Miso Healthy: The Low Down on This Asian Seasoning
By Sara Butler
Miso is an ingredient that not many Americans are familiar with. You've probably had some in your soup before digging into your hibachi meal, but that may be the extent of it. Well, miso is really an ingredient you should spend more time getting familiar with because it has a ton of health benefits and is rich in minerals and vitamins to boot.
It's Great for Your Gut
Gut health is important. You need to ensure you eat a diet healthy and rich in probiotics to support the balance in your gut that can help you to stay healthy. Miso can be a great way to help encourage that balance because it contains a strain of probiotics that helps to promote healthy digestion.
It's Important for Immunity
It's vital to remember that your immune system also starts in your gut, so the probiotics found in miso also help to keep your immune system working at its very best. Adding miso to your foods in a variety of ways can help to support a healthy immune system.
It Boosts Your Brain
Miso is full of Vitamin B, folate, niacin, and choline which is important for cognitive development and function. They play roles in certain brain functions such as mood, muscle control, and memory. Adding some miso to your recipes, such as in place of some of the sugar in your baked goods, can help boost your brain.
It's Full of Electrolytes
Miso does have sodium in it, an important electrolyte that your body needs -- especially if you're an athlete. Adding miso to a recovery meal after a workout can be a great way to ensure you keep your electrolytes balanced and restore those you may have lost through exercise.
What You Can Do With Miso
You may be wondering what foods you can find miso in or foods you can easily add it to. You can find miso in a variety of Asian foods such as udon and miso soup. Miso itself is a white paste that can be added to a variety of things. If you can find miso at a store near you or a specialty Asian market, then you can add the paste to things such as:
- Marinades
- Salad dressings
- Sauteed vegetables
- Corn on the cob
Experiment with miso and see what you can do with it!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Shiloh, Ill.