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Can Soup Really Keep You Healthy This Winter?
The chilly weather makes you want to pile on layers and sit down with a hot meal. But winter foods are often in the “comfort” variety, which can mean they’re high in calories and unhealthy ingredients.
Soup doesn’t have to fall into that category, however. Soup has a surprising number of health benefits if you prepare it correctly.
Check out these ways that soup can keep you healthy this winter.
1. Keeps You Full
When your stomach isn’t growling and feeling empty, it’s easier to refrain from unhealthy snacking. A satisfying meal is one way to curb cravings. Even though winter seems like hibernation time, you don’t have to put on extra pounds during this season. Soup is one meal that makes you feel full for a long period of time and can keep your weight in check.
Because of how your stomach digests food and water, soup keeps hunger at bay longer than an unblended meal does. A hormone called ghrelin lets your body know when the stomach is empty, but when you eat blended foods like soup, this process slows down. Essentially, your appetite responds to a full stomach and soup achieves that. Some studies show that those who eat soup can stay full up to an hour and a half longer than those eating a solid meal.
