As the weather gets colder, you may find yourself increasingly craving comfort foods. Unfortunately, many hearty winter staples, like rich pasta dishes and cheesy casseroles, are not only high in calories, but are loaded with heaping portions of sodium, saturated fat, and refined carbohydrates.
The good news? You can still enjoy plenty of comforting winter meals that won't derail your healthy eating efforts. Read on to discover the delicious soup combinations that can help you satisfy your cravings and lose weight. And for more easy ways to shed those extra pounds, check out these 15 Underrated Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work.
Carrots are not only a great source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients, but they're also a great addition to your weight loss plan. A 2020 study published in the journal Nutrients found that, among a group of 16 vegetables, carrots ranked fifth best for promoting weight loss in women. What's more, a 2019 meta-analysis published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition found that consumption of ginger was associated with reduced waist-to-hip ratios and greater weight loss among 473 adults studied, making a carrot-ginger combo a knockout for weight loss.
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With just 63 calories and nearly three grams of fiber per cup, butternut squash is a filling addition to any meal plan. According to a 2019 study published in The Journal of Nutrition, eating an additional four grams of fiber a day along with a reduced-calorie diet was associated with significantly more weight loss over a six-month period than reducing calories alone. A 2014 study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice also found that overweight and obese women who added six grams of cumin powder to their daily meals lost weight, lowered their BMI, reduced their waist circumference, and lost fat mass. When you combine the two ingredients together in a soup, you've got a recipe for easy weight loss.
Want to shed some weight while enjoying your favorite Japanese staples? Try making miso soup part of your regular routine. A 2018 study published in Obesity Science and Practice found that adults asked to incorporate three servings of soy protein into their daily diet for 12 months lost both weight and fat mass. Better yet, researchers at Newcastle University found that seaweed fiber can help reduce fat absorption by as much as 75%, making miso soup with seaweed a no-brainer when it comes to losing weight.
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Want a comforting meal that won't derail your weight loss efforts? Try a bowl of white bean and kale soup A 2020 study published in Food Science & Nutrition found that consumption of white bean extract was associated with significantly more weight loss in obese study subjects over a 35-day period versus a placebo group. When combined with the nearly five grams of filling, weight-loss-promoting fiber you'll get from every cup of cooked kale, you've got the perfect soup for weight loss.
For more simple ways to slim down, check out these 5 Soup-Eating Habits That Help With Weight Loss, Says Dietitian, and for the latest healthy eating news delivered to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter!
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