What happens to people who never drink soup over a long period of time?

Dec 12, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Huang Yuhong
Introduction
Soups can provide the body with hydration and essential nutrients. Long-term avoidance of soup may lead to various physical discomforts, including dehydration, weakened digestion, inadequate nutrient absorption, increased incidence of constipation, and reduced metabolic efficiency. Consuming light soups in moderation as part of a daily diet can help maintain the body's fluid balance and support digestive function.

Soup can replenish the body's water and nutrients. Long-term avoidance of soup may lead to various physical discomforts, including primarily dehydration, weakened digestion, inadequate nutrient absorption, frequent constipation, and reduced metabolic efficiency. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Dehydration: Soup is one of the important sources of daily fluid intake. Prolonged avoidance of soup, especially when combined with insufficient water consumption, can easily lead to a dehydrated state. Symptoms include dry skin, dry mouth, dark yellow urine, and may also affect blood circulation and metabolism.

2. Weakened digestive function: Drinking a moderate amount of soup before meals helps lubricate the gastrointestinal tract and reduces food irritation to the gastrointestinal mucosa. Long-term avoidance of soup may leave the gastrointestinal mucosa inadequately moisturized, increasing friction during digestion and leading to discomfort such as bloating and belching. This effect is particularly noticeable in individuals with already weak digestion.

3. Inadequate nutrient absorption: Many soups contain soluble nutrients from ingredients such as vegetables, meat, and soy products, which are easily absorbed by the body. Long-term avoidance of soup may result in missing out on these nutrients, potentially causing deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, thereby affecting normal bodily functions.

4. Increased risk of constipation: Adequate moisture in the intestines depends on sufficient fluid intake. Long-term lack of soup can reduce intestinal moisture, leading to dry and hardened stools. This manifests as difficulty in defecation and recurrent constipation, and chronic constipation may increase the risk of intestinal diseases over time.

5. Reduced metabolic efficiency: Dehydration directly affects the activity of metabolic enzymes, lowering the efficiency of nutrient breakdown and energy conversion. This may result in symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, and abnormal weight changes, all of which are detrimental to maintaining overall health.

Incorporating moderate amounts of light soups into daily meals can help maintain fluid balance and support digestive function. It is recommended to choose soups according to individual constitution and dietary patterns to ensure optimal health.