Can you really Lose Weight Just from Soup?

Can you really slim just from soup? You've probably heard that if you have soup before a meal, you end up eating less.

The soup rumor is true: Women in one study who started their meals with soup consumed 20 percent fewer calories overall - enough to lose five pounds every week.

But it's key to opt for a variety with 150 calories or fewer per serving. This usually means sticking to soups with a chicken or veggie broth and avoiding high-cal ingredients like noodles. Also, many ready-to-eat soups are too processed to deliver any slimming perks.

One brand: Kitchen Basics, Stock Chicken or vegetable stock, is free of additives that can sabotage weight loss. And since it contains just 20 calories per cup, even a big bowl with a cup chopped veggies is in the healthy range.