Chicken soup is a healthy option for lunch or dinner -- but not if chicken soup is all you're eating. The chicken soup diet, also called the Sacred Heart diet, is a fad diet that involves eating a homemade chicken soup concoction for most meals. Although it is very low in calories, following the diet will not provide healthy, safe or sustainable weight loss. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, particularly if you have injuries or health conditions.
History
The chicken soup diet has been passed around the Internet as an effective way to drop pounds quickly. It has been falsely attached to the Sacred Heart Medical Center, although the hospital in Spokane, Washington, denies any association to the diet. Despite claims on the Internet, the chicken soup diet is not approved by doctors or hospitals. It is a fad diet that does not provide a safe way to lose weight in the long term.
Soup Recipe
The cornerstone of the chicken soup diet is a homemade chicken soup that dieters eat for most meals of the day. Although the exact recipe varies, it may include a package of powdered chicken noodle soup mix, two cans of stewed tomatoes, three chopped green onions, one can of nonfat beef broth, a bunch of chopped celery, 2 lbs. chopped carrots, two cans green beans and two chopped green peppers. Dieters are instructed to cook the mixture on the stove until the veggies soften, then store the extra soup in the refrigerator after it cools.
Directions
Although exact meal plans may vary, dieters are instructed to eat specific portions of food along with the chicken soup for one week. On Mondays, dieters are instructed to eat as much of the chicken soup and any type of fresh fruit except bananas as desired during the day. On Tuesday, dieters may eat as much soup and fresh veggies as desired -- but no beans or corn. On Wednesday, dieters eat as much soup, fresh veggies and fresh fruit as they want. On Thursday, dieters eat three bananas, one glass of skim milk, and as much soup as desired. On Friday and Saturday, dieters eat eight tomatoes, lean beef, fish, skinless chicken breast and as much soup as desired. On Sunday, dieters eat brown rice and as much soup as desired.
Drawbacks and Risks
If a diet sounds too good to be true, it probably is -- and the chicken soup diet is no exception. Because you are eating a very low-calorie, restricted eating plan, you will probably lose weight while following the chicken soup diet. But because you are eating the same foods over and over again, you put your health at risk. Unless you are going to eat the chicken soup concoction every day for the rest of your life, the weight you lost will return as soon as you return to your normal diet.
Instead of eating chicken soup for every meal, lose weight the healthy and sustainable way. Focus on eating a variation of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein, while getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This combination will help you lose weight and keep it off for good.
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