Nutrition in Hot & Sour Soup From a Chinese Food Restaurant

It is important to choose all of your other courses with just as much care as the entree if you are watching your diet. Hot and sour soup may be a better choice for starting your meal of Chinese food than options such as Chinese chicken salad or fried appetizers, such as egg rolls or fried shrimp. Those selections are high in calories and fat.

Background

The exact nutritional information of hot and sour soup varies depending on the exact recipe, as well as the serving size that you eat. On average, hot and sour soup from a Chinese restaurant is relatively low in calories, with 91 in a cup. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, broth-based or clear soups, such as hot and sour, may help you control your weight by decreasing your hunger without adding too many calories to your diet.

Macronutrients and Cholesterol

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A cup of hot and sour soup from a Chinese restaurant has 3 g of total fat, including only 0.5 g of saturated fat, and 49 mg of cholesterol. Hot and sour soup has 6 g of protein, and possible sources include tofu, pork, shrimp and chicken. The soup has 10 g of total carbohydrates, including 6 g of starch and 1 g of fiber. Fiber is a filling nutrient, and hot and sour soup with more vegetables is higher in fiber.

Sodium

A cup of hot and sour soup has 876 mg of sodium. A high-sodium diet can lead to high blood pressure, and healthy adults should not have more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Food from a Chinese restaurant is typically high in sodium, and the American Heart Association suggests limiting your intake by avoiding high-sodium sauces, such as soy, sweet and sour, duck and plum sauce.

Other Nutrients

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Hot and sour soup has 1.5 mg of iron, or 8 percent of the daily value. Adequate iron is necessary for preventing iron-deficiency anemia. The soup has 128 mg of potassium, which you need for regulating blood pressure. Healthy adults should get at least 4,700 mg of potassium per day, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Hot and sour soup can be higher in potassium, vitamin C or vitamin A if it contains more vegetables.