Want a slimmer YOU? Start slurping soup. OK, the slurping is optional, but if you need to shed some pounds, the soup shouldn’t be. Developing a soup habit will have you stepping out in clothes you haven’t worn for ages. You know, the ones with waistbands that haven’t closed since Lehman Brothers did. Here’s the simple soup science: The more often you eat soup, the more likely you are to shrink your waist, lose weight and lower your total body fat — your body mass index, or BMI. That’s all according to new research confirming previous soup-slimming studies. And it means you’ll also cut your risk of heart disease, diabetes and other unpleasantness that come with big bellies and excess weight. All because soup makes you feel fuller on fewer calories.
Now for the fun. You don’t have to know a thing about cooking to make great soup.
Here’s our three-step, soup-for-dummies secret:
1. Fill a pot with water and turn on the heat — how ya doing so far?
2. Throw in lots of fresh, colorful vegetables. Carrots, celery, red peppers, onions, garlic and any other firm ones first; then tomatoes, dark greens, zucchini, whatever. All are chock-full of nutrients with almost zero calories and fat. Enrich the flavor and up the protein with beans (fiber plus flavor), or chicken or fish.
3. Be bold with spices. Cayenne and hot peppers, rich in capsaicin, not only rev up the flavor but even help you burn fat a little faster.
For store-bought-soup days, choose low-sodium varieties (under 260 milligrams a cup).
Soup’s on!
The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of “YOU: On a Diet.” Want more? See “The Dr. Oz Show” on TV (check local listings). To submit questions, go to RealAge.com.
