{"id":10497,"date":"2019-09-06T11:20:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T11:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10497"},"modified":"2021-06-29T12:30:42","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T12:30:42","slug":"15-outstanding-health-benefits-of-natto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-outstanding-health-benefits-of-natto\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Outstanding Health Benefits of Natto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Japanese have always been known for their longevous qualities. Various scientific studies have tried to identify the key component that helps the Japanese live so long. While there are quite a few factors that have been identified, diet is one of the key elements that increase their life span. Today we\u2019re going to look at one item commonly found in Japanese diets that may be boosting their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natto is a Japanese dish that has been a part of the national cuisine for hundreds of years. With its long-standing spot in the Japanese diet, it should come as no surprise that it\u2019s at least partially responsible for their superior health to other nations. Fermented soybeans are a key ingredient in natto which may be why it\u2019s such a healthy type of food. Today we\u2019re going to take a look at eight of the health benefits that natto provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Vitamin K<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some foods contain vitamin K1 while others contain vitamin K2. That being said, natto is one of the few dishes that contain both vitamins K1 and K2. This makes it a healthy cocktail that can boost your overall health in various ways. K2 is most commonly found in bacteria \u2014 such as probiotics \u2014 while K1 is found in leafy greens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that natto <\/a>has both of them means that it will cover almost a third of your required daily vitamin K intake \u2014 and that\u2019s just for one serving of natto. All it would take is three servings of natto to fully meet your vitamin K needs. Vitamin K keeps your bones healthy, prevents blood clots, and cleans out your arteries. Osteoporosis can also be prevented or slowed through taking in large amounts of vitamin K through natural foods like natto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Probiotics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your gut relies on the presence of good bacteria \u2014 known as probiotics <\/a>\u2014 to stay healthy and digest all the nutrients that you take in. Fortunately, seeing as natto is made from fermented soybeans, it will increase the number of good bacteria in your gut and thus provide an overall health boost when it comes to your microbiome. It\u2019s worth noting that you shouldn\u2019t eat soybeans that aren\u2019t fermented as this can lead to various thyroid and hormone problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, the fermented soybeans in natto and very safe. The boost in good bacteria can stave off various conditions. For instance, if you\u2019re suffering from constipation then that likely means that you don\u2019t have high enough numbers of good bacteria in your gut. Natto can remedy the situation by regulating the probiotic population in your microbiome. If you\u2019re constipated then eat some natto rather than relying on OTC medications to artificially induce defecation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Vitamin C<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another benefit of eating natto is the fact that it contains high levels of vitamin C<\/a>. You\u2019ve likely heard about all the health benefits of vitamin C from a young age. Many multivitamin supplements for kids contain high levels of vitamin C due to all the advantageous properties that it holds. The high levels of vitamin C in natto can do quite a few things for your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, it will give your immune system a nice boost ensuring that you don\u2019t get sick. It also protects you from free radicals which can cause neurodegenerative diseases and even cancer. The amount of vitamin C found in a single serving of natto is enough to cover a fifth of your daily requirements. That means that five servings of natto would cover you fully. Apparently, natto a day keeps the doctor away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Weight loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it, many people want to lose some weight. Whether it\u2019s due to health concerns or aesthetic purposes, shedding a few pounds is usually a good thing unless it\u2019s due to anorexia nervosa<\/a> or other eating disorders. If you want to lose weight in a healthy way then natto is the type of food that can help you do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While natto is very rich as far as nutrient content goes, it\u2019s surprisingly low in calories allowing you to eat a lot of it without gaining weight. This is why Japanese people who are dieting often rely on natto to keep them healthy while they\u2019re losing weight. It\u2019s also why Japan has far lower obesity rates than nations like the US or UK. The higher fiber content in natto can also help you lose weight, while the probiotics ensure that you don\u2019t regain the weight soon after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Iron and protein intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Iron and protein <\/a>are two staples of good health. A deficiency in either one can lead to a variety of adverse conditions. Just eating one serving of natto will give you a third of your protein requirements for that day. It even provides almost half of your daily requirement for iron. Protein is essential to maintaining the health of your cells and muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iron is paramount to proper blood health and can ensure that you don\u2019t become anemic. If you\u2019re struggling with problems pertaining to your blood, muscles, or other cells that incorporating some natto into your diet could help you out with that. Natto is a great way for vegetarians to get the protein that their body needs without consuming meat. If you want to stay healthy, spare the cows, and still have strong muscles from the protein then eat some natto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Bone health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people think that calcium is all you need to get healthy bones. That\u2019s not really true. You also need magnesium. Fortunately, natto contains high levels of both magnesium <\/a>and calcium. You\u2019ll get nearly a third of the recommended daily intake of magnesium from a single serving of natto as well as a fifth of your daily calcium requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnesium helps your body absorb the calcium that you take in so that it can be processed properly and put to good use. Eating a lot of calcium without enough magnesium won\u2019t do you any good. In fact, some studies even show that a disproportionate intake of calcium with not enough magnesium alongside it can lead to calcium deposits in the arteries known as atherosclerosis. If you want to keep your bones healthy as you age then natto is the right dish for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Glucose levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While natto doesn\u2019t necessarily lower your glucose <\/a>levels, it doesn\u2019t raise it by much either. This is due to the fact that the glycemic load of natto is a humble five. The load is even lower when you factor in all the nutrients that you\u2019re getting. Diabetics often struggle with taking in enough nutrients that their body needs without raising their blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natto is a great way to remedy this problem as it allows diabetics to get high amounts of protein, calcium, iron, and various other nutrients without having a heavy glycemic load on their blood glucose levels. In fact, some diabetics have even moved to Japan because the diet and cuisine there helps reduce the effects of their condition. If you want to get a lot of the nutrients that are essential to your health without seeing your glucose levels fly through the roof then give natto a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Vitamin B<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

B vitamins<\/a> are a big factor in your overall health. Getting enough of them will ensure that you don\u2019t develop diseases that may burden your existence. Folate, thiamin, riboflavin, B6, and B12 are all B vitamins that can boost your health. It just so happens that natto contains all of them. Getting enough B vitamins will do a lot for your health. First of all, you\u2019ll have a clearer vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also feel more energetic and have higher red blood cell counts after getting enough B vitamins. Nerve function also benefits from a high intake of B vitamins, and some studies have even shown that they can reduce neuropathy in diabetes patients. There are also studies showing that regularly consuming food with high levels of B vitamins improves your cardiovascular health reducing the risk of conditions such as atherosclerosis and aortic dissection \u2014 both of which are quite serious.
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