Here at Souperb, we believe in the power of food as medicine and are committed to using purposeful ingredients in our soups. That’s why we’re continuing our series of posts where we explore the benefits of functional ingredients in each of Souperb’s flavors. Functional foods, beyond their basic nutritional functions, can decrease the risk of many chronic diseases and have a range of physiological benefits. Most include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Almost every single ingredient in Souperb soups is a functional ingredient! Today we’re focusing on Butternut Squash with Cumin, which pairs the savory notes of cumin with the sweetness of the squash. Check out the nutrition label below for the full list of whole food, recognizable ingredients.
Butternut Squash – The buttery, sweet squash in this soup are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. Butternut Squash is especially high in many different kinds of carotenoids; from this Superfood Sunday series, we’ve learned that carotenoids are important antioxidants that help your body combat damage from oxidative stress. Due to this, carotenoids help reduce risk of age-related disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease. This includes high levels of the carotenoid beta-carotene, which we have mentioned previously in our Superfood Sunday posts. Butternut Squash contains a healthy amount of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats that can help with pain reduction. Looking for Vitamin A? Butternut Squash is an amazing source of Vitamin A, which helps keep your skin, eyes and organs functioning healthily. Here’s a helpful chart displaying some great nutritional information about this functional superfood:
Cumin – Cumin is rich in antioxidants and contains high amounts of monounsaturated fat, protein, and dietary fiber, vitamins B and E and several dietary minerals, especially iron. Iron is essential for human growth and development, and does the critical function of bringing oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Cumin has been found to aid in digestion and also relieve effects of gastrointestinal disorders like bloating, and other symptoms of IBS.
Onion – Onions are a great source of unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. They contain high amounts of the antioxidant quercetin; several studies have shown quercetin to have beneficial effects against many diseases and disorders including cardiovascular disease as well as breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung, and bladder cancers. Onions also help manage gut health due to the probiotic inulin, which promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract and reduces constipation.
Olive Oil – The functional highlights of this Mediterranean staple is its anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects thanks to an extensive list of phenols and polyphenols. These phenols and polyphenols are nutrients responsible for reducing inflammatory processes within our blood vessels, which then reduces our risk of inflammation-related cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis.
Souperb’s Butternut Squash with Cumin is a fan favorite for a reason! This buttery, velvety blend of delicious and nutritious vegetables is truly a delight to sip on. Want to try it for yourself? Use our Locator tool to find a delivery/pickup option near you.
References
Onion and Garlic Intake and Breast Cancer, a Case-Control Study
The Nutrition Source – Winter Squash
Content and in-vitro accessibility of pro-vitamin A carotenoids
Cumin Extract for Symptom Control in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case Series
