The Japanese Longevity Food You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

When we talk about Japanese longevity, certain things tend to come up again and again: green tea, fish, walking, fermented foods, smaller portions and the concept of ikigai. But there is another traditional Japanese food that gets considerably less attention in the West. It's called natto. If you've ever seen it, you probably remember it. Natto is made from fermented soybeans and has a very distinctive sticky, stringy texture and strong smell. It's certainly not the easiest Japanese food to introduce to a Western breakfast table. But nutritionally, natto is fascinating. It contains protein, fiber, vitamin K2 and various compounds produced during fermentation. Most interestingly for longevity, natto is the natural source of an enzyme called nattokinase, which has become increasingly studied for its potential effects on cardiovascular health...