The Art of Soup Drinking and Men's Healthy Eating Guide

The Little Things About Drinking Soup

"Better to eat no meat than no soup." Soup is an indispensable part of cuisine both in China and abroad. Drinking soup before meals is important, much like warming up before exercise. It activates the digestive system, causing the digestive glands to secrete sufficient digestive juices, preparing the stomach for food. This reduces the irritation of an empty stomach and is beneficial for its protection. Moreover, various soups can serve as appetizers and are rich in nutrients. Men can include soup in their daily meals or regularly consume soups with therapeutic properties according to their individual needs.

Bean soup can nourish the brain. Soybeans are rich in plant protein and lecithin. Protein is a major component of brain cells, and the proteins in brain cells are constantly being renewed and need frequent replenishment. Acetylcholine is an important substance for maintaining memory, and lecithin can release choline in the body to synthesize acetylcholine. Because lecithin readily binds with water, a large amount of lecithin dissolves in the soup during stewing, making it easily absorbed. ◎ Chicken soup fights colds. Chicken soup contains several components that can affect the human immune system, thus relieving cold symptoms such as sore throat. When the body is attacked by a cold virus, the number of neutrophils increases significantly, and their activity can stimulate mucus secretion, causing cough and runny nose. Chicken soup contains components that inhibit neutrophil activity, which can reduce cough and runny nose symptoms.

Kelp soup keeps you warm. People's sensitivity to cold is related to thyroid function. Iodine helps in the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which can accelerate the oxidation process of tissue cells, increase the body's basal metabolism, and accelerate blood flow to the skin. Kelp is rich in iodine, and increased intake can strengthen thyroid function and enhance the body's ability to resist cold.

How to drink bone broth:

After a busy week at work, when the weekend arrives and the family gathers together, have you ever thought about sharing a pot of fragrant bone broth?

High-quality bone broth is not only delicious but also highly nutritious. Bone broth can help you supplement your protein intake and also provide some calcium. However, some people simply believe that bone broth is the best source of calcium, but this view is somewhat one-sided. Experts say that bone broth made using common cooking methods doesn't have a very high calcium content, limiting its calcium-supplementing effect. The greater benefit of bone broth lies in its rich collagen content. Milk, dried shrimp, and other foods rich in calcium that are easily absorbed by the body and are relatively simple to prepare are better sources of calcium.

Many people simmer bone broth for half a day, thinking this will yield the best results. This is not the case. The calcium in animal bones will not decompose; no matter how high the temperature, it cannot be dissolved or broken down. Instead, it will damage the protein in the bones. Therefore, simmering for too long is counterproductive. In addition, bones always have some meat attached, resulting in a higher fat content in the broth. People drink bone broth to supplement calcium and protein, but because of the rendered fat, older men should consume bone broth in moderation.

To make bone broth more easily absorbed, a little experiment is needed: Use a pressure cooker to simmer the bones until they are tender. Since the simmering time doesn't need to be too long, the loss of nutrients in the broth is minimal. Furthermore, the phosphorus and other elements contained in the bone marrow are essential for the human body. Adding a little vinegar to the broth will also help dissolve more phosphorus and calcium from the bones into the soup, resulting in a more flavorful broth that is also easier for the body to absorb.