Soup and Wellness: Exploring the Healing Properties of Soups
It is no secret that soup is the first thing we all turn to when we are sick. For many, it’s the warming comfort that comes with each bite. Others truly believe that the soup will physically make them better. This is because we feel so much better inside and start healing.
The truth is that healthy soups do have healing properties in them, and its based on the ingredients that are found in these soups and what they do. They have the ability to help fight off colds and infections and keep you from getting sicker as your diagnosis progresses.
Ingredients are Key
If you are wondering exactly what makes the soup healthy and able to be utilized so easily, it is the ingredients within. These ingredients below are packed with nutrients that will help with almost any illness and even digestion issues in some situations.
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Greens like spinach and cabbage
- Bone broth
- Tomatoes
- Lemon juice
- Carrots
- Chicken
- Garlic
- Ginger
These are all nutrient-packed ingredients that do not lose their value when they are cooked. When they are cooked all together, or even in different dishes, they have the ability to naturally restore all the nutrients your body may be missing and give them extra amounts so that your immune system can work over time.
In my experience, using bone broth versions of chicken or vegetable broth when I am sick has been worth the extra few bucks to get the nutrients in this one. I also opt for lower sodium every time since I have high blood pressure, and want to tone that down as much as possible.
Which Are The Healthiest Soups?
While you know of a couple right off the top that you should have when you are sick, you may not realize what other soups qualify as healthy soups and why.
Chicken Noodle Soup
We’ll start with the classic that is known to make you feel better from the inside out. There have even been studies on this soup to help determine the healing properties that come with it. By adding fresh chicken to this soup, you can increase your protein, which gives your body the energy it needs to start fighting back the disease.
I like to make my natural chicken broth with this one, boiling chicken thighs and dark meat with the bones in for a couple of hours until the meat shreds tenderly and is clearly off the bone. Not only is the flavor better, but the nutrients in the soup are so much better than any canned version on the market.
Tomato Soup
Another classic, tomato soup, uses cans of whole peeled tomatoes with fresh herbs and bone broth. The lycopene in tomatoes is known to be antioxidant and rid your body of invaders that will make you sick. I like to rotate this one with chicken noodles for some of the bigger diseases that hit our home, like the flu.
Lentil Soup with Turmeric
One of my favorites that I enjoy the most when I am sick is Lentil Soup with Turmeric. It holds so many of the above spices, lemon juice and even lemon slices that have so much healing properties. It is also a broth-based soup, and I gather all the protein I need from the lentils within.
Like tomatoes, lemons are antioxidants, ridding your body of unwanted toxins. They also work as a natural diuretic, keeping your kidneys operational while you are sick so you do not get any infections. As a fruit, they also come with high amounts of vitamin C that your body needs for your immune system.
Vegetable Cabbage Soup
This is another favorite, full of all my favorite veggies, the nutrients found in cabbage and all the other mix of veggies I toss in make it a great soup all around. Honestly, this soup will cook itself in the crock pot and be full of all the necessary veggies you are seeking.
Cabbage is full of the vitamin K and and vitamin C that our body needs. Also, it helps with digestion, that we can all admit gets a little backed up when we are sick. You do not have to worry about those types of issues when you take advantage of this soup.
Because of these health benefits, I try to have this soup ready to enjoy once I feel the sickness set in. It can stay in the fridge for up to five days since it is all veggies, and I can reheat a bowl as I need.
Fresh Soup is Healthier
While some canned versions of these healthy soups are available, it is better to try and make them all at home if you have the energy. I know that is easier said than done, but the sodium and other added ingredients will not help you with your illness. If you do not have another choice, though, make sure you add lots of water to the soup to dilute some of that salt.
Use Your Crock Pot
In these cases, I find the crock pot to be a lifesaver. I can literally toss in the ingredients of my favorite soup, set it to cook, and go back to the couch until it is done. Rough chops on your veggies and chicken in these cases are just fine. They will still cook down even if you don’t have them chopped evenly.
The crock pot allows your soup to be healthier because it lets all the nutrients and flavors release slowly, so that nothing is missed and everything is blended very well.
Avoid Thick and Creamy Soups
While you may like thicker soups like chowder and other creamy options, they are not as healthy and honestly not the best for you when you are sick. I find creamy soups to worsen my runny nose, thickening the mucus instead of thinning it.
There is also less nutritional value, so the healing process is much slower with these soups.
Add Soup To Your Medicine List
If you enjoy one of these soups, make sure you add them to your list of medicinal practices when you or your loved ones are sick again. While you can keep a few cans of your favorite in the pantry, keeping some frozen veggies, bone broth, and lemon juice in your pantry will go a long way.
You can use this to be the base of most of these soups, and just pick up or have the last few items delivered so that you can make your soup and start to feel better sooner rather than later.
