Super Miso

Miso soup is a sodium-rich broth. The darker the
broth, the more sodium it has.

Ever since dining at my first sushi restaurant many years ago now, I've been infatuated with miso soup.

Sadly, unless you frequent a sushi house regularly (I don't have that luxury), miso is usually hard to come by.

Luckily, a nearby lunch spot, Pret A Manger, offers miso soup on their daily menu.

While at the counter ordering a cup of the soothing liquid, the woman behind me mumbled her approval of my order. When I turned to her, she shared with me that I had made a wise lunch choice because miso has many healing powers.

So what's so great about miso? Other than it's taste, of course.

Originating in China and perfected in Japan over the last thousand years, miso is a clear broth made from simple ingredients: soybeans, and either rice or barely pastes. Some versions add tofu or seaweed for extra substance.
Together, these ingredients make for a nutritionally rich soup of antioxidants and protective fatty acids, as well as healthy doses of Vitamin E, protein and Vitamin B12. Plus, there are a bunch of minerals in there to strengthen the immune system.

So, where does the power of this superfood come from? Many believe it's the fermented soybean paste (as opposed to non-fermented soy, which is proving to be a cause of health-related issues). Science is coming to believe the daily consumption of fermented soy to be the reason for the low rates of heart disease, and breast and prostate cancers in Asia.
Here are some of the other benefits of miso (from: Hiro Watanabe's The Magic of Miso):

• Reduces risks of cancer, including breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers
• Protection from radiation
• Immune strengthening
• Antiviral Prevents aging
• Helps maintain nutritional balance
• Helps preserve beautiful skin
• Helps reduce menopausal complaints

Plus, it's less than 50 calories for a 12 oz cup. I guess there's no excuse not to have a cup a day!