Cabbage Soup Detox Diet Plan

I first came across the cabbage soup detox diet in the 1980’s. It was popular for rapid weight loss although many nutritionists and doctors warned against it as being low in nutrients. In their view it was a fad crash diet that only resulted in water loss and not fat.

Celebrity detox

A number of celebrities have claimed that they use the cabbage soup detox diet to look their best before a star studded event. It has even been rumored that Former United States President Bill Clinton used the cabbage soup cleanse to shed some weight before his daughter’s wedding. It’s well known that he turned to a vegan diet to reverse heart disease so it may well be that he drinks cabbage soup as part of the plan.

The original cabbage soup diet lasted for 7 days and stipulated that you could eat as much as you liked as long as you ate only from the small list of foods such as bananas, skimmed milk, beef and tomatoes on specific days plus 2 bowls of cabbage soup daily.

The recipe for the cabbage soup and the diet plan varies with many different versions of it. Basically it included cabbage and assorted low-calorie vegetables such as onions and tomatoes. It was flavored with dried onion soup mix, bouillon cubes and tomato or V8 juice. Not exactly a great recipe for a detox!

New healthy Cabbage Soup Detox Diet Plan

The cabbage soup detox diet plan has evolved from the original as a better and healthier way to cleanse the body as well as releasing a few pounds. The soup is made from fresh healthy ingredients and you fill up on fresh fruit and vegetables that are low in calories but full of nutrients.

How does cabbage soup detox?

Cabbage is a member of the brassica family of vegetables which contain naturally occurring chemical substances that stimulate both Phase 1 & Phase 2 detoxification enzymes in the gut and liver.

The healthy cabbage soup also contains onions and garlic which are good sources of sulfur that helps detox toxic heavy metals. Sulfur containing foods help to ensure that the sulfation detox pathway in the liver is working well. Sulfation is the way the liver detoxes some drugs, food additives, toxins from intestinal bacteria, environmental toxins and some natural body chemicals.

3 Day Cabbage Soup Detox Diet Plan

Basically you make a huge pot of soup using one of the recipes below or your favorite recipe and eat only the soup, fresh fruit and raw vegetables for 3 days.

As with all detox diets it is best to gradually cut down on tea, coffee, sugar, processed foods and red meat a week or two before you start the detox plan. Smoking and drinking alcohol is banned too.

The soup and fresh fruit and vegetables contain a lot of water but it’s a good idea to drink some pure water as well during the detox. You can drink herbal or green tea if you like.

Don’t forget to get some exercise like brisk walking or rebounding on a mini-trampoline every day.

Cabbage Soup Detox Diet recipes:                                                                          

Cabbage Soup

1 large cabbage
3 large onions
2 large cloves garlic
1 bunch of celery
1 large green peppers
2 leeks
1 large heads of fennel
1 green chilies
3 inch piece of fresh ginger root grated or finely chopped
6 – 9 large tomatoes or 1 x 14 oz can organic tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 stems lemon grass finely chopped ( optional)
lemon juice & pepper  to taste

Directions

Chop vegetables into chunks.
Place in a large pan and add lemon grass and tomato puree.
Cover with pure water ( not tap water). Bring to the boil and cook on high heat for 10 minutes then simmer for about an hour and all vegetables are tender.
Add lemon juice and pepper to taste
Allow to cool and refrigerate.
remove individual portions and reheat as needed.

Cabbage & Beet Soup

1 head cabbage, thinly sliced
1 large sweet onion, sliced or chopped
1 large leek sliced
2-3 large carrots, chopped
2 beets (beetroot) grated
6 cups water or veg broth
1 tsp dried oregano
6 tomatoes chopped
Fresh parsley to garnish

Directions

Put all ingredients into large pan except parsley.
Bring to boil, lower heat, simmer until cabbage and carrots are tender adding more stock or water if necessary.
Add a little sea salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste.
Ladle out your portion and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

When you finish the 3 day Cabbage Soup Detox Diet you should introduce other healthy food gradually. Introduce some cooked vegetables and brown rice then some light proteins such as chicken or fish. It’s a great way to kick start your healthy eating plan.

Get more easy recipes for detox & cleansing in my Recharge and Energize Detox Plan.