What Happens if You Eat Soup Every Day?

December 27, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2011 study, individuals who frequently consumed soup tended to have a lower body mass index and smaller waist circumference compared to those who did not. This suggests that incorporating soup into your daily diet can influence your weight and overall health, but the specific outcome depends heavily on the type of soup and ingredients used.

Quick Summary

Daily soup consumption can lead to weight management, improved hydration, and a higher intake of vegetables and fiber. However, risks include excessive sodium, potential nutritional deficiencies, and saturated fat from creamy varieties. The health impact depends on homemade versus canned options and ingredient choices.

Key Points

Weight Management: Daily soup can aid weight loss by increasing satiety and reducing overall calorie intake due to its low energy density.
Nutrient Boost: Homemade, broth-based soups are excellent for increasing vegetable intake, providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Hydration: The high water content in soup contributes to daily fluid intake, which is essential for overall health.
Gut Health: Bone broth-based soups contain collagen and gelatin that can aid digestion, combat gut inflammation, and support a healthy gut microbiome.
High Sodium Warning: Processed, canned, and instant soups are often high in sodium, which can elevate blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.
Nutritional Imbalance: Over-reliance on soup can lead to deficiencies in other macronutrients, potentially slowing metabolism and affecting overall health.
Fat and Calorie Intake: Creamy soups can be high in saturated fat and calories, contributing to weight gain if consumed daily.
Ingredient Awareness: The health impact of daily soup is highly dependent on whether it's homemade with fresh ingredients or a highly-processed, store-bought variety.

The Potential Benefits of Daily Soup Consumption

Many people associate soup with comfort, but eating it daily can offer significant health advantages when prepared properly. Homemade, broth-based soups packed with vegetables and lean protein can be a nutrient-dense and satisfying addition to your diet.

Improved Weight Management

One of the most well-documented benefits of daily soup intake is its role in weight control. Soup is a low-energy-density food, meaning it contains a lot of water and volume for fewer calories. This can increase feelings of fullness and satiety, helping you consume fewer total calories throughout the day. Research indicates that people who regularly eat soup may have a lower body weight and smaller waist circumference. This satiety effect helps prevent overeating at subsequent meals.

Increased Nutrient and Hydration Intake

For many, eating a daily bowl of soup is an easy way to boost vegetable intake. Most adults do not consume the recommended number of vegetable servings, and soup is an excellent vehicle for a variety of nutrient-rich produce. Vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health. Additionally, soup contributes to your daily fluid intake, which is crucial for maintaining proper hydration, a factor often overlooked in dietary discussions.

Boosted Immunity and Digestion

Certain soups, particularly homemade bone broth, are rich in collagen, gelatin, and amino acids that have anti-inflammatory effects. These components can aid in gut motility, promote healthy bowel movements, and combat gut inflammation, contributing to a healthier microbiome. A hot bowl of soup can also help fight off colds and clear nasal passages when you're feeling under the weather.

The Potential Risks of Eating Soup Every Day

While the benefits are clear, eating the wrong type of soup daily can introduce potential health risks. The drawbacks are generally associated with processed, canned, or instant soups, as well as excessively creamy varieties.

High Sodium Levels

Many commercial, canned, and instant soups are notoriously high in sodium, which is used for flavor and as a preservative. A single serving can provide a significant portion of the recommended daily intake. Consistent overconsumption of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Replacing multiple meals with soup without careful consideration can lead to nutritional deficiencies. If the soup lacks a balance of macronutrients like protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, you may not feel fully satisfied, leading to cravings and unbalanced nutrition. An all-soup diet is not a sustainable or healthy approach for long-term weight management and can lead to muscle mass loss and a slowed metabolism.

Excessive Calories and Saturated Fat

Cream-based soups, which are often thickened with high-calorie ingredients like heavy cream, butter, cheese, and flour, can be dense in saturated fat and calories. Consuming these rich soups daily could contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Opting for broth-based soups or using healthy thickeners like pureed beans or lentils is a healthier alternative.

Comparison: Homemade vs. Canned Soup


Feature	Homemade Soup	Canned/Instant Soup
Ingredient Control	Complete control over ingredients, including salt, fat, and sugar content.	Ingredients are pre-determined, often with high levels of sodium and preservatives.
Nutritional Value	Higher nutrient density from fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and nutrient-rich broths.	Many instant versions are heavily processed, stripping away a significant portion of the original nutrients.
Cost	Can be more affordable, especially when using seasonal vegetables.	Individual cans can be inexpensive, but the cost adds up over time for daily consumption.
Satiety	More filling due to higher fiber from varied ingredients.	Less satisfying; processed options may lead to hunger later due to high water content and less fiber.
Health Impact	Can support weight management, hydration, and immunity.	Potential risks of high blood pressure, weight gain, and nutritional imbalance.

Making Daily Soup Healthy: Practical Tips

To ensure your daily soup habit is a healthy one, focus on homemade, nutrient-dense recipes. Instead of canned broth, consider making your own bone broth for a mineral-rich base. Experiment with different types of vegetables, lean proteins (chicken, fish, tofu), and legumes (lentils, beans) to vary your nutrient intake. Avoid using high-fat thickeners and instead rely on natural thickening methods like pureeing vegetables. Use herbs, spices, and a small amount of a healthy fat like olive oil for flavor instead of relying on excessive salt. Preparation is simple and can be done in large batches for easy weekday meals. You can also explore options like gazpacho for a refreshing, nutrient-packed cold soup in warmer weather.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Daily Soup Consumption

So, what happens if you eat soup every day? The answer is nuanced and depends on your approach. A daily habit of consuming nutrient-rich, low-sodium, homemade soups can be a fantastic tool for weight management, increased vegetable intake, better hydration, and improved gut health. However, relying on high-sodium, highly-processed, or calorie-dense creamy soups can lead to health risks such as high blood pressure and weight gain. The key lies in mindful preparation and understanding the nutritional content of what you are consuming. Ultimately, soup can be a powerful and delicious addition to a balanced lifestyle, as long as you choose wisely.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider or registered dietitian for personalized dietary recommendations.

Authoritative Outbound Link

For more on the health benefits of different types of soup, a comprehensive article can be found on Healthline: Is Soup Healthy? Ingredients, Benefits, and Different Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it can be, provided you choose nutrient-dense, low-calorie, broth-based soups. Soups with high water content can increase feelings of fullness, helping you manage calorie intake. However, relying solely on soup as a diet is not sustainable and can lead to nutrient deficiencies.

The main risks include excessive sodium intake from canned or instant soups, which can lead to high blood pressure, and potential nutritional deficiencies if you are not eating a balanced diet with other food groups.

No, most canned and instant soups are not as nutritious as homemade versions. They are typically heavily processed, high in sodium, and contain preservatives, while homemade soups retain more natural nutrients from fresh ingredients.

Yes. Homemade bone broth soups contain compounds like collagen and gelatin that can soothe gut inflammation and improve digestion. Additionally, vegetable-packed soups provide fiber that feeds good gut bacteria.

Broth-based soups made with fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and legumes are the best for daily consumption. They are high in nutrients, fiber, and protein while being low in calories and unhealthy fats.

If you follow a short-term, all-soup diet, you will likely lose water weight that you will regain once you return to a regular eating pattern. For sustainable results, incorporate healthy soups into a balanced diet rather than relying solely on them.

The most effective way is to make your own soup from scratch, controlling the salt. You can also opt for low-sodium broths or season with herbs, spices, and garlic instead of relying on salt for flavor.