This ancient Japanese food can help support digestion, lower cancer risk and keeps hearts healthy.
Move over,apple-cider vinegarthere’s another gut health hero in town.
Our favorite gastroenterologist and gut-health social media maven,Dr.
EatingWell
Bulsiewicz, MD, MSCI, recently took toInstagramto praise this delicious and versatile condiment.
And this time, Dr. B shone his spotlight on the underrated fermented powerhouse: miso.
But what exactly makes this salty, umami-rich food so good for your digestive system and beyond?
This helps promote better digestion, absorption of nutrients, immune function and more!
While correlation doesn’t equal causation, incorporating more miso into your diet doesnt seem to be harmful.
Dr. B says these compounds have been shown to combat breast and prostate cancers.
While this study was written as more of a review, it shows some very promising outcomes.
Misos reputation for protecting against radiation exposure stems from World War II history.
In 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped in Nagasaki Japan, just over a mile from a hospital.
Remarkably, none of the staff or patients developed radiation poisoning.
The group credited their good fortune to their daily intake of miso soup with seaweed.
Now, so far this is just a good story, said Bulsiewicz.
Likeother fermentation-related studieshave found, long fermentation may be key.
According to Dr. B, the longer the fermentation time, the greater the benefits.
He recommends seeking out unpasteurized red miso when possible for maximum gut health perks.
The Bottom Line
Ready to rotate this gut-friendly food into your meal plan?
Blend it into butter, sauces andmarinadesfor vegetables, fish, tofu, chicken or red meat.
you’re able to even add a spoonful to enhance the flavor of your favorite desserts.
