Wellness
There’s just something about the chilly weather that makes you want to be curled up with a warm blanket, sipping on your soup of choice. Whether that be chicken noodle, tomato, or even a hearty chili soup, the options and benefits to your overall health are endless.
Everyone knows that a great soup first starts with a rich and tasty broth. According to nutrition expert Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, having a perfect broth isn’t just about the flavor, it’s about the nutrients and health benefits that it can offer you from collagen, gelatin, and glycine. “Bone broth is the best whole food source of collagen,” Dr. Petrucci tells xoNecole. “Collagen protein is in foods such as cuts of meat full of connective tissue like pot roast, brisket, and chuck steak. Bone broth has emerged as a superior whole food source of collagen because it’s lower in calories and saturated fats compared to other sources.”
When it comes to soups, stews, and stocks, choosing the right broth can come down to personal preference, time for preparation, and dietary restrictions, however, bone broth proves to be nutritionally superior to regular broth or stock due to its extended cooking process.
“Bone broth derives all of its nutritional health benefits from its slow cooking process,” she explains. “While regular broth or stock is only cooked for a few hours, bone broth is usually cooked for upwards of 24 hours.”
“It's in that process that the vital nutrients are extracted from the bones, giving bone broth its signature thick texture, rich flavor, and nutritious content. While stock has some health benefits, it doesn’t hold a candle to bone broth’s nutritional density,” Dr. Petrucci adds. But if you find that you don’t have the time to make your own bone broth, you can always opt for a ready-made liquid bone broth for convenience.
Because soup can require extended time of preparation and slow-cooking, many soup lovers are leaning into a more convenient, “one-and-done” approach to achieve their favorite recipes — one of which is being made in a mason jar.
The mason jar soup trend has grown in popularity on TikTok, with promises to be a labor-free, meal-prep alternative for soup lovers who also happen to be on the go.
Making these soups on your own is easy to follow since many of the ingredients are catered to your own taste. Many creators suggest following the ingredient list that includes rice noodles, soy sauce, chicken bouillon seasoning or broth, a protein of choice — tofu, mushrooms, or boiled egg, and veggies like spinach, cabbage, or carrots.
With just five minutes of prep time, you can assemble these ingredients into your mason jar, add boiling water on top, and wait up to 10 minutes for the flavors to combine and enjoy.
Finding creative ways to add soup and broth into your diet isn’t just a way to self-soothe on low-temperature days, it can also help with gut-related issues and support healthy digestion. “Our digestive health is the cornerstone of our overall wellness, and bone broth is packed with beneficial nutrients that nurture this crucial system,” says Dr. Pertrucci. “Amino acids, like glutamine present in bone broth, can provide nourishment to the cells lining your gut, supporting the body's nutrient absorption capability.”
“The immune system, the body's primary defense mechanism, depends significantly on the health of our gut. As bone broth can contribute to gut health, it can also indirectly aid in fostering a robust immune system. Bone broth can act as a valuable ally in maintaining a healthy immune system, fortifying your body's defense against illnesses.”
Who knew a good soup could go such a long way?
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