Bacillus natto (nattokin)
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Bacillus natto, a rod-shaped bacillus, is found on rice straw. It is capable of rapid reproduction of spores. In Japan, bacillus natto is used for the preparation of natto an important protein food. Natto is made by wrapping steamed or boiled soybeans in rice straw; a culture of bacillus natto grows within the wrapping, covering the beans with a sticky velum.Bacillus natto improves the ddigestibility of soybeans and yields vitamin B2. In addition, it produces an antibiotic substance which is inhibiting to toxic bacilli in the intestine. Traditionally, natto has played an important part in the vegetarian diet of Zen Buddhist monks and among the older generations of Japanese people natto is a regular breakfast food.
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