Hello! I'm Miko, the manager of Kogaiko Shoten!
After I wrote the article " I Quit Drinking at 54! ", I received an astonishing amount of feedback from people.
When I decided to quit drinking after having had a drink every day for 30 years, the thing I was most worried about was "how to fill the emptiness in my mouth when I eat."
Quitting alcohol can change your face and your life. Even though we know the benefits, it's not easy to change a long-standing habit.
The two drinks I'll be introducing today, "Koji Water" and "Koji Sour," have become my "partners in quitting alcohol" and have dramatically accelerated my detox process from within.
Today, we will thoroughly explain about koji water! Let's get started!
- First of all, what is koji? And why koji water?
- Also a hot topic in magazines! The power of "koji water" recommended by renowned doctor Dr. Naomi Hoshiko
- Benefits of Koji Water ①: The abundant enzymes contained in Koji
- Benefits of Koji Water ②: The abundant nutrients contained in Koji
- The appeal of koji water: safe, low in sugar, and unprocessed
- How to make koji water and how to use it effectively
- "I can't wait even one night!" This is our recommendation for those of you who feel that way!
- Yellow or White? Choose your favorite koji water
- Tips for maximizing the benefits you can expect from koji water
- Summary: Achieve inner health with koji water
First of all, what is koji? And why koji water?
Miso, soy sauce, mirin, pure rice wine, vinegar, shochu, amazake, shio koji...
A variety of fermented foods line our dining tables. All of these are traditional foods that Japan is proud of, produced through the action of koji mold.
I first learned about koji water two years ago when I was on a business trip to Kagoshima. I was introduced to Kawachi Genichiro Shoten, a store well-known for its Kawachi bacteria, which are essential for making shochu, and that's when I decided to visit.
Amazake is experiencing an unprecedented boom right now, but many people worry that it contains a lot of sugar and will raise their blood sugar levels. Koji water is a very simple way to get the enzymes in koji directly into your body.
Best of all, I thought that if I mixed it with carbonated water, it would taste just like shochu mixed with soda! So I decided to pair it with a meal.
And when I actually started drinking it, it significantly reduced my cravings for alcohol, and even my stomach condition improved dramatically! I would highly recommend this to everyone!
Also a hot topic in magazines! The power of "koji water" recommended by renowned doctor Dr. Naomi Hoshiko
Dr. Naomi Hoshiko, director of Hoshiko Clinic in Takanawa, Minato Ward, actively provides nutritional guidance as part of alternative medicine, and has helped many patients achieve good health.
In fact, Dr. Hoshiko herself suffered from breast cancer in the past and underwent surgery, but she overcame it without relying on chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but by making thorough changes to her diet and lifestyle.
Doctors with such experiences actively recommend this "koji water" in their treatments. So why is koji water so good for the body? The secret lies in its "enzymes" and "nutrients."
Benefits of Koji Water ①: The abundant enzymes contained in Koji
1. A variety of enzymes aid digestion
Koji mold actually contains more than 30 types of natural enzymes (actually, too many to count).
The three most representative types are:
- Amylase : Breaks down carbohydrates into glucose
- Protease : Breaks down proteins into amino acids
- Lipase : Breaks down fats into fatty acids
These enzymes help digest food more smoothly and reduce the burden on the stomach. For someone like me who has been straining my stomach and intestines with alcohol for many years, being able to take care of myself with naturally derived enzymes is a major benefit.
2. Improves intestinal health and supports the immune system
The oligosaccharides produced by the enzymes in koji serve as food for the good bacteria in the intestines, increasing their numbers.
A healthy intestinal environment will not only improve constipation and diarrhea, but also revitalize the intestines, which contain about 70% of the immune system. It can also be expected to have a positive effect on allergy symptoms such as hay fever and atopic dermatitis.
3. Compensate for enzyme deficiencies caused by aging (and drinking!)
The enzymes in the body decrease with age, and are also consumed in large amounts by drinking alcohol.
By supplementing enzymes externally with koji water, the body's metabolic enzymes can be circulated more efficiently, leading to a body that is less susceptible to fatigue and to disease prevention.
Benefits of Koji Water ②: The abundant nutrients contained in Koji
1. B vitamins support energy metabolism
Koji water is rich in B vitamins , including vitamins B1, B6, and B12.
Decomposing alcohol consumes a large amount of B vitamins, and as someone who has been drinking alcohol for a long time, I want to take in natural B vitamins to help my liver and brain recover as quickly as possible.
2. Diverse effects of minerals and polyphenols
Koji is rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
The appeal of this product is that it can be taken in a form that is more easily absorbed than synthetic supplements, and has benefits such as lowering blood pressure, preventing osteoporosis, and providing antioxidant effects.
3. Essential amino acids support cells throughout the body
You can also take in essential amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the body.
Because drinking alcohol reduces the enzymes in our bodies, it makes perfect sense to take in "external enzymes" as fluids during meals.
The appeal of koji water: safe, low in sugar, and unprocessed
Compared to other fermented drinks such as amazake, koji water has an extremely low sugar content , so even those on a diet or on a carbohydrate-restricted diet can drink it every day without feeling guilty.
Unlike commercially available energy drinks, the only ingredients are koji and water, leaving no room for unnecessary additives.
My overwhelming recommendation is "carbonated water + lemon (or yuzu) juice" !
This looks and tastes like the best "homemade sour" with no additives (and it won't get you drunk! lol).
This cup of coffee really helped me to relieve the thirst for more during my abstinence from alcohol...!
How to make koji water and how to use it effectively
Koji water can be easily made by simply mixing fresh or dried koji, such as those sold in supermarkets, with water and letting it sit overnight!
A simple example of how to make it
- Put about 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried koji into a clean container.
- Add about 500ml of water
- Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight
- The next day (leave for at least 8 hours), lightly mix in the koji and it's done
*It makes no difference whether you use fresh koji or dried koji, but dried koji absorbs more water, so add more water.
Once made, store in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days.
[Tips for enjoying it more effectively]
- Best time to drink: 1-2 times a day, before or during meals, and before bed.
- Leftover koji is also a treasure: don't throw it away, but use it up by adding it to smoothies, cooking it with rice, or adding it to miso soup or other dishes.
"I can't wait even one night!" This is our recommendation for those of you who feel that way!
"I know it's good for your health, but it seems like it would be a pain to make it every day..." This is the product that I would definitely recommend to all lazy people like you (including me! lol)!
This is regular rice koji that has been made into a powder using a special method. Amazingly, just mix it with water or carbonated water and the koji mold will dissolve immediately, so you can drink it right away !
Moreover, since it is in powder form, you can leave the sediment behind and drink only the "supernatant."
(*The powder itself is not absorbed by the small intestine and is excreted. If you have a weak stomach, please discard the powder instead of drinking it.)
By the way, while it normally takes about 8 hours to make amazake, if you use this powder you can make it in half the time, just 4 hours.
Yellow or White? Choose your favorite koji water
In fact, each type of koji has its own strengths, so choose one that suits your taste.
- [Yellow koji] For those who want to enjoy sweetness
Koji is a typical type used in sake and miso. It contains a lot of amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, and brings out the natural sweetness of rice. - [White Koji] For those who want a refreshing drink
White koji mold, discovered by Kawachi Genichiro Shoten, is essential for making shochu. It contains a lot of protease, which breaks down proteins, and is characterized by producing citric acid. It has a refreshing acidity like lemon water, a deliciousness not found in other koji!
By the way, I'm greedy and I mix both yellow koji and white koji, and add Kirishima Organic Matcha to make a special drink that I take to the gym 😆. This also seeps into my body while I'm exercising!
Tips for maximizing the benefits you can expect from koji water
- A balanced diet :
No matter how much koji water you drink, it's pointless if your daily diet is unbalanced. Avoid processed foods and try to eat a balanced diet. - Moderate exercise and adequate rest :
Enzymes are also used in metabolic activity. Light exercise such as walking and stretching can increase metabolism, and good quality sleep can help to maximize the effects of koji water. - Consistency is key :
The benefits of fermented foods can only be felt if you continue to eat them. Rather than expecting immediate results, you will likely notice a change in your physical condition if you continue to eat them every day.
Summary: Achieve inner health with koji water
Koji water is a drink that truly "condenses the power of koji" and allows you to easily take in the diverse enzymes and nutrients produced by koji mold.
The testimony of a doctor like Dr. Hoshiko, who has overcome his battle with illness and is actually incorporating koji water into his daily routine, is very persuasive.
First, quitting alcohol for the sake of your healthy lifespan. And to accompany your abstinence, drink a glass of koji water.
Why not start a lifelong healthy habit?
You can also make it with the organic brown rice dried koji we sell!
Related articles
▼ [Secret] The roots of koji starter, which supports fermentation in Japan
Tracing the history of koji, the lifeblood of the fermented foods we eat every day, leads us to the passion of one koji brewery. We will unravel the surprising health benefits that black and white koji bring to our bodies and the little-known story behind them.
▼ [Truth] Why do doctors tell you to reduce salt intake?
The common belief that "salt = bad" may change. The real reason we stopped reducing salt intake, unraveled from history and the body's mechanisms.
At Kokaiko Shoten, we offer a carefully selected selection of authentic Japanese seasonings and foods.
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