The Sacred Heart Diet, which is similar to the Cabbage Soup Diet, is a seven-day diet plan that focuses on consuming a soup made with beef broth, water and veggies. The diet is supplemented with fruits, vegetables, meats and beverages each day. Though it often promises great results, the Sacred Heart Diet is frequently decried by experts as an unhealthy way to lose weight.
Function
According to the book "The 3-Hour Diet" by Jorge Cruise, the Sacred Heart Diet is generally advertised as a plan that will make you lose about 10 pounds in a week. However, some dieters have reported losing up to 15 pounds. It's a fast-acting diet that isn't designed as a long-term eating plan, and it shouldn't be treated as such.
Cabbage Soup
The main component of the diet is soup. This soup, which the dieter is allowed to consume in unlimited amounts, contains tomatoes, beef broth, chicken noodle or French onion soup mix, and vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, bell peppers and green beans, according to "The Everything Soup, Stew and Chili Cookbook" by Brenda Hulin.
Additional Foods
Dieters are also allowed to eat additional foods, which change daily. On the first day, you may eat as much of any fruit you desire, except bananas. On the second day, all the raw and cooked vegetables you can eat, along with one baked potato with butter, are allowed. On the third day, you can have all the fruit and vegetables you want, with the exception of starchy items such as potatoes, bananas, corn and peas. On the fourth day, you're allowed up to eight bananas and as much skim milk as you can drink. On the fifth day, eat up to six tomatoes and 10 to 20 oz. of lean beef. On the sixth day, you can have leafy green vegetables and up to 20 oz. of lean beef. On the final day, you can have veggies, brown rice and unsweetened fruit juice, says cookbook author Hulin.
Considerations
Belinda Hulin, author of the book "The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook," says that those who are most successful on the Sacred Heart Diet follow it exactly. While you're on the plan, you should take a multivitamin daily to ensure you're getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need. Additionally, you need to drink at least six glasses of water a day.
Warning
The Sacred Heart Diet is a fad diet that can be potentially damaging to your health. Johnny T. Flynn, author of "Heavy Lettuce: Adventures of a Journeyman Dieter," says in his book that people who try the diet don't drop weight because of the soup itself or the plan's food combinations, but rather because of the lack of nutrition and calories that the diet provides. Most of the weight that you'll lose on this diet is water weight, which you will quickly gain back when you begin eating normally after the seven-day period is complete.
References
- "The 3-Hour Diet"; Jorge Cruise; 2005
- "The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook"; Brenda Hulin; 2009
- "Heavy Lettuce: Adventures of a Journeyman Dieter"; Johnny T. Flynn; 2006
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