As the saying goes, "A few sips of soup before a meal are better than any medicine prescription," and there is scientific truth to this. This is because from the mouth, throat, esophagus to the stomach forms a continuous path, the route food must take. Drinking a little soup (or some water) before a meal is like adding a "lubricant" to this digestive tract, allowing food to pass smoothly and preventing dry, hard food from irritating the digestive tract's mucous membrane.
Drinking a small amount of soup before a meal is like doing warm-up exercises before a workout; it activates the entire digestive system, causing the digestive glands to secrete ample digestive juices in preparation for eating. This allows the digestive organs to function at their best, entering a coordinated and natural working state, and one will feel comfortable after the meal.
It is also beneficial to sip some soup during the meal. This helps to dilute and mix the food, which in turn aids the stomach and intestines in digesting and absorbing it.
However, eating dry rice or hard steamed buns soaked in soup is another matter. When we chew food, it's not just to break it down for swallowing; a crucial function is for saliva to moisten the food. Saliva is produced through continuous chewing and contains many digestive enzymes that aid in digestion, absorption, and detoxification, making it very beneficial for health. Because soup-soaked food is moist and soft, people tend to be lazy about chewing, swallowing it quickly without the digestive process of saliva. This adds a burden to the stomach's digestion, and over time, it can easily lead to stomach problems. Therefore, soup-soaked meals should not be eaten frequently.
Generally, half a bowl of soup is suitable before lunch and dinner, while a bit more is appropriate for breakfast, as the body loses a significant amount of fluid after a night's sleep. The best time to drink soup is about 20 minutes before the meal; you can also drink it slowly and in small amounts during the meal. In summary, the amount of soup should be what is comfortable for the stomach, and "gulping" it down before or after a meal should be avoided.
Of course, while drinking soup before a meal is beneficial to health, it doesn't mean the more the better. It should vary from person to person, and the timing should be mastered. Generally, half a bowl of soup is suitable before lunch and dinner, while a bit more is appropriate for breakfast, as the body loses a significant amount of fluid after a night's sleep. The best time to drink soup is about 20 minutes before the meal; you can also drink it slowly and in small amounts during the meal. In summary, the amount of soup should be what is comfortable for the stomach, and "chugging" it down before or after a meal should be avoided.