When Souping is Super-Healthy
Yet proponents of souping, such as Elina Fuhrman, founder and chef of the soup cleanse delivery service Soupelina in Los Angeles, say there are distinct differences. “With juicing, you're getting just the liquid part of the vegetable,” she says. “With soups, you're getting all the fiber."
When veggies are pureed into a soup, you're also able to eat more of them than if they were whole on your plate. Blatner and Ronette Lategan-Potgieter, a registered dietitian and visiting professor of health sciences at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, agree. “Many Americans consume way too little vegetables and plant-based proteins in their diets,” says Lategan-Potgieter. “Eating soup can be an easy and tasty way to incorporate more vegetables and legumes in the diet, which have well-reported health benefits."
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It's because of this veggie boost that Blatner says she wouldn't warn the average healthy person against doing something like a soup fast. She does, however, note that those facing health challenges like heart disease, diabetes or a kidney condition should steer clear. (For one thing, restricting calories this way can cause shifts in blood sugar and electrolytes that are difficult for people with these conditions to manage.)
How to Lose One Pound a Week
But for most, Blatner says that souping could be a way to kick-start healthy eating, as long as you're getting at least 1,200 calories a day for women or 1,500 for men.
"Psychologically it gives you a clean-slate vibe,” she says. “You realize you were able to get full eating soup, so maybe you don't need that ice cream after all."
What, exactly, does a soup fast look like? On a typical fast through Soupelina, you'd eat five different soups a day, one every two-and-a-half to three hours. You'd also start your day with a hot water and lemon, and drink a turmeric-based broth in the afternoon. You're allowed to munch on a few carrots, Persian cucumbers, radishes or celery if you need something to chew. Doing the entire fast, the company says, could lead to losing as much as one pound a day.
