Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, and is characterized by its strong taste, pungent smell, and gooey texture. Natto isn’t well-known outside of Japan, and its acquired taste and unpleasant appearance probably confines it to a limited audience. Nonetheless, natto can be found in some Western health food stores for one reason: it is highly nutritious. In fact, the health benefits of natto are so considerable that some stores sell it in capsule form…
Nutritional yeast is a heat-deactivated yeast that is typically sourced from sugarcane and beet molasses. It has a cheese-like, nutty flavor, and can be incorporated into pizzas, creamed vegetables, popcorn, onion rings, mashed potatoes, fries, pasta, and various soups and salads. It is loved by vegetarians and vegans because it is a dairy and gluten-free source of numerous trace nutrients; indeed, the nutritional yeast found in health food stores is just as likely to be…
Moringa oleifera, also called the drumstick tree and horseradish tree, is a sturdy tree native to the lower slopes of the Himalayan mountain range in northwestern India. Its pods and leaves are often cultivated for food and oil extraction in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, as well as for water purification purposes. The leaves and pods of the moringa tree are unusually nutritious, even when compared to other tropical vegetables, and they have…
Nori is an edible red seaweed that is popular in East Asia, especially Japan. In the West, it is perhaps best known as the seaweed that wraps pieces of sushi, although it is also used as a garnish, for flavoring noodle dishes and soups, or as a health supplement. Indeed, as the nutritional value of nori continues to come to light, more and more health food stores worldwide are beginning to sell it in fresh…
Dulse is a spicy-flavored red seaweed that grows on the coasts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Popular in East Asia, dulse has been harvested for thousands of years as a nutritious food source, an ingredient in skin care products, and as a health supplement. It is available in most health food stores in fresh or dried form. List of Health Benefits Good source of protein – According to Dr. Subhuti Dharmananda, the director of…
