Can anyone tell me how to order Natto Beans? Anyone doing research on
Natto? Any updates... Many interesting developments are coming out of
this. Thanks...

Natto is claimed to have many medical benefits, and Japanese often say
that eating natto is good for your health. Some of these claims are
backed by medical research. Natto for example contains a compound
Pyrazine, which not only gives natto its distinct smell, but also
reduces the likelihood of blood clotting. An enzyme nattokinase may
also reduce blood clotting both by direct fibrinolysis of clots, and
inhibition of the plasma protein plasminogen activator inhibitor 1.
This may help to avoid thrombosis, as for example in heart attacks,
pulmonary embolism, or strokes. An extract from natto containing
nattokinase is available as a dietary supplement. Studies have shown
that oral administration of nattokinase leads to a mild enhancement of
fibrinolytic activity in rats and dogs. It is therefore plausible to
hypothesize that nattokinase might reduce blood clots in humans,
although clinical trials have not been conducted.

Natto also contains large amounts of Vitamin K, which is involved in
the formation of calcium-binding groups in proteins, assisting the
formation of bone, and preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin K1 is found
naturally in seaweed, liver and some vegetables, while vitamin K2 is
found in fermented food products like cheese and miso. Natto has very
large amounts of vitamin K2, approximately 870 micrograms per 100g of
natto.

Natto also contains many chemicals alleged to prevent cancer, as for
example daidzein, genistein, infrabin, phytoestrogen, and the chemical
element selenium. However, most of these chemicals can also be found in
other soy bean products, and their effect on cancer prevention is
uncertain at best. Some sources also claim that natto has a
cholesterol-lowering effect.

Natto is also said to have an antibiotic effect, and was used as
medicine against dysentery by the Imperial Japanese Army before World
War II. Furthermore, natto is said to improve digestion, reduce the
effects of aging, and to prevent obesity, although this seems to be
based only on an analysis of the chemicals contained in natto, and not
on any medical study.
Natto is also sometimes used as an ingredient of pet food, and it is
claimed that this improves the health of the pets. The animals also
don't seem to mind the smell and sliminess of natto.

Matthias Robin Wang Heng Teck
Undergraduate Student
Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition
Kansas State University