讀後心得

According to a study conducted in 2020, drinking soup can reduce the risk of obesity by 15%, primarily because soup is low in calories and high in water content, which easily increases feelings of fullness. However, Taiwanese people tend to drink soup only after they have finished eating, which may lead to excessive calorie and fat intake. For example, a bowl of sesame oil chicken soup contains the same calories as two bowls of white rice. Moreover, if high-fat soups are chosen, they may cause an increase in cholesterol levels, leading to hyperlipidemia issues. Therefore, it is recommended to exercise moderation while enjoying food, prioritize meat, drink less soup, and eat more high-fiber vegetables to lower cholesterol.

In 2020, a study found that among seven observational studies involving 45,292 participants, it concluded that consuming soup can reduce obesity risk by 15%. The main reason is that most soups are low in calories and high in water content, effectively increasing satiety, thereby reducing overall calorie intake. Consequently, individuals who regularly drink soup are less likely to gain weight. However, these studies primarily come from the West and Japan, where foreign soups generally contain less fat, such as Japan's miso soup and Thailand's tom yum soup, which are generally low in calories and do not lead to obesity when consumed frequently.

However, the eating habits of Taiwanese people are different; they usually drink soup after they have "filled up" on the main course, unlike Western cuisine, where soup is regarded as part of the appetizer, consumed before the cold dish and main course. Those who love drinking soup often consider warm soup to be the essence of food, often having bowl after bowl, sometimes even drinking until the pot is empty, not necessarily paying attention to whether they are full. This eating pattern inevitably increases fat and calorie intake. For example, a bowl of sesame oil chicken soup can contain up to 450 kcal, equivalent to two bowls of white rice, making it difficult to avoid the risk of gaining weight if consumed regularly.

When choosing soups, caution is particularly necessary, as some soups may hide risks of cholesterol and hyperlipidemia. Recently, a Vietnamese Taiwanese daughter-in-law sought consultation due to fatty liver issues, weighing 83 kg, which is considered abnormal among people growing up in Vietnam, as Vietnam is known to be one of the countries with the lowest body weight globally. She recalled that before her pregnancy, she weighed 52 kg, but during her postpartum recovery, she drank sesame oil chicken soup every day, resulting in a 30 kg weight gain, which she has yet to lose. Moreover, if the soup is made using parts with a lot of fatty meat, the cholesterol and saturated fatty acids in the soup will also increase, meaning that just consuming soup could lead to rising cholesterol levels, becoming a hidden risk for hyperlipidemia.

Therefore, while enjoying delicious food, it is advisable to exercise moderation and choose meat over soup whenever possible. At the same time, a higher intake of high-fiber vegetables is encouraged, as dietary fiber can slow down fat decomposition, promote intestinal evacuation, and reduce bile acid reabsorption, thus effectively lowering cholesterol levels.