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If you’re hoping to lose weight, taking a closer look at your pantry is a good start since that’s probably where most of your meals are coming from. By throwing out foods that impede weight loss, you can help yourself stay on track and focus on healthy, whole foods and fresh ingredients.
With that in mind, keep reading for the one pantry food you should always avoid because it leads to weight gain.
Canned Soup
Canned soups are a quick and easy meal, but they can lead to problems when it comes to your health since so many brands are packed with sodium and fat. And too much sodium can lead to weight gain.
Monica Reinagel, MS,LD/N, CNS, who writes for Scientific American, explains, "Eating a lot of salt can cause your body to retain more water, which can show up on the scale as extra pounds. But we’re not just talking about water weight here. High salt diets appear to be linked to higher body fat—in particular, the kind of fat that accumulates around your middle."
Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., C.D.N., an adjunct nutrition professor at NYU, spoke to Men's Journal about the nutrition details of canned soup--and why you should keep a careful eye on any you're purchasing.
According to the article, "Canned soups can be sky-high in sodium, which, when overdone, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. So opt for low-sodium soups whenever possible, says Dr. Young, and aim to not exceed 350 mg. (When soups boast added health benefits, including hefty vegetable portions, you can go up to 480mg, but add water before boiling to dilute.)"
It's also a good idea to skip cream-based soups, which usually have more fat and calories, according to Dr. Young.
Instead, if you do need a quick meal and want to opt for canned soup, pick a veggie-based broth and aim for for "Heart Healthy" or low sodium options.
A more time-consuming option is to make the soup yourself. Although it might seem like a big project, there are tons of recipes (with varying degrees of difficulty) that you could give a try. Plus, if you have a slow cooker, you really only need to worry about prep.
