According to the Mayo Clinic, choosing foods that are less concentrated and low in calories can help with appetite control and weight loss. As it contains a high percentage of water and fiber, soup is an example of a diet food. Soup can be made low fat and provides fewer calories than a typical meal. Additionally, soup increases the feeling of satiety, which means you are less tempted by high calorie foods.
Soups are High in Water
Many soups contain vegetables. Vegetables are high in water content. Water provides volume without the calories. According to the Mayo Clinic, carrots are about 88 percent water. Additionally, one cup of carrots only contains 52 calories.
Soups are Fiber Packed
With a variety of soups containing vegetables and whole grains, soups leave you feeling satisfied longer. High-fiber foods create volume and take longer to digest, according to the Mayo Clinic. By dieting with soup, you are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods between meals.
Soups are Low in Fat
A majority of the ingredients in soups are low fat, especially soups containing vegetables. According to the Mayo Clinic, fat raises energy density. For example, one teaspoon of butter contains nearly the same number of calories as two cups of raw broccoli.
Adding Soup to Your Diet
You can add soup to your diet in several ways. In place of your regular meal, substitute a bowl of soup. Or add a small bowl of soup to your meal and decrease the portion sizes of your regular meal. If eating soup for multiple meals each day is not appealing, try eating soup for lunch. Soup can easily be eaten anywhere. Microwave soup at work in a glass container or bring it in a thermos. At dinner, add a small bowl of soup as a side dish.
Recommendations
As with any diet, eating a healthy, well-balanced breakfast in addition to the soup later will help you lose weight. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet. While on a soup diet, it is important to eat a variety of soups to ensure you are getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin supplements may be necessary. According to Pamela Posner, a dietitian at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York, this diet should not continue for more than one week -- it is not balanced enough. A doctor or nutritionist can help determine whether you are getting the appropriate vitamins and nutrients.
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