Is Knorr Soup Healthy? 7 Reasons You Should Avoid It

Soups are beloved comfort food for people all over the world, especially during monsoons and winters. They are one of the healthiest ways to get nutrients from vegetables, meat, or legumes. In addition, soups can also be hydrating and soothing, and some research even suggests that they may help you feel fuller for longer.

However, when we have a fever or have very little time to prepare a healthy soup for ourselves, many of us end up buying ready-to-make packaged soups.

One such brand that has been popular in this category is Knorr soup.

While brands like Knorr have made making soup easy and quick, with endless flavors to satisfy your taste buds, is it healthy? Is it good for health as homemade soup?

The answer is a big NO.

In this post, I have compiled a list of 7 reasons why Knorr soup is not healthy for you.

But before getting to the list, let’s have a look at its ingredients.

Also read: Is Horlicks Good For Health? The Truth About This Malt Drink

Ingredients in Knorr soup

There are many different flavors of Knorr soup with different ingredients, but some of the common ingredients you can find include:

• Refined wheat flour
• Maize starch
• Milk solids
• Edible common salt
• Sugar
• Maltodextrin
• Edible vegetable fat
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Hydrogenated palm oil
• Dehydrated vegetables
• Anti-caking agent (551)
• Thickener(415)
• Stabilizers (461 & 407)
• Flavor enhancers(627 & 631)

7 Reasons knorr soup is not healthy for you

1. Use of refined wheat flour

One of the primary reasons that Knorr soup is not good for your health is that it uses refined wheat flour (maida), which has nutrient-rich bran and germ removed.

This makes the flour less healthy and can cause some serious health problems if consumed in large quantities. 

However, the percentage of refined wheat flour that Knorr uses has not been labeled on the packet, but it is surely one of the main ingredients in it.

Studies have shown that eating refined grains has been linked to an increased risk of mortality, Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, weight gain, and cancer.

2. Use of maize starch

Maize starch or corn starch is one of the popular ingredients used in many soups to thicken them. And while a limited intake of maize starch is safe, too much of it can cause many negative health outcomes.

Maize starch is considered a refined carb, and is high in calories and carbs but lack important nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamin, and minerals.

Studies have shown that regularly consuming foods high in refined carbs, such as cornstarch, can negatively impact your heart health.

In addition, cornstarch has a high glycemic index, which increases the risk of elevating your blood sugar levels.

3. Use of maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is a synthetic carbohydrate commonly used as a food additive. It is derived from starch and is typically used as a sweetener or thickener in processed foods.

Although it is deemed safe by FDA for most people to consume, some believe that it may have negative health effects.

Most of the packaged foods on the market are loaded with this sweetener and consuming too much of it can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as gas, constipation, and diarrhea.

In addition, maltodextrin has a high glycemic index which can raise blood sugar levels. So if you are someone trying to manage your blood sugar levels, Knorr soup is not the healthy choice for you.

Also read: Is Saffola Masala Oats Healthy? A Detailed Breakdown

4. It has high levels of sodium

Sodium is one of the essential nutrients for the body as it conducts never impulses, relaxes muscles, and maintains the proper balance of water and minerals.

While some amount of sodium is important, too much of it can lead to negative health outcomes.

On average, it is estimated that about 500mg of daily sodium intake is enough to perform vital functions in the body. As per Knorr soup, one serving (12g) contains anywhere between 400 to 600mg of sodium which is enough or sometimes becomes more than enough in your diet.

Regular consumption of foods high in sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from the bone, resulting in weak bones over time.

5. It is high in sugar

Sugar is often added to soups to round out the flavors and make the dish more palatable. While some people may enjoy the sweetness that sugar adds to a soup, others may find it to be off-putting.

If you look at the sugar content of Knorr soup per serving, it appears to be low at just 2 to 3g. However, if we look at the 100g serving, it contains anywhere between 18-24g of sugar, which is quite high.

Eating foods containing a high amount of sugar in your daily diet can lead to many health problems such as weight gain, tooth decay, diabetes, high blood pressure, and inflammation.

6. It contains hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Have you heard of MSG or monosodium glutamate? The same flavor enhancer that was one of the reason behind Maggi being banned in 2015.

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is a cousin of MSG with a fancy name that includes the words “vegetable” and “protein” to make it sound healthier.

However, it can have the same effects in some people as MSG.

In fact, many sources claim that hydrolyzed vegetable protein is one of the forms of MSG and is often used as the replacement for MSG.

While it is generally considered safe to consume, it contains up to 30% of MSG. Additionally, because it is a lab-created ingredient, it is not clear what long-term effects it may have on the body.

For these reasons, it’s best to avoid foods containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

7. Unnecessary additives

While the ingredients in a healthy soup are fairly simple – water, spices, and vegetables – companies like Knorr add a variety of additives to their soups.

These additives include flavor enhancers, stabilizers, thickeners, and anti-cake agents.

While these additives may improve the taste or texture of the soup, they don’t add any nutritional value to the soup. In addition, they may have an adverse impact on adults and children.

For example, as per the source, the use of flavor enhancers (627 & 631) has possible reactions such as behavioral problems in children, Sleepiness, chest pain, runny nose Insomnia, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, Numbness Seizures, shakes, and shuddering.

You need to ask yourself if you really need all of these additives in your soup. Do you want your soup to only taste good, but be unhealthy? Or do you want more control over the ingredients that go into your soup?

Also read: Is Atta Maggi Healthy? Find Out The Truth!

Is knorr soup good for weight loss?

Soup has long been touted as a weight-loss food for many good reason.

They are generally low in calories and fat, and high in water and fiber, all of which can help you lose weight.

Additionally, most soup can help you feel full and satisfied after eating, so you’re less likely to overeat.

However, not all soups are created equal. Knorr soup is not good for weight loss and there any many reasons for it such as:

• It is high in sodium, which has been linked to weight gain.
• It contains sugar
• Use of refined wheat flour and maltodextrin, which are high in glycemic index (GI). Studies have shown that high GI foods promote weight gain.
• Use of food additives that might be safe to eat but could lead to weight gain and obesity in the long run.

Final words

Whether you are ill or just want to satisfy your taste buds, soups are indeed a healthy part of diet.

And while brands like Knorr have made getting soup easy, they are not healthy for you.

When choosing a soup from the market, make sure to read the label and enjoy it in moderation. Or even better, choose homemade soups that are made from healthy ingredients.

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