Eating cabbage may be a St. Patrick’s Day tradition and a source of gassiness, for many. For others eating cabbage means significant weight loss. In the 1980’s, the cabbage diet gained popularity. Groups and companies that have promoted the cabbage diet often rename it, but the diets are very similar no matter what its name is. There were claims of loosing 10 pounds of fat in 10 days with the cabbage diet. This has been disproved scientifically. What has been proven is up to 10 pounds of weight loss in 7 days , but some of it is likely water weight.
It has been both a popular and controversial diet.
It works because cabbage has negative calories. This means it takes more calories to digest cabbage than are in cabbage. The diet allows eating as much cabbage soup as you want, with no restrictions. Increasing the amount of soup can actually increase the weight loss. It is because of the number of calories that are used to digest cabbage. The diet allows unlimited amounts of cabbage soup over a 7-day period.
The diet includes eating cabbage soup and also fruits, vegetables, and meat for seven days. Different variations of the cabbage diet will have cabbage soup in common, but the other foods allowed and when will vary. For example one type of cabbage diet specifies that on day one you can eat as much cabbage soup as you like with a specific amount of soup. Another will allow unlimited cabbage soup with rice and vegetables. Most variations of this diet you can usually only drink water or unsweetened fruit juice.
Basic cabbage soup recipe
-5-6 large green onions
-1-2 green peppers
-2 cans of tomatoes (diced)
-3 Carrots
-10 oz Mushrooms
-1 cup of celery
-half to a full head of cabbage (depending on size)
-1 package Lipton soup mix
-Salt, pepper and oregano to taste
Instructions: Mix all the ingredients with water in a large kettle.
Heat and boil them until all ingredients are tender (approximately 90 minutes). Put the tomatoes and seasonings afterwards.
The cabbage diet is a successful short-term weight loss diet. It is an excellent body cleanser and is packed with many nutrients and vitamins. Most people enjoy the taste of the soup.
As the body adjusts to digesting large amounts of cabbage there is a lot of gas emitted. An over the counter gas relief remedies may be needed. The cabbage diet lacks protein, carbohydrates, and some vitamins and minerals so it should be limited how long and how often the diet is followed.
It is a very inexpensive diet and takes very little effort. A large pot of cabbage soup can be made every couple days.