Can You Drink Miso Soup to Lose Weight Like Peaches Geldof Did?

Update: 8th of April, 2014. Peaches Geldof has passed away. I would like to say how much I feel for her family during this time, as this is a true tragedy. Rest in Peace, Peaches. Read my tribute here.

Here is the original article. Miso soup is great for weight loss but please remember that you are worth more than the amount that your body weighs.

Miso Soup. Do you love it? Have you ever tried it? It’s very popular these days and you can get it almost anywhere. To the uninitiated, it is a traditional Japanese soup which is made from a stock of miso paste. Miso paste is a ‘dashi’ (sort of like stock) of miso. How do you make miso? You get fermented rice, barley and soybeans and then you ferment them with salt and fungus!

What do you mean, that doesn’t sound nice! It’s dee-lish!

Typically there are a few ways to get your miso fix – you can usually get a cup of pre-made hot miso from a Japanese restaurant or sushi joint. They are a dime a dozen where I live in Sydney. If they are scarce where you live – you need to go to your local Asian grocery store or supermarket. Miso is either sold in a powder or a paste, and you mix it with hot water and it’s ready to drink.

Often packeted varieties have tofu, seaweed or other things added. You can always add them yourself too. One of my favourite combinations is quality miso paste, hot water, brown rice, fresh chunks of firm tofu and shallots. Dinner is ready in minutes (provided your rice is pre-cooked) and it’s healthy, vegan, low fat, full of nutrients and good for you!

Want 10 more ways to lose weight with miso? Here is my updated list

Peaches Geldof used Miso Soup to Lose Weight

I love the Geldof girls, if just for their names (which they incidentally hate) her sisters are called Fifi Trixibell, Little Pixie and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily. On a side note she named her second son Phaedra which people are saying is unusual, but it is a gorgeous, traditional Greek name. Peaches is only in here early 20s and has just given birth to her second baby and she looks gorgeous and lovely – if a little on the thin side – but I am not one to judge other women’s bodies. She looks great and if she’s happy – I’m happy for her.

The British press put Peaches’ miso diet under the microscope

“She claimed that her new figure was due a bout with avian flu, which was followed by a new habit of eating healthily. Also, she expressed a newfound appreciation for miso soup and would reportedly take an hour to eat just one bowl. Peaches has revealed to The Sun that she’s put herself on a strict liquid diet and doesn’t eat solids for up to a month at a time.”

The Sun and The Mail rave about miso soup to lose weight

When The Sun does something, The Mail does too, or is the other way around? I can’t tell from the antipodes. At any rate, The Mail gave a scathing review of Peaches’ miso diet: “Peaches likes spicy Asian broths – they are low in calories but the spices help her to feel full,’ says a pal. But while Peaches insists she still eats ‘like a horse’, spies say that when she popped into the Busaba Eathai Thai restaurant in Shepherds Bush, West London, last week, she spent more than an hour nursing a bowl of soup.”

I don’t recommend taking this to extremes, but I do recommend miso

Last year I went to see a nutritionist for some advice on correct nutrition for vegans. He was happy that I was eating miso soup, as it’s a healthy snack which is low in calories. Miso soup varies, but a typical powered pack will only net you 30 or 40 calories. It does contain a lot of sodium, however. It’s considered a high-sodium food, so some people are cautioned against eating a lot of it.

Have miso as a snack whenever you feel hungry. I have started to drink miso at about 10:30 am and 3:30 pm – when I would normally be reaching for cookies and candy. The miso warms me up and makes me feel full. It’s also lovely and salty and keeps my taste buds happy. Using Miso Soup to Lose Weight is a good idea.

Want 10 more ways to lose weight with miso? Here is my updated list

The miso/sodium controversy

According to The World’s Healthiest Foods, ‘Miso is typically considered to be a high-sodium food, since one teaspoon of miso often contains 200-300 milligrams of sodium. However, recent research has shown that in spite of its high-sodium content, miso does not appear to affect our cardiovascular system in the way that other high-sodium foods sometimes can.’

Can miso keep colds away?

Some people even believe that drinking miso soup can help to keep colds and flu away, saying that it works like chicken soup. According to The Benefits of Miso it also soothes acid in the system, so it can help to combat viral infections.

Photo credits: bookchen

Want 10 more ways to lose weight with miso? Here is my updated list