Yahoo Lifestyle 10 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Eat Soup Every Day
If you're like this writer, every season is soup season, but a piping hot bowl or cup hits differently in wintertime. Soup is warming, nourishing and comforting.
"Food not only nourishes our body but offers us enjoyment," says Dr. Gigi Kwok-Hinsley, DrPH, MS, a senior scientist and registered dietitian nutritionist at Amway. "The good, warm feeling we get from eating our favorite meal may not directly support...health, but it does bring joy and can bring family and friends together. Some foods make us feel good physiologically and emotionally, enabling us to build a connection between our minds and our bodies and how we feed them. "
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For Dr. Kwok-Hinsley, that heart-warming recipe is her mother's Hong Kong-style Borscht soup, a vegetable-based recipe with lean meats. While the fiber and protein boost aren't everything, they do matter—all the ingredients in soup matter, especially if you eat it daily.
"As a dietitian, I always advocate for informed choice," says Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD of Street Smart Nutrition. "This means understanding the potential benefits and risks you might experience. When that idea is applied to food, it means fostering a better understanding of how certain foods make you feel and how they can influence your overall health and well-being."
What does that mean for a daily cup or bowl of soup? It depends. Registered dietitians shared the pros and cons of eating soup every day.
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Exactly What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Soup Every Day
1. You'll eat more veggies
Depending on the recipe, deciding soup is always on can help you up your vegetable intake.
"The vast majority of Americans fall short of their goal to eat the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables each day," Harbstreet says. "If you’re committed to increasing your intake, soup is a great way to do it. You can easily add extra vegetables or leafy greens to soup whether you cook from scratch or use a prepared version."
Dr. Kwok-Hinsley suggests adding leafy greens and root vegetables like spinach, kale and carrots to hearty soups to boost anti-inflammatory phytonutrient antioxidants.
2. Your diet could become more nutrient-diverse
Surprise: Eating the same food could add more nutrient density to your diet. Soup is more than a potentially excellent vegetable source, Dr. Kwok-Hinsley says. Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RDN, agrees.
"Because there are so many different kinds of soup and you can make a soup containing nearly any kind of whole food you can imagine, soups are a good way to pack a lot of nutrition into one recipe," Pasquariello says.
The catch? Pasquariello says it's important to vary the type of soup you eat daily or weekly. Dr. Kwok-Hinsley suggests focusing on recipes that include lean proteins, grains, legumes, herbs and spices.
"Historically, ingredients like grains and legumes were cooked in liquids for a long time so they can soften and be digested," Dr. Kwok-Hinsley says. "Soups can include all these ingredients at once to combine flavors and bring interesting textures for the perfect spoonful."
3. You'll inch closer to elusive fiber goals
Research shows that Americans aren't getting enough fiber. Harbstreet explains that fiber-rich ingredients in soups like legumes, whole grains and vegetables can help you become an exceptional exception.
"Remember that, if you’re aiming for more fiber, you should increase it gradually and stay hydrated to avoid uncomfortable GI symptoms," Harbstreet says.
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4. You'll be more hydrated
Water isn't the only way to stay hydrated, which helps you eliminate waste and improve body temperature. The CDC reports that water-rich foods can also contribute to hydration.
"Soups are also a nice way to up your intake of fluids, especially in colder months when we might not find ourselves as thirsty as during the summer," Pasquariello says. "Most soups have a base of some kind of broth, and while water is optimal from a hydration perspective, broth is another good way to boost your overall fluid intake for the day."
5. You might be able to manage your weight more easily
All that fiber and water might help you lose or maintain a healthy body weight.
"Because soups can have a combination of fiber and fluid content, they can be very filling up front as well as nutrient-dense," Dr. Kwok-Hinsley says. "This could help with portion control while providing you with a comforting meal."
6. You'll probably save money
This one doesn't directly affect your internal organs, but you might notice your pocket or purse is heftier when you consume soup daily.
"Soups are incredibly versatile and forgiving," Harbstreet says. "If you need to make modifications to fit your budget or dietary needs, you’ll still end up with a nourishing meal. Broth, beans, canned or frozen vegetables, rice and other staple ingredients for many soup recipes are among the least expensive items in the grocery store."
Harbstreet adds that they're shelf-stable, helping you stretch your dollars without worrying about food waste. It can also affect your body: Making soup a dietary staple might help you afford other nourishing foods, boosting your overall health.
7. Satisfaction and enjoyment
We repeat: Food is more than fuel. Regularly eating soup may improve your mental state.
"Soup is considered a top-tier comfort food, but not just when you’re feeling under the weather," Harbstreet says. "Trends forecasts for this year predict that 'nostalgia-core' will attract people to recipes that remind them of positive memories, family and a sense of calm. Soup can satisfy more than your taste buds, as it’s often associated with these elements."
Related: It’s Soup Season! Here Are 21 of the Best High-Fiber Soup Recipes To Make for Dinner
8. You might get a little bored
Conversely, you might find chowing down on soup daily mentally dull. "If you’re a more spontaneous or adventurous eater, eating the same thing day after day is a recipe for boredom," Harbstreet says. "The routine and consistency offers convenience and might stave off decision fatigue."
9. You might end up with too much saturated fat in your diet
Pasquariello says that some soups, especially restaurant and store-bought ones, can contain more saturated fat than homemade ones.
"For instance, they may use butter instead of olive oil in the cooking process," Pasquariello says. "This isn't the case across the board, of course — many homemade recipes can also wind up high in saturated fat — but it's something to keep an eye on."
The American Heart Association warns that excess saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels, a risk factor for developing heart disease.
10. You could consume too much sodium
Salt adds flavor to a soup, but too much of it is not a good thing.
"Canned soups and restaurant recipes are notoriously high in sodium," Harbstreet says. "The current recommendation is 2,300 mg of sodium per day and 1,500 mg for low-sodium diets. However, you could easily exceed that if you aren’t diligent about reading nutrition facts labels or estimating portion sizes."
High sodium intake can raise your odds of developing high blood pressure.
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Tips for Keeping Soup Healthier
1. Look out for added sodium, sugar and saturated fat
This one isn't just a best practice for picking a soup."These are some of the most important nutrients to look out for when it comes to choosing any processed foods in general, and [this advice] applies to choosing a soup as well," Pasquariello says. "Keep added sodium, sugar and saturated fat content to a minimum."
Dr. Kwok-Hinsley says one quick way to reduce saturated fat is to look at the broth. "Go broth-based instead of cream-based," she suggests. "Creams can be high in saturated fats. Opt for a vegetable or meat-based stock that may bring in less of these unhealthy fats."
2. Look for fiber-rich ingredients
Eating a lot of soup can be beneficial because of the increased fiber, but not all soups are high in this essential nutrient. Harbstreet recommends looking for soups with beans, lentils and whole grains, which improve the nutritional content and help you feel fuller longer.
"Some soups might not seem as filling or dense compared to other meals," Harbstreet says. "However, soups featuring these additions make it feel more like a complete meal rather than a side dish or starter."
3. Cook them at home
Whenever possible, cook your soup at home to control the ingredients. "While you don't have to fear eating soup out once in a while or grabbing something at the store as a quick option, it's important to know what to look for and keep the more processed soup options—like canned soup [and] powdered soup mixes—to a minimum if possible," Pasquariello says.
Up Next:
Related: It’s Soup Season! Here Are 21 of the Best High-Protein Soup Recipes
Sources:
Dr. Gigi Kwok-Hinsley, DrPH, MS, a senior scientist and registered dietitian nutritionist at Amway
Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD of Street Smart Nutrition
Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations — United States, 2019. CDC.
Closing America's Fiber Intake Gap. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.
About Water and Healthier Drinks. CDC.
Pinterest Predicts 2025. Pinterest.
Saturated Fat. American Heart Association.
Shaking the Salt Habit to Lower High Blood Pressure. American Heart Association.
