This winter, we’re introducing five soup habits essential for weight loss and management during the season.
As the chill sets in and cozy blankets become essential, signaling the arrival of sweater weather, it’s officially soup season. With winter’s onset, there’s no room for mocktails and soft drinks; instead, celebrations call for steaming bowls of soup. This appetizer not only tantalizes your taste buds but also offers numerous health benefits. From creamy and tangy to light and straightforward, soups come in all varieties. Beyond boosting your immune system and hydrating your body, soups can serve as an effective weight loss tool. Surprisingly, your favorite winter appetizer can aid in shedding those extra pounds. However, not every soup will contribute to weight loss; some may even lead to weight gain. To ensure your health, happiness for your taste buds, and control over your weight, we present five soup habits crucial for weight loss and management this season. Embark on this delightful journey through the chilly winter and discover the secrets to crafting the best soups for shedding pounds.
1. Texture
If you’ve been sipping your soups from a cup rather than enjoying them in a bowl, you might be missing out. Drinking pureed-style soups eliminates the need for chewing, resulting in reduced satisfaction and potentially leaving you feeling hungry. Additionally, preparing these soups often involves discarding vegetable leftovers, which are rich in fiber. Cutting back on fiber intake can lead to weight gain instead of weight loss. Therefore, relying solely on drinking soup puree is unlikely to support your weight loss journey.
If you’re aiming to shed those extra inches with soups, consider adding some texture to your bowl. By texture, we’re not referring to fried bread crumbs or croutons, but rather the addition of vegetables. Incorporating beans, carrots, and other lean proteins boosts your soup’s protein and fiber content, enhances its nutritional value, and keeps you feeling full and satisfied for longer periods. This helps reduce snacking and binge eating, leading to lower calorie intake and supporting the weight loss journey.
2. From Creamy to Clear
If you enjoy topping your soup with cream, butter cubes, and cheese, it’s time to make a change. Creamy soups are often high in sodium, calories, and saturated fats, which can contribute to weight gain. Ingredients like cheese, cream, and butter add to the fat content without aiding weight loss. To stay fit and shed pounds, opt for clear broth soups instead. These soups are low in calories, packed with nutrition, and help you stay on track with your weight loss goals while providing ample energy to your body.
3. Choose High-Protein Soups
Instead of relying on expensive synthetic protein powders, consider getting your protein fix from soups. Many mistakenly opt for low-protein options like tomato soup for flavor satisfaction. Instead, prioritize high-protein soups such as chicken soup, bean soup, lentil soup, or chickpea stew to support your weight loss journey.
These protein-rich soups not only boast low calorie counts but also offer satisfying meals. Their high protein content helps keep you feeling full for longer periods, promoting satiety. Additionally, consuming adequate protein helps preserve lean body mass during calorie deficits. Moreover, protein intake increases the thermic effect of food, meaning it requires more energy to break down, ultimately aiding in weight loss efforts.
4. Non-starchy Vegetables
Low in calories yet high in antioxidants and essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals, non-starchy vegetables are beneficial for both weight loss and overall health. Conversely, starchy foods such as potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, and squash can contribute to weight gain. Starch is rapidly digested, causing a spike in glucose levels and subsequent hunger soon after meals, leading to overeating. To combat this, include vegetables with low starch content in your diet. These vegetables take longer to digest, keeping you feeling full and satisfied for longer periods.
5. Limit Soup Consumption
While incorporating soup into your diet can be a healthy habit and aid in weight loss, overindulging can have adverse effects.
Consuming soup for nearly every meal under the guise of it being a healthy choice can lead to several health issues. Soup often contains high levels of sodium, and regularly consuming sodium-rich meals can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stomach cancer, kidney stones, and high blood pressure. Moreover, excessive sodium intake can cause the body to retain water, leading to bloating, puffiness, and weight gain. Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of sodium content and to moderate soup consumption to maintain overall health and prevent these potential adverse effects.