The cabbage soup diet - still, after all these years

If you've failed on every diet you've ever tried, it's not your fault.

Learn the truth about low-calorie and low-fat diets - and discover the only diet that works for natural, permanent weight loss.

The good food you eat on this healthy diet boosts your metabolism, controls your appetite, and improves your moods. And the healthy, nutrient-rich foods keep your kids from getting fat and protects them from diabetes.

This 5-page report is a must-read for anyone who struggles with their weight:

What Scientists Know about Low-Calorie Diets, but Your Doctor Never Told You

The cabbage soup diet is the fad weight loss plan that never fades away.

The cabbage soup diet is a quick weight loss plan that has been around for at least 14 years - long before the popularity of the Internet. This shows that the cabbage soup diet works, at least temporarily.

(I actually used this diet, or one of it's many variations, to lose a few pounds about 14 years ago, so I know it's been around at least that long. And yes, the weight came right back on.)

For a quick jump-start, or to just lose a little bit of water weight so you can fit into that dress for the class reunion, the cabbage soup diet might not be so bad - but it's important to remember that no one takes responsibility for having created the cabbage soup diet, and no one who passes it on will recommend staying on it for more than a week or two

There's actually a very popular e-book built around the cabbage soup diet, but which follows up the first restrictive week with a practical, healthy weight loss program. You can see it by clicking here.

The controversy surrounding the popular high-protein, low carbohydrate diets similar to the Atkins diet plan may be contributing to the renewed interest in the cabbage soup diet - but this diet has it's own risks.

The problem is not in nutrition, because the soup itself probably has more nutrition than most American meals. And it doesn't cause the toxicity that makes the Atkins diet plan dangerous for so many people. But this is an extremely low calorie diet - actually a starvation plan. That's why no one can stay on it for long.

On the cabbage soup diet you are supposed to be able to eat as much cabbage soup as you want, and are required to eat it at every lunch and dinner for a week. There are a few other things, like baked potatoes and bananas, that are eaten at a specific schedule.

I tried the soup recently, just to see what it would be like. The first day I loved it, because this really is good soup. The cabbage soup has all the flavor you could want, and I actually recommend it as a recipe that will be enjoyed by your family (in moderation). As an occasional meal, it's really good for you.

I made a huge pot, following the directions below. There was lots left over to eat throughout the week.

The second day I was less enthusiastic, and on the third day I was unable to eat the soup at all. The high amount of sulfur in the cabbage created some intestinal disturbances that we don't need to discuss. (The cabbage soup diet book I mentioned has tips on reducing the intestinal discomfort you get from eating the cabbage. This vegetable is known to be a great intestinal cleanser, but it can also cause uncomfortable gas.)

The rest of the diet consists of potatoes, other vegetables, and bananas, eaten on alternate days.

Cabbage soup diet recipe (one of many)

6 large green onions
2 green peppers
1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
1 bunch celery
1/2 head cabbage
1 or 2 cubes low-salt bullion (optional)
1 48 oz. can V8 juice (or water)

Add all ingredients to a large (very large) pot and simmer until done, about one hour.

Will you lose weight if you go on this diet?

Yes. There are very few calories, so of course you will lose weight. However, it may trigger your body to go into "starvation mode," slowing your metabolism and causing you to regain the five pounds that you lose (and more) as soon as you go back to eating normally.

But is it good for you? The number of calories and the amount of nutrition in this diet is so close to starvation that the answer has to be "No!"

Where did the cabbage soup diet come from?

No one claims responsibility for this diet, but it does have some very interesting correlations to the cancer-fighting diet created by Dr. Max Gerson. Dr. Gerson was a pioneer in treating cancers and other illnesses with nutrition, and his famous diet does require one to eat cabbage soup at least once a day.

Of course, Dr. Gerson's diet was not designed to help people reduce their weight, and included far more than just soup and potatoes. The mainstay of Dr. Gerson's diet was fresh, organic carrot and apple juice, (as much as 14 glasses a day). Dr. Gerson, who died in 1959, may have been influenced by Dr. Norman W. Walker, the originator of the Norwalk hydraulic press juicer and one of the first people to emphasize the nutritional benefits of fresh juice. The Gerson cancer therapy also includes many micro-nutrient supplements to flood the body with minerals and enzymes. (Click here for more information on the Gerson cancer therapy program.)

Even if the anonymous originator of the cabbage soup diet was influenced by Dr. Gerson, so much nutrition is left out of this diet that it is wise to heed the warnings to stay on it for no longer than a week.

What this author recommends, instead.

The cabbage soup diet appeals to all of us because it offers a possibility of quick weight loss. However, there are a few things people can do to lose the 5 or ten pounds that they could expect to lose on this short weight loss plan.

Stop eating salt. (Yes, we need some salt - but look at the labels on every packaged food on the market. If you add up all those percentages, on any given day most Americans eat way too much salt. This actually causes more than just water gain, although that in itself isn't healthy. By changing the electrical charge inside our individual cells, the excess salt slows down the metabolism - causing weight gain - and makes the cell's internal parts work less efficiently. If you are really serious about weight loss - lose the salt).

Instead of eating the same soup for an entire week (if you can last that long, that is...) have a huge salad with every lunch and dinner. Make salad the first and most important part of your meal. The nutrition in salad greens and other yummy raw veggies is extremely important, and can actually help you lose weight by improving the way your cells function.

Eat bean soups instead of meat for several weeks, and then gradually bring meat back into your diet if you want - but never let the calories from any animal products be more than 10% of your total diet. Vegetarians are almost always thinner than the average meat-eating American.

For a diet that really works, and is actually good for you, check out the book Eat to Live, by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. I am so excited about the diet that Dr. Fuhrman outlines in his book that I actually revised my own book so I could recommend it to my readers.

This diet, based on solid nutritional principles, will allow you to lose all the weight you want to, while boosting your immune system and helping to detoxify your system after years of poor nutrition.

Why follow the cabbage soup diet for one week, and then regain all the weight back again? Try a truly nutritious diet instead, and have health for a lifetime.

Back to top of cabbage soup diet.

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.