Soup Is The Most Important Meal Of My Life—Turns Out Science Is On My Side (2024)

FAQs

Why is soup important in a meal? ›

Soup is chock full of the micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals, needed to nourish your body and support its various processes. Micronutrients are an important part of every person's diet, and consuming enough of them is essential for combatting diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart disease and cancer.

Eating soup may help increase satiety and help you stay full, which might allow you to eat less overall. 1 While this may lead to weight loss, there is no evidence that a soup-only diet could effectively support long-term weight management.

Usually, yes! Soup can be filling, low calorie, nutrient-dense, and supportive of your immune system and weight loss journey. Maximize the benefits by avoiding soups that are full of salt, sugar, or cream. Look for soups brimming with vegetables and sources of filling protein and healthy fat instead.

Soup is a good evening meal to have every day because it is typically low in calories and high in nutrients, making it a healthy option for weight management. It is also easy to make and can be customized with a variety of ingredients to suit personal taste preferences.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule-a creamy clam chowder will pack in more calories than a small turkey sandwich crammed with vegetables, for instance. But as a rule, soup is the better choice. Why? Soup has a high water content, which can help you feel full.

Not only does it make our taste buds sing, but also provides a nice warmth inside which helps calm us down, be more positive and fulfilled. The feeling of a warm bowl of soup in your stomach is one that cannot be matched since it is pleasant to the eyes and heart.

Other types of soup you should watch out for are instant and canned soups, which are often loaded with sodium. High sodium intakes are associated with high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart and kidney disease, and stroke ( 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ).

Many people wonder whether eating soup is good? In fact, soup is very healthy if prepared and used properly. Eating soup regularly is not only good for the digestive system but also prevents other potential health risks such as cancer, obesity, heart disease or diabetes.

Boiled — When cooking vegetables over a long period of time in water, some nutrients will be lost. However, if the water will be consumed with the vegetables — as in the case of soups, stews or curries — many of the vitamins will be retained in the final dish.

Unlike hot caffeinated beverages that leave you dehydrated, soup nourishes you from within and helps increase core body temperature. A bowl of your favorite soup will warm you from inside out on a cold, chilly night, keeping you toasty warm.

What is the best time to drink soup? ›

It should be preferred that soups should be taken as early as possible in the evenings, latest by 7:00pm, if at home and 8:00pm if having dinner out as it has salt content which can lead to water retention in the body if consumed too late.

Unfortunately, there is a catch: Many canned soup products tend to fall on the "unhealthier" side of the healthy-eating spectrum, due to the large amounts of sodium, preservatives, and added sugars they can contain. But what exactly does happen to your body when you eat canned soup?

Even though broth- and tomato-based soups are mostly water, our bodies register it as a food, not a drink.

Since soups are mostly liquid, they're a great way to stay hydrated and full. They give your immune system a boost. Soups can help you stave off cold and flu, and they're a great antidote for times when you are sick, too! Most soups are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients.

Scientifically, soups, along with being appetizing, help in secretion of digestive juices inside the stomach, which aids in proper digestion of the main meal afterwards. Moreover, it calms a growling stomach.

Soup can be a nutrition powerhouse, packed with carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Soup is easy to prepare. After putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning, a steaming pot of soup will be waiting for the entire family in the evening.

Several studies have found that eating soup as a preload can decrease hunger, increase fullness, and reduce subsequent test meal intake (Himaya & Louis-Sylvestre, 1998; Kissileff, Gruss, Thornton, & Jordan, 1984; Rolls, Bell, & Thorwart, 1999; Rolls, Fedoroff, Guthrie, & Laster, 1990).

Thick soups that carry not only the broth, but also toppings that make them sumptuous, can be had as your dinner. These kind of all-in-one soups, that carry a number of condiments on their side, and ingredients in them, are also a great way of utilizing leftovers.