regional differences:
each region of japan has its own type of miso according to the area's climate and eating customs.
shiro-miso is a white miso made from rice native to kyoto;
hatcho-miso is a sweet soybean miso particular to aichi prefecture; and
shinshu is the most widely eaten miso made of a salty, red-colored paste produced chiefly in nagano prefecture.
health:
ingredients contained in miso, such as unsaturated fat; isoflavon; yeast; and lactic acid, are effective cancer preventatives. according to japan's national cancer center, people who eat no miso soup at all are at a 50 % higher risk of dying from stomach cancer compared with those who eat it every day. studies have also shown that people who eat miso frequently are less susceptible to stomach diseases such as gastritis and duodenal ulcers. moreover, miso is a source of dietary fiber, which cleans the intestines and is good for bowel movement. a bowl of miso a day just might keep the doctor away.
beauty:
vitamin e; daisein; saponin; and the brown pigment contained in miso act as anti-oxidants, which are powerful inhibitors of the ageing process. miso also aids in detoxification, as the fermentation process allows large amounts of protein in the soybeans to be absorbed easily. the results: glowing skin and shiny hair.
drinking, smoking:
the japanese have an old saying that miso soup is good for smokers. this might have originated from the edo period when miso soup was used to clean pipes clogged with tar. whatever the origin, miso has an amazing cleansing ability on the body. its amino acids help rid the system of harmful toxins, and it is often recommended as a protection for smokers against the effects of nicotine. miso can even replenish vitamins and minerals after drinking.
[article adapted from
eat-japan]