There is a wide and variant variety of weight-loss diets. One of them is the soup diet. A lot of misconceptions exist around fad diets like these and losing pounds fast is the biggest one. The cabbage soup diet was also popularized as the unanimous choice for losing up to 10 pounds in a week. However, that’s not true.
How The Cabbage Soup Diet Helps Lose Weight
Following the cabbage soup diet for an entire week works on the principle of calorie-restriction. Low-carb foods like cabbage are supposed to be filling without being too starchy. It’s believed that in the absence of enough calorie intake, the body burns more energy to digest the cabbage. So, the more soup you consume, the more calories you burn thereby losing weight in the process.
5 Disadvantages Of The Cabbage Soup Diet
Before you decide to take up the cabbage soup diet, it’s important to gather evidence-backed information regarding it. Here are some of the drawbacks of the diet.
1. It’s A Nutritionally-Deprived Diet
The biggest downside with this diet is that it’s extremely calorie -restricted and nutritionally imbalanced. The calorie is much lower than 1000 calories which are essential for body’s functioning. The diet as such is low in proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fats.
You are more prone to experience dizziness, hunger cravings, and weakness in the initial days of the diet due to inadequate nourishment.
2. Weight Loss Is Rapid But Short-Lived
The problem with speedy weight loss is that you are more likely to gain the lost pounds back as soon as you quit the diet. This is because your reduced calorie intake made your body slow down its metabolic rate. Your body will need more time to burn calories after going on a diet. If you return your calorie consumption back to normal, you are more likely to not burn them thereby gaining weight.1
3. It Causes Digestive Troubles
Cabbage is high in roughage and its digestion can cause flatulence and cramping. Some individuals tend to quit the diet if the stomach problems become too discomforting.
4. It Leads To Gallbladder Disorders In The Long Run
The gallbladder’s function is to release digestive juices that break fats down. But when you don’t consume an adequate amount of fats daily, your gallbladder is not able to empty the juices. This leads to gallstone formation which can be very painful and life threatening if not treated. This is usually common among those who follow the diet for longer than a week.
5. Predictability Makes It Difficult To Follow
The brain is designed for excitement. Almost all of us quit weight-loss regimes that involve diet and exercise when it gets too boring. Having the same kind of food 7 days a week will leave us with no enthusiasm to eat it. Many who quit soup diets like the cabbage soup complain of feeling no urge to consume it by the third day of the week.
The Cabbage Soup Recipe
Here’s how you can make a simple cabbage soup at home.
Ingredients:
- 2 onions chopped
- 1 cabbage shredded
- 2 carrots grated
- 2 tbsps of oil of your choice
- 6–8 cups of vegetable or meat stock
- Salt to taste
Directions:
In a large pot saute all the veggies in oil. Add the vegetable stock to it after 10 minutes. You can add any vegetable of your choice but don’t use tubers due to their high carbohydrate content. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer it until the soup thickens. Add salt or pepper according to your taste.
The best part about the cabbage soup is that its ingredients are locally available and cost-effective. However, before you choose to follow this diet for a week, it’s best to be aware of its merits and demerits. Gradual weight loss needs diet management, exercise, and positive lifestyle habits. It’s better to stay away from anything that promises a shortcut to weight-loss as it could risk your health.
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