Miso Soup Health Benefits
Miso is a Traditional Japanese fermented product, mainly used as a seasoning product in various Japanese foods, sauces, soup and for pickling vegetables and meat. It is mainly obtained by fermenting soybeans, rice, wheat or barley. More commonly, it is made from fermented soybeans, though barley, rice and wheat can also be added to it. Yeast mold is added to facilitate the fermentation process, and once the process of fermentation is over, the ingredients are ground to produce a thick paste of buttery texture, which is termed as miso. Miso is the basic ingredient of miso soup, which is a very delicious and easy to prepare traditional Japanese soup.
Miso Soup Facts
It is a nutrient rich soup containing several essential vitamins and minerals, along with healthy fats such as, mono and polyunsaturated fats. It is low in saturated fats, but rich in proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. One cup of miso soup can provide about 7.78 gm carbohydrates, 6.02 gm proteins, 3.36 gm fats, 1.9 gm dietary fiber, 367 mg potassium and 998 mg sodium. As miso soup is high in sodium, it should be consumed moderately. Apart from these, this soup contains a significant amount of iron, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese and vitamin C. One cup of miso soup can give about 84 calories.
Advantages of Eating Miso Soup
It can be prepared in many different ways and with different ingredients. Apart from miso, the main ingredients found in this soup are, wakame seaweed, mushrooms, carrots, onion, potatoes and tofu.
- As miso is a fermented product, it contains beneficial bacteria, which can promote the health of the digestive system. It also contains dietary fiber, which too can help to improve digestion and keep digestive ailments at bay.
- It contains the mineral zinc, which can support the functions of the immune system. Zinc is also required for proper wound healing.
- Copper and manganese found in it are required for energy production. These minerals play a crucial role in protecting the body cells and tissues from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals.
- It is also rich in antioxidants, which too can provide protection against the damaging effects of free radicals and boost the immune system.
- Fermented soy product like, miso can help to lower the risk of breast cancer in women.
- It contains vitamin K that is required for blood clotting, which is important for preventing excessive bleeding during injury or physical trauma.
- Miso, the basic ingredient is a fermented soy product, and fermented soy products can help to control the level of the estrogen hormone in women.
- The wakame seaweed, which is another basic ingredient of this soup can help to lower blood pressure and the level of the cholesterol in the body. Both miso and wakame seaweed are also believed to be effective in fighting the disorders associated with nicotine.
As has been mentioned already, it can be prepared in different ways and so, there can be several miso soup recipes. However, its basic recipe is quite simple and it involves cooking the vegetables and other hard ingredients of the soup in simmering 'dashi' soup stock. You can add various ingredients such as, carrots, onion, garlic, mushrooms and even potatoes to make miso soup.
First, boil some water in a saucepan and add the powdered dashi and other ingredients, except for the miso paste and wakame seaweed. In the meantime, soak the wakame seaweed in water. Now, take some dashi soup stock from the mixture, and use it to dissolve the miso paste. If you want to use tofu, then add it to the dashi mixture shortly before removing it from the heat. When the vegetables are cooked, add the wakame seaweed to the mixture and remove it from heat. Now, you can add the dissolved miso to the soup, and garnish it with parsley or spring onions.
To sum up, miso soup can be a really healthy addition to a diet. It can boost your health and well-being, and increase the ability of the immune system to fight several diseases.
