Natto, fermented soybeans was chosen to be the healthiest food by 300 doctors in Japan, and I agree with them on this point, while I have different views about other foods which were also listed on the top 10 healthiest foods.
Today, let’s examine why Natto is the must-eat-food. According to the TV program which held this healthiest food election, the followings are the reasons why Natto was selected to be number one.
It improves the condition of our intestinal environment.
It prevents cerebral infarctions and cardiac infarctions.
It prevents arteriosclerosis.
It prevents type 2 diabetes.
It prevents cancer.
It prevents dementia.
Three Reasons Why I Think Natto is the King of Superfoods
I am not a doctor, and I can’t give you a medical explanation on how Natto can prevent those diseases, but I will give my reasons for Natto being the king of superfoods based on my experience as a person who has practiced healthy diets for many years.
1. It is a fermented food.
Fermented foods are good for us because they help our intestinal environment, and the intestinal environment is considered to be the key to our health according to Oriental medicine. There are many other fermented foods such as miso, soy sauce, and pickles.
2. It can be a good protein substitute for meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products for vegetarians and vegans.
Especially if you are a vegan, one of the problems is that you might lack in protein intake. Soybeans contain more protein than other beans, and they are the best protein source among legumes.
3. It is easy to make.
Although fermented foods are good for you, it requires a lot of time and energy to make some of them. Miso, for example, needs about 8 months to be fermented and soy sauce needs over a year. Both of them need Koji, and it is difficult to make. However, all you need to make Natto are soybeans and rice straw or wheat straw, and it takes 24 hours to be fermented. You can make Natto in any season, too.
Why do you have to make your own fermented food? Because bacteria you use for fermentation are different and fermented foods sold at stores are not as good as homemade ones. If you are health conscious, you want to make your fermented food and Natto is the easiest one to make once you learned how to make it.
How to Make Natto From Rice Straw Sticks