What Exactly are the Health Benefits of Soup?

If you’re trying a new healthy lifestyle, then you might want to give the health benefits of soup a go.

It’s brilliant if you’re trying to lose weight or if you’re just trying to be a bit healthier. It’s a simple way for you to have an exciting meal.

A healthy soup is a perfect food for winter. It’s easy to make and you can prepare it ahead of time. It’s customisable and you can make it with almost any ingredients.

Above all, it’s warming and comforting and makes you feel cosy on cold days. But what exactly are the health benefits of soup?

DESIblitz has done the research and found out why.

Soup forces you to eat vegetables

It’s no secret that most of us would prefer something fatty and delicious over a plateful of vegetables. It can be hard to force yourself to eat a variety of vegetables served as side dishes.

One of the benefits of soup is that it provides an easy way to get your five a day without even noticing.

For example, many kinds of soup contain ingredients like sweet potato or squash to add thickness and texture.

One sweet potato alone provides up to 400 percent of your daily vitamin A intake and they’re also loaded with potassium. Similarly, squash also contains vitamin A as well as vitamin C.

Other vegetables commonly found in soups such as broccoli, leek, and courgette are great sources of fibre, which is vital for your digestive health.

Vegetables like carrots and sweet corn are rich in antioxidants, which help to keep your heart in good shape.

Get your five a day with this spicy vegetable soup here. 

Soup can help you eat more pulses

Another one of the benefits of soup is that you can add pulses. Pulses such as lentils, peas and beans are a great and frequent addition to healthy soups.

They’re common ingredients in India and Pakistan for good reason. Most pulses are cheap, easy to prepare and great for a healthy lifestyle.

Pulses are rich in antioxidants and a range of vitamins like folate, which helps repair the cells in your body.

Pulses like cannellini beans also have a very low glycemic index, so they can help you to feel fuller for longer. They’re also generally cholesterol free and gluten free, so they can be great if you have digestive issues. 

Pulses are also an excellent source of protein, so they can be a great addition to soup if you’re going meat-free. They are also often considered part of your five a day, so if you’re struggling to get enough fruits and vegetables then pulses can be a great addition.

Experience the benefits of pulses by giving this curried lentil soup a try here. 

Soup helps you eat less

Possibly the most amazing of the benefits of soup is that as well as often being rich in ingredients which are good for you, soup can often help you eat less food in general. Just eating a small bowl before your main meal can help you consume a smaller portion.

Studies have shown as well that soup can actually help you feel fuller for longer. Eating a smooth soup helps the nutrients in the soup to be absorbed quickly.

This means that you’ll feel more satiated than you would if you ate a solid meal. This is key for keeping you healthy because it can help kerb overeating and snacking.

Soup can also take longer to consume than solid meals. Instead of being able to cram as much food in as possible as quickly as possible, soup forces you to take your time. This helps you register the food being eaten so again, you can avoid overeating.

You can try soup as an appetiser with this light and nutritious carrot and ginger soup here. 

There are so many benefits of soup. If you’re looking to live a healthier lifestyle, then you need to be eating more of it.

By buying pulses in bulk and using up your leftover vegetables with a few spices, you can create a healthy soup which will be delicious and nutritious.

You can have soup as a snack, an appetiser or a meal. It’s such a customisable dish that there’s something for everyone, no matter your tastes.

Whether you’re turning over a new leaf with your health or your just looking to introduce something a bit more interesting into your diet, treat yourself to a hearty and warming soup.