5 Facts About Marmite: We're about to turn your hate into love

Even if you've never tried Marmite you're already aware that the rest of the world falls into one of two camps: 'love it' or 'hate it'. And as everyone knows, there's no in between.

Image: Londonist.com

I used to be a staunch member of the 'hate Marmite' side. Growing up in an anti-Marmite household, I remember trying it once, recoiling at its bitterish tang and swearing it off for the rest of my earthly days. Then, out of nowhere, someone special came into my life and reintroduced me to the infamous 'black gold'... I haven't been able to get enough since.

To everyone still lingering on the hate side of the fence, what if we told you Marmite is now considered a 'superfood'? Yes, Marmite. The sticky, gloopy and salty spread made from yeast extract, it turns out, is capable of helping our bodies fight off life-threatening infections and much more.

5 Facts About Marmite

1. Hey vegetarians! Not only is Marmite vegetarian itself (always a plus) but it's so high in B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B9, B12), that by spreading it onto your toast every once in a while, you could ditch your supplements! B vitamins are essential for good liver and kidney function, they help protect the nervous system and are generally lacking in plant-based diets - check out our other essential vitamins for good veggie health here.
2. Not only is Marmite loaded with good B vitamins, it's really low in calories, gluten free and contains nearly 50% of your recommended daily allowance for folic acid per serving (a teaspoon - less is more with Marmite)
3. Did you overdo it a little last night? Fear not, Marmite is also considered to be quite an effective hangover cure. This is because alcohol depletes our system of essential nutrients - many of which Marmite provides! Additionally, Marmite is high in sodium and after drinking, we need something salty to replace what we lost the night before.
4. Marmite is heart healthy! A study at the University of Bristol found that regular consumption of Marmite could be the clue to heart attack recovery. Research also found that it slows down heart failure in diabetics. How? Marmite is full of benfotiamine, which has been found to have a beneficial effect on heart function.
5. It may boost your immune system. Naicin, one of the main ingredients in Marmite, produces neutrophilis which are the white blood cells we need to fight bacteria. In fact, Marmite may increase the immune system’s ability to fight infection up to 1,000 times! Nice!

If this has convinced you to rethink your Marmite hatred, try spreading a paper-thin amount on your morning toast and top with avocado and/or poached eggs. You can thank me later.