What is Nattokinase?
One of the most powerful naturally occurring enzymes is nattokinase, which can be found in natto, the traditional Japanese delicacy. In preparation of natto, the bacteria Bacillus subtilis natto is used to ferment soybeans. Also identified around the world for the health benefits it provides, natto-kinase is a nutraceutical that promotes cardiovascular health and overall wellness. It has become very popular as a natural way of improving heart health owing to its function of being a potent anticoagulant and an angiogenic factor.
History and Discovery of Nattokinase
This enzyme was found by Japanese researcher Dr. Hiroyuki Sum, who was studying all the natural products that can dissolve blood clots and perhaps promote good health. Dr. After some laboratory experiments conducted in 1980, Sumi found that natto has high fibrinolytic activity and named this substance nattokinase. He laid the foundation for cardiovascular support from natural origins that his successors built on and continue to firmly stand on today.
Natto has been common in Japan for over a thousand years and hasn’t only been a regular ingredient. The unique smell from natto, as well as the sticky texture, is indeed healthy for consumers by providing better immunity plus the digestion system. Natto-kinase was discovered when a common meal became a health supplement substantiated by scientific research.
How Nattokinase Works
Like any other fibrinolytic enzyme, nattokinase helps dissolve fibrin, a protein essential in the clotting of blood. This special quality is helping me maintain normal blood circulation and decrease my chances of getting diseases like stroke or DVT.
It works as the enzyme that ramps up the body’s intrinsic capability of lysing blood clots. This is achieved by increasing the activity of plasmin, the chief enzyme that degrades fibrin in body fluids. Moreover, natto-kinase prevents the formation of an overabundance of clots by inhibiting plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).
Health Benefits of Nattokinase
1. Cardiovascular Support
The first merit that comes out of it is that nattokinase enhances cardiovascular health and function in the heart. This eases blood pressure and reduces the incidence of blood clots; hence, it reduces the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
2. Natural Blood Thinner
Athletes willingly take natto-kinase because it is a safer option than the synthetic blood-thinning prescription drugs that come with nauseating side effects. It makes it easier for the blood circulating around the body to circulate by reducing the blood viscosity gradually.
3. Reduces Blood Pressure
From the current research, it has been found that nattokinase may help lower blood pressure by improving the flexibility of the blood vessels and lessening the stiffness of the arteries. Self-regulation and blood pressure regulation can effectively work hand in hand, and thus it is an effective herb for people with high blood pressure.
4. Anti-inflammatory Properties
Of all the cardiovascular benefits of nattokinase, one is its anti-inflammatory function. Decreasing the level of inflammation can foster beneficial heart health since inflammation is a leading cause of heart illness.
5. Supports Brain Health
Natto-kinase enhances circulation, which transports nutrients and oxygen to the brain in adequate quantity. Besides, this may reduce the risk of individuals getting neurodegenerative diseases, diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Scientific Research on Nattokinase
Numerous investigations into the health advantages of nattokinase have produced strong scientific evidence in favor of its use:
- Blood Clot Dissolution: Some research, published in Scientific Reports in general, found out that natto-kinase was a perfect fibrinolytic agent to unclot blood.
- Blood Pressure Reduction: Based on research wrapped up in Hypertension Research, Nattokinase supplements reduced the blood pressure of hypertensive subjects to a great extent.
- Cardiovascular Health: Natto-kinase’s function in lessening the formation of arterial plaque and improving lipid profile was highlighted in the Journal of Functional Foods.
How to Use Nattokinase
Dosage Recommendations
Common natto-kinase intake is within 100–200 mg per day, and since 1,000–2,000 FU can be found in 100 mg of nattokinase, the dose ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 FU. It is recommended that one stick to the manufacturer’s instructions or consult the … among health professionals.
Best Time to Take Nattokinase
Natto-kinase supplements should ideally be taken in an estrogen environment; they are most effective when taken two hours after a meal or half an hour before the later meal.
Safety and Precautions
However, regarding the majority of consumers, nattokinase is usually considered to be harmless. Nonetheless, a few safety measures should be followed:
- Avoid During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Nattokinase supplements should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, as there is little evidence on the safe use of these supplements.
- Interactions with Medications: Nattokinase may therefore interact with blood-thinning drugs such as clopidogrel, aspirin, and warfarin. This product should not be used without first consulting a health care practitioner.
- Bleeding Disorders: Since natto-kinase has fibrinolytic action, it should be taken carefully by people with bleeding disorders.
Nattokinase vs. Other Enzymes
As with any other enzymes that share similar benefits, including lumbrokinase and serrapeptase, natto-kinase is often compared with. While all three enzymes show influences of fibrinolysis, nattokinase stands for a different source and operation mechanism. Lumbrokinase comes from earthworms, and serrapeptase comes from silkworms. The use of nattokinase is also popular because it has been used for generations in Japanese herbal medicine.
Where to Buy Nattokinase
Nattokinase is available over the counter from pharmacies, health food stores, and over the internet. Choose coming from natto-kinase products some reliable suppliers that they carry out third-party testing of the risks available for purity and quality. Thus, to be sure of the effectiveness of the supplement, search for the enzyme’s concentration in fibrinolytic units (FU).
Conclusion
Nattokinase is a great enzyme that has numerous health benefits, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is a useful addition to any health promotion effort due to its natural origin, very potent fibrinolytic properties, and lack of negative side effects reported. It is quite possible to generate great content that educates readers and gets good ranking from search engines through optimization. This will lead to approval into Google AdSense and much more relevant traffic into the site.
This way, not only might you find out about the potential benefits of natto-kinase for your health, but you will also contribute to increasing people’s familiarity with other non-pharmacological approaches to maintaining excellent health.