup diet is simple and easy to follow, but results will vary dramatically from person to person. This diet does involve a specific amount of calories, and several days are severely lacking in protein, carbohydrates and especially fat. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 20 percent of calories should come from fat to avoid negative changes to HDL cholesterol and inadequate vitamin E intake. Days one, two, three, four, and seven contain little-to-no fat.
Considerations
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Due to the unlimited eating allowed on the cabbage soup diet and no concern for calories, a dieter could inadvertently consume more than his required daily caloric intake and gain weight. While this diet may be successful for some people, the cabbage soup diet is not a long-term solution to weight management because it does not encourage positive lifestyle and diet changes.
Warning
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According to the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital, the cabbage soup diet is not considered healthy or safe. The cabbage soup diet has been attributed to the this medical center, but the organization refutes these claims.
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