Many people resort to quick fixes whenever they want to trim a few inches off their waist. This is why meal plans like the Cabbage Soup Diet continue to gain popularity. Until today, no one has come forward to claim credit for the invention of this diet. It was introduced in 1980, and it was used to rapidly get rid of water weight.
Although this is very commonly used today, many health organizations such as the American Heart Association strongly discourage its use. There are several individuals who cannot follow this rigid meal plan. People with diabetes and heart problems should not attempt using the Cabbage Soup Diet. In addition, people who are hoping to lose weight the right way are discouraged to use this diet.
Top reasons why this diet might not work for you.
- Mild to Severe Malnutrition. The body needs a lot of nutrients in order to function properly. Unfortunately, the Cabbage Soup Diet limits your nutrient intake. While the soup is made from very healthy ingredients such as onions, cabbage and tomatoes, it still lacks essential vitamins and minerals. Compared to other popular weight loss diet, this option can mild to severe malnutrition. It can also cause boredom or discomfort because of the lack of food choices.
- Extreme Hunger. Taking the Cabbage Soup Diet involves drastic decrease in calorie intake. Because only 150 calories are available in one cup of cabbage soup, you will feel extremely hungry after the meal. Regardless if the soup is paired with fruits, veggies or meat, the calorie intake is still below the average amount. According to studies, the diet can only provide around 1,000 calories a day. That amount is half the prescribed calorie intake for an average adult.
- Exhaustion and Severe Fatigue. Aside from hunger, this type of diet will also cause fatigue and exhaustion. During the first day of the diet you are only allowed to eat fruits and the soup. Even though fruits are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, these do not contain protein, calcium and a long list of other essential nutrients. As the week progresses, you will have more food options. However, these are still not enough to help you maintain a healthy body because of their small serving portions. There are very limited food products included in this meal plan. A few examples of the food items include are starchy veggies, green veggies, unsweetened juice and grass-fed beef. Eating restricted types and amount of food can cause severe problems like sudden energy gap and prolonged fatigue. Using this diet for a prolonged time can result to more serious health issues.
- Electrolyte and Cardiovascular Health Problems. Low-calorie meals are not prescribed for people with heart problems. Electrolytes are important in various physiological processes. For example, the heartbeat is strongly affected by the level of electrolyte in the body. If there is an abnormal electrolyte level, the heart beats slower or faster than normal. Decreased calorie intake causes irregular heartbeats. If the heart continues to beat irregularly for a long time, a person can suffer from fatal conditions. If you have existing heart condition, you must not try this diet. Aside from causing heart problems, the diet can also cause dehydration, nausea, and weakness. If the electrolyte levels of the body remain low for a very long time, you may suffer from dizziness, breathing difficulty and even death.
- Abdominal Pain and Bloating. Cabbage, along with other cruciferous veggies, causes bloating and abdominal pain when consumed excessively. If you have digestive problems, you should not try the cabbage soup meal-plan. You should also avoid the diet if you easily get bloated. The symptoms can differ a lot, depending on the person’s sensitivity to brassica vegetables. The symptoms tend to worsen as you consume more cabbage, so it is strongly discouraged to eat cabbage soup if you have a gassy gut.
- Mental and Emotional Stress. Limited meals can make you feel deprived, unsatisfied and depressed. According to diet specialists, it can cause mental issues likes anorexia and bulimia. If you are unsatisfied for a prolonged time, your body image and self-esteem can be severely affected. If you are clinically depressed, you should avoid this diet.
- Immediate Weight Gain. While the diet is specifically made to rapidly get rid of unwanted fats, it cannot assure a long-term slimming effect. Once you shift back to your usual eating routine, your weight will go up once more. This diet also disrupts the normal digestive and metabolic processes. Restrictive meal plans such as the Cabbage Soup Diet slows down the metabolism rate.
Do not attempt to continue this diet plan for more than one week. You may only continue after two weeks. In order to maintain your weight loss progress, you will need to work out and follow a healthier diet. Use the Cabbage Soup Diet as your initial step in attaining your target weight.