You may remember a little while ago I wrote a blog post about ‘Umeboshi- the fatigue fighter’, well today I wanted to go a little more in depth about why umeboshi is so fabulous and all the other health benefits it has.
Umeboshi quite literally translates to ‘dried plum’. Whilst it may taste deceivingly acidic it is a very high alkalising food, that has been used in Japanese medicine for over 1,500 years.
You can buy it in modern society in three different forms, the plums themselves, puree or as vinegar. I love umeboshi so much, that if I was to pick ‘My Last Meal’ it would be rice with nori and umeboshi (puree or plum) and even better with miso soup.
‘My Last Meal’ – umeboshi rice ball
Due to its extremely salty flavour it is commonly eaten with rice, pasta, Japanese noodles, vegetables and white meats (chicken and fish). Due to the high sodium content, remember to only consume in moderation.
Why is it so good for you?
Powerful alkaliser
- Neutralises acid in the body, referred to as the ‘King of Alkalising Foods’ in Japan.
Fatigue fighter
- The abundance of citric acid is crucial to creating energy and breaking down lactic acid.
Muscle pain remover
- Lactic acid is central cause of muscle fatigue and soreness, umeboshi’s ability to break down this acid is important to relieving muscle pain.
Fantastic detoxifier
- Umeboshi also contains picric acid, which improves and stimulates the liver functions to help clean out toxins from your body. This alongside its powerful alkalising properties help to detox the body.
Hangover prevention and cure
- Umeboshi has been used in the Japanese culture for many years to help cure and prevent a hangover due to its detoxing ability and cleansing of the liver.
Blood cleanser
- Linking again to the alkalising impact, blood that is alkalised is healthy and flows around you body better.
Natural flu medicine
- Umeboshi has incredible anti-bacterial properties and strengthens the bodies ability to fight bad bacteria that leads to viruses or infections. If you are feeling sick in Japan, rice porridge with umeboshi is a common food you eat.
Happy tummy
- Often used in Japan to treat digestive related issues, including constipation, diarrhoea, motion sickness, morning sickness and lack of appetite. It also acts to reduce acid in the stomach to help indigestion.
SO next time you are cooking, you could think about using umeboshi to take advantage of the amazing health benefits it has.
Happy cooking!
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