Many experts suggest that the best time to have soup is about 20 minutes before a meal, and you can also have it slowly and in small amounts during the meal. Although having soup before a meal is beneficial to health, it doesn't mean the more you drink, the better. So, let's talk about the best time to have soup.
I. Pay attention to the correct time and amount of soup consumption
The old saying, "A bowl of soup before a meal is better than any good prescription," actually makes sense. When we eat, food passes through the mouth, throat, esophagus, and finally to the stomach, which is like a channel. Having a sip of soup before a meal is like clearing this channel, making it easier for dry, hard food to pass through without irritating the digestive tract's mucous membrane. The best time to have soup is about 20 minutes before a meal, and you can also have it slowly and in small amounts during the meal.
Although having soup before a meal is beneficial to health, it doesn't mean the more you drink, the better. Generally, you can have a bit more for breakfast, as people lose more moisture after a night's sleep. For lunch and dinner, half a bowl of soup is appropriate. It's especially important to drink less at night, as frequent urination can disrupt sleep.
II. Choose different soups for different situations
1. In the morning, meat soup is the most suitable because it is rich in protein and fat, which can be digested in the body for 3-5 hours, preventing the hunger and hypoglycemia that people often experience between 10 AM and 12 PM.
2. Drinking different soups in different seasons can help prevent seasonal illnesses. For example, mung bean soup is suitable for summer, and lamb soup is suitable for winter.
3. People who are overweight can have a bowl of vegetable soup before a meal to satisfy their appetite and aid in weight loss. Those who are thin and weak can drink soups high in sugar and protein to strengthen their physique.
4. Pregnant and postpartum women, as well as the elderly and children, can have half a bowl of bone soup before a meal to supplement the calcium their bodies need. Note that patients with fractures should not drink bone soup.
5. Before menstruation, it's suitable to drink mild soups and avoid highly nourishing ones, as excessive nourishment can lead to heavy menstrual flow.
6. When you have a cold, it's not advisable to have nourishing soups. Even mild things like American ginseng are best avoided, as these greasy soups can worsen cold symptoms.
7. You shouldn't stick to just one or two types of soup for a long time. Alternating between different kinds can increase your appetite and balance your nutrition. Soups with therapeutic effects should be consumed regularly to be effective; it's best to have them 2-3 times a week.
The above are the precautions for health benefits of drinking soup introduced by experts for you. Nutritionists believe that developing the habit of having some soup before and during meals can also reduce the occurrence of esophagitis, gastritis, and other conditions. Experts' research has also found that those who often drink various kinds of soups, milk, and soy milk are most likely to maintain a healthy digestive system.