Tag: Wasabi health risks

Over 90% of wasabi served outside of Japan is actually imitation paste made from horseradish. The answer to whether wasabi spicy is good for you largely depends on if you are consuming the authentic, nutrient-rich Japanese root or its common, flavor-mimicking counterpart. Authentic wasabi contains potent compounds linked to anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and potentially anticancer effects.

Wasabi paste served in most restaurants is not authentic wasabi but a mix of horseradish, mustard, and green food coloring. So, are there health risks to wasabi, and do the risks differ depending on whether it's real or imitation?

Over 95% of the 'wasabi' served in restaurants outside of Japan is an imitation made from horseradish, mustard, and green food coloring. This fact makes answering the question, 'Is eating wasabi good for you?' more complex, as the health benefits are almost exclusively tied to the rare, expensive, and authentic *Wasabia japonica* plant.