Just like any other Japanese restaurant, Federal Way’s own Akasaka provides soy sauce to help spice up your dining experience. It’s easy to think of it as another oily, salty condiment that should be forgone by anybody on a proper diet. However, before you write off the murky brown bottle, perhaps you would care to learn of the many health benefits contained therein.
It is true that soy sauce can be high in sodium, which can be bad for people fighting high blood pressure. However, it’s also worth noting that the sauce’s strong flavor allows you to use very little of it, and you may in fact come out ahead by favoring it over a salt shaker. And that’s without even factoring in the vitamins and minerals found in soy sauce.
Soy sauce originated as a byproduct of the process of fermenting soybeans into miso and, as any good health nut should know, soybeans are packed with nutritional value. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that soy sauce managed to make off with some of this as well. Firstly, soy sauce contains niacin, which is great for heart health. It regulates fat content in the blood stream and promotes the production of the good variety of cholesterol. Considering that soy sauce contains a scant ten calories per tablespoon, its niacin levels are deemed quite high.
Additionally, soy sauce contains some trace antioxidants and a good supply of tryptophan. These work to promote health, facilitate sleep, and even improve your mood. All in all, a little bit of soy sauce goes a long way.