If you need a little warming kick for your digestion and immunity warm miso soup can benefit you in many ways.
Miso paste is a highly valued ingredient in Japanese cuisine both due to its health benefits and full taste. It's a thick paste made from fermented soybeans, rice, salt and koji. Through the fermentation process the antinutrients naturally presented in soy are reduced which helps to improve our digestion and absorption of other nutrients. Like most fermented soy products, it has a rich umami flavor. Even a small amount enriches any dish with a delicious taste that caresses the palate. There are many colors and combinations of various legumes and grains available, which means that also people who avoid soy can find miso paste to enjoy.
From the nutritional perspective, it is worth mentioning that miso paste represents a rich source of protein, as it contains all the essential amino acids, besides minerals (as zinc, iron, calcium, copper, manganese), choline, vitamins, enzymes and fiber.
Make sure you do not heat it but only add it to the dishes at the end, diluted in a small amount of water or other cold liquid. Only in this way the enzymes that can benefit our digestion will survive and support the health of our gut and boost our immune system. According to a study done by Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences* daily intake of miso soup supports the lipids such as ceramides in our skin, improving it’s epidermal barrier, elasticity and texture.
When you are feeling under the weather or have some intestinal issues, a bowl of miso soup is a delicious nourishing meal, packed with antioxidants that will heat you from the inside and lift your spirits.
