Benefits of Cabbage Miso Soup

Since its advent about 1300 years ago in Japan, miso has been a star ingredient of many Asian cuisines. Miso means fermented beans, which stands true as it has fermented soybeans and grains. Although it helped preserve food, its rich umami flavor—a mix of salty, earthy, and a smidgeon of sweetness—was so strong that it soon became a stand-alone ingredient. Miso was once only affordable to the wealthy, but it is now widely available and easy to locate. With an increase in its accessibility, people have used it in several delicious recipes. Cabbage Miso Soup is one of them! It is a Japanese variant of chicken soup. 

Cabbage miso soup is a frequent treat in Japan for breakfast. It contains high content of vitamin E and oxidants due to fermented miso soybean paste and cabbage content. Therefore, it has several health benefits. Let’s look at its nutritional profile and the gains its star ingredients let you reap!

Nutrition Information

A wooden spoon with Soybeans overloaded on it.

As the soup contains cabbage and miso are star ingredients, you can figure out the benefits by looking at the nutritional values of both.

Miso is a nutrient-dense, multi-purpose dish worth having ready to eat. The following contents are in a single serving of any miso soup:

  • Calories: 40
  • Calories from fat: 14
  • Total fat: 2 grams
  • Saturated fat: 0 grams
  • Trans fat: 0 grams
  • Cholesterol: 0 grams
  • Sodium: 0.86 grams
  • Total carbohydrates: 3 grams
  • Dietary fiber: 0 grams
  • Sugars: 0 grams
  • Protein: 3 grams

Further beneficial sources found in miso cabbage soup are:

  •  Vitamin K
  •  Manganese
  •  Copper
  •  Zinc
  • Vitamin B
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium

On the other hand, with just one cup of cabbage (89 grams), your soup has the following in addition: 

Freshly chopped green cabbage on a cutting board with a knife.

  • Calories: 22
  • Protein: 1 gram
  • Fiber: 2 grams
  • Vitamin K: 85% of the RDI
  • Vitamin C: 54% of the RDI
  • Folate: 10% of the RDI
  • Manganese: 7% of the RDI
  • Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI
  • Calcium: 4% of the RDI
  • Potassium: 4% of the RDI
  • Magnesium: 3% of the RDI

Health Benefits of Cabbage Miso Soup

A bowl of miso soup with chopsticks on a table.

With the fusion of healthy cabbage and nutritious miso, the following benefits of cabbage miso soup!

1. Supports The Nervous System

A human brain 

Miso soup is high in vitamin B, which helps to improve the nervous system. It contains a variety of Vit B that provides your body energy. Vitamin B is involved in the digestion; breakdown of large molecules into small molecules. The energy released can be used for movement or the proper functioning of organs. Moreover, B3, B5, and B9 are vitamins that help the nervous system work properly. It is essential to get enough because the nervous system regulates movement and balance, all five senses, and thought processing in the brain.

2. Strengthen your Bones

Human knee X-ray

Vitamin k is also present in the miso soup. Vitamin K is made up of several different compounds. Vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 tend to be the most critical of these compounds. Leafy greens and other vegetables are good sources of vitamin K1. Vitamin K2 is a group of bacteria-produced compounds that are present in meats, cheeses, and eggs.

Vitamin K is essential for clotting, reducing excessive bleeding, and supporting bones. Vitamin K, unlike most others, isn’t commonly used as a dietary supplement. It is essential to get enough vitamin K because not having enough can lead to osteoporosis.

However, in recent years, some people have switched to vitamin K2 to treat osteoporosis and steroid-induced bone loss, but the evidence is conflicting. At this time, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend vitamin K2 for osteoporosis.

3. Contains a High Amount of Probiotics 

Probiotic written with wooden letters

Probiotics such as oryzae are one of the reasons fermented foods like miso are beneficial to the digestive tract. These living microorganisms are bacteria and have multiple health benefits such as reduced inflammation, enhanced digestion, and immune system support.

A woman with her hands placed on her stomach.The probiotics found in miso soup will help to minimize the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive issues. It will aid in the strengthening of your immune system and the prevention of infections. More research is required, however.

4. Benefits Cardiovascular Health

Heart model held by a stand.

It may help protect from strokes. Though the research is still incomplete, there is a correlation with isoflavones, a form of chemical contained in the soybeans used to make miso, and a reduced risk of heart attacks. The limitation here is that this has to be achieved in combination with just a moderate salt diet. A further similar study of Adult participants found that eating miso soup on a frequent schedule is linked to a lower cardiac output. However, the blood pressure remained unaffected. Moreover, other researches are in progress and have put a positive response towards the result that miso can help cardiovascular patients.

5. Aids Women in Pregnancy

A pregnant woman wearing a white T-shirt.

The researchers have further revealed that the miso’s vitamin B9 content, also known as folate, is particularly beneficial to women in their first trimester. It may prevent spina bifida that affects the development of the spinal cord. However, consult your doctor before taking any diet.

6. May Reduce Risk of Cancer

Magnified cancer word on newspaper

It not only fulfills their nutritional requirements but also protects them from various cancers. After carrying out some observations, it showed that it lowers the risk of stomach, lung and hepatocellular carcinoma, a liver cancer.

7. Eases Menopause Symptoms 

Medium shot of woman thinking and holding the period calendar.

As mentioned before, soybeans contain Isoflavones. Isoflavones can have many health benefits, including the reduction of hot flashes in menopausal women. Isoflavones can help certain women having vascular health issues.

The Bottom line

There are several benefits of miso cabbage soup. You can add it to your routine at breakfasts or some times a week. Do you want to look further and try different miso soup recipes? How about Miso soups with Fava Beans and Bagels with Miso Soup?