By: Dr. Alan Christianson
I love miso soup. You can make a hot bowl of it in a matter of minutes and instantly feel more energized and alert. Along with making you feel well, there are lots of health benefits from miso.
Benefits of Miso
But, isn’t soy bad?
Miso is fermented. The fermentation breaks down the phytic acid found in soy and makes the isoflavones more absorbable. It also creates the probiotics and digestive enzymes of miso.
There are unfermented soy foods to avoid. These include:
Safe versions of fermented soy include:
Here’s my favorite dish to get a boost of energy and ward off colds and flu. You can combine these ingredients in a matter of minutes:
What about the extra salt in miso?
Miso has substantial amounts of sodium since it’s naturally fermented with salt. However, studies show traditional miso doesn’t act like salt in studies on mice prone to get high blood pressure from sodium. [9]
How can you make miso soup?
Ingredients:
Directions:
Gently simmer all ingredients in 4 cups of water, except miso, for 10-15 minutes. Turn off heat. In a bowl, combine miso and ½ cup of water and whisk. Transfer diluted miso into soup and blend. Serve and garnish with chopped scallions.
[1] “Miso soup ‘cuts breast cancer risk’,” BBC News Online, June, 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2999852.stm.
[2] Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, “The Whole Soy Story,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[3] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[4] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[5] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[6] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[7] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[8] Hiro Watanabe, PhD, “The Magic of Miso,” Wise Traditions Conference, November 2006.
[9] Watanabe H, “Beneficial biological effects of miso with reference to radiation injury, cancer and hypertension,” Journal of Toxicologic Pathology, 2013 Jun;26(2):91-103, doi:10.1293/tox.26.91, Epub 2013 Jul 10.
(c) 2015- Integrative Health Care, PC
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Dr. Alan Christianson is an Arizona-based Naturopathic Physician who helps people overcome adrenal and thyroid disorders and achieve lasting fat loss. He authored the New York Times’ bestselling Adrenal Reset Diet, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease. Dr. Christianson is the founding physician behind Integrative Health.
Dr. Christianson can be reached at www.MyIntegrativeHealth.com, www.DrChristianson.com and 480-657-0003.