Is Soup Good for Inflamed Intestines? The Soothing Truth

October 11, 2025 •

3 min read

For individuals managing inflammatory bowel conditions, finding easily digestible and nutritious food can be a challenge; in fact, the University of Michigan reports that many people switch to a bland or liquid diet during an inflammatory flare. So, is soup good for inflamed intestines? When prepared correctly, soup can be a beneficial and soothing dietary choice, providing essential nutrients and hydration without aggravating symptoms.

Quick Summary

This article explores how soups can support a healthy gut, especially during inflammatory episodes, by providing hydration and easily absorbed nutrients. It examines optimal ingredients, preparation methods, and which soups to embrace or avoid for digestive health. The content outlines the nutritional and healing properties of gut-friendly soups compared to solid foods.

Key Points

Easy Digestibility: Properly prepared soups, especially pureed or broth-based ones, provide nutrients without straining an inflamed digestive system.
Enhanced Hydration: The liquid nature of soup helps replenish fluids and electrolytes, which is crucial for individuals with diarrhea during a flare-up.
Nutrient-Dense Delivery: Soups are an excellent way to consume essential vitamins, minerals, and protein in an easily absorbed form, supporting overall healing.
Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients: Incorporating ingredients like bone broth, ginger, and turmeric can actively help reduce inflammation in the gut.
Customizable for Healing Stages: Start with simple broths or pureed soups during flares and gradually add more complex ingredients as symptoms subside.
Avoid Irritants: Steer clear of high-fat dairy, spicy foods, and tough, raw vegetables which can trigger or worsen intestinal inflammation.

The Gentle Power of Soup for Inflamed Intestines

When the intestinal lining is inflamed, the digestive system becomes sensitive and less efficient at processing complex foods. This is particularly true for individuals with conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). During these periods, the body needs a way to receive nourishment and stay hydrated without putting stress on the gut. This is where soup, when prepared mindfully, shines as a supportive and healing meal.

Why Soup Can Soothe Your Gut

Soups, particularly those based on clear, low-sodium broths, offer several key advantages for an irritated digestive system:

Easy Digestion: The cooking process breaks down fibrous, hard-to-digest components in vegetables and meats, making nutrients more accessible to the body and reducing the workload on the gut. For particularly sensitive systems, blending soup into a smooth puree eliminates all solid particles, offering maximum comfort.
Hydration: Maintaining adequate hydration is critical, especially if dealing with diarrhea or other digestive issues. Soups are an excellent source of fluids and electrolytes, helping to replenish what the body loses.
Nutrient Delivery: Soup allows for the easy inclusion of a wide array of nutrient-dense ingredients. Even when solid foods are difficult to tolerate, a well-made soup can provide vitamins, minerals, and proteins essential for healing.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and bone broth are known for their anti-inflammatory benefits and can be easily incorporated into soups to actively support gut healing.

Soups to Embrace vs. Soups to Avoid

Not all soups are created equal when it comes to gut health. The right choice depends heavily on your specific symptoms and what ingredients your system can tolerate. Below is a comparison to help guide your selections.


Feature	Gut-Friendly Soups (Embrace)	Gut-Aggravating Soups (Avoid)
Broth	Low-sodium bone broth, vegetable broth	High-fat, creamy broths; highly spiced broths
Vegetables	Thoroughly cooked carrots, zucchini, spinach, butternut squash	Raw or undercooked vegetables, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower)
Protein	Lean, cooked meats (chicken, turkey, fish); tofu	Tough, coarse meats with gristle; processed meats
Fats	Healthy fats like olive oil in moderation	High-fat dairy (cream, full-fat cheese); rich, greasy ingredients
Grains	Gluten-free pasta, white rice, quinoa	Whole grains with high fiber content during flares
Spices	Gentle spices like ginger, turmeric, basil	Spicy peppers, chili powder, excessive garlic

How to Create the Perfect Gut-Healing Soup

Crafting a soup that aids in gut healing involves mindful ingredient selection and preparation. The focus should be on minimizing irritants and maximizing nutrition.

Foundational Ingredients

Bone Broth: The superstar of gut-healing soups. Slow-cooked bones release collagen and amino acids like glycine and glutamine, which support the gut lining and reduce inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Spices: Incorporate ingredients like fresh ginger and turmeric, which are both recognized for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Pureed Vegetables: During a flare-up, blending your soup is key. Pureeing cooked vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes reduces the fiber load on your system while still providing essential vitamins and antioxidants.

Gut-Friendly Soups to Try

Ginger Carrot Soup: A simple, pureed soup with carrots and fresh ginger that is easy to digest and full of anti-inflammatory compounds.
Chicken and Rice Soup: A classic for a reason. Use low-sodium broth, shredded lean chicken, and white rice for a gentle, satisfying meal.
Miso Vegetable Soup: Miso, a fermented soybean paste, contains probiotics that support healthy gut bacteria. Add seaweed and tofu for extra nutrients.
Butternut Squash Soup: A creamy, nutrient-rich option that is low-residue and packed with antioxidants.

The Importance of Phased Approach

As your gut begins to heal, you can gradually introduce more complex ingredients. Start with pureed soups, then move to chunky, well-cooked vegetable soups, and finally, incorporate small amounts of legumes or grains if tolerated. Every individual's gut is different, so listening to your body is the most important step in navigating your dietary choices.

Conclusion: Mindful Soup is a Gut's Best Friend

In conclusion, soup can be an incredibly beneficial and comforting part of a diet aimed at managing inflamed intestines. By focusing on low-sodium, clear broths, thoroughly cooked and pureed ingredients, and incorporating anti-inflammatory elements, you can provide your body with easily absorbed nutrients and the hydration it needs to heal. Avoid high-fat, spicy, or high-fiber soups during active flare-ups and remember to gradually reintroduce ingredients as your symptoms improve. A well-prepared soup is more than just food—it's a soothing agent in your gut-healing journey.

To learn more about managing IBD through nutrition, consider resources like the University of Michigan's Crohn's and Colitis Program website for detailed dietary tips and guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bone broth is often highly recommended due to its rich content of collagen and amino acids like glycine and glutamine, which support gut lining repair. However, vegetable broth is also a suitable, low-fat alternative, especially for those who prefer plant-based options.

No, it is best to avoid creamy soups, particularly those made with high-fat dairy, as the fat content can be difficult for an inflamed gut to digest. Clear, low-fat broths are a much safer and more soothing option.

Focus on thoroughly cooked and softened vegetables like carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and spinach. For flare-ups, pureeing these vegetables will reduce fiber content and further aid digestion.

During an active flare-up, pureed soups are better as they are easier to digest. They remove the texture and fiber that can irritate the gut. As symptoms improve, you can gradually introduce chunky, well-cooked vegetables.

Mild, anti-inflammatory spices like fresh ginger, turmeric, and basil are safe and beneficial. Avoid spicy seasonings like chili powder and excessive amounts of garlic, as these can irritate the digestive tract.

Bone broth is believed to help repair the gut lining by providing collagen and amino acids, which are the building blocks for the gut's cells. This helps to reduce intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and soothe inflammation.

Yes, when prepared correctly with a variety of ingredients like lean protein, cooked vegetables, and fortified broths, soup can be a nutrient-dense meal. It allows the body to absorb essential vitamins and minerals even when solid foods are not well tolerated.