The chicken soup diet does not make any claims
about how much weight a dieter can lose during the
seven days of the diet, although it is usually implied
that the dieter will be able to lose a substantial amount
of weight. It does not have any exercise or healthy
living recommendations. Some versions of the diet
suggest that it would be a good diet to use if a dieter
wanted to ‘‘jump start’’ a more comprehensive dieting
plan, or if a dieter needed to lose a large amount of
weight quickly for an upcoming special event.
Benefits
There are many benefits to losing weight if it is
done at a safe, moderate pace through a combination
of healthy eating and exercise. There are many conditions
for which obesity is considered a risk factor,
including type II diabetes and heart disease. The risk
of these diseases may be reduced through weight loss.
This is especially true for very obese people who are
generally thought to be at the greatest risk. This diet,
however, is not considered appropriate for long term
moderate weight loss.
The chicken soup diet may have some other benefits
in addition to the claim that it can allow a dieter to
lose a large amount of weight in a short amount of
time. The soup is usually low in calories and contains
many different vegetables, which are an important
part of a healthy diet. Eating a soup like the one in
this diet may be able to help dieters feel more full
without eating very many calories, which may make
it easier for some dieters stick to a healthy reduced
calorie diet.
Precautions
Anyone thinking of beginning a new diet should
consult a doctor or other medical practitioner. Requirements
of calories, fat, and nutrients can differ from
person to person, depending on gender, age, weight,
and other factors such as the presence of diseases or
conditions. The chicken soup diet does not allow very
many different foods, and although the soup may be
healthy, it is unlikely to be able to provide all the
vitamins and minerals needed for healthy adults each
day. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should be especially
cautious if beginning a very restricted diet like this
one because deficiencies of vitamins and other nutrients
can negatively impact a baby that is receiving its
nutrients from its mother.
Risks
There are some risks associated with any diet. The
chicken soup diet does not allow the dieter to eat very
many different foods each day. This means that it is
unlikely that the dieter will get enough of all vitamins
and minerals required each day for good health. Any
dieter thinking of beginning this diet may want to
consult a healthcare provider about a multi-vitamin
or supplement that would be appropriate to take while
on this diet to help reduce the risk of deficiencies. This
is especially true for any dieter considering following a
very limited diet for an extended period of time. Supplements
have their own associated risks.
