A block and cubes of tofu on a cutting board.
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Korean tofu soup is a low-carbohydrate soup that combines a wide range of ingredients, such as chili, garlic, egg and red pepper into a zesty, hot dish. This soup is rich in protein, as it contains both tofu, a product made from soybeans, as well as clams. Korean tofu soup is also known as kimchi jigae and it may be appropriate for weight loss due to its low calorie content. Check labels when available, as recipes vary from restaurant to restaurant.
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Calories
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A typical serving of Korean tofu soup is 432 grams, or 15 ounces, and contains 186 calories. This amount of calories is lower than a 15 ounce serving of chicken noodle soup, which provides about 228 calories. If you are looking to lose weight, you can burn off 186 by lifting weights for 51 minutes or hiking for 25 minutes.
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Fat
Korean tofu soup is somewhat high in fat, due to the tofu and eggs, among other ingredients. Each 15 ounce serving provides 9.5 grams of fat, with 2.2 grams of saturated fat. Dietary fat increases the calorie count of foods, but it serves a number of important roles, such as increasing feelings of fullness, assisting in the absorption of foods and providing flavor to foods. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume no more than 7 percent of your daily calories as saturated fat. If you consume 2000 calories per day, that means you should not have a total intake of more than 14 grams of saturated fat.
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Carbohydrates
Korean tofu soup is a low-carbohydrate dish, as each serving of this soup contains 10 grams of carbohydrates. Of these carbohydrates, 3 grams come from dietary fiber, while 2 grams come from sugar. Research published in the February 2006 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" suggests that low-carbohydrate diets can produce a quicker rate of weight loss than low-fat diets. The recommended daily intake of fiber, as set by the Institute of Medicine, is 21 to 25 grams per day for women and 30 to 38 grams per day for men.
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Protein
Korean tofu soup is rich in protein; each 15 ounce serving of this soup contains nearly 17 grams of protein. Protein is a vital nutrient for optimal health, as your body uses protein to make and maintain muscle, skin and other tissues. The Institutes of Medicine lists the recommended intake of protein for men as 56 grams, and 46 grams for women. Korean tofu soup makes a significant contribution to daily protein intake.
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