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The soup diet is a diet based on the daily consumption of soups in order to lose weight. It has been around for decades but has gained more and more popularity in recent years. What is a soup diet? Who is it for? Is it safe? You will find answers to these and other questions below.
Soup Diet – What Is It?
Soup diets have been around for decades. They consist in consuming mainly soups for a week in order to lose weight. Depending on the type of diet, it can only be one soup or different types of it.
The first soup on which the soup diet was based was cabbage soup. This form of diet gained popularity in the 1980s. Since then, the soup diet is no longer based solely on cabbage soup. Diets based on vegetarian soups, bean soups or broths began to be introduced.
Read also: Kwasniewski’s diet – what is it about?
Basic soup diet – what is it?
Any type of soup can be eaten on a basic soup diet. This means that both cream soups and broth soups are allowed. Meat soups and vegetable soups are recommended. Of course, the healthiest ones are those prepared at home, not the ones you buy, which you just need to put in the microwave and heat up. Other soup diets may have a specific recipe to follow and specific recommendations.
Most staple soup diets last for seven days, but others can last up to two weeks. The catch, however, is that we only eat soup and water. Nevertheless, admirers like the soup diet because it is very low in calories.
See: The DASH diet is the best for health
Soup diet – for whom?
A properly composed soup diet provides the necessary nutrients and does not require fasting. The only contraindications to using the soup diet are: pregnancy, problems with the thyroid gland or food intolerances.
Not all diets are healthy and safe for our body. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting any diet, even if you do not have any health concerns. When choosing a diet, never follow the current fashion. Remember that some diets, incl. low in specific nutrients or strongly limiting calories, and mono-diets can be devastating for the body, carry a risk of eating disorders, and may also increase appetite, contributing to a quick return to the former weight.
Soup diet – types
Overall, the most popular soup diet is the cabbage soup diet. However, there is no specific soup that you should eat to lose weight. So it can be any soup that is made from healthy vegetables, lean meat and has no fat in it.
The most popular types of soup diets are outlined below.
Soup diets – broth diet
The broth diet is a 7-day slimming diet consisting in almost exclusive consumption of broth during the day – in addition to breakfast.
For your morning meal, you can choose from five low-calorie options that include foods such as skim milk and yogurt, fat-free cheese, whole grain cereals or bread, and fresh fruit.
For the rest of the day, the diet recommends eating homemade broth. Proponents of this form of diet say eating small, frequent servings of soup will help reduce appetite and encourage satiety.
The soup itself is low in calories and carbohydrates as it is prepared with broth, cooked chicken, spices, garlic and onions, and many non-starchy vegetables including carrots, turnips, broccoli, and cabbage.
Soup diets – cabbage diet
Soup-Based Diet – Cabbage soup is a seven-day diet that is low in fat and high in fiber. This diet is intended for people looking for a short-term solution to the problem of overweight – in this case, the diet lasts only for a week. It is not intended for further use.
Soup diets – bean diet
On this diet, you eat bean-vegetable soup, prepared with ingredients such as beans (crescent beans, green beans, chickpeas and green beans), mushrooms, chili peppers, diced tomatoes, peppers, and celery.
By following this diet, you eat bean soup twice a day as your main meal. We also encourage you to drink plenty of water. Dieters are advised to avoid or limit dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and avocados, but are encouraged to consume most other oil-free and plant-based foods.
Read: Why are fruits and vegetables so important in a child’s diet?
Soup diet – recipes
Here’s a sample cabbage soup recipe that you can make as part of your diet.
Ingredients:
- ½ a head of large cabbage, cut into small pieces,
- 1 bunch of celery, diced,
- 2 onions, diced,
- 1-2 green peppers, sliced,
- 3 carrots, cut into small pieces,
- 2 cans of diced or whole tomatoes (preferably low in sodium)
- 1 to 2 garlic cloves, diced,
- dried herbs of your choice,
- approx. 3 liters of water.
Add all ingredients to a large pot. Pour over with water and simmer for 2 hours or until all vegetables are tender.
See: Dąbrowska’s diet – recipes
Soup diet – can I eat anything else?
The main ingredient of the soup diet is a vegetable broth soup – you usually eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some people choose to add a few extra low-calorie foods. They can be:
- additional vegetables,
- fresh fruit,
- lean proteins such as chicken, tofu, or beans (in soup or as an extra meal)
- brown rice (for soup or as an additional meal).
Basically everything else is forbidden. The soup diet also prohibits the consumption of:
- Cream-based soups or cheese soups that have more calories than bouillon based soups
- starchy foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, or white rice
- baked goods, desserts or dishes with added sugar,
- dairy products such as milk, yogurt, or cheese
- fatty meats such as beef, pork.
Soup diet – disadvantages
Like any diet, the soup diet also has its drawbacks. First of all, because it is a low-calorie diet, which can make you feel weak, lethargic and, above all, hungry while taking it..
Over time, this can backfire, slowing down your metabolism and making it harder to lose weight. It is also nutritionally poor – it does not provide the right amount of nutrients.
Furthermore, this diet will not ensure long-term maintenance of your target weight. Low-calorie diets can cause you to lose weight quickly, but when you return to your normal calorie intake, you can gain weight very quickly.
Control your body weight with the Visiomed Bewell Connect MyScale Initial intelligent bathroom scale, which can be combined with a special application that extends its capabilities by, for example, calculating caloric requirements.
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