Nourishing, comforting, and inexpensive, soup is a staple food all over the world. Soups are usually eaten before commencing lunch or dinner. Some people even feed soup to their babies every day because of its amazing nutritional profile.
Broth-based soups even facilitate weight loss. One likely reason people prefer soup on a diet because it helps you feel full even on fewer calories.
Homemade Soup
Even a novice cook can make a delicious soup with a few basic ingredients: carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables simmered in a broth with some herbs. Leftover meat and seafood can also be added to the soup for more flavor and nutrition.
Although some vitamins may be lost during the slow cooking of vegetables, soups made with fresh ingredients still provide an excellent variety of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Making your own soup allows you to control the salt content, an important consideration for people with high blood pressure or those who are on a salt-restricted diet. Herbs and natural vegetable flavors can be used to replace salt.
Many people prefer to make "Cream" soups at home which is high in fat but it is a tastier option. For a healthier option, to make the soup creamy, skimmed milk can be used. There will no change in the taste or texture, I promise :p
Commerical Soup
Canned and Instant Soup have varied quality and nutritional value. Although canned soups are not as healthy as home-made soups, they are better than instant soups. Instant soups are so highly processed that it loses its nutritional value. MSG, artificial flavors, and other additives are added to the instant soup which makes it less preferable.
Benefits of Soup
It helps you keep warm- When the temperatures outside reach freezing levels, nothing will warm you up like a bowl of soup. Unlike hot caffeinated beverages that leave you dehydrated, soup nourishes you from within and helps increase core body temperature.
It is good for digestion- Unless you go for a soup laden with heavy cream, most recipes include fibrous vegetables, beans, lentils, and meats that all ensure healthy digestion. Eating fiber-rich diet aids in smooth digestion and also increases insulin sensitivity.
It can help you lose weight- The high water and fiber content from vegetables added to soup keep you satiated in a healthy and hydrating way. Have a bowl of soup in the evening, and you will be unlikely to over-eat too many calories at dinner-time.
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