Sauerkraut for weight loss: can you eat or not, benefits and harm to the body, diets, fasting and proper nutrition menu with the product

Composition and benefits Contraindications Important features Diet for 2 days For 3 days For 4 days For a week For 10 days For a month

It is a component of many proper nutrition systems. But is sauerkraut suitable for weight loss if used as an independent diet product? The beauty of the leaven of this product was appreciated in Rus' back in the 17th century. But the main advantage is not only longer storage, but the fact that when fermented, this vegetable becomes even healthier than fresh. The amount of some useful substances in it increases.

The calorie content of the fermented product is only 20 kcal per 100 g (fresh - 25 kcal), which makes it suitable for those who want to lose weight. Many diets do not even contain a specific serving size for the product, since with such a calorie content you can eat quite a lot and still not harm yourself. It turns out that even with limited nutrition you can remain full. Moreover, it contains fiber, which increases satiety but speeds up metabolism.

On a diet with this vegetable, you can lose from 2 to 7 kg - the exact numbers depend on how long you will be on it. There are simply fasting days, and there are also full monthly diets.

However, despite the effectiveness of mono-diets, it is not recommended to eat only sauerkraut for a long time. It increases the acidity of the stomach and can cause problems with its functioning - heartburn, gastritis, ulcers. Therefore, it is better to make it the basis of the menu, but combine it with other foods, and be sure to eat fermented milk products that reduce acidity.

The vegetable contains 12 vitamins and 22 mineral elements, which makes it useful not only for weight loss, but also for health.

Quick sauerkraut recipe

Product properties: to eat or not

Sauerkraut prevents the manifestation of vitamin deficiency, since it is not inferior in vitamins and minerals to fresh vegetables. Cabbage brine copes with the symptoms of a hangover; it is also simply irreplaceable during pregnancy, as it fights toxicosis. Nutritionists note that sauerkraut brine helps with diseases such as:

obesity;
problems with immunity;
problems with parasites, etc.

Interestingly, the qualities of this product are related to the preparation process itself, as well as the biological and chemical composition.

Thanks to the process of fermented milk fermentation, which occurs during fermentation, in the human body, when consuming cabbage prepared in this way, the microflora of the intestinal tract is normalized and digestion processes are improved.

Sauerkraut is one of the few products that retains its beneficial qualities and even increases them after processing.

It is important that if all storage conditions are met, the vitamin and mineral composition of cabbage remains unchanged. Includes:

ascorbic acid – antioxidant, helps normalize cellular metabolism;
coarse fibers help normalize digestion;
carotene;
B vitamins;
vitamins P and PP;
minerals.

Another argument in favor of consuming sauerkraut is that it contains a high amount of fiber that cannot be digested by the human body, and they cleanse the body of various kinds of metabolites and also help eliminate problems such as constipation. Cabbage prepared in this way cleanses the body of parasites - Giardia, which live in the digestive system.

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Effect on weight loss

Sometimes the properties of sauerkraut indicate its low calorie content as the main benefit for combating excess weight.
100 grams contain only 19 kcal. But since strict calorie counting for weight loss is not at all the main thing, the main influence on the process of weight normalization is associated with completely different features of the product. The main beneficial quality is the content of a significant amount of probiotics together with prebiotics. Why is this so important?

An imbalance of intestinal microflora leads to weakened immunity and the development of chronic inflammation, which scientists consider one of the causes of excess weight gain. There is a hypothesis that a person, in principle, cannot have a normal weight if his intestinal flora is not in order. He may be excessively fat or suffer from thinness, but he will not be able to have a normal weight.
People with altered microflora usually show signs of overeating and addiction to sweets. This is due to the fact that many pathogenic bacteria in the intestines need sugars for their existence and therefore send calls to their host’s brain to eat sweets.
Some pathogenic bacteria stimulate the development of insulin resistance, which quickly leads not only to excess weight gain, but to a whole bunch of other serious diseases.

Without normalizing the functioning of the intestinal biocenosis, it is difficult to lose weight. The correct and effective way to optimize microflora is to use probiotics. And not in tablets, but in natural living form, that is, in food products.

Probiotics are found in all foods that have been prepared using traditional fermentation. These are fermented milk dishes, for example, kefir, and fermented vegetables.

Fermented milk microorganisms in sauerkraut are much more effective than probiotics from dairy products. The explanation is this: beneficial bacteria in cabbage are in a more acidic environment than in kefir or yogurt, and, therefore, more effectively overcome the stomach with its acid and enter the intestines alive.

In addition, sauerkraut has a successful combination of probiotics and prebiotics. Prebiotics are food components that are not broken down in the upper parts of the digestive system, but are successfully absorbed in the large intestine by the bacteria living there. These compounds are absolutely necessary for the life of lactobacilli, and therefore their presence in the product is a big plus.

However, you should not switch to some special “sauerkraut” diet and try to lose weight exclusively on this product, abandoning all others. This approach may lead to rapid weight loss, but the weight loss will not be sustainable. And it will develop into further weight gain. As always happens with strict diets.

The nutritional value

Calorie content of 100 g of sauerkraut is 18 kcal. It contains tartronic acid, a natural fat burner.

It is for these reasons that nutritionists recommend including this product in your diet when losing weight.

It rids the body of large amounts of glucose in the blood, which prevents the development of such a dangerous disease as diabetes. This product has a number of contraindications!

Is it possible to eat at night?

It turns out that this dish is so low in calories that you can safely eat it at night. If your appetite is overwhelming, your hunger is creeping in, and you're thinking about sweet cakes, eat a bowl of sauerkraut instead. You can stew a tasty appetizer. There will be very few calories in it. When on a diet, sauerkraut is good with spicy seasonings. Season it with pepper and herbs. Hot peppers contain capsaicin. It has a thermogenic effect, speeds up blood flow and helps break down fat for energy. In addition, hot peppers reduce appetite. And when losing weight, being able to curb your appetite is extremely difficult and extremely important.

If you have already tried the sauerkraut diet, reviews about the practice of such weight loss will be very useful.

IMPORTANT! Informational article! Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Benefits and harms to the body when losing weight

Sauerkraut is necessary due to the fact that it contains:

bioflavonoids;
complex of vitamins and minerals, etc.

They activate metabolic processes, protect human organs and tissues from the negative effects of toxins and harmful substances.

This product also contains vitamins such as A, E, B1, B2, PP, K, U, H. This means that if you follow a dietary diet, the body will fully receive all the necessary vitamins for normal functioning.

Nutritionists say that sauerkraut has zero calories - this means that the human body will spend more energy digesting this product than it will end up with.

For more effective weight loss, it is recommended to eat one glass of brine, which is formed as a result of preparing such cabbage, this will activate the metabolic process, cleanse liver cells and remove heavy metal salts, etc.

Nutritionists note that this product should not be abused, since unlimited consumption may cause flatulence. This warning especially applies to people who have not previously loaded their bodies with large amounts of fiber.
There is a high risk of swelling and pain in the intestinal tract.

Is the product compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Yes. Pregnant women can and should eat this because:

strengthens the immune system, helping to avoid infection with viral infections, which are especially dangerous during pregnancy;
eliminates constipation;
improves mental status, calms;
helps reduce symptoms of toxicosis;
provides the body with important vitamins and microelements;
helps prevent pathological weight gain.

So far, no specific harm from sauerkraut has been found for pregnant women.

The product is useful for a nursing mother in the same way as for any other person. However, some women undergoing breastfeeding are afraid that it can lead to colic in the child.

Pediatricians have noticed that in those countries where sauerkraut is eaten a lot and often, breastfed children feel great after their mothers feasted on sour cabbage. But in those countries where this product is exotic, nursing mothers are afraid to include it in their menu.

Therefore, whether or not to eat sauerkraut while breastfeeding is up to you to decide. There are no strict contraindications for this.

Contraindications

It is noted that, despite the large number of positive qualities, this product may be contraindicated. Thus, it is prohibited to use:

people who have peptic ulcers of the stomach and intestines;
with gastritis;
with pancreatitis;
with hepatitis;
with cholecystitis;
for urolithiasis, etc.

When preparing this product, a large amount of salt is used; nutritionists do not recommend eating it if you have problems such as:

swelling;
kidney and gallbladder diseases;
gout, etc.

The composition contains a large amount of sodium chloride in order not to cause damage to organs, but to acquire a lot of benefits, it is recommended to use it no more than 3 times in 7 days. To accurately determine your own norm, you should listen to the reaction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Vegetables on the menu with proper nutrition

It is worth paying special attention to the fact that this product causes thirst and dehydration. To prevent this, you should drink more than 2 liters of clean water per day.

Diet for 3 days

1 day

Breakfast - oatmeal with water, cabbage and one apple.

Lunch – boiled eggs, cabbage soup and bread.

The final meal is cutlets made from lean meat with cabbage, tea.

Day 2

Breakfast – low-fat yogurt with fruit, such as an apple, is a staple.

Lunch – boiled chicken breast, bran and cabbage side dish with the addition of green peas.

Dinner – steamed vegetables, herbal tea.

Day 3

Breakfast - one percent cottage cheese with pineapples, bran toast and fermented product.

Lunch – white fish fillet, steamed or oven-baked, side dish with vegetables.

Dinner – boiled buckwheat with cabbage and tea with herbs.

Due to the fact that this fermented product contains salt, it can contribute to water retention in the body. Also, people who suffer from various diseases of the cardiac system should not use it with proper nutrition. Nutritionists indicate that this option for combating excess weight is suitable only for people with normal functioning of all organs.

Recipe for making sauerkraut for weight loss

Ingredients

White cabbage 700 g
Cumin 1/3 tsp.
Garlic 3-4 cloves
Carrot 1 large pc.

First of all, you need to chop the main ingredient - cabbage. Use special tools or just finely chop it with a knife. Next, add garlic squeezed through a garlic press, cumin and finely grated carrots. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and poured with water at room temperature so that the salad is completely covered. In this state, the cabbage should stand for at least 5 days (preferably a week). It is necessary to create certain conditions; it should be a dark, cool place with no drafts. After time has passed, you need to squeeze out all the brine through cheesecloth and discard the vegetables.

It's time to move on to the next stage.

You will need:

White cabbage about 500 g,
Carrots – 1 pc.

As in the previous case, you need to grate the carrots and finely chop the vegetable. Pour the resulting salad with the previous brine, place in a large gastro container and cover with cling film. You need to place a press on top of the film and leave it to infuse for several days, but after 2 days make small holes in the film so that excess bitterness goes away. After this, leave the leaven for another 2-3 days in a warm place, after which the sauerkraut for weight loss will be ready. The product can only be stored in the refrigerator.

Cabbage diets and fasting

Experts consider diets that last no more than 3-4 days to be the most effective, since longer consumption of small amounts of calories can negatively affect health.

Three-day diet

Day 1	1 kg of fermented product and 3 liters of clean water.
Day 2	3 apples, 1 boiled egg and 700 g of sauerkraut.
Day 3	Consumption of green apples and sauerkraut is not limited.

To get vitamins and minerals, it is recommended to add a bunch of greens to your diet every day - onions, parsley or dill. To speed up metabolism, it is allowed to use red hot pepper; it is usually added to a salad of apples and fermented product.

Supermodel Heidi Klum's diet

The famous supermodel of German origin conquered the world with her figure; she was the first to use the product – sauerkraut – for weight loss. This nutrition program is distinguished by its variety of products, usefulness and deliciousness.

It is worth remembering that with this diet, a person needs to drink more than 2 liters of liquid - this technique will help normalize the water-salt balance and dull the feeling of hunger.

Breakfast - a slice of whole grain bread, 150 g of lean meat, pre-boiled, 1 glass of brine.
Lunch – green apple salad with the main product.
Dinner – boiled fish fillet with side dish.

This menu remains unchanged; snacks are allowed, for example, an apple or a glass of pickle.

Simple cabbage diet

The diet is completely balanced and approved by nutritionists and may exceed a period of 4 days, for example, the so-called light diet is designed for a week. On average, according to reviews of people who have lost extra pounds with this diet, they lose from 2 to 5 kg. Nutritionists also recommend it as a preparatory stage for the transition to proper nutrition. A simple cabbage diet is rational, thoughtful and varied.

1 day	The first meal is 10 g of low-fat cottage cheese, toast with fruit and peanut butter. Second meal – 150 g of sauerkraut, broccoli puree and steamed chicken. Read also: What is and the principles of intuitive nutrition according to Bronnikova The third meal is a salad of fresh cabbage, cherry tomatoes and wine vinegar.
Day 2	The first is oat porridge in water, a hard-boiled egg. The second is chicken broth, quail eggs – 3 pcs. and cabbage – 150 g. The third meal is 200 g cabbage and steamed fish.
Day 3	The first is natural yogurt with fruit, such as apples. Second meal – sauerkraut – 150 g, pumpkin puree soup. Third - 150 g of sauerkraut and fried salmon fillet.
4 day	The first meal is Greek yogurt with dried fruits. The second is cabbage - 250 g, chicken chop and carrots in Korean. The third is the main product of the diet - 150 g and steamed vegetables (broccoli).
5 day	First meal – berries – 100 g. The second meal is fish broth, cabbage along with cream sauce. The third meal is boiled chicken fillet and cabbage-cucumber salad.
Day 6	Breakfast – 2 scrambled eggs, toast with apple and cinnamon. Lunch – boiled vegetables, cabbage and apple salad. Dinner – carrot pancakes with cabbage.
Day 7	The first meal is an omelette with red pepper and cauliflower. The second meal is chicken broth, fresh cabbage and cucumbers with olive oil. Third meal - baked dorado, cabbage, bread.

Quitting the diet

Very often, after switching to a “pre-diet” diet, excess weight returns again. To prevent this from happening, new foods should be included in the menu gradually, first grains, vegetables and fruits, then heavier meat and fish dishes. And it is better not to consume baked goods, sweets, animal fats, smoked meats and hot seasonings at all. The longer and stricter the diet, the longer the exit from it should be; on average, this period is 7-10 days. At the same time, it is useful to control the calorie content of the daily diet, not allowing it to increase by more than 20 kcal per day.

Experts' opinions

Not all nutritionists are one hundred percent sure of the beneficial qualities of this product for weight loss, since a low-calorie diet can negatively affect the metabolic process, and then, on the contrary, extra pounds will come on.

After the diet, a slow metabolism will persist for some time, this is due to the fact that the human body cannot quickly switch to a high-calorie diet. The negative consequence of such a restructuring is that the calories received are not wasted, but are converted into fat mass.

Often people, trying to lose weight quickly, try a mono-diet - this is dangerous for the body, due to the fact that caloric intake is reduced, fainting and dizziness may begin.

Nutritionist Alexander Kushch	Nutritionist Ekaterina Belova	Nutritionist Alexey Kovalkov
Cabbage is a real treasure, the benefits of which almost no one knows, the product strengthens and supports systems such as the immune and gastrointestinal, improves the digestion process and normalizes hemoglobin in the blood, cabbage does not just help you lose weight, it generally has a positive effect on the human body .	It contains a huge amount of micro- and macroelements. You should not get carried away with it, since this product is not suitable for all people; it is especially recommended if difficulties arise with the metabolic process.	Cabbage prepared in this way will help lower cholesterol and prevent cancer; it is isothiocyanates that help prevent the appearance of tumors. Zero calories help you actively lose weight. The best choice for weight loss is sauerkraut, prepared independently at home, since it will not be subjected to such strong processing as in production.

Main conclusions

Amino acid U normalizes the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
Vitamins A and C, which are part of it, maintain the youth of cells and prevent the body from aging.
Lactic acid – neutralizes dangerous E. coli.
When losing weight, this product helps improve metabolism.
The body is cleansed of toxins.
Low calorie content helps burn fat deposits.
The feeling of fullness remains for a long period of time.

Sauerkraut is excellent for dietary nutrition, promotes weight loss and removes toxins from the body.

Composition of the product

There is no doubt about the benefits of cabbage. This vegetable should be on every person's table every day. Don't have time to plan salads? Then prepare a large jar at once and put it in the refrigerator. But why is sauerkraut so popular for weight loss? Reviews very accurately indicate how beneficial it is for the body. This harvesting method allows you not only to preserve all the beneficial properties of the vegetable, but also to enrich it with lactic acid fermentation products.

It is primarily a source of vitamin C. Like other leafy vegetables, cabbage contains vitamin K, choline, and inositol. From this product the body receives vitamin B - carotene. It also contains minerals: potassium, calcium, iron and zinc. Of the organic acids, the most abundant is malic acid, which is known for its beneficial properties and beneficial effects on the body.

Nutritional value of the product per 100 g: proteins - 2%, fats - 0.1%, carbohydrates - 7% (glucose, fructose, fiber, pectin). It is this composition that ensures the enormous popularity that sauerkraut deservedly enjoys for weight loss. Reviews from doctors fully confirm the beneficial properties of this product, warning only against the use of mono-diets. Even the most wonderful product cannot contain the entire set of substances necessary for the body. But it’s difficult to find the best addition to chicken breast or lean fish.