Why amazake is recommended in the cold season | Ren MURO, a specialty store of rice malt and amazake [official mail order]

Hello, this is Suzuki from Ren MURO Kagurazaka.

It got really cold, so I took something warm and soaked in the bathtub,
Isn't there a lot of people who are conscious of ′′ warm life ′′?

Recently, I've gotten into the habit of drinking hot milk amazake every morning to warm up my body.

The number of customers who come to the store because they want to drink amazake because it is getting colder is increasing, and more and more people are buying ginger amazake in particular.

[Amazake is a summer drink? winter drink? ]

Amazake is known as a season word for summer because it has long been popular with the common people as a way to prevent summer fatigue.
On the other hand, since amazake is served at shrines during the New Year, many people think of it as a winter drink.

There is a theory that amazake, which men and women of all ages can drink, was served at shrines instead of medicinal liquor called ``Otoso'', which is drunk to pray for good health for the year.
It is said that Amano Tamusake, which is believed to be the origin of amazake, was offered to the gods at the Niiname Festival, and is said to have a deep connection with the shrine.

Amazake is a drink made from rice that has been associated with Japanese people for a long time.
It has been popular as a familiar existence that protects people's health throughout the year, and as a sacred item that is served at celebrations.

[Nutritional reasons for recommending amazake in winter]

Drinking hot amazake warms your body.

Drinking something warm simply warms the body, but there is actually a reason why amazake warms the body.

Rice malt amazake is a fermented food that is fermented with the power of koji mold, just like miso and soy sauce.

Aspergillus oryzae converts starch and protein into sugar and amino acids in the process of fermentation, turning them into sweet and delicious foods.
It produces many times more B vitamins than rice.

The B vitamins metabolize (decompose) carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids to produce energy for the body.

Therefore, amazake, which contains B vitamins, is the perfect food to warm your body.

In addition, vitamin B group and amino acids have the effect of creating blood and promoting blood circulation, so when blood circulation improves, body temperature naturally rises.

However, it is difficult to feel the effect of amazake that has been chilled in the refrigerator.
I would like you to experience the warming effect of warm amazake.

[Intestinal warm activity with amazake]

“Enteral activity” is a word that is a combination of “enteric activity” and “warm activity”.

Among the warm activities, “intestinal warm activity” that warms the intestines is attracting particular attention.

The intestines are not very good at cold.

It is said that when the stomach gets cold, the intestines become cold, which leads to the deterioration of intestinal function, such as constipation and deterioration of the intestinal environment.

In addition, since immune cells that control human immunity are concentrated in the intestines, "intestinal warm activity" is important in order to activate these functions.

Warm up your whole body and stomach with moderate exercise, bathing, and using a belly band,
Taking warm things and things that warm your body are connected to your intestinal life.

Crops and root vegetables grown in cold regions and warm-colored foods are foods that warm the body.
As mentioned above, fermented foods such as amazake also warm the body.

It is said that eating fermented foods increases the number of good bacteria in the intestines, which increases the movement of the intestines and raises the temperature in the intestines.

In the cold season when the body tends to get cold, it is even more effective to combine hot amazake with ingredients that warm the body.

For example, you can add ginger or cocoa to hot amazake, combine it with black tea, which is fermented tea, or add grated apple or yuzu fruit, which has a warming effect.

≪Apple x Amazake≫

Put 1/2 apple and about 250cc of amazake in a small pot and heat until just before boiling.
If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon powder or ginger powder and enjoy.

≪Yuzu × Amazake≫

Dilute the amazake with hot water to your desired concentration, and squeeze the yuzu juice.
Adding a small amount of grated skin will enhance the flavor even more.

Amazake, which leads to “intestinal activity”, also leads to “warm activity”, and is exactly the perfect food for “intestinal activity”.

For those who have an image that seems difficult when they hear the word “enteronkatsu”,
With amazake, which is easy to incorporate into your daily life as a drink, you may be able to make a habit of “entertainment activity” every day.

You can improve your physical condition by living a healthy life while steadily incorporating things that are good for your body.

While taking care of the small discomforts you feel in your daily life, such as coldness, constipation, and fatigue,
I want to spend every day in good health even in the cold season.

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Author: Store staff/administrative dietitian After graduating from university, engaged in nutrition management and nutrition guidance at a hospital for about 5 years.
After that, he worked as a nutrition teacher at a high school and a university.
After coming to Kanto due to my husband's job transfer, I am working as an exclusive registered dietitian at a store specializing in amazake.
I am maintaining remission of my ulcerative colitis with my daily amazake life.

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