The cabbage soup diet is one of the most controversial weight loss programs in the world, but some healthcare professionals actually recommend it.
The popularity of the diet was at an all time high in 1980 and considered by many to be the first modern fad diet. There’s even evidence that a similar plan, the Doughboy Cabbage Soup Diet, was utilized by French soldiers in World War I. Cabbage was easily available and helped stave off scurvy.
The basic Cabbage Soup Diet advocates seven days of cabbage soup, lean meat and occasional fruit. Supporters of the diet claim that it’s possible to lose up to 10 pounds in just one week. That figure alarms many in the healthcare business, who insist that much weight loss in one week is detrimental. They also claim that the primary weight loss is due to water weight and not fat.
The Cabbage Soup Diet has undergone numerous changes since its beginnings 30 years ago. It’s been known by a variety of names, including The Mayo Clinic Diet and the Sacred Heart Diet, though both organization deny any ties to the diet. It’s also been called the Dolly Parton Diet, the Model Diet and the Stewardess Diet, among many others. The diet gained those designations with the rationale that celebrities, models and some professions required employees to maintain specific weights.
Little research has been conducted about the diet, but studies that have been published indicate it could be a valuable component in losing weight and keeping it off. Cabbage is a green, leafy vegetable needed in a healthy diet. It provides fiber, which has been shown to suppress hunger and appetite. Cabbage is also an antioxidant.
The actual recipe varies depending on the source. Early dieters complained that the soup was bland, leading to the addition of other ingredients, such as bullion, spices and low-calorie vegetables, to make it tastier. To compensate for the lack of protein, versions of the diet with the addition of meat are also available. Another plus for many people, is that no exercise program accompanies the diet.
The diet was never meant to be used as a long-term weight loss program. It is extremely useful as a way to jumpstart a more traditional weight loss program. Many people undertake the diet to lose a few extra pounds prior to a special event, to enable them to fit into a specific garment, or after holiday overeating.
The slow and steady method of losing weight is healthy but contains a major drawback. Most people want to see significantly measureable results quickly and traditional diets don’t accomplish that. Dieters become discouraged and stop utilizing their weight loss program. The Cabbage Soup Diet has the advantage of providing quick results that can be easily seen, which may provide the impetus needed to continue a traditional weight loss program.
The Cabbage Soup Diet is safe for most healthy adults for short-term use, but there are some exceptions. Anyone with sodium concerns, diabetes or eating disorders should not use the Cabbage Soup Diet. An unfortunate side effect of a diet high in vegetables is flatulence, which may be socially embarrassing.
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