What's New and Beneficial About Miso

• Miso is typically considered to be a high-sodium food, since one teaspoon of miso often contains 200-300 milligrams of sodium. However, recent research has shown that in spite of its high-sodium content, miso does not appear to affect our cardiovascular system in the way that other high-sodium foods sometimes can. In recent animal studies, for example, identical concentrations of salt (sodium chloride) obtained from miso versus table salt were discovered to have very different impacts on blood pressure. High-salt diets that derived their high salt level from table salt raised blood pressure in these animal studies, but high-salt diets that derived their high salt from miso did not. Recent human studies on miso intake among Japanese adults have also shown that miso-containing diets tend to lower risk of cardiovascular problems, despite the high-salt content of miso. Reasons for this unique relationship between miso and our cardiovascular system are not yet clear. However, some researchers have speculated that the unique soy protein composition of miso (including peptide building-blocks of protein that get formed from soy proteins when the beans are fermented) is one of the key reasons for the cardiovascular support provided by miso. Since miso is seldom eaten alone, other cardio-supportive foods in miso soups and miso stir-fries might also play an important role in these research findings.
• Some of the health benefits provided by soy foods depend on the ability of bacteria or other micro-organisms to break down two of the soy's isoflavones - daidzein and genistein—into related compounds (for example, equol). Interestingly, recent research has shown that many different strains of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae—by far the most widely-used fungus in the fermentation of miso—are capable of breaking down both daidzein and genistein. This finding is great news for anyone who already enjoys miso, or is considering adding miso to their diet. If micro-organisms used in miso fermentation don't break down some of the daidzein and genistein into other compounds like equol, it's up to the micro-organisms in our digestive tract to do so. While it is fantastic when we have the right balance of micro-organisms in our digestive tract to help us get optimal nourishment and health benefits from our food, those conditions don't always hold true. So it can be very helpful when a miso-fermenting fungus like Aspergillus oryzae helps breaks down the daidzein and genistein before the miso ever reaches our digestive tract!
• The list of research-documented antioxidants in miso is growing! In addition to conventional antioxidants like the minerals zinc and manganese, miso is now known to contain phytonutrient antioxidants including phenolic acids like ferulic, coumaric, syringic, vanillic, and kojic acid. Particularly interesting are new additions to the list of miso antioxidants that are related to its fermentation. In several recent studies, the amount of some specific antioxidants in miso appears to increase when fermentation is carried out for a longer period of time. DDPH (2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidants appear to be one category of miso antioxidants that increases with prolonged fermentation. These particular free radical scavengers may be more plentiful in miso that has been fermented for many months—or even several years—in comparison to miso that has only been fermented for one to three months. While the jury is still out on the overall antioxidant benefits of miso pastes with varying lengths of fermentation time, the jury is not out on the impressive antioxidant benefits that are provided by this widely enjoyed food.

WHFoods Recommendation

We encourage you to think about miso made from soybeans as part of your legume intake. Like other legume-based foods, soy miso is a good source of fiber and protein and a great way to increase your overall nourishment.

Many public health organizations—including the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society—recommend legumes (the category in which soybeans are classified) as a key food group for preventing disease and optimizing health. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends 3 cups of legumes per week (based on a daily intake of approximately 2,000 calories). Because 1 serving of legumes was defined as 1/2 cup cooked, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans come very close to this as they recommend of 1/2 cup of cooked legumes on a daily basis. Based on our own research review, we believe that 3 cups of legumes per week is a very reasonable goal for support of good health. However, we also believe that optimal health benefits from legumes may require consumption of legumes in greater amounts. This recommendation for greater amounts is based upon studies in which legumes have been consumed at least 4 days per week and in amounts falling into a 1-2 cup range per day. These studies suggest a higher optimal health benefit level than the 2005 Dietary Guidelines: instead of 3 cups of weekly legumes, 4-8 cups would become the goal range. Remember that any amount of legumes is going to make a helpful addition to your diet.

When adding soy miso to a soup or stir-fry, you can treat two tablespoons of soy miso as the equivalent of approximately one-quarter cup of a legume. But rather than trying to replace your intake of other legumes (like whole soybeans or black beans or lentils) with soy miso, we recommend that you think about soy miso as a highly nutritious addition to your diet that is helping to maximize your health benefits from the legume family of foods.

We recommend selection of certified organic soy miso. For miso produced within the U.S., one of the major reasons we like certified organic soy miso is the widespread use of genetic modification in non-organic soybeans. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans have reached 90% market penetration in the U.S. For miso produced in other countries like Japan or Korea, even though the likelihood of genetic modification might be less, we still like certified organic soy miso due to the lower risk of unwanted contaminants like pesticides. In the case of non-U.S. soy miso, you may not find the USDA organic seal, but you should still look for the words "certified organic" or "organic certified" on the label.

This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Miso provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Miso can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Miso, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

• Health Benefits
• Description
• History
• How to Select and Store
• How to Enjoy
• Individual Concerns
• Nutritional Profile
• References

Health Benefits

In comparison to research on soybeans and their overall health benefits, research specific to miso is much less common. In addition, research on miso is complicated by the fact that human intake of miso can be difficult to measure in isolation since miso is usually consumed as part of a soup, stir-fry, or other dish. (For example, when participants in a study provide information about their intake of miso soup and scientists analyze the nutritional and health benefits provided by miso, the outcome can be confusing since other foods contained in the miso soup like tofu or sea vegetables might also have been responsible for the nutritional and health benefits.) Still, as an overall observation, we believe that intake of soy miso shows a preponderance of health benefits and perhaps even stronger health benefits than soyfoods in general. We also suspect that these potentially stronger health benefits may be related to fermentation of soy miso by micro-organisms like the fungus Aspergillus.

Overall Nutrient Benefits

Soy miso is a very good source of manganese and copper as well as a good source of zinc (all three are important mineral antioxidants). It is also a very good source of the mineral phosphorus as well as a good source of protein and dietary fiber. In addition to these conventional nutrients, soy miso is also an important source of phytonutrient antioxidants including phenolic acids like ferulic, coumaric, syringic, vanillic, and kojic acid.

An especially interesting group of antioxidants in soy miso is the group of antioxidants related to miso fermentation. In several recent studies, the amount of some specific antioxidants in soy miso appears to increase when fermentation is carried out for a longer period of time. DDPH (2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidants appear to be one category of miso antioxidants that increase with prolonged fermentation. These particular free radical scavengers may be more plentiful in miso that has been fermented for many months—or even several years—in comparison to miso that has only been fermented for one to three months. food.

Like other soy-based foods, miso can provide us with a wide variety of phytonutrients. Many of these phytonutrients can function as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances. Due to differences in starting ingredients, micro-organisms used for fermentation, and total fermentation time, not all of the phytonutrients listed below are contained in all varieties of soy miso. But the list below provides a good overview of substances found in all forms of soy miso combined:

• Flavonoids and Isoflavonoids
  • daidzein
  • genistein
  • malonylgenistin
  • malonyldaidzin
• Phenolic Acids
  • Caffeic acid
  • Coumaric acid
  • Ferulic acid
  • Gallic acid
  • Sinapic acid
• Phytoalexins
  • glyceollin I
  • glyceollin II
  • glyceollin III
• Phytosterols
  • beta-sitosterol
  • beta-stigmasterol
  • campestrol
• Proteins and Peptides
  • defensins
  • glycinin
  • conglycinin
  • lunacin
• Saponins
  • soyasaponins (group A and group B)
  • soyasapogenols

Cardiovascular Benefits

Most of the heart-related research that we have seen on miso has involved population groups in Japan, and so it is difficult to say if these research findings also hold true for other population groups. In one large study involving 40,462 Japanese participants and lasting for more than 10 years, intake of miso was found to associated with decreased risk of one major type of stroke (cerebral infarct, or CI). This health benefit from miso held true despite miso also emerging as a major source of dietary salt in the study. These findings are fascinating, because ordinarily, a certain percentage of the Japanese population would be expected to be salt-sensitive and to have blood pressure undesirably increased by high intake of salt. Increase in blood pressure, in turn, would be expected to be a possible risk factor for CI. Yet miso was been found to lower risk of CI—a result that is unusual for a high-sodium food.

Animal studies have repeatedly shown this same result for miso versus table salt intake. Animals consuming a 2.3% table salt (sodium chloride) diet and animals consuming a 2.3% salt-from-miso diet have not experienced the same results. Salt-from-miso diets have not been found to raise blood pressure, even when they provide an equal amount of salt as high table salt diets. Researchers speculate that the difference may be related to a combination of factors, including soy proteins, peptides, isoflavones, and diverse antioxidants found in soy miso. In addition, researchers point to the potentially key role of fermentation in transforming soybean content and rendering it more capable of cardiovascular support. Further research is needed to clarify all of these issues.

Anti-Cancer Benefits

This area of soy miso research remains controversial. On the one hand, we know that soy miso contains the isoflavone genistein, and we know that dietary intake of genistein is associated with decreased risk of certain cancers, including prostate cancer. Yet at the same time, we also have studies on soy miso intake that show no association between prostate cancer risk and level of soy miso consumed.

Or, to take another controversial example: if individuals who consume daidzein (an isoflavone found in soyfoods and other types of food) have the right type of intestinal bacteria inside of their digestive tract, we know that they will end up having some of this dietary daidzein transformed by their intestinal bacteria into a related compound called equol. We also know that micro-organisms used to ferment soy miso (including many different strains of the fungus Aspergillus oryzae) are capable of turning daidzein into equol during miso fermentation. In this way, soy miso can end up containing equol even before we eat it!

This conversion of daidzein into equol by Aspergillus during miso fermentation was originally thought to have some reliable cancer-preventive benefits, but studies in this area have not reflected such a result. For example, in a study measuring risk of breast cancer among Japanese women, intake of miso soup was not found to reduce risk. Other studies have show a similar lack of risk reduction for colorectal cancer and prostate cancer based on intake of miso soup.

We have not seen any research studies specific to miso showing increased risk of cancer in any form. However, we are also unable to describe any clear anti-cancer benefits for soy miso based on the studies that we have seen. It's difficult for us to imagine negative consequences when taking a whole food like whole soybeans and allowing them undergo natural fermentation under safe conditions. We would expect a naturally fermented whole food to provide outstanding health benefits, including anti-cancer benefits.

However, soy miso is definitely a challenging food to research. As mentioned earlier in this section, consumption of miso can be difficult to measure in isolation since miso is usually consumed as part of a soup, stir-fry, or other dish. In addition, miso is often consumed in relatively small amounts in comparison with other foods. We hope that researchers will continue to investigate possible anti-cancer benefits from miso intake, and devote more attention to this uniquely fermented form of soy.

Digestive Benefits

In some ways, it's accurate to think about soy miso as a food that has been "pre-digested." That's because Aspergillus and other micro-organisms used in fermentation of soy miso can help metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats found in soybeans and transform them into smaller molecules that may be more easily digested. In addition, depending on processing and fermentation methods, some soy miso can contain "friendly" bacteria like lactic acid bacteria (including various species of Lactobacillus) that might be helpful in supporting intestinal microflora. We have not seen large-scale, human research studies showing benefits of soy miso consumption for the digestive tract, but we would expect such studies to show digestive benefits based on the above factors. Hopefully, more attention will be given in future research studies to soy miso and its potential digestive benefits.

Fermented Soy Foods and Vitamin K

As described throughout this Health Benefits section, much of the nutrient support we get from fermented soy miso depends on the micro-organisms used in fermentation. While Aspergillus oryzae is often a premier micro-organism used in miso fermentation, other micro-organisms—including bacteria—can be highly important. Bacillus subtilis is one of these bacteria, and it is more commonly used in fermentation of Chinese miso than in Japanese, Korean, or Indonesian versions of this fermented soy food.

From a health standpoint, one of the reasons that Bacillus bacteria are so interesting is their ability to create a form of vitamin K called menaquinone-7 (MK-7). Vitamin K (in all forms) is an important nutrient for bone health. Sufficient intake of vitamin K is associated with decreased risk of osteoporosis, since this vitamin is involved with maintenance of bone mineral density and also with shaping of bone structure (through gamma-carboxylation). In the case of MK-7 (the form of vitamin K produced by Bacillus bacteria, and a member of the vitamin K2 menaquinone family), we know that higher levels of MK-7 in the blood correspond to lower risk of hip fracture in older Japanese women, and that higher MK-7 levels correspond to increased intake of soy foods that have been fermented with Bacillus bacteria. One fascinating aspect of Bacillus-fermented soy foods is the potential ability of these bacteria to stay alive in our lower intestine after these foods are consumed. We've seen one study in which 1.6-20 million Bacillus bacteria (per gram of feces) were found to remain alive up to 6 days following consumption of natto. If Bacillus bacteria from fermented soy foods can remain alive in our digestive tract, they may keep providing us with vitamin K benefits many days after their consumption.

It's important to remember that Bacillus bacteria are not used in production of all miso, and it can be difficult to determine which miso products have been fermented with the help of these bacteria. (Sometimes a call to the manufacturer may still not result in a clear answer here.) Our recommendation here is that you consider selection of Chinese miso products if you want to enjoy miso in your meal plan and you are paying special attention to your vitamin K intake, since Chinese miso is more likely to have been fermented with Bacillus bacteria.

Description

Miso is a Japanese word that means "fermented beans." Miso is usually found in the form of a thick paste, and the beans used during fermentation are almost always soybeans. During the soybean fermentation process, grains like barley, rice, or buckwheat might be added to achieve a certain flavor or other desired attribute, but in most situations, soybeans serve as the basis for miso fermentation. (This basic role of soybeans in preparation of miso can sometimes be overlooked because many varieties of miso may take on the name of their added ingredients, like "barley miso" or "rice miso." Yet virtually all of these miso varieties will contain soybeans as a basic ingredient.)

It's worth noting that under some circumstances, you might hear the word "miso" being used to refer to fermentation of a food other than soybeans. A good example is "fish miso." In this case, the term "miso" is being used to refer to the process of fermentation rather than the food being fermented. "Fish miso" is a term used to describe fish that has been fermented using the same basic fermentation process that can be used to produce soy miso, barley miso, or rice miso.

This use of the word "miso" in relationship to fish is important, because it tells us something very special about the miso fermentation process. For many miso eaters, the magic of miso lies in the micro-organism used for its fermentation: Aspergillus oryzae. This micro-organism is a particular type of fungus (a filamentous fungus, also called a "mold") that plays a special role in Japanese and other Asian cuisines. Long before scientists had developed ways of identifying and naming fungi like Aspergillus, cultures in China and Japan had developed special methods of fermenting soybeans (and other foods) that were practical and could be reproduced (assuring that the same mold was used, even though this mold was not yet scientifically identified). "Koji" was the term used to describe the end result when foods were fermented in this special way.

When scientists eventually discovered that the Aspergillus fungus was the key micro-organism involved with koji fermentation, the word "koji" took on a second meaning. While remaining the name for the end-stage product, it also became the name for the Aspergillus fungus itself. Therefore, you can now hear the word "koji" being used to refer to end-products of Aspergillus fermentation like miso or sake or soy sauce, as well as to the Aspergillus mold itself. You can also hear the word "koji" being used to refer to a grain-based starter that is used in the production of the above foods (including soy miso). When "koji" is used to refer to this starter, Aspergillus mold has usually been added to rice that has been pre-soaked and pre-cooked. The result is of this Aspergillus-fermented rice is called "koji." For a second stage fermentation into miso, "koji" starter is then added to soybeans that have also been soaked and cooked, and the entire mixture is allowed to age and ferment into miso. As you can see, the word "koji" can take on a variety of meanings. But these different meanings tell us something important about miso, namely, the special role played by the Aspergillus fungus in its fermentation.

Despite this primary focus on Aspergillus mold in fermentation miso, other micro-organisms are sometimes used in addition to Aspergillus during miso fermentation. The fungus Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is one of these micro-organisms. Other fungi include Pichia guilliermondii, Clavispora lusitaniae, Absidia corymbifera, and Candida etchellsii. Bacteria may also be used in the fermentation process. In the case of Japanese fermented soy pastes, Tetragenococcus halophilus and Staphylococcus gallinarum are bacteria sometimes used in fermentation. In the case of Chinese fermented soy pastes, species of Bacillus bacteria are more commonly used.

The texture of miso is usually paste-like and relatively thick, along the lines of peanut butter. But the color and taste can vary widely, depending on many fermentation-related factors. In terms of color, the lightest color miso is usually white or beige. This lighter color is often due to inclusion of a large amount of white rice during the fermentation process. When the word "koji" is used to refer to a miso starter made from rice and Aspergillus, white miso is also sometimes described as containing a large amount of koji. (If the koji has been made from Aspergillus fermentation of roasted rice flour, it may become light brown in color, but is often still included in the category of white miso.)

Another factor contributing to lighter color of white miso is shorter fermentation time. White miso is usually fermented for a much shorter period of time than darker-colored miso. (In some cases, a white miso may be fermented for a time period as short as several weeks, while a dark miso might be fermented for many months or even several years.) In terms of taste, white miso is usually the sweetest variety of miso. Some people also consider it to be the most versatile for cooking since it lacks the stronger flavors found in darker varieties of miso. In Japanese, the name for white miso is "shiromiso." When a miso like white miso is made with a large amount of rice, you may also hear it being referred to as "kome miso," since "kome" is the word for rice in Japanese.

When soybeans are fermented together with barley, the result is usually a miso that is yellow (or very light brown) in color. Since the Japanese word "mugi" can be used to refer to the general category of cereal grains (including barley and wheat), you will sometimes hear yellow miso being referred to as "mugi miso." Sometimes a small amount of white rice is also included during fermentation of yellow miso. One very popular yellow miso is Saikyo miso, traditionally made in the south-central region of Japan (the Kansai region).

In terms of color, the next major category of miso is red miso, sometimes called "akamimso" since "aka" means "red" in Japanese. Red miso may actually be a very dark brown or reddish brown in color, and it's usually (but not always) more salty than white or yellow miso. If a red miso is actually a very dark reddish brown in color, the brownish color may be the result of soybeans having been steamed prior to fermentation. While barley, rice and other grains may be used in the production of red miso, it is usually characterized by a very high percentage of soybeans, and for this reason is sometimes referred to as "mame miso" (since "mame" means "bean" in Japanese).

Dark brown and red miso usually get their strong flavors from longer periods of fermentation. In some cases, fermentation or dark soy miso may involve three years or longer. For example, Hatcho miso made by the Hatcho Miso Company in Okazaki, Japan (Aichi prefecture) is fermented in 200-year-old vats over a period of three winters.

Remember that regardless of the many names you may hear for different varieties of miso, virtually all include soybeans as a basic ingredient.

Other names you might hear for different varieties of miso include:

• genmai miso (brown rice-containing miso)
• soba miso or sobamugi miso (buckwheat-containing miso)
• taima miso (hemp seed-containing miso)
• natto miso (chutney-type miso that usually containing barley and ginger)

In China, miso is usually referred to as "taucheo," "dajiang," "doujiang" or just "jiang." In Korea, miso may be referred to as "jang" or "dwenjang." In Indonesia it is called "tautjo" or "tauco."

Given this rich history of miso varieties and names across Asia, the Codex Coordinating Committee for Asia (CCASIA, part of the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization of the United Nations) has actually set food quality standards for fermented soy paste that include fermentation by naturally-occurring or cultivated micro-organisms and other production factors. While the United States is a member of the Codex Commission that works to help develop international food standards, we're not aware of any commercially available miso products in the U.S. that show compliance with CCASIA standards

on their labeling. Still, we are glad to see attention being paid by an international organization to the quality of this unique and much-loved fermented food.

History

The style of fermentation used with miso is most likely to have originated in China several thousand years ago. Following its development in China, this style of fermentation is believed to have made its way into Japan as early as the 10th century B.C. It's difficult to overestimate miso's rich history. From rulers and priests and Buddhist monks to military personnel and everyday citizens, miso found its way into the heart of many Asian cuisines very early in the development of the cuisines. It is especially popular in the form of miso soup (often containing tofu and sea vegetables as well).

One key event in miso's history was the development of a process that could keep the spores from the Aspergillus mold alive, uncontaminated, and practical to transfer from place to place. Ash from the burned leaves of certain hardwood trees turned out to be a helpful material for storing the mold spores (sometimes called conidiospores) and transporting them to miso fermentation facilities.

Today miso is produced worldwide, and not just in Asia. Much of the miso produced in Asia countries is actually consumed in Asian countries. In Japan, for example, approximately 1,600 facilities manufacture miso, and total production reaches about 600,000 tons per year. From this total amount, however, less than 1% is usually exported outside of the country. Many soy miso pastes available for sale in the U.S. have actually been made in the U.S., although it is also common to find soy miso imported from Japan and Korea.

How to Select and Store

Miso is generally sold in tightly sealed plastic or glass containers. Some stores also sell it in bulk containers. To check for freshness, look for a sell-by date listed on the container. In addition, check the label to make sure there are no additives such as MSG.

The type of miso that you purchase should depend both on personal preference as well as intended use. Since darker color miso is stronger and more pungent in flavor, it is generally better suited for heavier foods. Lighter colored miso is more delicate and oftentimes more appropriate for soup, dressings, and light sauces.

Miso should be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container where it can keep for up to one year.

You can expect to find certified organic miso at most large supermarkets and natural food groceries. However, in practice, few organic miso pastes appear to display the USDA organic logo, mostly likely because the miso has been certified as organic by an independent third party. In the case of miso imported from Japan, organic certification often involves the Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) system. As is our recommendation for all WHFoods, we encourage you to purchase certified organic miso to lessen your risk of exposure to unwanted contaminants in your miso.

How to Enjoy

A Few Quick Serving Ideas

• Miso soup is quick and easy to prepare. Heat miso paste and water over low-medium heat. Eat as is or add in some traditional fixings including shiitake mushrooms, tofu, scallions, burdock, carrots, and daikon radish.
• Miso-tahini sandwiches are one of our favorites. To make your own, just spread miso on a piece of bread and then top with tahini. Enjoy as is or add sliced avocado.
• Use miso as an ingredient in marinades for meat, fish, poultry or game.
• Carry dried miso soup packets with you and enjoy them as a pick-me-up coffee substitute.
• Combine a little miso with olive oil, flax seed oil, ginger and garlic to make an Asian-inspired dressing that can be used on salads or cold grain dishes.

WHFoods Recipes That Feature Miso

• 5-Minute Miso Soup with Dulse (sea vegetable)
• Miso Stir-Fry
• Yummy Healthy Miso Soup

Individual Concerns

Miso and Food Allergies

Soybeans and the foods made from them, including miso, are among the eight food types considered to be major food allergens in the U.S., requiring identification on food labels. For helpful information about this topic, please see our article, An Overview of Adverse Food Reactions

In addition to the general allergy-related issues described above for soybean-containing foods, there is some research information specific to miso that is important to consider. First is the issue of protein P34. In some studies, this protein has been found to be one of the primary allergenic proteins in soy. However, at least one study on consumption of Korean miso has shown an undetectable level of protein P34 (with a detection level of 0.45 nanograms) in the miso, making fermented soybean paste a potentially less antigenic (allergy-causing) food than other forms of soy. This potentially reduced allergy risk from miso versus other soy foods makes sense to us. The fermentation process—especially over a period of time involving months or years—is likely to result in substantial modification of the proteins in soy, including potentially allergy-causing proteins like P34.

Some of the anti-cancer benefits of soy miso might be related to its potential strengthening of the immune system. (Weakened immune system function is a risk factor for many types of cancer.) Research studies show that during the soy miso fermentation process, there is significant potential for the creation of immuno-supportive substances. For example, we've seen a study in which soybeans fermented with the help of the bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus showed the ability to increase T helper type immunity. Since immune system function often depends on a unique set of peptides (protein building blocks), transformation of soy proteins during fermentation is likely to provide the immune system with some helpful peptidesand eventually lowering our risk of cancer through added immune system support.

Miso and Thyroid Health

Along with the increasing presence of soy foods (such as miso) in grocery stores and on restaurant menus has come increasing controversy over soybeans and thyroid health. We're not surprised to find strong conflicting opinions in this area because scientific research on thyroid and soy is both complicated and inconclusive. We have written an extensive review of what we know - and what we don't know - about this important issue at this point. You find the article Soy Food and Thyroid Health here.

Miso and Acrylamide

When certain foods are cooked, their amino acids (protein building blocks) can interact with their simple sugars to form acrylamide. Acrylamide is a potentially toxic and potentially cancer-causing substance that can be naturally present in uncooked, raw foods in very small amounts, but can be formed in much large quantities in certain cooked foods. Grain-based coffee substitutes and fried potato chips are examples of foods that can contain high amounts of acrylamide. Even though you may find some websites listing miso as a high acrylamide food, we have not found any indexed journal research studies to support this finding. In fact, we have seen several studies on a related soy food - soy sauce - showing no detectable levels of acrylamide. The absence of high acrylamide levels in soy miso makes sense to us, because traditionally prepared soy miso does not undergo any high-heat processing, and also because the sugar content of miso is relatively low when soybeans make up the bulk of the miso ingredients. (Cooked soybeans contain only 2-3 grams of per half cup of total sugars.) In addition, traditionally fermented miso should definitely not be classified as a processed food that is comparable to potato chips or a grain-based coffee substitute. It is a natural food based on whole soybeans and natural processing of these who soybeans by micro-organisms. (For more detailed information on acrylamide and food, please see our article, What is acrylamide and how is it involved with food and health?)

Infants and Miso

One study from Japan has shown that breast-fed infants already diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (an inflammatory skin condition) experienced a worsening of dermatitis symptoms when their mothers consumed miso soup and soy sauce. We aren't sure how this research finding applies to healthy Japanese breastfeeding infants, or of course, to infants who are breastfeeding in the U.S. However, the result here does remind us of the importance of considering food sensitivity in the feeding of infants, and the potential difference between individual concerns for infants versus adults involving soy foods, including miso.

Nutritional Profile

Miso is now known to contain phytonutrient antioxidants including phenolic acids like ferulic, coumaric, syringic, vanillic, and kojic acid. Particularly interesting are new additions to the list of miso antioxidants that are related to its fermentation. In several recent studies, the amount of certain antioxidants in miso appears to increase when fermentation is carried out for a longer period of time. For example, several DDPH (2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidants that can help scavenge free radicals in the body have been shown to increase in number as the length of soy miso fermentation time increases.

Miso is a very good source of copper manganese and a good source of vitamin K, protein, zinc, phosphorus, dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

Introduction to Food Rating System Chart

In order to better help you identify foods that feature a high concentration of nutrients for the calories they contain, we created a Food Rating System. This system allows us to highlight the foods that are especially rich in particular nutrients. The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good, or good source (below the chart you will find a table that explains these qualifications). If a nutrient is not listed in the chart, it does not necessarily mean that the food doesn't contain it. It simply means that the nutrient is not provided in a sufficient amount or concentration to meet our rating criteria. (To view this food's in-depth nutritional profile that includes values for dozens of nutrients - not just the ones rated as excellent, very good, or good - please use the link below the chart.) To read this chart accurately, you'll need to glance up in the top left corner where you will find the name of the food and the serving size we used to calculate the food's nutrient composition. This serving size will tell you how much of the food you need to eat to obtain the amount of nutrients found in the chart. Now, returning to the chart itself, you can look next to the nutrient name in order to find the nutrient amount it offers, the percent Daily Value (DV%) that this amount represents, the nutrient density that we calculated for this food and nutrient, and the rating we established in our rating system. For most of our nutrient ratings, we adopted the government standards for food labeling that are found in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling." Read more background information and details of our rating system.

In-Depth Nutritional Profile

In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, here is an in-depth nutritional profile for Miso. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

Miso, (Note: "--" indicates data unavailable)
1.00 TBS (17.19 g)	GI: not available
BASIC MACRONUTRIENTS AND CALORIES
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Protein	2.01 g	4
Carbohydrates	4.55 g	2
Fat - total	1.03 g	1
Dietary Fiber	0.93 g	3
Calories	34.20	2
MACRONUTRIENT AND CALORIE DETAIL
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Carbohydrate:
Starch	-- g
Total Sugars	1.07 g
Monosaccharides	1.03 g
Fructose	1.03 g
Glucose	0.00 g
Galactose	0.00 g
Disaccharides	0.03 g
Lactose	0.00 g
Maltose	0.03 g
Sucrose	0.00 g
Soluble Fiber	0.45 g
Insoluble Fiber	0.48 g
Other Carbohydrates	2.56 g
Fat:
Monounsaturated Fat	0.21 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.55 g
Saturated Fat	0.20 g
Trans Fat	-- g
Calories from Fat	9.30
Calories from Saturated Fat	1.76
Calories from Trans Fat	--
Cholesterol	0.00 mg
Water	7.39 g
MICRONUTRIENTS
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Vitamins
Water-Soluble Vitamins
B-Complex Vitamins
Vitamin B1	0.02 mg	2
Vitamin B2	0.04 mg	3
Vitamin B3	0.16 mg	1
Vitamin B3 (Niacin Equivalents)	0.60 mg
Vitamin B6	0.03 mg	2
Vitamin B12	0.01 mcg	0
Biotin	-- mcg	--
Choline	12.41 mg	3
Folate	3.27 mcg	1
Folate (DFE)	3.27 mcg
Folate (food)	3.27 mcg
Pantothenic Acid	0.06 mg	1
Vitamin C	0.00 mg	0
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A (Retinoids and Carotenoids)
Vitamin A International Units (IU)	14.95 IU
Vitamin A mcg Retinol Activity Equivalents (RAE)	0.75 mcg (RAE)	0
Vitamin A mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE)	1.50 mcg (RE)
Retinol mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE)	0.00 mcg (RE)
Carotenoid mcg Retinol Equivalents (RE)	1.50 mcg (RE)
Alpha-Carotene	0.00 mcg
Beta-Carotene	8.94 mcg
Beta-Carotene Equivalents	8.94 mcg
Cryptoxanthin	0.00 mcg
Lutein and Zeaxanthin	0.00 mcg
Lycopene	0.00 mcg
Vitamin D
Vitamin D International Units (IU)	0.00 IU	0
Vitamin D mcg	0.00 mcg
Vitamin E
Vitamin E mg Alpha-Tocopherol Equivalents (ATE)	0.00 mg (ATE)	0
Vitamin E International Units (IU)	0.00 IU
Vitamin E mg	0.00 mg
Vitamin K	5.04 mcg	6
Minerals
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Boron	-- mcg
Calcium	9.80 mg	1
Chloride	-- mg
Chromium	-- mcg	--
Copper	0.07 mg	8
Fluoride	-- mg	--
Iodine	-- mcg	--
Iron	0.43 mg	2
Magnesium	8.25 mg	2
Manganese	0.15 mg	7
Molybdenum	-- mcg	--
Phosphorus	27.33 mg	4
Potassium	36.09 mg	1
Selenium	1.20 mcg	2
Sodium	640.75 mg	43
Zinc	0.44 mg	4
INDIVIDUAL FATTY ACIDS
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	0.08 g	3
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	0.47 g
Monounsaturated Fats
14:1 Myristoleic	-- g
15:1 Pentadecenoic	0.00 g
16:1 Palmitol	-- g
17:1 Heptadecenoic	0.01 g
18:1 Oleic	0.20 g
20:1 Eicosenoic	0.00 g
22:1 Erucic	-- g
24:1 Nervonic	-- g
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
18:2 Linoleic	0.47 g
18:2 Conjugated Linoleic (CLA)	-- g
18:3 Linolenic	0.08 g
18:4 Stearidonic	0.00 g
20:3 Eicosatrienoic	0.00 g
20:4 Arachidonic	0.00 g
20:5 Eicosapentaenoic (EPA)	0.00 g
22:5 Docosapentaenoic (DPA)	0.00 g
22:6 Docosahexaenoic (DHA)	0.00 g
Saturated Fatty Acids
4:0 Butyric	0.00 g
6:0 Caproic	0.00 g
8:0 Caprylic	0.00 g
10:0 Capric	0.00 g
12:0 Lauric	0.00 g
14:0 Myristic	0.00 g
15:0 Pentadecanoic	0.00 g
16:0 Palmitic	0.14 g
17:0 Margaric	0.00 g
18:0 Stearic	0.04 g
20:0 Arachidic	0.00 g
22:0 Behenate	0.01 g
24:0 Lignoceric	0.00 g
INDIVIDUAL AMINO ACIDS
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Alanine	0.09 g
Arginine	0.13 g
Aspartic Acid	0.20 g
Cysteine	0.00 g
Glutamic Acid	0.33 g
Glycine	0.08 g
Histidine	0.04 g
Isoleucine	0.09 g
Leucine	0.14 g
Lysine	0.08 g
Methionine	0.02 g
Phenylalanine	0.08 g
Proline	0.11 g
Serine	0.10 g
Threonine	0.08 g
Tryptophan	0.03 g
Tyrosine	0.06 g
Valine	0.09 g
OTHER COMPONENTS
nutrient	amount	DRI/DV (%)
Ash	2.20 g
Organic Acids (Total)	-- g
Acetic Acid	-- g
Citric Acid	-- g
Lactic Acid	-- g
Malic Acid	-- g
Taurine	-- g
Sugar Alcohols (Total)	-- g
Glycerol	-- g
Inositol	-- g
Mannitol	-- g
Sorbitol	-- g
Xylitol	-- g
Artificial Sweeteners (Total)	-- mg
Aspartame	-- mg
Saccharin	-- mg
Alcohol	0.00 g
Caffeine	0.00 mg
Note: The nutrient profiles provided in this website are derived from The Food Processor, Version 10.12.0, ESHA Research, Salem, Oregon, USA. Among the 50,000+ food items in the master database and 163 nutritional components per item, specific nutrient values were frequently missing from any particular food item. We chose the designation "--" to represent those nutrients for which no value was included in this version of the database.

References

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