Health habit number one this year is to eat more soup. This is a simple and satiating way to consume important nutrients or vegetables in a quick and digestible way. In fact, eating more soup is now a major ‘foodie’ trend called, ‘souping.’ Eating lots of soup might remind you a little of being stuck in a hospital. When you’re sick and can only eat puréed foods. Well, it’s a beneficial health habit. There’s a reason why doctors prescribe soups for patients recovering from gastrointestinal surgery.
Speaking of soup, there’s nothing better than the feeling of comfort it brings you, particularly on those cold and gloomy days. I mean, why don’t we eat soup more often? It’s a brilliant healthy habit to create, and it’s super affordable. It also doesn’t have to be freezing outside to eat soup either. We’ve even come across chilled cucumber soups for the summer.
The best part about a soupy health habit is that it’s easy to prepare and comes in many varieties. Soup is my go-to, especially during winter. You can get creative by using beans, spices, herbs, skinless chicken, nutritious veggies, noodles, and tasty broth. Eating soup makes you feel full, but it’s not quite the same sensation you get after eating a huge bowl of pasta, yet eating a vegetable broth makes you feel more satisfied.
We want to know whether ‘souping’ every day can be considered healthy. The souping diet might be back. If you do it right – it might not be a fad either.
Health Habit: #Souping, Healthy, Or Not?
Most people seem to agree that when they eat a big bowl of soup, it fills them up. Better yet, soup is low in calories. It’s also a delicious health habit that will allow you to create balance after a season of heavy meals or even a particularly indulgent weekend. Dieticians also believe that soup gives your digestive system a chance to reboot and de-bloat.
Although soup is low in calories and could help you shed a few pounds, this is no longer the core focus of ‘souping’ any longer. In fact, there are so many recipes out there that cabbage soup is at the bottom of our list. It’s not about starving yourself either, it’s about nourishing your body and feeling satisfied doing it. Nutritionists explain that soup is the perfect combination of food and water which slows gastric emptying. This helps to increase satiety which leaves you feeling full.
You can also make ‘souping’ a healthy habit by trying it in different ways. It all depends on what your goal is at the end. If you’re looking to feel lighter and clear out some waste, then perhaps a ‘soup fast’ is what you should go for. Extremely as it might be, this is not going to be ideal for everyone and certainly shouldn’t be done in the long term. Just short periods. If you had to eat soup and nothing but soup it might become unsustainable. It’s not exactly the health habit we’re talking about. However, if you start eating soup as an appetizer, or having it for one meal or two you will most likely start feeling and seeing the benefits.
When ‘Souping’ Is Very Healthy
Now a healthy habit like eating soup needs to be well-thought-out. Don’t just dive in and think you’re going to survive off soup for the rest of your life because we all know that’s going to backfire sooner or later. Some people think of ‘souping’ as juicing. Unless you’re using a different liquid at a different temperature, the idea remains the same. As long as both are done mindfully and in short spaces of time.
In fact, you can use ‘souping’ smartly for your own health benefit. For example, try eating a bowl of soup before eating your main meal. The volume of water in the soup will help fill you up and make you less inclined to overeat at dinner. In one study, when people consumed soup as a snack instead of chips and pretzels, they lost 50% more weight. Interestingly, the soup, snacks, and the total day’s diet, had the same amount of calories. Yet they still lost more weight eating the soup.
So, what’s the secret? Researchers explain that this healthy habit is more slimming because soup adds more water to the food which slows down gastric emptying. This keeps your stomach fuller for longer. Moreover, the water in soup adds weight and volume, This means you can have a satisfying amount without too many calories.
Juicing Versus ‘Souping’?
There is a slight difference between the two and sometimes there’s not always a good rep associated with juicing. Often because some people take it too far to the point where they starve themselves. This is not a good health habit. But juicing is when you’re just getting the liquid part of the vegetable. ‘Souping’ is when you’re getting all the fiber.
Nutritionists explain that when veggies are puréed into a soup, you’re also able to eat more of them than if they were whole on your plate. In addition, most Americans consume way too few vegetables and plant-based proteins in their diets and don’t enjoy eating veggies. That’s why eating soup can be an easy and tasty health habit that incorporates more vegetables and legumes into your diet.
Many people also don’t enjoy eating vegetables. These people are not used to eating vegetables regularly which is why they’re not familiar with the taste and texture. Therefore, there’s no reason to not encourage a ‘souping’ diet. However, doctors do warn that those facing health challenges like heart disease, diabetes, or a kidney condition should steer clear. This is because restricting calories can cause shifts in blood sugar and electrolytes. It is difficult for people with these conditions to manage.
So, whilst ‘souping’ is healthy, you need to do it mindfully and appropriately. We don’t recommend cutting out whole foods entirely or only eating soup your whole life. It’s more about creating a sustainable healthy habit where you eat soup more often.
What Does This Health Habit Involve?
‘Souping’ is now known as a form of cleansing because soup can help to stabilize blood sugar for more sustained energy. Soups contain lots of fiber-rich veggies, protein, and healthy fats. Whilst the fiber is still intact, it’s much easier to digest because it’s cooked. This is also why juicing isn’t as beneficial. You see, the juice is high in phytonutrients and antioxidants, but is also very high in sugars. High sugar levels can cause your blood sugar to spike and drop, which can make you feel more tired overall.
If you’re going to give this health habit a try, then we’d suggest preparing in advance and making your soups interesting. Fill it up with flavor and try exotic blends like sweet potato, butternut, cauliflower coconut, pumpkin turmeric, and red lentil dal. Moreover, ease into it and only do the cleanse for one week. Then in the second week, I go back to eating whole foods that are healthy and nutritious.
Sometimes the Body Just Needs a Little Reset.
Apparently, some people have made ‘souping’ part of their regular diet. In fact, they cleanse on a regular basis by incorporating soup into their regular everyday diet as a meal replacement. Just remember that soup is not the only thing they’re eating. You don’t want to deprive yourself either. People report that the programs have helped them maintain healthier, more nutritious diets, and lose weight, too.
Of course, there are limits to how long someone should go on a soup cleanse. Experts state that the average healthy person should spend no more than five days on a soup cleanse. More importantly, they must check with their doctor before attempting such a program. However, adding soup as an appetizer to one or two meals a day is a healthy habit that could be done long-term.
Don’t Cut Too Many Calories
It makes sense that you’d likely shed some pounds when eating more soup. For this reason, that soup is low in calories. However, only eating soup for all three meals might not be doable nor sustainable for some people. And remember, it’s the quality of calories that counts the most. Your best bet is to include a lot of vegetables, herbs, and spices, along with protein like lentils, beans, or tofu for vegetarian options, and chicken, fish, or bone broth for omnivores and flexitarians.
So what’s the solution? Try eating only soup for a few days or just having soup for dinner for one week. You must also keep paying attention to your natural bodily hunger cues if you want it to be a sustainable healthy habit. Try ‘souping’ periodically rather than attempting to do it permanently.
You could try making your own miso soup with bok choy, napa cabbage, seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. Or kale and white bean soup with turmeric, bay leaves, thyme, garlic, onion, crushed tomato, celery, and carrots. You can also add some chicken or legumes for extra protein. Even a simple broth with whichever vegetables are in your fridge simmered in organic bone broth. There’s so much you can do.
At the end of the day, you need to have a balanced approach.
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Skye is a Holistic Lifestyle Blogger, Entrepreneur and Movement Instructor. She loves changing people's lives and believes you should always strive to be your best! Her brand, Skyezee FashionFit pty (LTD) shares the latest in well-fashion, conscious living, and daily movement. She wants to help others achieve a happy balance by sustaining a conscious, longevous lifestyle. She shares content that helps others tap into the intricacies of our bodies, environments, feelings, and minds.
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