What will happen if you eat soup everyday?
A hot bowl of soup may be the most satisfying food on the
planet. There is no better way to warm yourself on a chilly winter day. Soup
can always provide some toasty comfort for the winter blues, whether it's a
rich and creamy bisque or a broth-based chicken noodle soup. But what if this
becomes your go-to supper and you eat soup every day?
So, for all of you soup connoisseurs out there, we wanted to
see how healthy, or harmful, this comfort dish may be. We spoke with a few
dietitians to learn more about what happens when you eat soup every day. Here
are 100 Easiest Recipes You Can Make if you're serious about improving your
healthy cooking skills.
You get
full quicker
You're not alone if you've ever wondered why individuals
frequently eat soup or salad before their main course. A bowl or cup of soup
before your main dish may help you feel more content, depending on the type of
soup you're eating.
Foods with a greater water content will fill you up faster,
according to Laura Burak MS, RD, CDN. "Starting a meal with a soup or
salad, both high water volume, low-calorie items," she notes, "will
fill you up and minimize overeating during meals."
This could mean that if you want a good side of soup with
your supper, you'll end up eating fewer calories overall yet feeling
completely content.
You may
not always be able to satisfy your hunger
With that said, it's worth noting that eating certain types
of soup as the main dish might occasionally make you feel even famished
afterward. This is entirely dependent on the ingredients you select and the
number of nutrients you consume during the meal.
According to Lauren Hoover, RD, the secret to feeling full
and satisfied is to consume soup with a range of balanced nutrients.
"If a primary macronutrient (e.g. protein, complex
carbs, etc.) is missing, some soups aren't very full," she notes. "As
a result, eating soup for a meal can lead to under-nutrition and over-snacking
afterward."
Burak also recommends filling your soups with nutrient-dense
items to prevent hunger and overeating.
"Stay with lower sodium broth-based soups with
nutritional components like vegetables, herbs, spices, and high fiber grains,
beans, split peas, and lentils," Burak advises.
With fewer
calories, you can get more nutrients
The good news is that if you choose your ingredients carefully, you can ensure that your soup has more nutrients for fewer calories than most other meals. Soup has been found in studies to help people lose weight, maintain their weight goals, and reduce their risk of obesity. Soup has the potential to be a fantastic source of nutrients.
"It's a fantastic way to get fiber, antioxidant vitamins A and C, and potassium if it's a broth-based soup with lots of vegetables and legumes," she explains.
Burak concurs.
"Broth-based soups provide a lot of nutritional bang
for your dollars," she explains. "We fill our tank with plenty of
minerals and fiber, but without a lot of calories," she says when we
avoid creamy soups in favor of broths made with vegetables, beans, or lentils.
Even the manner we prepare soup, according to Hoover, can
help us receive our nutrients while consuming fewer calories throughout the
week.
"Soups are simple to make, especially if you use a slow
cooker or pressure cooker," Hoover adds, adding that they may be made in
large numbers. "Preparing a large, nutrient-dense soup on the weekends
ensures you have a nutritious, nutrient-dense lunch for the week."
Saturated
fat may be consumed in large amounts
Nothing beats a creamy clam chowder or a cup of oh-so-cheesy
broccoli cheddar soup. Unfortunately, when it comes to calories and saturated
fat, this style of soup can pack a punch. Our nutritionists all agreed that
while choosing a soup, it's crucial to keep in mind that any cream-based soup
will have a significantly greater fat level.
If you want to reduce your fat intake, Burak recommends
broth-based soups over cream-based soups.
"Soups made with heavy cream instead of broth can be high in saturated fat (not the heart-healthy variety)," she warns.
Butter and other high-fat ingredients in cream-based soups,
according to Amidor, can lead to an increase in saturated fat consumption. She
also points out that consuming more saturated fat "has been shown to
increase your risk of cardiovascular disease—especially if you eat it
frequently." So you'll want to make sure you're not eating cream-based
soup every day!
You may
consume a lot of sodium
Soup, in addition to having a high saturated fat level, can
also have a high salt concentration. The American Heart Association suggests
that the average person consumes no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day,
however, a single serving of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup already contains 890
mg.
"While soups can be a healthy choice, they tend to be
high in sodium, especially when purchased from a restaurant rather than
prepared at home," Burak notes. She adds that in order to battle these
increased levels, "Sodium can be controlled by creating large batches of
uncomplicated soups at home. "Just flush it down with lots of water,
especially if you're salt-sensitive if you're desiring some restaurant-made
soup for the evening," she says "Burak explains.
Whether you're wanting the creaminess of bisque or chowder
or the broth-based chicken noodle, our dietitians all agree that preparing soup
at home rather than ordering it from a restaurant or buying it canned is always
the healthier option.
For the perfect at-home nutritious soup, Hoover recommends
using "a lean protein source, a complex carbohydrate, vegetables, and a
broth base." If you want a creamier soup base, Amidor suggests
incorporating some cream cheese "Yukon Gold potatoes and butternut squash
are examples of starchy veggies. " "Don't forget to garnish your soup
with a few tablespoons of chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, salsa, or Greek
yogurt," adds Amidor, while aiming for the perfect healthy, home-cooked
soup.
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