The Cabbage Soup Diet (CSD) is a restrictive, short-term eating plan, typically followed for seven days, designed for rapid weight loss. This regimen centers on consuming a specific, low-calorie vegetable soup multiple times a day, supplemented by a few other foods on designated days. The diet relies on severely limited caloric intake to encourage quick changes on the scale. Because the CSD has specific guidelines for what can and cannot be consumed, people frequently wonder about everyday items like coffee.
The Definitive Answer: Coffee and the Cabbage Soup Diet
Black coffee is generally permitted on the Cabbage Soup Diet because it is a near-zero-calorie beverage that does not interfere with the diet’s energy restriction goals. The caffeine content is not directly prohibited, making a morning cup possible for those accustomed to it. This allowance, however, comes with absolute restrictions on what can be added to the brew.
The coffee must be consumed completely black, with no exceptions for caloric additions. This means absolutely no cream, milk (dairy or non-dairy), sugar, or any caloric sweeteners are allowed. While some versions of the diet might permit non-caloric artificial sweeteners, the purest form recommends avoiding them entirely to maintain the strict, whole-food structure.
The Rationale Behind Beverage Restrictions
The Cabbage Soup Diet is structured around an extremely low-calorie intake, often falling well below 1,000 calories per day. The beverage restrictions prevent the introduction of “empty calories” that could undermine this severe energy deficit. Even small additions like a tablespoon of half-and-half or a teaspoon of sugar contain calories the diet is designed to avoid.
A typical tablespoon of coffee creamer can add 30 to 40 calories, which, if consumed multiple times daily, can add hundreds of unintended calories. This increase compromises the low-calorie framework that drives the diet’s short-term results. The diet aims for a near-fasting state to encourage the body to mobilize stored energy, and adding fat or sugar impedes this process.
The rigorous seven-day structure maximizes the deficit, leading to a loss of both water weight and stored glycogen. Any caloric deviation delays the onset of the metabolic conditions the diet seeks to create. Maintaining this strict low-calorie environment is necessary for achieving quick results.
Acceptable Alternatives and Hydration Guidelines
While black coffee is an option, proper hydration is a central focus of the Cabbage Soup Diet, and water is the primary beverage recommended. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water daily is encouraged to support bodily functions and help flush out waste products. This fluid intake assists with rapid weight loss, much of which is water weight.
In addition to water, several other near-zero-calorie liquids are permitted for variety. These include plain, unsweetened herbal tea, which offers flavor without adding unwanted calories or sugar. Unsweetened cranberry juice is sometimes listed in specific CSD variants, but it should be consumed sparingly due to its caloric content.
Skim milk is a notable exception to the zero-calorie rule, permitted only on the designated day when bananas are also introduced. This planned allowance provides calcium and potassium, temporarily overriding the general rule. All other liquids must remain sugar-free and fat-free, maintaining the restrictive, low-energy profile of the Cabbage Soup Diet.