Several popular weight-loss soup diets involve consuming large quantities of low-calorie soups. Referred to as "fad diets," these plans have been used by celebrities, models and average dieters who attest to their success. No one knows where these diets originated. They are frequently compared to a type of urban legend distributed by word of mouth, emails or photocopies. Some have been published in popular magazines. Due to their lack of variety and restrictions, you cannot follow these diets for an indefinite period of time and are generally limited to using them as a short-term weight-loss starting point.
The Cabbage Soup Diet
By far, the most famous fad soup diet is the Cabbage Soup Diet, a low-calorie, low-fat diet based on cabbage soup and supplemented by some vegetables and fruits. Sometimes referred to as the Mayo Clinic Diet, General Motors Diet, Miami Heart Diet, American Heart Diet, Spokane Diet and Sacred Heart Diet, it calls for the dieter to follow the plan for seven days, eat normally for 14 days, and return to the diet for another seven days. This routine is to be followed until the dieter has achieved their weight goal. The Cabbage Soup Diet does not possess any "fat burning" qualities. Its success is due to providing an 800 to 900 calorie per day food plan.
The Chicken Soup Diet
The Chicken Soup Diet works in a very similar fashion as the Cabbage Soup Diet. Eat a specific breakfast as outlined by the diet each day and for the remainder of the day you are restricted to chicken soup. The chicken soup recipe includes chicken, chicken broth, parsnips, celery, turnips, jalapeno pepper, broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic, salt and cayenne pepper. As with the Diet, dieters often use this diet to learn about their eating habits and as a starting point for a healthier lifestyle.
Negative Calorie Soup Diet
This Negative Calorie Soup diet takes a page from the book of the Negative Calorie Foods Diet. While there are no foods with zero or negative calories, the phrase "negative calorie" refers to foods containing so few calories that the body uses more energy to digest and absorb the nutrients and energy than the food itself contains. Therefore, you burn more calories in the digestion process than you take in, creating a negative calorie balance that then leads to weight loss.
Start with a basic vegetable broth or V-8 juice. Do not add meat. Toss in any number of vegetables you enjoy, such as carrots, mushrooms, celery, green beans, tomatoes, bell peppers and beets. Don't be afraid to add spices for extra flavor, but take it easy on the salt and avoid potatoes. They have too many calories to qualify. While it is very nearly impossible to concoct a soup worth eating for any length of time that is truly negative calories, the Soup Diet advocates claim to lose up to 14 pounds in seven days.
Good Housekeeping All-You-Can-Eat Soup Diet
Good Housekeeping's All-You-Can-Eat Soup Diet adds a new twist to the eating-all-you-want weight-loss plan. Good Housekeeping has published popular chef variations of the basic recipe that remain under 400 calories for dinner. Included are a variety of breakfasts and lunches, so the usual soup diet boredom from meal repetition is no longer an issue. The 1,100-calorie-per-day diet makes it possible for dieters to lose up to five pounds in the first seven days. It is, however, still very restrictive and the meals are time-consuming to shop for and prepare, making it tough to stick with long term.
Considerations
Generally, these diets are safe for adults in good health, but you should consult a doctor or dietitian prior to beginning one. They will undoubtedly advise you that these are not healthy ways lose weight. Side effects from these soup diets generally include dizziness, light-headedness, intestinal gas and bloating. Dieters trying to restrict salt intake also need to beware as soup diets are high in sodium. If you decide to give one of these diets a try, use them as an opportunity to examine your regular eating habits, learn your weaknesses and establish a new beginning for a healthy lifestyle.
Tags: Soup Diet, Cabbage Soup Diet, Cabbage Soup, Negative Calorie, seven days