Nutrition is an important part of everyday life, but it becomes even more paramount when SHTF. Foods that provide nothing but empty calories won’t support your physical and mental processes, and you need to rely on those to ensure your survival.
Apart from the necessary tools and gear, you’ll need a quick mind and plenty of energy to meet whatever comes your way head on. And while your body and brain use sugar (glucose) as fuel, sugary foods won’t give you what you need to function optimally.
A good reason why high-sugar foods aren’t great survival foods is that they don’t provide long-lasting energy. In fact, the energy burst you get from ingesting sugar only lasts between 30 to 60 minutes before wearing off. [1]
You also can’t overconsume high-sugar foods because it can lead to a blood sugar spike. Studies show that apart from triggering inflammation, high blood sugar can cause fatigue, which isn’t ideal in a survival scenario. [2]
Another thing you need to know about sugar is that too much of it can dull your brain’s performance. Once its energy-boosting effects wear off, you’ll be left not just feeling sluggish, but also unfocused, easily distracted and irritable. [3][4]
There’s also evidence that sugar can disrupt memory formation by blocking your memory receptors. [5] In situations where you need to be quick, resourceful and efficient, the last thing you want is to not be able to remember important things.
This is why it’s essential to have the right foods in your emergency stockpile. While canned, processed foods are convenient because they’re storable, portable and have a long shelf life, they don’t provide enough nutrition to support optimal physical and mental function.
Fresh plant-based foods are the best sources of energy as well as essential nutrients, but they unfortunately don’t typically last very long in storage. On the other hand, studies show that these foods become shelf-stable and gain more nutritional value once they undergo fermentation. [6]
So if you’re looking for nutritious foods to stock up on, try fermented foods like organic miso. This superfood not only boasts an abundance of brain- and health-supporting nutrients but also provides plenty of health benefits. What’s more, organic miso is a delicious ingredient that can enhance the flavor of your meals.
What makes Organic Miso a great survival food?
Miso is a light- or dark-colored paste made by fermenting soybeans and rice. This humble food originated in China and was introduced in Japan more than 1,000 years ago. Today, miso in the form of a light but savory soup is famously associated with Japanese cuisine as it often accompanies most Japanese meals. [7]
There are many miso varieties used in modern cooking. The taste and color of miso depend on how long the soybeans and rice are fermented. The longer the fermentation time, the richer the flavor of the miso paste and the darker its color. [8] And because miso is made from soybeans, it is a reliable protein source. [9]
Some common examples of miso are shiro (white) miso, shinshu (yellow) miso and aka (red) miso. White miso is a pale paste whose taste ranges from sweet to mildly salty, while yellow miso is a yellow or light brown paste with a slightly stronger taste. Red miso, on the other hand, is known for its russet color and heavier, saltier flavor. [10]
Organic miso’s rich flavor, high nutrient content, long storage life and wealth of health benefits is due largely to the fermentation process it undergoes. During fermentation, beneficial microorganisms break down sugars and starches to generate energy. They then produce acids, alcohols and flavor compounds that help preserve the food and make them more palatable. [11]
The increase in acids and alcohols during fermentation also provides another important benefit: It creates an unfavorable environment for the growth of microorganisms that cause food spoilage. This is why fermentation is considered an excellent food preservation technique and why fermented foods last a long time in storage.
Fermentation also makes legumes like soybeans, which are notoriously hard to digest, easier for your body to break down. Fermentation helps by destroying non-nutritive components that can disrupt the activity of digestive enzymes. [12] What’s more, studies show that fermentation can help get rid of toxins present in plant-based foods. [13]
But the most impressive benefit of fermentation is that it can increase the bioavailability of nutrients in foods. According to research, the organic acids produced by fermentative microorganisms can bind to proteins and minerals to form soluble, easy-to-absorb products. This is why the nutritional value of fermented foods drastically increases after fermentation.
Another good thing about this acid-nutrient interaction is that it prevents phytate, a well-known antinutrient found in seeds, grains and legumes, from forming insoluble complexes with proteins and minerals. This ensures that your body can efficiently absorb all the nutrients present in fermented foods like miso. [14]
To give you an idea just how nutrient-dense organic miso is, here’s what you can get from a 100-gram (g) serving of this superfood: [15]
- Protein, 12.79 g
- Dietary fiber, 5.4 g
- Healthy fats (polyunsaturated), 2.88 g
- Healthy fats (monounsaturated) 1.12 g
- Choline, 72.2 mg
- Cobalamin (vitamin B12), 3% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Folate (vitamin B9), 5% of the DV
- Niacin (vitamin B3), 6% of the DV
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), 7% of the DV
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6), 12% of the DV
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2), 18% of the DV
- Thiamin (vitamin B1), 8% of the DV
- Vitamin A (beta carotene), 2% of the DV
- Vitamin K, 24% of the DV
- Calcium, 4% of the DV
- Copper, 47% of the DV
- Iron, 14% of the DV
- Magnesium, 12% of the DV
- Manganese, 37% of the DV
- Phosphorus, 23% of the DV
- Potassium, 4% of the DV
- Selenium, 13% of the DV
- Zinc, 23% of the DV
It’s worth noting that organic miso is an excellent source of vitamin B12 for vegans and vegetarians. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient not found naturally in plant-based foods. [16] Organic miso contains substantial amounts of vitamin B12 because Aspergillus oryzae, the fungus used to ferment soybeans, is well-equipped to synthesize riboflavin. [17]
The presence of vitamin B12 and other B-vitamins in organic miso makes it a great energizing survival food. According to studies, B-vitamins are heavily involved in energy release. [18] Organic miso happens to have all eight B-vitamins (including biotin) that are known to help your body convert the food you eat into fuel for your cells. [19][20]
Aside from supporting healthy energy levels, the B-vitamins in organic miso can also do wonders for your nervous system and mood. Vitamin B1 supports the healthy production of acetylcholine, the main chemical messenger used by your brain and motor neurons. [21] Vitamins B6 and B12, on the other hand, are important for the maintenance of healthy nerves as well as the production of brain chemicals that affect mood. [22][23][24]
In addition to vitamin B1, organic miso contains another crucial nutrient for the production of acetylcholine: choline. Like B vitamins, choline can support a healthy brain and nervous system. [25] In fact, the acetylcholine produced from choline can support optimal cognitive functions like attention, learning and memory. [26]
Organic miso also offers benefits for your digestive and immune systems. As a product of fermentation, miso contains millions of beneficial microorganisms called probiotics. These probiotics are good for your gut because they can help balance the composition of your intestinal microflora.
When you eat fermented foods like organic miso, you introduce new or similar probiotics to your gut. At the same time, you feed the probiotics in your gut with dietary fiber, which allows them to thrive and produce health-supporting compounds like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs not only nourish the cells in your colon, but they also support optimal immune function and help maintain the integrity of your gut’s protective barrier. [27][28]
Adding organic miso to your diet can also help you achieve reasonable weight management goals, especially if you combine it with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. This is because of organic miso’s protein and fiber content, which can help you feel full for longer. [29][30] This is extremely helpful for people looking to reduce their food intake and avoid unhealthy snacking.
To recap, here are 8 good reasons why organic miso is an exceptional survival food:*
- Provides plenty of bioavailable nutrients
- Supports healthy digestive function
- Supports healthy immune function
- Supports healthy nerve function
- Supports healthy brain function
- Supports healthy energy levels
- Supports sensible weight management goals
- Supports a positive mood
Where to get clean, lab-verified Freeze-dried Organic Yellow Miso Powder in #10 Cans
Fermented foods are some of the healthiest and most nutritious, shelf-stable foods you can incorporate into your diet, which is why they are excellent additions to your emergency food stockpile.
When SHTF, you need a reliable source of energy and nutrition to keep your body and mind in top condition. Fermented foods like organic miso are packed with all the right nutrients to support healthy energy levels as well as optimal brain performance.
So if you’re looking to include this superfood in your survival pantry, check out Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Yellow Miso in #10 Can. Our premium yellow miso powder is made from high-quality ingredients like organic soybeans and organic rice fermented with Aspergillus oryzae. Its mild, earthy flavor is perfect for broths, condiments, soups, marinades, dressing and glazes.
Fresh miso paste, when stored properly, can last for up to one year, thanks to fermentation. [31] But we took it a step further and carefully freeze-dried our organic yellow miso to give you a well-preserved product with the same high nutrient content but a much longer shelf life. When kept in a cool, dark place with low humidity, Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Yellow Miso in #10 Can can last 10-15 years.
Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Yellow Miso in #10 Can is entirely made in the USA and lab verified for cleanliness and purity. It is available in a freeze-dried powder format and sealed in #10 cans for convenience, storability and to preserve its nutritional quality. Our yellow miso powder is also vegan, non-GMO, non-China, certified Kosher and organic, and extensively lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Ensure good nutrition and increase your chance of survival when SHTF by adding Organic Yellow Miso to your survival food stockpile!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[1] https://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk
[2] https://journals.sagepub.com
[3] https://www.benenden.co.uk
[4] https://blog.uvahealth.com
[5] https://www.sciencealert.com
[6] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
[7] https://www.marukome.co.jp
[8] https://www.bbcgoodfood.com
[9] https://www.healthline.com
[10] https://www.thekitchn.com
[11] https://cravingsofafoodscientist.com
[13] https://www.mdpi.com
[14] https://www.healthline.com
[15] https://www.nutritionvalue.org
[16] https://www.nhs.uk
[17] https://journals.iucr.org
[19] https://www.thymetogovegannutritionservices.com
[20] https://www.healthline.com
[21] https://www.onegreenplanet.org
[22] https://www.healthline.com
[23] https://www.frontiersin.org
[24] https://www.mayoclinic.org
[26] https://www.verywellmind.com
[27] https://www.healthline.com
[28] https://www.tandfonline.com
[30] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[31] https://hikarimiso.com
