Spring is a time of renewal and an excellent opportunity for health maintenance. Many people carry over their winter habits, and a steaming pot of delicious soup remains a staple on the dinner table. Soup not only helps balance nutrition but is also easily absorbed by the body. While every family's soup has its own unique flavor, many people make the same mistakes when it comes to drinking soup. Soup is good for your health, but are you drinking it correctly?
1. Only drinking the soup and not eating the "sediment"
Tests have shown that after cooking foods high in protein, such as fish, chicken, or beef, for six hours, the soup may appear rich and concentrated, but only 6% to 15% of the protein has been dissolved into the broth. More than 85% of the protein remains in the "sediment."
Although the "sediment" from long-cooked soup may not have the best texture, it contains peptides and amino acids that are more beneficial for human digestion and absorption. Therefore, except for those on a liquid diet, it is recommended to eat both the soup and the "sediment" together.
2. Loving "single-flavor" soups
No single food contains all the necessary nutrients. Even a rich, umami broth packed with amino acids will lack certain "essential amino acids" that the human body cannot synthesize, as well as various minerals and vitamins. Therefore, it is recommended to cook soups using a mixture of animal and plant-based ingredients. This not only enhances the umami by layering flavors but also makes the nutritional profile more comprehensive.
3. Loving to drink piping hot soup
This is more harmful than beneficial. It is better to drink soup at a temperature below 50°C. Some people enjoy very hot soup, but the mucous membranes of the human mouth, esophagus, and stomach can only tolerate temperatures up to 60°C. Temperatures above this can cause burns to the mucous membranes.
Although the body can heal from these burns, repeated damage can easily lead to malignant changes in the upper digestive tract mucosa. Studies have found that a high incidence of esophageal cancer is linked to the habit of consuming very hot food and drinks.
4. Soaking rice in soup
This is a very bad habit. Over time, it can weaken your digestive function and even lead to stomach problems. This is because the process of digesting food requires prolonged chewing, which stimulates the secretion of saliva. Saliva helps to lubricate food and make it easier to swallow.
When soup and rice are mixed together and eaten, the food is not properly chewed in the mouth before being swallowed with the soup. This not only makes you unable to fully appreciate the taste of the food but also fails to adequately stimulate the taste nerves on the tongue. As a result, the stomach and pancreas do not produce enough digestive juices, and what is produced is further diluted by the soup. Consequently, the food is not properly digested and absorbed, which can lead to stomach problems over time.