Is Miso Soup Healthy? Exploring the Nutritional Benefits of Miso - San-J (2024)

Is Miso Soup Healthy? Exploring the Nutritional Benefits of Miso - San-J (1)

Posted on:August 19, 2021

Craving the warmth of a comforting bowl of soup?Miso has proven to be one of the most nutritional varieties. This classic Asian dish, increasingly popular in Japanese restaurants, not only delights the taste buds but also offers a wide array of health benefits. Still wondering if miso soup is good for you? Let’s explore the many benefits of eating Miso soup and why it is a smart addition to any diet.

Table of Contents

What Is Miso?
What Makes Miso Soup Healthy?
How to Incorporate Miso Soup Into Your Diet
Enjoy Miso Soup Benefits With San-J Today

What Is Miso?

Most people have heard of miso soup, but not everyone knows what miso actually is. Miso is a fermented paste used to add flavor to many Japanese dishes, bringing on a salty umami taste. It is made with a blend of soybeans and a type of mold called “koji,” which produces enzymes that break the beans down acids and sugars.

Miso paste can be mixed into dressings, sauces and batters, but is most commonly used to make soup. Miso soup is traditionally made by heating and mixing miso paste, dashi and ingredients like vegetables, tofu and seaweed. Today, you can also use miso soup packets to make this flavorful Asian-inspired dish in minutes.

Is Miso Soup Healthy? Exploring the Nutritional Benefits of Miso - San-J (2)

5 Health Benefits of Miso Soup

Miso soup isn’t just delicious, there are so many benefits like miso soup for weight loss, digestion and immune health. It delivers many essential substances to the body. Check out a few miso soup benefits for your health:

  • Rich in nutrients: Miso contains many healthy vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, manganese, zinc, protein and calcium. Many of these nutrients support essential structures like the bones and nervous system.
  • Improves digestion: Because miso is high in probiotics, it helps the body maintain healthy bacteria levels. This bacteria contributes to digestive health, reducing gas, diarrhea, bloating and constipation.
  • Strengthens immune system: The probiotics in miso soup also reduce the production of bad bacteria, improve blood circulation and ultimately boost your immune system. Probiotic-rich diets can also help you recover from infections faster and reduce the need for antibiotics.
  • Lowers cholesterol: Miso comprises lecithin-rich soybeans. This plant-based substance helps strengthen blood vessels and reduce cholesterol.
  • Improves mental health: Soybeans are also known to containacetylcholine, which can aidmemory, and vitamin B —which can help to ease stress.

How to Incorporate Miso Soup Into Your Diet

Implementing soup into your diet is easy with San-J White Miso Soup and Wakame Soup Mix. When you use these convenient soup packets, you’ll be able to enjoy an authentic Asian meal in minutes. Our San-J instant soup mix is gluten-free, and it embraces rich, savory flavors to create the perfect nutritional blend. Plus, it’s easy to take it to another level by adding your favorite ingredients.

Not sure what to add to miso soup? Try enhancing it with these delicious ingredients:

  • Seafood: Shrimp, fish, clams or crab.
  • Root vegetables: Carrots, potatoes or onions.
  • Squash: Butternut or acorn squash.
  • Greens: Asparagus, broccoli, spinach or green beans.
  • Tofu: Ganmodoki, atsuage or aburaage.
  • Noodles: Soba, udon, ramen or rice noodles.

Enjoy Miso Soup With San-J Today

If you’re looking to add soup to your menu, San-J White Miso Soup and Wakame Soup packets are the perfect solutions for quick, easy cooking.Use our product locator to find our soup mixes in a store near you!

Is Miso Soup Healthy? Exploring the Nutritional Benefits of Miso - San-J (2024)

FAQs

Is Miso Soup Healthy? Exploring the Nutritional Benefits of Miso - San-J? ›

Rich in nutrients: Miso contains many healthy vitamins and minerals like vitamin K, manganese, zinc, protein and calcium. Many of these nutrients support essential structures like the bones and nervous system. Improves digestion: Because miso is high in probiotics, it helps the body maintain healthy bacteria levels.

Is miso soup healthy? ›

Is miso soup actually good for you? Miso soup contains several beneficial vitamins, minerals, and components that may improve your gut and heart health and may lower your risk of cancer. If you are on a low-salt diet, read the label on packaged miso soup to choose one that's low in sodium.

Is it good to drink miso everyday? ›

Researchers have found that consuming one bowl of miso soup per day, as do most residents of Japan, can drastically lower the risks of breast cancer. Miso has a very alkalizing effect on the body and strengthens the immune system to combat infection.

Is miso soup healthy when sick? ›

Fermented foods have probiotics that can help prevent a cold and shorten the duration, according to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Try plain yogurt topped with honey, or miso soup with plenty of vegetables.

Is miso soup good for the brain? ›

May support brain health. May help alleviate menopausal symptoms. May support cholesterol balance. May support heart health.

Is miso dashi healthy? ›

Dashi is considered healthy because you don't need to season dishes excessively with salt, fats, or sugar. It also contains a number of vitamins and minerals, particularly from kombu kelp or dried bonito flakes, making it a healthy ingredient used in Japanese food.

Does miso soup cleanse your body? ›

Because it is a fermented food miso is probiotic and easily digestible, making it an ideal detoxing food for the gut. Miso can also help guard against cancer, heart disease and diabetes and it can strengthen the immune system.

Is miso soup good for your belly? ›

Improves digestion: Because miso is high in probiotics, it helps the body maintain healthy bacteria levels. This bacteria contributes to digestive health, reducing gas, diarrhea, bloating and constipation.

How to make miso soup without killing the probiotics? ›

To avoid cooking off the lactic acid when making miso soup, you can make sure to turn off the heat and cool the pot until 120°F-158°F (50C°-70°C) (the probiotics will die above 158°F/70°C). But most Japanese people don't take an exact temperature reading and turn off the heat when adding miso to the pot.

Who should not eat miso? ›

Because miso is made with soybeans, those who are allergic to soy should avoid miso and other soy-containing products.

How much miso can I eat a day? ›

For greatest benefit miso should be used in small amounts on a regular basis. One to two tablespoons per day would be average use. When seasoning soup, begin by adding a small amount of miso — one to two teaspoons per cup of liquid — add- ing more if needed. Miso soup should taste neither too salty nor too bland.

Is miso good for your liver? ›

Also, a 2020 study found that consuming seaweed and soy was associated with a lower risk of death in people with colorectal and stomach cancer. There is some evidence that miso may reduce the risk of liver cancer in men, but soy does not.

How healthy is miso soup? ›

An epidemiology study in Japan discovered that persons who consume miso soup daily have a lower risk of stomach cancer and heart disease (Yamamoto et al., 2003). Fermented soy foods, such as miso, have antidiabetic, antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and antihypertensive properties (Jayachandran & Xu, 2019).

Is miso soup inflammatory? ›

The consumption of miso has also been reported to exert health effects, such as fat suppression [9], anti-inflammation [10] and stroke prevention [11]. Miso contains various microorganisms, such as Aspergillus, yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB).

Is miso soup a full meal? ›

When you make miso soup at home, you can put a ton of ingredients including some protein (most commonly chicken, sliced pork or sea food), and it can be one complete meal… although it's conventionally considered a side dish.

Which miso is healthiest? ›

If you want to avoid sodium, your choice should be White. If you don't need to avoid sodium intake, then Red is the most nutritious. The site says that White Miso makes you relaxed and gives you a good night sleep.

Is miso soup anti aging? ›

Miso contains antioxidants such as vitamin E, iso-flavones or saponins. Vitamin E and melanoidins is the dark pigment responsible for the color of long-aged miso. Antioxidants neutralize damaging free radicals in the body so they are very important in fighting the signs of aging, as well as boosting overall health.

Is miso too high in sodium? ›

The one big concern that some people have when it comes to miso soup is the high sodium content; with the average teaspoon of miso featuring between 200 and 300 milligrams of this blood-pressure-raising element, it can easily scare away those struggling with high sodium levels.

Can you have too much miso soup? ›

The consumption of miso soup is associated with salt intake, and the reduced consumption of miso soup has been recommended.

Is it okay to eat miso soup every day? ›

Miso soup is low calorie, low fat, and high in nutrient content, so it is safe to eat daily. However, it does have a high salt content. So, those on blood thinning medication or who have heart problems (including high blood pressure and heart disease) may want to limit their consumption of miso soup.

Can you eat miso raw? ›

Can you eat miso paste raw? Grab a spoon and dig in – you CAN eat your miso paste raw! I often recommend this to people when they are trying a new variety or are considering which variety to use in a recipe. It's a great way to discover the unique taste of miso and how each variety differs in flavor.

Does miso soup make you sleepy? ›

Miso contains amino acids that can help boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that helpsmake you sleepy. Bananas: An excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which can help relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin.

Does miso lose benefits when cooked? ›

Miso is a fermented food, meaning it contains live, active cultures of bacteria—you know, like the good stuff that's also found in yogurt. Adding it to boiling water will kill the probiotics in the miso, nixing the health benefits it typically offers, like better digestive health.

What effects does miso have on the skin? ›

Beauty Skin Effect Miso contains free linoleic acid, which prevents the synthesis of melanin that causes spots and freckles on the skin. Therefore, miso is said to have a skin beautifying effect. Anti-aging effect Miso soup contains vitamin E, soy saponin, and soy isoflavone, which have antioxidant effects.

Is miso good for weight loss? ›

If you are looking to lose some extra pounds, then adding miso soup to your diet can help. It serves as a fantastic way to cut down on your sugar intake and increases your vegetable intake. As mentioned above, miso paste calories are just 56 calories for 28 grams.

Is miso soup too high in sodium? ›

The one big concern that some people have when it comes to miso soup is the high sodium content; with the average teaspoon of miso featuring between 200 and 300 milligrams of this blood-pressure-raising element, it can easily scare away those struggling with high sodium levels.

Is miso soup a carb or protein? ›

It typically contains tofu, seaweed, green onions, and ginger. In addition to being low-carb, miso is rich in minerals such as sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. It is also high in protein with 8 grams of protein per serving.

Is miso paste healthier than salt? ›

Two bowls a day may add a half teaspoon of salt to one's daily diet, yet those who had two or more bowls of miso soup every day appeared to have five times lower risk of becoming hypertensive. So, maybe the anti-hypertensive effects of the soy in the miso exceed the hypertensive effects of the salt.

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