Leek soup diet is a fad diet for weight loss and overall health. It helps the consumer to lose excess weight quickly. What are leeks? How does the diet help in weight loss?
Leeks
Leeks are the national emblem of Wales. They are root vegetables. The plant is tall and white and green in color. Leek belongs to the allium family. This includes onions, chives, and garlic.
Leeks contain a lot of organosulfur compounds. These substances provide the vegetable its strong odor. Simultaneously, these compounds offer the plant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can be encashed to boost immunity and for overall health of the consumer.
Leeks (Source: Love and lemons)Leeks are extremely tasty. And they are also loaded with vital minerals and vitamins.
According to the website of the US Department if Agriculture, 100 grams of cooked leeks have 30 mgs of calcium, 1.1 mg of iron, 14 mgs of magnesium, 17 mgs of phosphorus, 10 mgs of sodium, 87 mgs of potassium, 4.2 mgs of vitamin C and 812 IU of vitamin A. It has no cholesterol. Author and nutritionist Lisa Young adds:
“Leeks are rich in the antioxidants kaempferol and allicin, which can help fight oxidation leading to chronic disease.”
The leek soup diet
Leeks are milder in taste compared to onions and garlic. But nonetheless they still have a pungent bite. The water in which leeks are booked is the essence of this leek soup diet.
Leek soup is also called magic leek soup. There are reports that French women used to use this for quick weight loss. It was Mireille Guiliano, a French author who took this diet to international level. There was a mention of this soup in the season two of the popular show on Netflix, Emily In Paris.
The magical leek soup (Source: Pinterest)To prepare the soup, chop off the green ends and roots of leeks. Cut the white portion lengthwise. Rinse them in running water. Put into a large container, add water to immerse, and boil. After that, lower heat flame and let it simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. The liquid is the soup. Add salt, parsley, lemon if you like. Lisa explains:
“The diet calls for drinking 1 cup of leek soup every two to three hours for 48 hours,”
If hungry, can eat a cup of cooked leeks too.
Advantages and cons
It is a simple diet to follow. There is no calories counting. It does cause a fast weight loss. It has a clearly defined plan to follow. And there is no need to buy expensive commercial food packages of pre-cooked meals. It has other health benefits too. It can reduce risk of diabetes, chronic heart and arterial diseases and inflammation. Moreover, it is good for gut health and immunity. It can improve cognition and help brain health.
The Leek soup diet (Source: Diet hand)But eating out is impossible when on this diet. This diet is highly restrictive. It can be a short term remedy for weight loss. But it cannot be followed on a long term basis. Once you stop this diet, you will regain back the lost weight. Additionally, it could be a boring diet to follow and lead to monotony. One may end up in binge eating due to severe hunger. This could complicate or precipitate eating disorders.
The diet is nutrition wise unhealthy. And there is no scientific research backing it. Lisa adds:
“The leek soup diet is not a sustainable approach to weight loss.”
Read here: What is cabbage soup diet? Pros, cons, and expert advice!
On this diet, you get less than 300 calories in a day. This is dangerous. Leeks are no doubt healthy. But add them to a balanced diet to reap its benefits in a healthy and sustainable way.