ABSTRACT
Cabbage Soup Diet is claimed to be based on a fatburning soup, low in fat and high in fiber, containing negligible calories (less than 500 if followed exactly). It is part of a longstanding belief that “natural” foods are by definition not only healthful but also health-giving. The diet appeals to most because it is said that the more soup you eat, the more weight is lost. There are no limitations on how much soup one can eat. The diet lasts seven days and is intended for rapid weight loss, usually for a special occasion. People in opposition to the diet suggest that weight loss comes from water weight and muscle tissue and not from fat reserves. In some cases, the diet can be seen as counterproductive if continued for long periods of time or if the body does not feel full. It may force the body into starvation mode, causing metabolism to slow down and hold onto fat. Since the diet is not nutritionally sound, it is not recommended as a long-term weight-loss plan. Although it is unclear where the diet originated, the running myth is that it originated in hospitals for heart patients, but there is no data confirming this, and there have been no medical facilities claiming the diet to be their own.
