Stay Healthy and Noodle On: How Soba Noodles Supercharge Your Immune System 

There are many different types of noodles in this world, but what is your favorite?

Japanese soba is a popular noodle dish that is eaten all year round: cold in summer and with warm broth in winter.
Soba is thus eaten on a daily basis in Japan, but did you know that soba is extremely beneficial to your health?

LPS (lipopolysaccharide) has been attracting attention for its potential to boost immunity. It is said to be especially abundant in foods such as bricks, brown rice, spinach, and seaweed, but did you know that buckwheat is also rich in LPS? It is also known that buckwheat has other exciting effects on the immune system. Therefore, in this article, we will introduce the benefits of buckwheat for boosting immunity and effective ways to eat buckwheat.

Buckwheat contains high levels of LPS

To begin with, LPS (lipopolysaccharide) is a substance found on the outside of cells of a type of bacteria called gram-negative bacteria. In terms of immunity, it is noted for its ability to activate immune cells called "macrophages. Macrophages are cells that are responsible for eliminating pathogens and foreign substances that have invaded the body, so eating buckwheat rich in LPS activates macrophages, leading to increased immunity and a healthy body.

In addition to LPS, buckwheat has other immune-boosting points.

 Rutin's antioxidant properties

First, buckwheat contains rutin. Rutin has antioxidant properties and helps improve immunity by inhibiting active oxygen species that try to damage cells in the body. ROS are produced in the body through daily breathing and can cause diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Furthermore, rutin promotes the absorption of antioxidant vitamins, which is also said to improve immunity.

Rutin is also said to repair and strengthen blood vessels that are about to break, lower blood pressure, and smooth blood flow. Improved blood flow allows white blood cells, which have immune functions, to circulate fully in the body, making it easier to detect pathogens and viruses in the body, which in turn leads to improved immunity.

How to Eat Soba for Better Immunity

In addition to being rich in LPS, buckwheat is also expected to have a variety of other immune-boosting benefits. To further boost immunity, let's add a twist to the way you eat buckwheat.

Choose dark-colored buckwheat noodles

To obtain plenty of LPS, choose dark-colored buckwheat noodles that have been ground with the skin intact.

Eat Jyuwari Soba

Nihachi Soba, for example, is made of 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour, and is not 100% buckwheat flour. Therefore, if you expect buckwheat to boost your immune system, it is recommended to eat jyuwari soba, which contains a lot of buckwheat flour.

Eat with mushrooms

Mushrooms contain β-glucan, which supports the activation of immune cells. β-glucan itself is a dietary fiber that activates immune cells in the intestines, and its intake can enhance immunity.

In other words, buckwheat and mushrooms, which contain LPS, each have their own effect on improving immune function, so taking them together can be expected to improve immunity at a higher level.

Soba is not only a delicious noodle but also a very healthy food.
Let's enjoy 100% buckwheat noodles with mushrooms and other ingredients to survive the cold season!