An actual SUPERFOOD! Umeboshi is sun-dried and salted fruits with red shiso (perilla) leaves which works to burn fat, fight fatigue, detox your body, and act as a natural flu medicine!
Also known as the Samurai’s Red Bull, Umeboshi was first brought to Japan around 1500 years ago as a medicine and was used as a healthy tonic, food preservative, antibacterial aid, and as an energy enhancer for Samurai warriors during the war periods.
An actual Superfood: Umeboshi is packed with nutritional value
But what’s in Umeboshi?
Umeboshi plums contain trace amounts of vitamin C, iron, potassium, and calcium. However umeboshi is well known for organic acids especially its high citric acid content. Umeboshi contains more citric acid than lemons and other food products which can act as a/an:
- Powerful alkaliser
- Fatigue and muscle pain fighter – lactic acid is a waste product that causes fatigue and muscle soreness. Citric acid helps to break down lactic acid as well as preventing production of lactic acid. Citric acid is also an intermediary in the energy-releasing pathway called citric acid cycle. Citric acid cycle produces energy, the more citric acid, the faster the cycle, meaning it allows your body to produce energy faster
- Body fat burner by increasing metabolism
- Stomach acid activator
- Mineral absorption assistant
- Intestinal function regulator
A Natural Flu Medicine
The natural organic acids contained in Umeboshi means there are antibacterial properties that work to strengthen your body’s resistance to cough, cold, flu, fever and a sore throat by destroying the bad bacteria before an infection can develop. Umeboshi simultaneously improves appetite as well as it helps digestion, making it SUPER beneficial to have Umeboshi when you are sick. Traditionally, in Japan, rice porridge and Umeboshi is the typical food for those who are sick.
The RIGHT Umeboshi
The real, traditional Umeboshi are naturally sun-dried, however, much of the Umeboshi you can buy today are soaked in a solution that contains A LOT of MSG and sugar – NASTIES! These Umeboshi will NOT be any good for you or your health so make sure to check the label of the Umeboshi in case you pick up the wrong ones! If in doubt, the Umeboshi you can buy from health food stores are usually reliable and don’t have nasties in them!
Umeboshi under the sun
Unfortunately, in most cases today, being able to identify whether Umeboshi is sun-dried requires you to be able to read Japanese. But ALWAYS double check the labelling of the Umeboshi in case there is more information about whether it is sun-dried or soaked in a nasty solution…
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