Mindful Miso

Miso is one of those flavours that people either love or hate. Personally, I absolutely adore it. It’s that perfect level of salty and sour and umami that I crave when my body is in balance. It’s a fermented bean soup or stock either drunk on its own or used to make stew or broth. In general, miso is warm and hydrating and is therefore wonderful for Autumn or Winter. The sour qualities increase all of the body’s secretions, thus ridding the body of unwanted congestion or mucus. Vata that is stuck in the gut is liquefied and expelled- again, great for the windy Autumn time, and also great for Vata perimenopause symptoms!

There is a big HOWEVER attached to miso though, and that is that people with high Pitta or Kapha should use it with care. Kapha people in general have enough bodily secretions and moisture, so they don’t need any more! People with a Pitta dominance should also exercise caution as miso is a fermented food, and fermented things in general (alcohol, cheese, bread made with yeast, yoghurt etc.) can reduce the quality of the blood as they contain the metabolic by-products of bacteria. This can show up in skin flare ups or irritability in the first instance.

The saltiness of miso is something Pitta and Kapha can be aware of (and highly attracted to if they are already a little imbalanced!), but that Vata types can embrace. Salt can be incredibly therapeutic for Vata types when used appropriately as it moistens a dry digestive tract and colon. Vata types may need a slight rise in blood pressure or a little more water retention, but it is clear why this is not useful for Pitta or Kapha types. If you are quite Vata-y (is that a word?!) and you experience cravings or a slump mid-afternoon, then a cup of miso rather than a cup of coffee may be a little lifestyle change you can make if you like the taste. I love it as a drink and have done for years, but have only recently gotten into cooking with it too. I made a lovely green vegetable stew/broth type of dish the other day expecting to be the only one who liked it, but both of my girls absolutely adored it, and it even got taken out on a picnic the following day! Who knew?