5x why tomato soup is so healthy
Now that it is getting darker and bleak outside, the soup season has clearly started again. Not only is a soup very tasty, but many variants are also very good for you. Tomato soup, for example, appears to have a number of surprising health benefits. We list them for you.
Of course we mean tomato soup made from real tomatoes, and not a variant from a bag. Unfortunately, a lot of vitamins, minerals and thus health benefits are lost in the production of those types of tomato soup.
1. Packed with vitamins
Tomato soup has relatively few calories – especially if you go for a variant with a lot of vegetables and without cream – but it is packed with vitamins and minerals. Fresh tomato soup, for example, contains a lot of vitamin C, K and potassium, but few fats. Just be careful not to leave the tomato soup on too long if you want to get these health benefits. This can cause the amount of vitamins to decrease quickly.
2. Tomato soup helps with weight loss
Do you want to lose some pounds? Even then it is best to put tomato soup on your menu every now and then. Research shows that people who regularly eat soup are healthier and consume fewer calories than those who do not. That would be because soup often contains few calories, fats and carbohydrates, but is filling. Of course it is best to go for a low-fat tomato soup with mainly a lot of vegetables, not one with a lot of vermicelli or a creamy version.
3. It is full of antioxidants against various diseases
Tomatoes are one of the best sources of lycopene, which is a type of antioxidant. Lycopene has many health benefits, which are therefore also suitable for tomato soup. For example, it can reduce allergic reactions and prevent the emergence of bad cells in your lungs. It also protects against various types of cancer and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Although the amount of most nutrients decreases by heating, the amount of lycopene in a cooked tomato appears to be greater than in the raw variety. This is because the cell walls are broken down during heating, which means that more lycopene is released. For optimal absorption of this substance in your body, it is best to add a small splash of olive oil to your soup.
4. Tomato soup may help against osteoporosis
From research shows that substances that fall under the natural dyes carotenoids may have a positive effect on the health of our bones. And you guessed it: tomato soup is packed with carotenoids, including lycopene. These substances are said to influence cells that determine the construction and breakdown of our bones and thus ensure that osteoporosis slows down. Although there is still some uncertainty surrounding the evidence for this theory, it is of course always a bonus if it does work.
5. Good for your immune system
If your immune system can use a boost during this time, tomato soup is also a good option. Due to the amount of vitamin C in combination with carotenoids, it is a real boost for your immune system, say specialists. Are you sick, do you vomit or do you often suffer from heartburn[1]? Then you better go for chicken soup. That too would boost your immune system, but it contains less acids. That is a lot more pleasant for your throat and teeth in this case.
