Is It Important To Include Soup In The Diet?

We’ve been hearing about the importance of eating soup regularly since we were kids. And it really is. Incorporating ‘first courses’ into your diet can indeed benefit your health by providing your body with many essential nutrients. In addition, regular consumption of soups helps control weight – and this is a scientific fact. Here’s how soups are actually good for you and why you should eat them as often as possible. 

To start with, eating liquid foods greatly reduces the risk of dehydration. Of course, a bowl of soup won’t stop you from drinking your daily quota of clean water, but statistics show that people who regularly eat soup are less likely to be hydrated. 

If you’re not following a plant-based diet, try to cook meat broths on the bone to get an extra helping of collagen protein. The longer you cook the broth, the higher the concentration of collagen in it will be. This protein is essential for maintaining healthy bones and joints, as well as youthful and beautiful skin.

Dieticians recommend making soups with a variety of ingredients: add as many vegetables of different colours as possible (each colour is responsible for certain substances – the more ‘coloured’ your soup is, the healthier it will be). Legumes will provide you with a portion of vegetable protein and important micronutrients that improve brain function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Especially healthy are fish soups – they are rich not only in protein, but also in a lot of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

Soup is an absolutely dietary product. First, the presence of broth significantly reduces the caloric content of the dish per 100 grams. Secondly, because of the same liquid, soup fills the stomach faster, provides a sense of satiety and reduces the risk of overeating and, consequently, weight gain. According to a study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, people who eat soup regularly are 40% less likely to be overweight.