10 Things You Didn’t Know About Natto, Japan’s Superfood

納豆

na ・ tto

Lots of Japanese health foods are trending around the world, from kombucha (in Japan, called "koucha kinoko" (紅茶キノコ) or mushroom tea) to green tea to tofu. Last week we introduced the healthy fermented rice drink, amazake. This week, we will tell you ten things you probably didn’t know about Japan’s traditional breakfast superfood, "natto!" But first off, let us give you a brief introduction to these curious beans.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links, which means that your purchasing a product via that link may provide us with a commission. We make it our goal to direct you to products that you will love and that will enhance your wa experience.

**Also note that we at Wafuu are not doctors or dieticians. Please do your own thorough research before making any conclusions. If you suffer from thyroid problems, consult your doctor before adding natto to your diet.

What Is Natto?

Natto is a fermented food, made from soybeans and a fungus called Bacillus subtilis natto. Natto contains powerful nutrients, including protein, isoflavone (hormone balancer), lecithin (for healthy skin), enzymes, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin K, and dietary fiber. Traditionally, soybeans were wrapped in rice straw or a thin sheet of pine, where it naturally came in contact with the powerful natto-making fungus. Because this process is hard to regulate, in modern times soybeans are sealed up with the fungus in Styrofoam packs, containing 50g each.

How To Eat Natto

There are endless ways to eat natto, but if you have lived or grew up in Japan, you probably had it for many breakfasts over a bowl of white rice with “karashi,” Japanese mustard, soy sauce, and a raw egg. Natto is meant to be stirred up into a sticky foam, but whether you stir before you add the sauces or after is a matter of taste.

Now that you know the basics, on to the ten things that you probably didn't know about natto that will make you want to eat it all the more!

1 Natto Was Made By Accident

As the story goes, natto was made by accident way back in the Yayoi Period, between 300 B.C.–300 A.D. Soybeans that were being cooked spilled over onto the rice straw, where it lay unnoticed until it fermented. Since food was too precious to throw out, someone tried it, liked it, and people have been eating it ever since!

2 Why Natto Has an Expiration Date

Some people are surprised that natto has an expiration date.

“If it’s already fermented, how can it go bad?”

The answer lies in the difference between "fermented" and "rotten."

Fermented foods are edible and beneficial for your health. (Other fermented foods include German sauerkraut and Korean kimchi.)

Rotten foods are inedible and harmful when consumed.

3 July 10^th is Natto Day

Seventh (July is the seventh month of the year): “na” (なっ)
Tenth “tou" (とう)
Na + tou = “na tou" or "natto"

4 Natto is foamy because…

…of an enzyme called nattokinase, which prevents blood clots and helps to lower blood pressure. This enzyme is heat sensitive, so if you want to cook with natto, add it to your after you've turned off the heat!

5 The Foamier, the Better!

The more you mix natto, the foamier it gets. Mixing natto 200 times increases the amino acids by an astounding 2.5 times!

6 Natto Could Help You Live Longer!

Maybe you already knew this, but do you know why? A study showed that natto reduces the risk of death by heart attack, again thanks to its many nutrients and the nattokinase*. No wonder Japan is ranked number 2 in the world for longevity (at the writing of this article)!

*(Mainichi Newspaper) (NYture New York Natto) (Asahi Shimbun) (British Medical Journal)

7 Natto Was First Sold in Ibaraki

Natto was first sold by a man named Seizaimon Sasanuma during the Meiji Period, when the Mito Railway Line opened up.

8 Leave Off the Egg White

Egg yolk and natto have good chemistry, but the combination of raw egg white and natto cancels out some of the nutritional benefits.

For your next natto breakfast bowl, leave off the egg white, or cook it separately!

9 Power Up Your Natto With Perfect Pairs

Natto + kimchi: supports gut flora balance

Natto+ tuna: promotes blood circulation, reduces cholesterol levels

Natto + green onions or onions: increases vitamin B1 absorption, aids in recovery from exhaustion

10 Natto is the Meat of Samurai

Although I can’t find a Japanese source online that backs it up, a Japan Times article reports that natto was known in olden days as the “meat of samurai.” Apparently, samurai wrapped soybeans in bamboo leaves as a pre-battle snack, stuck them in their pockets, went off to fight, and of course forgot about them. By the time they returned from battle and remembered, the beans were fermented, but the samurai were too famished to care!

If you weren't craving a bowl of natto and rice before you started reading, I hope you are now. You should be able to find it easily at your local Asian supermarket for an affordable price. If you don't plan to eat it right away, freeze it, and just thaw the amount you plan to eat. 

Recommended amount: 60g per day

What Do You Think?

Are you ready to give natto a try? Which of the ten facts about natto surprised you the most? Do you stir your natto before or after you add the sauce? What's your favorite natto topping? Let us know in the comments below!

For the Die-Hard Natto Lovers–

 Japanese mustard      Large Bean Natto

 Small Bean Natto         Dry Natto (Plum-Flavored)

Sources–

Japan NattoKinase Association 

Japan National Tourist Organization 

WebMD (Nattokinase)

Japan Experience