In childhood, our grandmothers and mothers told us: lunch is not lunch without the first one. And if you have a cold, hot chicken broth is the first remedy for a weakened body. Together with experts, we find out if our parents were right, and learn 10 important facts about soups.
July 15 2020
Gastroenterologist, “Save My Child” program (channel “Yu”)
Soups should be present in the diet at least two to three times a week., ideally every day. Plain water, juice, milk cannot serve as an alternative to the first course. If an adult or a child categorically refuses soups, good is not enough. Because with them, the body not only receives the required amount of dietary fiber – broths stimulate the production of gastric juice, but also reduces the mechanical effect of solid food on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Alternate between meat-based soups and vegetarian soups.
Should you eat soup? Doctors are unanimous on this issue.
Classic first courses are best eaten warm, temperature 36-38 degrees, and balanced in spices. Hot (over 60 ° C) and cold (below 15 ° C) dishes have an irritating effect on stomach receptors. Too hot also cause hypersecretion of gastric juice. Over time, this can lead to gastritis.
Vegetarian soups are high in fiber, which improves bowel motility. For such dishes, it is good to use broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, these vegetables are harmless to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). For those who have such problems, it is undesirable to add white cabbage. It has a negative effect on the pancreas, causing inflammation. Lovers of borscht can eat them, of course, but don’t get carried away. But soups from legumes – beans, peas, lentils – are poorly digested, and therefore are provocateurs of exacerbations in those who have stomach or intestinal problems.
Cook vegetables with the lid closed… The vitamins contained in them are destroyed when exposed to ultraviolet rays and oxygen from the air. Don’t overcook them. Are the vegetables soft? Remove the pan from the heat.
When cooking meat broth, drain the first water after boiling… Otherwise, it turns out to be too concentrated, which means it contains many extractive substances that irritate the mucous membrane and can contribute to the development of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. When used in moderation, they stimulate the production of gastric juices, but do not disrupt the digestion process. Second broths are optimal for health. To do this, take the meat, wash it, put it in water, bring to a boil, cook for 5-10 minutes (beef – 15-20), drain and pour in other water. The bulk of the extractives will be boiled away at the first boil, and the soup will be much healthier.
Lean meats are good for broths.: chicken, turkey, beef. The most useful is rabbit meat, it is recommended for all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. When preparing meat for boiling, get rid of excess fat, remove the skin from the poultry: it is high in fat and cholesterol. An excess of them contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases, fat is not very useful for the pancreas. As for the use of by-products – liver, heart, ventricles; the main thing is not to overdo it.
Jellied meat is not good for health. From a medical point of view, broth cooked on the bone is not the best dish, as it contains a large amount of extractive substances. But if you use meat on ribs or bones a little, there is nothing terrible if you follow the rules of preparation. As for the jellied meat popular on the festive table, this is essentially an insanely concentrated broth. After all, it is boiled for about six hours, the first water is not drained, otherwise it will not work. Eat jellied meat no more than once a month and remember that this is not a dietary product.
Broths are not recommended for sick people. Doctors do not recommend them to debilitated patients, especially those who have undergone surgery. Anesthesia already contributes to the development of ulcerative processes, and the broth increases the risk of their development, because it stimulates the production of gastric juice. This applies to any surgical interventions not necessarily related to the gastrointestinal tract, even in gynecology, orthopedics, cardiology. Patients are given nutrition through a vein, so-called parenteral. There is also a special therapeutic food in the form of dry mixtures, which are diluted with water. They are easy to digest and have health benefits.
Previously, doctors advised giving infants broths from six months, now – closer to a year. Because gastritis and pancreatitis are “younger”. They start with soups boiled in water with the addition of meatballs.
You can get better from mashed soups. Strongly chopped vegetables are stripped of dietary fiber and, as a result, take longer to digest. In addition, in the form of mashed potatoes, carbohydrates, fats are easier to digest, and when such a soup is in the stomach for a long time, it turns out to be more high-calorie, which cannot but affect the figure. Those who are sure that mashed soups are suitable for losing weight are mistaken. Especially if potatoes or cream are added to them. For a person with problems with the gastrointestinal tract, the fat content of products should be no higher than 3,5%. Cream has at least 10%, which is unacceptable for the pancreas. This does not mean that mashed soups should not be cooked at all, they just should not be in the diet all the time.
Member of the Russian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.
– Sometimes rich, fatty broths will not benefit the body. We are talking about cases of exacerbation of gastritis. The main task in this case is to reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid, which irritates the stomach lining. In severe cases, the doctor will prescribe special medications, in the rest, it is enough to simply follow a diet. Do not overuse spices, hot sauces, fried, strong meat broths, it is better to take care of yourself and switch to sparing boiled dishes. It is necessary to monitor the condition, otherwise concomitant diseases may develop – cholecystitis, gallstone disease, intestinal problems.
Elena Shatalova, Anna Gerasimenko