Cabbage Soup for Fewer Pounds

Lots of folks aren't keen on cabbage, but when it comes to losing weight the much-shunned veggie can be a godsend. Some experts claim the Cabbage Soup Diet can help lose up to 17 pounds in a short period of time.

Margaret Danbrot, author of "The New Cabbage Soup Diet ($3.99), says it is a way to cut down sharply on your calorie intake without going hungry. In fact, you can just about stuff yourself with some favorites such as bananas and loads of vegetables, fish and chicken.

Of course, as the name implies, it also calls for plenty of cabbage soup -- at least two bowls of it a day, which some may find a bit difficult to take, and alcohol is out, although coffee and tea are allowed (but no sugar). The diet also is not recommended for children, adolescents and people with certain medical conditions, so it is advisable to check with your family doctor first.

But Danbrot and others say you can drop between 10 and 17 pounds without feeling as if you are being deprived. And the Cabbage Soup Diet lets you proceed at your own pace -- a seven-day crash course if you want to lose pounds in a hurry and then switch to a slower, longer-term plan.

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