The Real Reason You're Craving Soup - Health Digest (2024)

The Real Reason You're Craving Soup - Health Digest (4)

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ByAnne Taylor/

When you crave a certain food, nothing else in your pantry or refrigerator will do. Popular food cravings include pizza, burgers, and chocolate, but have you ever found your mind wandering to a warm bowl of soup? Whether it's Japanese ramen or homestyle chicken noodle, the combination of salty broth and carb-loaded noodles makes many types of soup undeniably appealing. But there may be more to your craving than taste alone.

According to BBC News, soup provides deep emotional satisfaction. For centuries, humans have been eating soup when they felt sick or under the weather. This food is known to have soothing anti-inflammatory properties, according to Ken Albala, a food historian at the University of the Pacific in California. But even those benefits may stem more from how we think soup will make us feel than the nutritional properties alone. "It seems that rather than foods scientifically determined to help recovery, these are mostly comfort foods...they stem from long custom rather than any empirically verifiable nutritional facts," he said.

Because it has been the go-to food when feeling down for centuries, soup is undeniably comforting. If you find yourself craving soup, it might be because you're feeling sick, sad, or depressed and are seeking some comfort. Grab a warm bowl the next time you feel down and see if it helps.

Why do we have food cravings?

The Real Reason You're Craving Soup - Health Digest (5)

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Soup isn't the only food we sometimes find ourselves thinking about. Food cravings are incredibly common and have many causes behind them. According to Healthline, the causes behind food cravings typically fall into two categories: physical and mental. There are many physical causes of cravings. Some of the most common ones include hormonal changes from pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and leptin and ghrelin imbalances. Other physical causes include a poor diet, lack of sleep, and poor hydration, which can all lead your body to crave more nutrients.

Some mental factors can also cause food cravings. Stress has been linked to increased cortisol levels, which can make you feel more hungry. Certain moods, like anger or sadness, can also make you seek out foods that are comforting. Even individual personalities have been connected to food cravings. Not all food cravings are necessarily bad, but you should seek the help of a healthcare provider if you experience frequent cravings. They can help you determine the cause of your cravings and find the best solution.

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The Real Reason You're Craving Soup - Health Digest (2024)

FAQs

The Real Reason You're Craving Soup - Health Digest? ›

If you find yourself craving

craving
A food craving is a strong desire to eat a particular type of food. This desire can seem uncontrollable, and the person's hunger may not be satisfied until they get that particular food. Food cravings are common. One research found that 97% of women and 68% of men reported experiencing food cravings.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Food_craving
soup, it might be because you're feeling sick, sad, or depressed and are seeking some comfort. Grab a warm bowl the next time you feel down and see if it helps.

What does it mean when your body craves soup? ›

There's a reason people crave soup when they have a cold. Soups are soothing, sustaining, and nourishing. They give the body the tools needed to rest and recover. They provide comfort when comfort is hard to find.

Why do I only want soup when sick? ›

Consuming soup not only hydrates you, but the sodium can also help ease the pain from a sore throat. Plus, the heat of the broth will work to relieve a stuffy nose and sinus pressure.

Is soup good for the digestive system? ›

Boosts Digestion

Many soups contain whole foods that are full of fiber, which helps improve gut motility and regulate bowel health. Soup's warm, liquid consistency also helps stimulate your body's digestive tract, making it an excellent appetizer before eating heartier foods.

What is your body telling you when you crave certain foods? ›

Your daily habits and stress are major contributors to experiencing food cravings. From poor sleep to a stressful situation during the day, what goes on throughout your day can impact the foods you crave. During stressful times, you may find yourself craving comfort foods.

What happens to your body when you eat soup everyday? ›

May induce weight loss: Though evidence for soup-based diets is lacking, some research has found that eating soup as part of a regular diet may have some health benefits, including weight loss. In a 2011 study, soup intake was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and smaller waist circumference.

Why do I feel better after eating soup? ›

The steam from chicken noodle soup also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. Heat relaxes the muscles, it soothes discomfort in sore throats, it dilates blood vessels to increase blood flow. When you're sick with a cold, white blood cells called neutrophils go straight to your throat, causing it to be inflamed.

What sickness does soup help with? ›

Chicken soup has long been used as a home remedy for cold and flu. Some scientific evidence indicates that the soup could be anti-inflammatory. Though research is scant, experts say chicken soup is worth a try when you're sick.

Why do I like soup so much? ›

Not only does it make our taste buds sing, but also provides a nice warmth inside which helps calm us down, be more positive and fulfilled. The feeling of a warm bowl of soup in your stomach is one that cannot be matched since it is pleasant to the eyes and heart.

Why is soup good for you at night? ›

Keeps You Satiated: Soup can help to keep you satiated, as it is a liquid-based meal that is typically high in water and fibre content. The water and fiber in soup can help to fill you up, making you feel less hungry. Additionally, soup is often low in calories, which can also help to keep you feeling full.

What is soupping? ›

Souping is a diet composed of mainly soups to help with weight loss. [1,3,4] Souping diet plans are different and can vary in the length, types of foods made into the soups, and if the soups are eaten alone or as a side to other foods.

What does souping do to the insides? ›

Binding water into food slows down gastric emptying, keeping your stomach fuller for longer, according to Barbara Rolls, a professor of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University who has authored studies on soup and its effects on satiety, and wrote “The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet.” Plus, she added, “the ...

Is soup good for a leaky gut? ›

Bone broth (or stock) is fabulous for healing intestinal permeability. It contains collagen, which nourishes the intestinal lining and reduces inflammation. Plus, it's easy for a damaged gut to digest and reap the benefits of its protein and minerals.

What hormone imbalance causes food cravings? ›

There is a hormonal imbalance element in the cravings causes that we have already mentioned. Additionally, women are also more likely than men to report food cravings. Cravings can be correlated with a woman's menstrual cycle in response to the hormonal changes that occur during monthly intervals.

What is the psychology behind food cravings? ›

stress, which can lead to comfort eating; environmental cues, like seeing or smelling food; emotional states, such as feeling sad or lonely, prompting the desire for a quick mood boost; and physical factors, like hunger or nutrient deficiencies, which can trigger specific food cravings.

What your body really needs when you crave? ›

Food cravings are linked to nutrient deficiencies. If you're constantly craving sweets, get more magnesium, chromium, and tryptophan in your diet. These nutrients are found in whole, natural foods, such as broccoli, dried beans, liver, eggs, poultry, legumes, and grains, or you can get them via supplementation.

What does soup do for your body? ›

High source of fluids: Soup contains a high quantity of water that nourishes your body cells and keeps your skin fresh. Healthy and nutritious: Soup is a natural and healthy option that can be prepared in various ways; with vegetables, meat, chicken or even legumes and rice.

Why do I love eating soup? ›

Not only does it make our taste buds sing, but also provides a nice warmth inside which helps calm us down, be more positive and fulfilled. The feeling of a warm bowl of soup in your stomach is one that cannot be matched since it is pleasant to the eyes and heart.

Why am I so full from soup? ›

Although liquids empty from the stomach faster than solids, thicker liquids like soup are different. They actually tend to cause the stomach to expand a bit more, and remain in the stomach longer, so you feel more full, for a longer length of time.

Why is it eating soup and not drinking? ›

In English, whether you say “eating soup” or “drinking soup” depends on how you're consuming it. If you're consuming it from a bowl with a spoon then you're “eating” it. If you're consuming it from a cup directly into your mouth then you're “drinking” it. It's not a matter of 'correctness.

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