In view of recent events in Japan and the very real danger of radiation to all of us, here is some very simple 'life insurance'. A comprehensive pdf article is attached.
Atomic Radiation and Heavy Metal Poisoning
It may have been our fear of fallout from the impending nuclear holocaust or from nuclear power plant meltdowns that first attracted Westerners to miso. During the 60's, students of macrobiotics and Zen began hearing about Dr. Shinichiro Akizuki, director of Saint Francis Hospital in Nagasaki during the second World War. Although Akizuki spent years treating atomic bomb victims just a few miles from ground zero, neither he nor his staff suffered from the usual effects of radiation. Akizuki hypothesized that he and his associates were protected from the deadly radiation because they drank miso soup every day.
In 1972, Akizuki's theory was confirmed when researchers discovered that miso contains dipilocolonic acid, an alkaloid that chelates heavy metals, such as radioactive strontium, and discharges them from the body. However, the most convincing evidence demonstrating the protection miso offers to those exposed to radiation was published in Japan in 1989. Professor Akihiro Ito, at Hiroshima University's Atomic Radioactivity Medical Lab, read reports of European countries importing truckloads of miso from Japan after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Ito reasoned that if people were protected from radiation by miso, then rats that were fed miso and radiated should develop less cancer than radiated rats that were not fed miso. Professor Ito was not surprised to find that the liver cancer rate for rats that were not fed miso was 100 to 200 percent higher than that of rats that were fed miso. Ito also reported that rats that were fed miso had much less inflammation of organs caused by radioactivity.
Source: MITOKU
- Attachments:
MISO SOUP.pdf, 197 KB
Replies
nice soup
Wholefoods do a range of MISO Soup and the one i use is marked suitable for Vegans.
Namaste
What are the Benefits of Miso Soup?
The claimed benefits of miso soup are far reaching. Miso is said to offer benefits that range from reducing and slowing the signs of aging, through to aiding digestion and countering high blood pressure. The Japan Miso Promotion Board has a useful online e-book where information about miso is published including health benefits and recipes. Miso is low in fat and calories which makes it a useful ingredient for people who watch their food intake. Two teaspoons of miso contains 70 calories which when added to boiling water, makes a healthy and low fat hot drink.
Miso is also reported to offer important benefits to vegans and vegetarians. Miso contains B12, which is an essential nutrient that is sometimes lacking in a vegan or vegetarian diet. Miso is also high in protein and this makes it an extremely versatile ingredient. A bowl of miso soup can provide many essential nutrients to help support a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Note: Miso is also high in sodium. This is something that people who monitor their sodium intake should be aware of and watch carefully.
Is Miso Soup Vegetarian or Vegan?
While miso is suitable for vegetarians and vegans, people should be aware that traditional miso soup is not necessarily going to be vegan or vegetarian. Traditional miso soup is prepared using dashi, which is a fish stock, or contains other ingredients such as chicken or fish. This means that soup made this way is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans and is something to watch out for. It is important to check the ingredients before ordering or buying miso soup. There are plenty of stocks that can be used as a substitute for dashi. Chinese mushroom stock, for instance, has a fragrant taste that complements miso.
Making Vegetarian Miso Soup
One of the best ways to receive the benefits of miso soup is to make it at home. This way a vegetarian or vegan is in complete control of the ingredients used, including organic produce if required. The type of miso and the finished flavor can be tailored to the taste of the individual. Miso soup is simple to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator, making it a useful standby. A bowl of miso soup makes a tasty and nutritional snack or part of a meal. Making miso soup at home can be as simple as adding a spoon of miso paste to boiling water. There are more sophisticated vegetarian recipes, however, and these include:
Definitely Tasty :)
WHOLEFOODS MARKET DO A RANGE OF MISO SOUP...I HAVE STOCKED SOME SO I CAN HAVE DAILY
HEALTH BENEFITS
Touted for centuries as a folk remedy for weak digestion, cancer, radiation sickness, tobacco poisoning, acidic conditions, low libido, and several types of intestinal infections, miso's reputation as one of nature's most healing foods is being confirmed by modern medical science. These studies show what folk healers have known for centuries. It is not any one particular component of miso that makes it such an effective healing food, but rather a complex combination of ingredients and a unique double fermentation process that transforms soybeans and grains into a potent medicine. What's more, miso may be one of the most underrated foods in the natural foods pantry. Besides the documented reports and research cited below, we have personally experienced the benefits of miso with our friends and family. After writing and researching over 100 articles and four books about food, we feel that using miso regularly is the best health insurance you can have.
Miso is High in Some Minerals, Vitamins, and Protein
Miso is a good source of iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, some B vitamins, and protein. Since soybeans contain high amounts of protein, including all essential amino acids (the only such vegetable source), misos made with mostly soybeans, such as Hatcho and other soybean misos, can be considered an important source of complete protein for those eating a vegan diet. Miso also facilitates the body's absorption of calcium and magnesium.
A combination of miso and tofu in dips, spreads, and salad dressings is easily digested, delicious, and loaded with nutrition. Just one four-ounce serving of Creamy Dill Dip or Creamy Garlic Dip contains the following percentages of the United States Recommended Daily Allowances of protein, vitamins and minerals:
The Food and Drug Administration, which has strict guidelines for nutritional labeling, considers a single serving of food containing ten percent of the recommended daily allowance of protein " high" in protein. For vegetarians, dishes that combine miso and tofu can be an important source of protein and amino acids. Moreover, since the essential amino acids in soybeans and grains complement each other, the amount of protein that can be utilized by the body is increased.