In 1980, Dr. Hiroyuki Sumi, MD, a researcher for the Japan Ministry of Education discovered a special enzyme found in the fermented food natto had tremendous potential to improve cardiovascular health by preventing excessive clotting and promoting smoother blood flow. He called this enzyme nattokinase. Nattokinase works by regulating fibrin, a protein involved in blood clot formation. Think of fibrin as a mesh used by the body to slow down blood and help a clot to form when you cut your finger. When this system works properly, the fibrin does its job, but then is dissolved by another substance called plasmin.  When we’re young, we tend to have plenty of plasmin to dissolve the fibrin properly. However, due to normal aging as well as chronic inflammation and other conditions like hypertension and diabetes , plasmin levels decrease. The result is too much fibrin, leading to excessive clotting and slow-moving blood, increasing the risk of heart disease, thrombosis, and stroke. What makes nattokinase so special is its ability to break down fibrin by increasing plasmin production. In a sense, turning back the hands of time, it resets the proper fibrin response, and promotes smoother blood flow through the arteries. This in turn reduces the risk of blockages that can lead to heart attacks or strokes. In addition, nattokinase may also be able to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol scores (by lowering LDL and raising HDL) and reduce inflammation. One of the best products nattokinase products available is Natto-K from Enzymedica. Natto-K uses a patented form of nattokinase proven to increase plasmin levels. For even greater support, Arthur Andrew’s Neprinol AFD offers unparalleled “anti-fibrin”, or fibrinolytic activity. It combines a high dose of nattokinase with serrapeptase, an enzyme used to treat inflammation. To be effective all nattokinase products must be taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after a meal. Please note, if you are currently taking a prescription blood thinning medication do not take nattokinase without first talking to your doctor.