Dieting fads come and go, but one of 2018’s most talked about new food trends might actually be good for you. It’s called “souping”, and we’re breaking down why it can work.

Can A “Soup Cleanse” Really Be Good For You?

Yes, you heard right: there really is a new diet trend going around called “souping” that is best described as a “soup cleanse.” Unlike a lot of the ridiculous fads you see going around the internet, however, souping actually has some real merit to it that’s based on actual nutritional science.

So, what is souping, exactly? For starters, nobody is claiming that you should only eat soup forever (at least, we don’t think anyone is claiming this). Souping is being presented as a temporary “cleanse”, or a way to reset your digestive system and metabolism after you’ve been indulging a little bit too much in unhealthy eating habits. Another great use for souping is to kickstart a new diet or pattern of healthier nutritional choices, if you’re not sure where to start.

The premise is simple: a big bowl of soup fills you up because of the sheer volume of broth. That means that this nutrient-rich broth is giving you incredible bang for your buck in terms of feeling full versus the number of actual calories consumed. The benefits of this are immediately obvious: if you feel full, you’ll stop eating. And if you stop eating while you’re still in a caloric deficit, the result will be weight lost. Another benefit of souping is that — unlike “juicing” — you’ll still get a ton of fiber from the soup ingredients.

Why Does “Souping” Work?

As mentioned above, soup is simply less calorically dense in general than other types of meals, which translates into feeling full after lunch or dinner despite having taken in less calories. But there are other benefits and reasons why incorporating soup into your diet more often can have a beneficial effect. When you eat soup, you’re binding water to your food, which has a very important effect on your body’s metabolism. Essentially, it slows down a process known as “gastric emptying”, which means that you’ll feel fuller longer.

Soup also typically has a much, much lower sugar content than juices, giving souping yet another edge over juicing for people looking to do a cleanse or swap out a few meals per week with something healthier. You might think that fruits and veggies are 100% wholesome; and for the most part they are, but don’t forget that natural sources of sugar are still sugar… and that can add up on your waistline if not managed properly.

All things considered, we’ve heard of much worse cleansing fads than “souping” — so if you’re looking for a new way to switch it up and lose weight or reduce the amount of calories you’re taking in at every meal, consider a humble soup to feel full and still eat something delicious!