The world is discovering new and wonderous superfood every day. One of this super unique food is Natto. This superfood is loaded with nutrition promoting Natural health, natural beauty. However, this superfood is not forever one.
Japan is famous for a lot of unique foods. Japanese dishes are usually either extremely well-loved (udon, sushi, takoyaki, etc.) or considered weird and strange (fish eyeballs is one of them). However, some foods are in the “grey area,” foods that are loved by many and hated by others. One of the most popular of this kind is natto.
The opinion on natto is divided even in Japan. This fermented soybean is not for the fate hearted. The unique taste of natto is not for everyone. Those who are used to it does not see the difficulties, but those who are not exposed to it taste may cringe a little due to its slimy texture and smell. Natto is considered an acquired taste food. After a few tries, you might get the taste for it. Like most fermented food, the fermented process changes the nutritional content making it super healthy and nutritious. In this article, let’s find out what is natto, and what does this unique food have to offer to you
- What is Natto? Natto is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of fermented soybeans and is characterised by a slimy, sticky and stringy texture. It’s easily recognisable by its distinctive, somewhat pungent smell, while its flavour is commonly described as nutty. To create natto, soy been is soak, boil and special bacteria are added to the bean. The bacteria are allowed to work on the soy overtime, completing the fermenting process for consumption.
Natto: super food for our health.
How can natto help you maintain your natural health and beauty?
- Provide Vitamin K for your bone and brain health: Natto is rich in Vitamin K, especially K2, which is incredibly important for your health since there are not many foods that offer this vitamin. K2 is needed to help strengthen bones. Furthermore, Vitamin K2 is effective at not only stopping bone loss in people with osteoporosis but also potentially reversing it as well; it can decrease the danger of bone breaking up to 60-81%. About brain health, Vitamin K is helpful for preventing the calcification of the arteries and muscle tissue which might also make it beneficial for protecting the brain against Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Further to this natto has 38% more calcium then Milk. Milk is 29%. It high in calcium is contribute to our bone heal as well.
- Improves blood circulation: Nattokinase is a beneficial enzyme which is available in natto in high content. It has been believed to have an effect on blood clot dissolving abilities and prevent the aggregation of red blood cells. It helps to protect you from the arteriosclerosis because it provides enough elasticity in arteries.
- Provides Vitamin C for your body: Offering 21% of daily value with just 100 grams, natto is a wonderful supplier of this kind of nutrient for your body besides fruits like orange, kiwi, papaya, and guava. Antioxidants, the main virtue of Vitamin C, are the answer for the prevention of diseases such as cancer. Vitamin C not only boosts the immune system but also actually targets cancer-causing free radicals that are responsible for the cell-DNA damage. Moreover, it is a big factor in your natural beauty care because Vitamin C is a very important part of the collagen production in the human body. And collagen is what keeps the skin and muscles supple and elastic even in old age.
- Provides Iron and Proteins: The result of many searches show that 100 grams of natto gives you 17.7 milligrams of protein, including all the 8 essential amino acids, account for 35% of the daily intake needed. And you will get 8.6 milligrams of iron in natto, which is 48% of the value needed daily. Proteins and iron are essential nutrients required for the building cells, muscles, as well as the transportation of oxygen to the lungs, and you can get a lot of those important nutrients with just a little amount of natto.
- Helps you lose weight: If you want to lose weight with a safe method, and you want to have a nice fit body but don’t have too much time for exercise, then natto maybe what you need. 100 grams of natto gives you 212 calories and 5 grams of dietary fibre. This is the reason why this kind of superfood is a wonderful breakfast option if you are on a diet. Because 100 grams of natto has a fat content of 11 grams, you do not need to worry about gaining weight as these are good fats that your body requires for energy.
- Beautify Skin and Purify Blood: Besides many essential nutrients for the body and is side – effects free, natto is the excellent choice for people who want to maintain natural health and beauty. Natto contains linoleic acid, lecithin, and fibre that help purify blood (which is necessary for healthy skin) and improve digestion. It is also rich in Vitamin C, K, etc. Which are needed for the maintenance of beautiful, healthy skin? Also, blood purification is also necessary for healthy skin, and thanks to natto, you get both.
- Fermented nutrition: Natto protein in its bean is more easily digested, especially good to those with the stomach problem or suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort. This is due to its’ enzymes call Nattokinase. This Nattokinase is an enzyme that has fibrinolytic health benefits. This enzyme is speciality is breaking down protein molecule absorbable and digestible amino acids. Protein molecule itself is complex making it difficult to break down. This is the reason nattokinase has anti-clotting property and is also considered a medicine or protector for many diseases like heart disease, B vitamin deficiency, muscle spasms, pain, infertility, cancer and so much more.
- Rich in Probiotic: Probiotic are good bacteria. Natto through it fermentation process its’exposed to good bacteria. The bacteria use to ferment the soybeans which turn this soybean to natto is Bacillus subtilis. These bacteria leave enzymes to help with the blood clot, help produce vitamin K and B. As mention above vitamin K is amazingly good for your bone, vitamin B is a relaxor, good for stress and energy. This probiotic is good for you intestine and many digestive issues.
- Others helpful benefits: World-renowned doctors and advocates of natural health recommend that you should have natto in your daily diet. It is touted to be the best food for people who are looking for vitality and longevity. It can fight breast cancer, as it contains flavonoids and isoflavones. It also protects from heart attacks and heart disease as it has blood-thinning effects and phytoestrogens.
Have the benefits mentioned above convinced you to try out natto? You can greatly enhance and maintain your natural health with this dish. To make your experience of tasting natto better, here are some tips for you
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- Natto tastes better if it is foamy and light so whip it before you eat.
- If you want to eat it with seasoning, especially mustard, let’s put a little bit of it into natto and some slices of thin onion, and whip the mixture before eating.
- Especially, Japanese like to eat natto with hot rice, tofu soup, miso at breakfast, with people who don’t want to have breakfast, they can use it for dinner. Because this is a popular and traditional dish in Japan, so Japanese can eat it daily and in every meal. Just put natto on top of the food and enjoy it all together.
A popular dish in every Japanese family.
- To get all the superb benefits that natto offers, it requires a detailed recipe. Follow the instructions below if you want to try making natto at home:
- Wash soybeans cleanly under running water, eliminate broken nuts, just choose the good ones.
- Pour fresh water over the beans until they are fully submerged, let them soak for a day. Follow the rate: approximately 3 parts water to 1 part soybeans. You should put them in the fridge for safety
- After 1 day, you boil them for about 10 hours. Or use a pressure cooker if you want to reduce cooking time
- You can buy natto starter available widely in the market to create bacteria; it will help for ferment progress. Mix it with hot water and whip around.
- Pour this mixture on boiled soybeans and whip it one more time.
- Use suitable glass box for soybeans, but don’t cap it too tight, let’s them have enough necessary oxidant for ferment progress.
- Cover the box and place it in the oven to ferment for 22–24 hours at 100°F (37.8°C).
- Cool the natto by putting it in your refrigerator for approximately 24 hours before eating.
And now, your natto is completed.
The wonderful and excellent result: tasty natto.
So, natto may be a pretty controversial dish, and some people may not be able to handle its taste and smell. But its various nutritious values can’t be denied and can’t be overlooked. If the prospect of perfect natural health and beauty is tempting for you, then it’s maybe time to try out this superfood and see for yourself if you love it. For more information about natto and other beneficial dishes, visit our website: https://naturalorganicliving.com.au/
