Cabbage Soup Diet

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a legend in the diet world, one of the classic methods for quick loss of weight. Many versions of the cabbage soup exist, some with slightly more calories than others, but the differences are minor and in the final analysis this is an extremely low calorie, low carbohydrate, low protein and low fat diet.

First of all, here's a recipe for the soup. The amount this recipe makes should be enough for at least two to three days, so you will need to make it twice or three times during the week, probably. It is really quite tasty, so you may find other family members joining in too!

Cabbage Soup Recipe

1 large cabbage
1 head of celery
6 large green onions
2 green peppers
1-2 cans diced tomatoes
6 cups of water
3-4 tablespoons soup powder, onion, chicken or any flavor you want spices to taste, for instance pepper, chili, soy sauce, cummin, anything you want, its a good idea to make the soup as tasty as possible!

Cut up all the vegetables. Heat a large heavy pan and spray it with a little oil. Fry the onions and add the rest of the vegetables except the tomatoes, stir and fry for 10 minutes or so, then add the tomatoes and water, soup powder and spices. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 20 mins, until the vegetables are soft. Do not overcook, try to leave a little texture to the vegetables.

The Cabbage Soup Diet Plan

The diet lasts for a week, and each day is a little different.( Its a good idea to get ready with a supply of all the foods you will need, so that its easy to do, because in the middle of the week you will be ready to eat anything that comes within reach.) The basis of the diet is the cabbage soup, which you can eat all the time, as much as you want.

Day 1- As much fruit as you want, except bananas, teas, cranberry juice and water but no sugar in the tea! And nothing else, except the soup.
Day 2-As much raw vegetables as you want, but no beans corn or peas. No fruit or anything else, but in the evening a baked potato with butter. Remember to drink plenty of water and soup.
Day 3-As much fruit and vegetables as you want, but no potato today. Keep drinking!
Day 4-The sweet day! Today you can eat up to eight bananas, drink as much skim milk as you want and drink tea, water, and of course, soup.
Day 5-Ten to twenty ounces of lean beef, skinned chicken or fish, and up to six tomatoes, cabbage soup at least once and a lot of water to wash out the uric acid- 6-8 cups.
Day 6-As much beef, skinned chicken or fish (if you didnt eat fish on day 5) as you want,and as many vegetables as you want, except beans, corn or peas, and no potatoes.
Day 7-As much brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and vegetables as you want, and soup at least once during the day.

From a nutritional point of view, the cabbage soup diet is an unmitigated disaster, and any dietitian will be glad to explain the dangers of a diet this low in carbohydrates. It is obviously not a diet to follow if you have any health problem, and even completely healthy people may feel weak or faint during the week. It is never a good idea to diet without getting a doctors advice, and this is no exception. Most of the weight lost on a diet like this is water loss and loss of muscle mass, and comes straight back.

However, if you are really stumped for a way to get into your favorite dress for that special occasion, time this diet right and your thin phase may come out on the right day!