Cabbage Soup Diet: Benefits, Drawbacks & What to Expect

The Cabbage Soup Diet is a seven-day weight-loss plan which promises weight loss of 10 pounds per week. It involves a strict diet of cabbage soup three times a day along with other "allowed" foods each day.

The Diet

• The soup is made up of cabbage and other vegetables including carrots, peppers, tomatoes, celery and onion. On day one you can also eat fruit; on day two, vegetables; day three, fruit and vegetables; day four, bananas and skim milk. Day five is beef and tomatoes, day six is beef and vegetables and day seven, brown rice and vegetables.

The Good

• The upside is you will probably lose weight quickly and you are allowed good amounts of fruits and vegetables. The soup is healthy, as it contains fresh vegetables and is high in fiber. You are drinking at least four glasses of water a day. It could work as a "kick start" for some people.

The Bad

• The downside is you will probably feel cranky and hungry. Most people who lose weight on this diet put it right back on again. It should be followed for only seven days, as you risk missing out on important vitamins and minerals in the long run.