Koso (drink) facts for kids
Koso, also known as koso drink in Japan, is a special Japanese fermented drink. It is made by fermenting raw ingredients like fruits and vegetables. This fermentation process creates natural enzymes, good bacteria, and tiny living things called microorganisms from the ingredients.
The word "Koso" actually means "enzyme" in Japanese. Sometimes, people just call the drink "Koso" for short.
How Koso Helps Your Body
Koso drinks are thought to be good for your health, especially for your gut. Your gut has many tiny living things, like good bacteria, which are called "gut flora." Koso helps these good bacteria because it contains enzymes and microorganisms.
Koso drinks can help your body in three main ways:
- First, the nutrients in Koso are easier for your body to absorb. This is because the enzymes and microorganisms in the drink help break down the food during digestion.
- Second, during fermentation, the enzymes and microorganisms can create new vitamins and other helpful substances that weren't in the original fruits and vegetables.
- Finally, Koso contains nutrients that feed the good microbes in your body. This helps create a healthy environment in your intestines.
The Story of Koso
People started making and selling Koso in Japan about 100 years ago.
Back then, it was used as a supplement for people who worked very hard and didn't get enough nutrients. Today, Koso is part of daily life. It's used not only to help with nutrition but also to support healthy digestion.
How Koso is Made
Making Koso usually involves mixing vegetables and fruits with sugar. This mixture then ferments for several weeks or even years. This fermentation happens thanks to the natural enzymes in the ingredients, along with yeast and lactic acid bacteria.
Koso is similar to kombucha because both are fed with sugar and fermented. However, Koso uses different ingredients. This gives Koso a very different taste and nutritional content compared to kombucha.
Research on Koso
Scientists have studied Koso to understand its health benefits. For example, a study in the Journal of Food and Drug Analysis in 2016 suggested that fermented plant extract beverages like Koso might help with high cholesterol.
Another study from Okayama Prefectural University in 2003 found that enzyme drinks allow people to consume many different plants at once. Also, the microbial fermentation makes it easier for the body to digest and absorb the nutrients from each plant. More recently, in 2018, a study at Fukuoka Institute of Technology also found that Koso had positive effects on health.
