More health benefits uncovered about natto

I'm really not the biggest fan of natto (tried it once and vowed never again), but some news I read this week might have me trying to reconsider that.

A recent study found that older adults who eat natto at least twice a week tend to have lower rates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and depressive symptoms. Researchers from Mizkan Holdings and Kagoshima University analyzed health data from 616 people aged 65 and over in Tarumizu, Kagoshima Prefecture, an area where natto consumption is particularly common.

Among those who were eating natto at least twice a week, the likelihood of both MCI and depressive symptoms was around 37% lower than among those eating it less frequently.

As someone who has spent years in Japan, I've become accustomed to plenty of foods I wouldn't have touched before moving here, but natto remains in the struggle street category for me. Still, I'll admit, this news has me trying to find ways to incorporate it into my diet more regularly...almost medicinal in nature rather than something I need to enjoy the taste of, perhaps.