Many people have been turning to cabbage soup as a quick remedy for losing weight. And you might have noticed people saying that they have lost 5 pounds in a week by only having cabbage soup and nothing else. But the question on everyone’s mind is, is this true?
Can cabbage soup help you lose weight and also maintain it? Let’s find out and separate fact from fiction.
What Goes Into Cabbage Soup?
Cabbage soup is precisely the way it sounds. It consists of cabbage, broth or water, and some low-calorie veggies like carrots, onions, and celery, or even tomatoes and green beans. People also add spices or garlic to make the flavor a bit better. No heavy creams, cheeses, or oils are added so the soup is kept light.
The main concept is to eat very few calories. Compared to a small sandwich, you can consume a big bowl of this soup with fewer calories than one slice of pizza.
Why Do People Use It For Weight Loss?
The idea is simple. Your body burns stored fat for energy when you eat foods that fill you up but do not contain loads of calories. This is one reason the cabbage soup diet garners so much attention.
It lasts roughly a week, and the plan centers around cabbage soup as the primary dish alongside some fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of lean meat on certain days. Many claim that by the end of the week they feel lighter and less bloated.
Is It Effective?
It can be effective… but only as a quick fix.
Let’s say you’re consuming three bowls of cabbage soup daily. That’s only 600-800 calories. If you burn 1800 to 2000 calories, you significantly lose weight. That’s simply how the body functions. But here is the explanation.
You initially shed water weight, not fat. This is the case for people who consume a low-carb or low-salt diet, as the body gets rid of water weight first. This phenomenon explains the feeling of lightness during the 3 to 4 days. The drawback is that returning to regular meals often results in the regaining of water weight.
Cabbage soup can aid in weight loss, but it should only be used as a temporary solution.
Is Cabbage Soup Healthy?
Honestly, cabbage soup is not really healthy.
Of course, cabbage is healthy. It has vitamins C and K, and its fiber helps with digestion. However, consuming only cabbage soup for a week skips out on vital proteins, healthy fats, and calories. These nutrients are essential for your well-being.
As a result, you may feel tired or irritable. Some people even experience headaches or stomachaches. Eliminating entire food groups is not a recommendation for long-term health by any physician.
Can You Keep Weight Off Long Term?
This does not provide a magical remedy. If that were the case, it would be a staple everywhere.
Losing weight and maintaining it requires a shift in habits. This includes eating balanced meals, mindful portions, hydration, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep. There is no shortcut to this.
Despite this, some people do use cabbage soup as a jumpstart. That is fine, as long as it’s clear that it’s just a small part of a larger whole.
An Example From Real Life
Let’s consider Sarah, a 35-year-old mother of two children. She decided to try the cabbage soup diet and followed it for five days. On the first day, she was fine, but by the second day, her stomach was growling, and she longed for a slice of toast. By day four, she was sick of the soup but noticed some of her clothes were fitting better. When she weighed herself, she had lost 4 pounds.
Undoubtedly that made her happy, but the following week when she returned to eating regular meals, 3 pounds of the weight she lost came back immediately. Those days of having only cabbage soup left her feeling exhausted too. Eventually, she chose to treat the soup as a light meal to have occasionally instead of a full diet plan.
What Could You Take Away from This?
Having cabbage soup a few times a week as a lighter meal is perfectly fine. However, replacing all your meals with it is unrealistic and will not provide desirable results.
It is acceptable to eat cabbage soup, but relying on it too heavily to lose weight and keep it off long-term is unwise.
Smarter Ways to Add Cabbage Soup
If you plan on incorporating cabbage soup into your meals, here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Lunch: As a light lunch, have it alongside a slice of whole-grain bread or grilled chicken.
- Have a bowl before the main meal: This can help curb your appetite and make you feel a little fuller, leading to reduced intake during the main course.
- Reserve it for the weekdays: this is excellent for getting back on track after overindulging on weekends.
- Increase its nutrition: Make it a complete meal by adding some beans or lean meat.
Final Thoughts
Can cabbage soup help with weight loss? Cabbage is low in calories, and that is the main reason it helps. While it may aid in losing weight, it won’t be sustainable. You will revert back to your original weight without implementing healthier diet changes.
In short, cabbage soup can be part of a smart plan if you are trying to avoid heavy meals. That being said, don’t expect it to be your only approach—no meal should be relied on to do everything for you.
Dropping a few pounds requires personal habits, not just a single serving of soup. It’s true that one serving of soup won’t fix the issue at hand, but it can assist in helping you take the first steps toward your goals.
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