#1 Nutritious
Soybeans, the main ingredient of miso, are known as the “meat of the field” as they are rich in high-quality protein. Fermentation makes the protein easier to digest and absorb, and the fermentation process produces amino acids and vitamins, making it a nutrient-rich food.
#2 Relieves fatigue and stress
The vitamin B contained in miso promotes hematopoiesis and prevents nerve exhaustion. The “Honchoshoku-kan” (book of breakfast manuals) from the Edo period mentions that “the sweetness and warmth of soybeans calms people down and relaxes the inside of the stomach,” and that “soybeans invigorate and improve the circulation of blood.”
#3 Radioactive Substances
After the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, exports of miso to the area and European countries increased rapidly because miso has the effect of removing radioactive materials. According to a study conducted by the Hiroshima University Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, mice fed miso had more iodine excretion and less cesium than mice fed regular food.