Souping vs. Juicing

Are you a fan of cleanses? If so, you're likely familiar with juicing - extracting juice from fruits & veggies using a juicer. Juice cleanses are often used to detox the body and kick-start bodily systems into optimal function, but there are some negatives. That's one of the reasons juicing is seemingly being replaced by souping. What is souping? It's essentially the same thing as juicing except you use soup instead. It helps detox your body, reduce inflammation, and increase circulation. Plus, there are various ways to do it. It's quickly becoming one of the most popular cleanses around. So, is it right for you? And how does it compare to juicing?

Possibly the biggest difference between souping & juicing? The cost. Just a glass or two of juice requires a whole lot of fruits/veggies. That can add up (especially if you're buying organic or shopping at Whole Foods, etc) - not to mention all the pulp you're left with that you may have no use for. Soup is much cheaper to make and produces very little waste, plus you can put soup in your freezer for up to 6 months (or the fridge for 5 days). Add in that you don't need any extra or expensive equipment to make soup and you're saving a bunch of money! (Do keep in mind that if you use soups specially made for a cleanse that you've ordered from somewhere, the price will go up.)

Another major difference? Souping offers more fiber where juicing offers more sugar. This is due to the use of more vegetables in souping and more fruits in juicing. Obviously, fiber is preferable to sugar, so that's one plus for souping there. And if you make soups with beans or lentils, you'll be getting serious protein.

Cleansing can be tough. Souping makes it a bit easier, partially because it is more “meal-like” than a glass of juice. Also because juices are ingested quicker than soups/regular food, you rarely get a full and satisfied feeling. Because souping involves raw foods plus fiber and protein, it will leave you less hungry. It all adds up to an easier time mentally & physically while cleansing.

Souping offers more variety than juicing. Not only are there a plethora of veggies, beans, and lentils you can use to make soup, there is also a huge selection of herbs & spices available for you to use. Herbs & spices are rich in nutrients derived from plants that are linked to the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses. Spices also help issues like indigestion and inflammation.

If you decide a cleanse is for you, souping might be better than juicing. It depends on your tastes and needs. The most important thing to remember is that cleanses are temporary, not long-term, and you should always listen to your body and be mindful.