10 Slimming Soups That Taste Delicious and Have Added Health Benefits

By Editorial Staff Updated: January 2, 2020

Winter is here, and the holidays have come and gone. It’s official. And while all the festivities might have lead to some indulgence, it’s time to get back on the healthy bandwagon. Luckily, we’ve collected our favorite soup recipes that are not only perfect for warming you up, but they’re also loaded with nutrients that have health-boosting benefits — including weight loss!

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Check out the list below.

Tomato

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Stress Soother: Tomato Bisque

Spooning up creamy tomato soup is a delicious way to calm frazzled nerves. University of Pennsylvania researchers report that the lycopene in the ruby gems calms the brain region that controls anxiety (the amygdala).

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 2 diced carrots and 2 diced celery stalks in olive oil 4 min. Add 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes and 2 cups veggie broth. Season. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 1 hr. Puree in blender, if desired; stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream.
Veggie Pho

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Thyroid Healer: Veggie Pho

This classic Asian soup gets extra heartiness from buckwheat noodles, which are a rich source of manganese. Studies show this trace mineral optimizes the thyroid’s output of the metabolism-revving hormone thyroxine.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tsp. minced ginger in sesame oil 3 min. Add 1 qt. veggie broth, 2 Tbs. soy sauce, and 1 Tbs. rice vinegar. Bring to a boil; add 8 oz. buckwheat noodles and 1/2 cup shredded carrots. Top with scallions.
Cauliflower

Fat Burner: Creamy Cauliflower

Cauliflower infuses this soup with a sulfuric compound (indole-3-carbinol ) shown to stimulate the release of the fat-burning hormone adiponectin. In one study, this effect helped subjects shrink their fat stores by 45 percent.

To Make: In pot, sauté 4 chopped leeks and 4 Tbs. minced garlic cloves in oil 10 min. Add 1 head chopped cauliflower, 1 qt. chicken broth and 1 Tbs. thyme. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 1 hr. Season; puree in blender, if desired
Broccoli

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Bloat Buster: Broccoli Bliss

Enjoying broccoli soup can shrink the belly fast. Credit goes to compounds (glucosinolates) in the veggie that kill off gas-creating bad bacteria and promote the growth of digestion-enhancing gut bugs that ease bloat and GI issues.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves and 4 chopped celery stalks in oil 5 min. Add 1 head chopped broccoli, 1 qt. veggie broth and 1/4 cup rolled oats. Season. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 1 hr. Puree in blender, if desired.
Beat Soup

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Fat Blocker: Savory Beet

The anthocyanins that give beets their vibrant hue switch on genes that block the formation of new fat cells and prevent existing ones from absorbing more fatty acids. This effect helps beet eaters lose up to 30 percent more weight.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves in oil 4 min. Add 1 lb. peeled, chopped beets, 4 chopped carrots and 5 cups beef broth. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 2 hrs. Puree, if desired. Add 1/2 cup sour cream and 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar.
Pumpkin

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Sleep Promoter: Pumpkin Paradise

The rich stores of magnesium is this velvety soup boost the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, improving sleep quality threefold. That’s a plus since well-rested women lose 55 percent more weight than those who don’t get enough shut-eye.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion in oil 4 min. Add a pinch of saffron, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1 (28 oz.) can pumpkin puree and 2 cups veggie broth. Puree in blender, if desired; add 1/2 cup sour cream. Top with pumpkin seeds.
Veggie

Detoxifier: Veggie Contentment

Thanks to zucchini and green beans, this veggie-packed stew delivers a double dose of chlorophyll, a phytonutrient that can flush up to 50 percent of fat-trapping toxins from fat cells in just 5 days.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 2 sliced carrots and 3 minced garlic cloves in oil 3 min. Add 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, 1 qt. veggie broth and 1 Tbs. dried oregano. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer 45 min. Add 1 cup green beans, 1 sliced zucchini and 1 chopped bell pepper. Simmer 30 min.
Lentil

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Hunger Ender: Cozy Lentil

Bulking up soups with tiny lentils adds toothsome texture and soluble fiber. This nutrient slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, boosting feelings of fullness by 40 percent for up to 4 hours after eating.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 4 chopped carrots and 4 chopped celery stalks 10 min. Add 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, 1 cup brown lentils, 2 cups veggie broth and 1 bay leaf. Season. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 1 hr.
Mushroom

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Hunger Ender: Cozy Lentil

Bulking up soups with tiny lentils adds toothsome texture and soluble fiber. This nutrient slows the movement of food through the digestive tract, boosting feelings of fullness by 40 percent for up to 4 hours after eating.

Cozy Lentil: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 4 chopped carrots and 4 chopped celery stalks 10 min. Add 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, 1 cup brown lentils, 2 cups veggie broth and 1 bay leaf. Season. Bring to a boil; cover and let simmer 1 hr.
Black Bean

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Inflammation Easer: Spicy Black Bean

The black beans in this zesty soup deliver antioxidants that can lower levels of pro-inflammatory proteins by up to 40 percent. This helps dial down the cellular inflammation linked to increased fat storage, heart disease and diabetes.

To Make: In pot, sauté 1 diced onion, 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 chopped jalapeño in oil 5 min. Add 1 qt. veggie broth, 2 (14 oz.) cans rinsed and drained black beans and 1 Tbs. ground cumin. Puree in blender, if desired. Garnish with avocado and fresh cilantro.

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