Weight loss has been an obsession of people for years, fueled by a celebrity culture that breeds the myth of perfect bodies. Over the years, the definition of what is perfect and what is desirable has changed, but our obsession with weight loss hasn't waned. This has resulted in the popularity of crash diets, which promise quick results, but can be extremely dangerous for our bodies in the long-term. These diets deprive our bodies of nutrients required by it on a daily basis. Moreover, crash diets or quick weight loss diets aren't sustainable - you can't quit eating forever after all! One such crash diet, which is wildly popular all over the world, is the cabbage soup diet for weight loss. The cabbage soup diet is a seven day diet, which promises to help you lose 10 pounds or close to 5 kgs in just a week!
As the name implies, the diet involves eating large quantities of cabbage soup for a week. The diet is low in calories, processed carbohydrates and involves a handful of foods only. Here's a detailed look into what it takes to follow the cabbage soup diet for weight loss.
Also Read: Souping For Weight Loss: All You Need To Know About The Hottest Soup-Only Diet!
Cabbage Soup Diet For Weight Loss
At the beginning of the diet, you will need to prepare large batches of cabbage soup to be consumed daily for the rest of the week. Homemade cabbage soup is the basis of this diet and one can consume as much as one likes during the period of the diet. The soup is made by mixing together an assortment of vegetables along with cabbage and optionally meat stock. The diet doesn't work by starving you, but rather works on the principle of negative calorie foods. Cabbage is a healthy and popular negative calorie food, which can theoretically result in weight loss by burning more calories while digestion than it supplies. Most of the veggies used in the cabbage soup are also negative calorie veggies like carrots and celery. However, some of the ingredients may vary from person to person.
During the diet, the foods that are permitted for consumption include skimmed milk, leafy greens, fresh fruits and vegetables, bananas, very small portions of chicken or fish, and brown rice (only on the last day).
Does The Cabbage Soup Diet For Weight Loss Work?
Due to the fact that the foods allowed to be eaten in the diet are so few and so low in calories, the cabbage soup diet will probably result in weight loss for you. However, it's not going to be a healthy weight loss journey, as you will be missing out on a number of essential micronutrients. This weight loss won't be permanent either, because you will lose some amount of water weight as well, instead of only losing fat. People have reported being nauseated with even the smell of soup at the end of the seven days of diet, and have reported being light-headed and weak during the course of the diet. It can be dangerous if your day-to-day work involves high levels of physical and mental activity.
People suffering from ailments that result in erratic blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol problems should never follow any of these crash diets. The best way to lose weight is to eat proper meals which are portion-controlled, ditch processed foods as well as excessive salt and sugar, exercise at least five days in a week and drink lots of water on daily basis.
We Bring You A Cabbage Soup Recipe That May Give A Zing to Your Taste Buds
Cabbage Mushroom Soup
Portion: 1
Ingredients
Cabbage- half cup (julienne)
Mushroom- half cup (cut into two pieces)
Carrot- one-third cup (small dice)
Tomato- one-third cup (medium dice)
Celery- one cup (chiffonade)
Onion- one-third cup (small dice)
Garlic- two tablespoons (finely chopped)
Olive oil- one teaspoon
Lime juice- two-three teaspoon- four-five cups
Vegetable/Chicken stock
Salt/Pepper
Preparation
Place a saucepan on oven with medium flame
Put the garlic in it and sauté till it gets light-brown in colour
Add onion to it and sauté for a minute or two
When you see the onion starts getting translucent in colour, add carrots and mushroom and sauté for two minutes
Now add rest of the vegetables, sauté of a minute and pour the stock in the pan
Close the lid and allow it to cook
When the soup is ready, pour it in a serving bowl and have it with lime juice, salt and pepper
Here's Another Quick Recipe That You Can Munch As Snack While On Cabbage Soup Diet
Spinach Crisps
Ingredients
Baby Spinach- one bowl
Olive Oil- two tablespoons
Salt- as per taste
Italian Seasoning- as per taste
Preparation
Clean and dry the spinach and put in a bowl.
Add olive oil to it and mix well with hand, so that every leaf gets well coated with the oil.
Add the seasoning to it and mix again.
Sprinkle some salt and mix (make sure you don't add the seasoning and salt together).
Taste one leaf to find whether it needs any more salt or seasoning.
Now take a baking tray and cover it with nonstick foil.
Spray some olive oil on the tray to make it slightly greasy.
Arrange the leaves on the tray one by one (don't overlap).
Bake for 7-8 minutes and let it set for a minute or two.
Now scrape the leaves carefully from the tray and put it in a bowl.
Enjoy these spinach crisps while watching your favorite movie or chatting with friends, without any worry.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.