Definition of Nattokinase
Nattokinase is a type of enzyme obtained from natto. Natto is boiled soybeans which have been fermented. Nattokinase is made when soybeans products are fermented by use of bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Nattokinase cannot be gotten directly from eating soy foods since it has to undergo a fermentation process1, 3, 4.
Since nattokinase is an enzyme, it is vital in the body. Its chief function is to help break down proteins into amino acids that are easily digested and absorbed in the body.
Uses of Nattokinase
Many studies have documented numerous health benefits of nattokinase. They include:
Prevent blood clots
Blood clot is a mass formed by fibrins and platelets to stop you from bleeding when some parts of your body are damaged. In some cases, blood can clot unexpectedly in your arteries and veins and lead to serious health complications.5,8
Normally blood continuously flows through the veins and arteries as the heart pumps it around the body through the arteries. This blood is returned to the heart through the veins. Muscles are responsible for squeezing blood back to the heart.
Blood clots occur when your blood vessels are damaged as a result of cut or other diseases. Blood clots in vein happen when muscles are not contracting enough to push blood back to the heart. The clot can become big and block blood from reaching the heart and cause stroke, heart attack, etc.
There are several factors that can make blood to clot. They include being overweight, smoking, lack of physical exercise, diabetes, cancer, etc. Eating too much saturated fats have been found to cause blood clots.
There are some measures you can take to prevent blood clots. Start exercising regularly if you have not been doing so because exercise boosts the strength of muscles to pump blood to and from the heart. Stop smoking if you smoke. Check on your diet; change your intake of saturated fats and eat foods that contain non-saturated fats such as fish, olive oil, nuts, etc.
Apart from the above measures, diet supplements play a crucial role in preventing blood from clotting. One such diet supplement product to use is nattokinase. Nattokinase has the ability to break down these clots sticking on the fibrin protein and quicken the production of plasmin (fabrin buster) in the body. Nattokinase can also break down toxins, cellular debris in the blood and undigested proteins which can cause blood to clot when they continue being in body.
You may know you have a blood clot when you show the following signs and symptoms:
You feel pain and swellings in the leg and abdomen. When the clot occurs in your heart, it may cause your chest to become heavy, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. It may cause severe headache if it occurs in the brain.
Lower high blood pressure
High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. High blood pressure is the amount of pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries.
When you have high blood pressure, it means that your arteries are receiving a lot of pressure repeatedly. This pressure needs to be too high for a diagnosis of a hypertension. This condition affect many people globally and when left untreated it may cause serious health problems including death, heart failure and stroke.
There is no identified exact cause of high blood pressure. However, there are many factors that promote high blood pressure. These factors include:
- Family history: When you come from a family that is affected by hypertension, you are at a higher risk of getting it.
- Age: Older people are at risk of developing high blood pressure because of physical inactiveness.
- Overweight or obesity: People who are overweight are more prone to developing high blood pressure as compared to those with normal weight. This is because in obese people, the heart uses a lot of energy to pump blood which can then lead to hypertension.
- Smoking: Those who smoke are at risk of getting high blood pressure. Smoking constricts your blood vessels and decreases oxygen reaching the heart which can cause high blood pressure.
- Other factors that promote high blood pressure include lack of exercise, taking too much salt and sugar, eating too much fat and being stressed or depressed.
High blood pressure can be prevented when you decide to reduce the risk factors above. Quit smoking, exercise regularly, limit intake of salts and sugar and fat, etc.
There are medications that can lower high blood pressure such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc. These medications cause many side effects which makes them less effective in treating hypertension. These medications can damage your kidney, increase potassium level in your blood, cause nausea, loss of taste, depression, etc.
Apart from these medications, diet supplements such as nattokinase have been found to be effective in treating hypertension with insignificant side effects. Nattokinase is used to strengthen plasmin, the body’s enzyme used to break down fibrin (clotting protein). When this protein is broken down, it prevents blood from being thick and a result the heart uses little pressure to pump blood around the body hence lowering high blood pressure.
Prevent heart attack and stroke
Many studies have documented that nattokinase help break up blood clots and dissolve existing ones. By doing this, nattokinase prevent heart attack and stroke since the clot cannot able reach the heart or brain.1
Treat Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones are fragile and breaks easily. It occurs as a result of insufficient calcium and vitamin D in the body. Other factors that can cause osteoporosis include genetic factors, family history of osteoporosis, smoking and drinking excess alcohol.
Osteoporosis can be managed using nattokinase. Nattokinase contain high vitamin K2, which helps circulate calcium around the body. Calcium is good in formation of healthy and strong bones. Nattokinase also helps protect your cardiovascular system by keeping calcium out of the arteries walls.
Other health benefits of nattokinase include relieving pain, treating chronic fatigue syndrome, infertility, muscle spasm, etc.
Dosage
Health studies have not given a guide on safe and effective you of nattokinase. Some studies used dosing of 100 to 300 milligram each day3.
Who should not use Nattokinase?
Not everybody can use nattokinase. The following people should not use nattokinase:5
Patients who have peptic ulcers, ischemic stroke and coagulation disorders should avoid this medication. Coagulation disorders ate those conditions that are related to blood clotting such as von Willebrand’s disease.
Reference List
- Nattokinase. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/
- Health Benefits of Nattokinase. http://www.mercola.com/Downloads/bonus/discover-the-benefits-of-natto/report.aspx
- https://www.drugs.com/npp/nattokinase.html
- https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/nattokinase/
- http://www.medicinenet.com/blood_clots/article.htm
- Treating high blood pressure with Nattokinase. Available at https://www.drsinatra.com/lower-your-blood-pressure-naturally-with-nattokinase
- Health benefits of nattokinase. Available at http://nattokinasehearthealth.com/29/reduces-blood-pressure/
- Preventing blood clots using nattokinase. https://www.needs.com/product/NDNL-1212-02