Even if you’re not familiar with natto, you’ve probably heard of probiotics and their benefits to your gut health. But not all probiotics are created equal, and some can cause uncomfortable side effects that lead people to stop taking them altogether. Research shows that natto may be a more effective alternative to other probiotic foods thanks to its abundance of certain vitamins and minerals and its ability to improve the absorption of other vitamins and minerals in your body. Here’s what you need to know about how eating natto can help with gut issues!

What Is Natto?

While most Japanese people eat natto (fermented soybeans) regularly, it’s also gaining popularity in other countries due to its many benefits. More specifically, there is scientific evidence that eating natto can help prevent and treat gut issues. In Japan, where fermented foods are an integral part of daily life, natto is used as a side dish, salad topping, or ingredient in soup and tofu dishes.

It’s best eaten at room temperature after being removed from the package so you don’t have to worry about how to eat it straight out of a pack while traveling-though some connoisseurs say they like it best when chilled.

How Eating Natto Can Help with Gut Issues – It’s Probiotic and Gut Benefits

Many of us look to foods high in probiotics to help aid digestion and boost our immune system. But in doing so, we often forget about a little Japanese dish called natto. Natto is popular among many cultures around Asia and is made from fermented soybeans. But did you know that there are more health benefits than just gut health?

There are also studies showing that it has positive effects on other conditions as well! These might include some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. One study even suggests that it can help prevent cardiovascular diseases!

It’s no wonder why many people call natto the miracle food. So if you haven’t tried it yet, now’s your chance! And if you have had it before but haven’t seen any changes in your health or lifestyle after eating it, maybe you should try again! You never know what hidden potential lies within your favorite dish until you try out new things. So don’t be afraid to experiment!

Things to Keep in Mind – GMO vs Organic

While natto was originally created by fermenting soybeans in a natto culture, most commercially available natto products use soybeans that have been genetically modified to be herbicide-resistant. While there’s little evidence to support any sort of link between GMO foods and digestive issues, some people prefer to eat organic food for peace of mind.

Some claim that eating organic is important for gut health, but studies suggest that it may not matter as much as previously thought. Organic produce tends to be higher in minerals like magnesium and iron, which may help you prevent anemia and promote regular bowel movements. However, if you’re trying to lose weight or lower your cholesterol levels, choosing organic probably won’t make a difference.

Plus, since conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are typically cheaper than their organic counterparts, buying them is usually more cost-effective too. But if you want to go all out on natto-and your budget allows-you can choose non-GMO (genetically modified organism) or certified organic soybeans when making your own batch at home.

Are There Any Risks Associated with Eating Natto?

Although natto is considered a healthy food, there are still some risks associated with eating it. It contains quite a bit of vitamin K, which can cause your blood to clot more easily and increase your risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Also, if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant, you should avoid eating natto. It contains high levels of lactic acid, which interferes with sperm function and lowers sperm count.

Natto also contains serotonin and histamine, two chemicals that are linked to migraines; eating natto can trigger one in some people. Finally, because natto is fermented, it contains live bacteria that can upset your stomach if you aren’t used to consuming them. If you have any gut issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, talk to your doctor before adding natto into your diet.

How Do I Eat Natto?

Although it doesn’t taste like it, natto is considered one of Japan’s healthiest foods. It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals and contains healthy bacteria that help keep your gut in balance. When you eat natto regularly, those healthy probiotics can decrease gas, bloating, and stomach issues by improving digestion.

According to a study in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, researchers found that consuming natto helped produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that reduced inflammation in colon cancer cells. Butyrate helps prevent tumors from growing in your gut by enhancing immune function and maintaining intestinal walls. Add natto to salads or other meals as the main ingredient or serve it alongside other fermented foods such as yogurt or kefir for maximum gut benefits.

Is It Easy to Get These Probiotics from Other Foods?

While natto is one of the best sources of probiotics, it isn’t necessarily easy to get enough from food alone. The benefits may extend to people who have gut issues such as Crohn’s disease or leaky gut syndrome. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two types of bacteria that can help improve intestinal function, and probiotic supplements contain these strains.

However, note that not all supplements contain live microorganisms-heat can kill them during production-and some probiotics are also destroyed by stomach acid before they reach your intestines, which is why many experts recommend eating probiotic foods like natto or taking a supplement if you want to reap their full benefits.

Good Natto vs Bad

Although they’re both often lumped together as fermented soy, natto and tempeh are actually quite different. For one thing, natto is made by fermenting whole, de-shelled soybeans that have been inoculated with beneficial bacteria (Bacillus subtilis).

Tempeh is made from cooked soybeans that have been cracked into smaller pieces and mixed with culture. Tempeh starter culture consists of several kinds of mold spores which are grown on cooked soybeans for one day before cooking again and incubating at a warm temperature for five days. Tempeh tastes more like mushrooms than tofu but it has a similar texture to tofu after cooking.

Final Verdict

Researchers recently found that people who ate natto, a sticky Japanese fermented soybean dish, had fewer bacterial strains called Helicobacter pylori, which can cause digestive issues. The study participants were instructed to eat about a teaspoon of natto every day for two weeks.

At the end of their trial period, they reported lower levels of H. pylori and more breath hydrogen-which is related to gastric ulcers than when they first started taking natto. If you go through this guide, you’ll know why you need to start taking natto.

If you suffer from a chronic ailment such as candidiasis, you should also look into Threelac as a probiotic.