|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutrition

Nutrition in Lipton Cup-a-Soup

Whether you need a quick, light meal or a tasty remedy for a chilly day, a steaming cup of Lipton Cup-a-Soup delivers. The five traditional flavors are chicken noodle, tomato, cream of chicken, hearty chicken noodle and spring vegetable. Though each of these soups is 90 calories or less and low in fat, consume sparingly as they are all high in sodium and contain some controversial ingredients such as MSG, food dyes and partially hydrogenated oils.

  1. Calories

    • The good news concerning Cup-a-Soup's calorie levels is that they are low. Among the traditional flavors, one envelope of soup, which makes a 6-fluid-ounce serving. contains between 45 to 90 total calories and 10 to 15 calories from fat.

    Fat

    • Cup-a-Soups are low in fat, containing between 0.5 g to 1.5 g of fat and 0 g of saturated fat per serving. The fat originates from the egg and chicken products and partially hydrogenated oils in their ingredients. Though the nutrition label on the soups claims 0 g of trans fat, the flavors that contain partially hydrogenated oils contain trace amounts -- up to 0.5 g -- though food companies are not required to divulge it.

    Cholesterol

    • It is recommended to consume less than 300 mg of bad LDL cholesterol and over 40 mg of healthy HDL cholesterol a day. Cup-a-Soups keep the cholesterol levels in check, ranging from less than 5 mg to 15 mg per serving. Eat cautiously, though, as the cholesterol found in them comes from the egg and chicken products in the ingredients, which means they contribute to your bad LDL cholesterol.

    Sodium

    • Though the Food and Drug Administration recommends eating less than 2,400 mg of sodium daily, much of the world population tremendously exceeds that level. Cup-a-Soup's worst nutritional violation is its staggering amounts of sodium and sodium derivatives. The amounts in traditional flavors range from 470 mg to 640 mg per serving; the latter serving as 27 percent of your recommended daily intake. Though the FDA labels it as safe at moderate levels, excessive sodium consumption can be quite detrimental to your health, as it increases blood pressure and may lead to heart attack or stroke.

    Carbohydrates

    • Sugar and dietary fiber both fall under the carbohydrates category in food nutrition labels and, for better or worse, Cup-a-Soups contain small amounts of both. You should eat about 25 g of fiber a day and with each soup containing less than 1 g, Cup-a-Soups are obviously a poor fiber source. However, with the exception of Lipton's tomato soup, which contains an astounding 13 g of sugar, the noodles, starches and sugars in the remaining traditional flavors only contribute 4 g or fewer of nutrient-void sugar.

    Protein

    • The chicken, egg and milk products found in Cup-a-Soups amend them with a small amount of energy-boosting, muscle-building protein. As the flavors contain 3 or fewer grams per serving, sip the soup for a tiny protein boost, but do not consider it a significant source to meet your recommended 50 g per day.

    Vitamins and Minerals

    • Some Cup-a-Soups contain trace amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron, but the tomato and spring vegetable flavors are the ones that tout the highest levels, with spring vegetable serving as 10 percent of your daily vitamin A. Seek other dietary sources for these essential vitamins and minerals, as they are crucial for bodily function and health.

Nutrition - Related Articles