And soup doesn’t have to be homemade: You can find many store-bought with vegetables, beans, or whole grains, which provide important nutrients like heart-healthy potassium and fiber. (Just keep in mind sodium: Most adults should consume less than 2,300 milligrams per day).
Here’s how to choose the best soups for your problems, along with examples of some you can try.
All soups can help you feel full. When people eat soup before a meal, they eat about 20 percent fewer calories, according to Penn State research. And choose one that is high in protein, like split pea soup, will also make you feel fuller. However, stay away from high-calorie cream-based soups if weight loss is your goal.
What is better for constipation?
Only 5 percent of men and 9 percent of women get the recommended daily amount of fiber. For many, this can lead to constipation. If your diet is low in fiber, try a bean-based soup. “A nice cup of bean soup could get things moving,” says Salge Blake.
Chicken soup can temporarily help reduce congestion, control inflammation and hydrate when you have a cold, according to a lab study published in the journal Chest. “It’s like a warm blanket in a bowl,” says Salge Blake.
Ingredients to increase immunity
Produce is the body’s best source of vitamins A and C, germ-fighters that support immunity. Choose a soup with a variety of vegetables and you’ll get more immune-boosting nutrients in one bowl. Trader Joe’s Garden Vegetable includes carrots, celery, sweet potato, Swiss chard, and bell pepper. (Because the sodium in this soup is high, eat low-sodium foods the rest of the day.)
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