Vegetable soups are best because of their stimulating and health qualities, but soups in general are good because they help restore the necessary water balance, which in turn helps keep our blood pressure (and salt content) under control. If you keep thinking about chicken soup and its much-talked about benefits on cold and flu attacks, you would be happy to know that the old tales are true: chicken soup (especially if homemade or organic) has anti-inflammatory effects and can help lessen the symptoms of a cold. Adding a quick bowl of soup to your meals during the cold season can help you warm up, protect your organism and avoid unnecessary calories.
Other benefits of soup:
- Low in fat (specially saturated fat)
- Great for sick people and those who have trouble chewing, digesting or are recuperating from an illness.
- Miso soup and other soups made with soy can help lower the risk of breast cancer. In fact, a recent Japanese study showed that their level of breast cancer is about 10 times lower than in the West.
- Great during dieting periods or if you want to lose weight quickly for a special occasion. Do keep in mind that drinking lots of bowls of one specific broth (like cabbage) is unlikely to result in any more weight loss than drinking a variety of soups.
- Thick soups (especially those that contain pureed vegetables, béchamel sauce or eggs) can be used as main dishes and are a great way to get more veggies into your diet.
- Cold soups such as Gazpacho and Borscht are a great summer meal.
- Most soups now come in a low-fat, low-sodium option for those who want more control over the nutritional content of their diet. Vegetarian soups are also widely available and can be a great option for those worried about saturated fat.
