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Miso Benefits (Ayurveda Insights)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CONSTITUTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS

Miso is a fermented salty soup. Soups are warm and hydrating. Sour increases all secretions in the body, liquefying Vata stuck in the GI and elsewhere.

Kapha and Pitta beware of high salt content. When used appriopriately salt can be one of the most powerful medicinal 'herbs' for Vata. It encourages a dry colon to stay moist allowing for easy flow of the bowels. Salt also encourages water retention and raises blood pressure.

Ferments in general (alcohol, bread, yogurt, cheese, etc) pacfiy Vata but increase Pitta and Kapha. Since they contain the metabolic by products of bacteria (i.e. bacteria poop!), overuse reduces quality of the blood.

About Miso

Like a salty bean cheese, tangy and sour with a funk. Used mainly in soups as a flavorful stock.

Cooking Miso

Add a sweetener like honey if the taste of miso is too strong (or dilute with water).

Buying & Preparation

Sold in red, yellow and many other varieties near the Tempeh section in health food stores.

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Is Miso a Good Match for My Body?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Miso' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual. In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years, you shape your family's lifelong health.

Understanding your child's constitution is key to raising resilience, instead of wiring in disease. Study constitutional medicine to discover the keys to personalized nourishment.

Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine, constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body, so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance. See How it Works.

Medicinal Effects of Miso

Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, herbs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

SALTY

ABOUT SALTY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Salty refers to anything with salt, or high mineral content.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SALTY

SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Miso
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Energy Vitality:
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Miso

  • Turbinado

    Turbinado has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Rice Flour

    Rice Flour has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Date Sugar

    Date Sugar has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Sucanat

    Sucanat has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Kiwi

    Kiwi has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Egg Whites

    Egg Whites has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Vegetable Stock

    Vegetable Stock has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Dulse

    Dulse has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Goat Milk

    Goat Milk has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Bone Broth

    Bone Broth has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Apricot (fresh)

    Apricot (fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Miso

  • Cordyceps

    Cordyceps has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Asparagus root

    Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Sukumaram Ghrita

    Sukumaram Ghrita has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Sea buckthorn

    Sea buckthorn has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Slippery Elm

    Slippery Elm has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Kshirabala Taila

    Kshirabala Taila has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Massage with Oils

    Massage with Oils has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Pitta Massage Oil

    Pitta Massage Oil has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha Ghee

    Ashwagandha Ghee has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Joint Balm

    Joint Balm has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Safed Musali

    Safed Musali has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

Miso - Metabolic Impact Report

The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at the Joyful Belly College of Natural Health Sciences. These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation. In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects. See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.

TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION

How did Miso affect your temperature?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 2
 11
 16
 3
Much colderSlightly colderSameSlightly warmerMuch warmer
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your sweat quantity?

30
24
18
12
6
0
1
 1
 25
 5
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your appetite/hunger?

15
12
9
6
3
0
3
 11
 8
 9
 1
Much less hungrySlightly less hungrySameSlightly hungrierMuch hungrier
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your digestion speed?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 8
 16
 6
 1
Much fasterSlightly fasterSameSlightly slowerMuch slower
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

TOXINS

How did Miso affect the amount of gas & bloating?

17
14
11
8
5
2
4
 6
 13
 6
 3
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your stool smell?

26
21
16
11
6
1
2
 2
 23
 2
 3
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

Tongue: How did Miso affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 4
 17
 11
 0
Much smallerSlightly lessSameSlightly larger coatingMuch larger
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect the color of your tongue coating?

20
16
12
8
4
0
7
 2
 1
 8
 14
YellowerBrownerGrayerWhiterNo Change
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your urine smell?

30
24
18
12
6
0
1
 1
 27
 3
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

30
24
18
12
6
0
0
 1
 27
 4
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMany more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your sweat smell?

30
24
18
12
6
0
0
 4
 23
 3
 1
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 31 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

HYDRATION

How did Miso affect your urine frequency/quantity?

25
20
15
10
5
0
1
 3
 20
 8
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

NERVOUS-SYSTEM

How did Miso affect your energy levels?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 8
 15
 9
 0
Much less energySlightly lessSameSlightly more energyMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your muscle tension?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 9
 15
 5
 2
Much less tensionSlightly lessSameSlightly more tensionMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your anxiety?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 14
 12
 5
 0
Much less anxietySlightly lessSameSlightly more anxietyMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

DIGESTION

How did Miso affect your appetite/hunger?

15
12
9
6
3
0
3
 11
 8
 9
 1
Much less hungrySlightly less hungrySameSlightly hungrierMuch hungrier
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect the amount of gas & bloating?

17
14
11
8
5
2
4
 6
 13
 6
 3
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your digestion speed?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 8
 16
 6
 1
Much fasterSlightly fasterSameSlightly slowerMuch slower
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

TONGUE

How did Miso affect the color of your tongue coating?

20
16
12
8
4
0
7
 2
 1
 8
 14
YellowerBrownerGrayerWhiterNo Change
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

Tongue: How did Miso affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 4
 17
 11
 0
Much smallerSlightly lessSameSlightly larger coatingMuch larger
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

STOOL

How did Miso affect your stool color?

30
24
18
12
6
0
6
 1
 1
 1
 23
More yellowMore grayMore greenMore orangeSame
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your stool consistency?

20
16
12
8
4
0
2
 9
 14
 7
 0
Much softerSlightly softerSameSlightly harderMuch harder
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your stool lightness?

25
20
15
10
5
0
1
 9
 19
 3
 0
Much lighterSlightly lighterSameSlightly darkerMuch darker
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your stool frequency/quantity?

20
16
12
8
4
0
3
 5
 17
 6
 1
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your stool smell?

26
21
16
11
6
1
2
 2
 23
 2
 3
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

URINE

How did Miso affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

30
24
18
12
6
0
0
 1
 27
 4
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMany more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your urine lightness?

25
20
15
10
5
0
2
 6
 21
 3
 0
Much lighterSlightly lighterSameSlightly DarkerMuch Darker
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your urine clarity?

27
22
17
12
7
2
3
 21
 8
More cloudySameMore clear
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your urine frequency/quantity?

25
20
15
10
5
0
1
 3
 20
 8
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your urine smell?

30
24
18
12
6
0
1
 1
 27
 3
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

SWEAT

How did Miso affect your sweat quantity?

30
24
18
12
6
0
1
 1
 25
 5
 0
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your sweat smell?

30
24
18
12
6
0
0
 4
 23
 3
 1
Much lessSlightly lessSameSlightly moreMuch more
Total Responses: 31 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

SYSTEMIC

How did Miso affect your anxiety?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 14
 12
 5
 0
Much less anxietySlightly lessSameSlightly more anxietyMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your energy levels?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 8
 15
 9
 0
Much less energySlightly lessSameSlightly more energyMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your temperature?

20
16
12
8
4
0
0
 2
 11
 16
 3
Much colderSlightly colderSameSlightly warmerMuch warmer
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

How did Miso affect your muscle tension?

20
16
12
8
4
0
1
 9
 15
 5
 2
Much less tensionSlightly lessSameSlightly more tensionMuch more
Total Responses: 32 REPORT ID:24 (2020-10-01 - 2020-10-25)

Note: These exercises are not part of an FDA-regulated study, and were not designed or conducted under a clinical research protocol. They are neither investigational in nature nor scientific findings. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They are experiential assignments rooted in traditional Ayurvedic education, intended solely for instructional use. No conclusions should be drawn regarding the therapeutic effects of any food, herb, or dietary substance based on these student reflections.


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Miso may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual and constitution. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

View other ingredients
for Autumn-Winter

Miso is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter foods here.
VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

Constitutional Nutrition: Strengthen Your Health Naturally

When your dietary choices align with your individual nature (constitution), it supports your metabolism, energy, and health naturally. A personalized diet, fitting to your constitution, leverages your natural strengths while gently supporting your body where it's vulnerable.

Constitutional nutrition is especially beneficial for digestion, a foundational pillar of health influencing your entire well-being. Balanced digestion fortifies your body's natural defenses against illness and enhances your resilience when illness does arise. A healthy digestive fire (*agni*) eases discomfort, speeds recovery, and naturally uplifts your mood.

By embracing constitutional nutrition, you will soon experience a profound sense of renewal, vitality, and inner strength.

CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine). His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC

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