Marmite love it or hate it that’s the question? Well, according to The Telegraph there are some fascinating facts that you might not know about.
Marmite may boost brain power and could even help stave off dementia, research suggests. A study has shown that those who ate just a teaspoon of the yeast extract each day saw changes in the electrical activity of their brain.
Researchers from York University said the high concentration of Vitamin B12 in Marmite increases levels of chemicals which are thought to protect against neurological disorders.
The study found that those who consumed a teaspoon a day for a month showed a 30 percent decrease in their brains’ response to visual patterns, compared with those who were given peanut butter.
Marmite was thought of as an essential food for a healthy diet. So essential in fact that it was included in soldiers’ ration packs during World War One and has subsequently been used to treat conditions ranging from malaria to malnutrition.
It can help you sleep better, add it to two slices of wholemeal toast in the morning (each of which will provide around 8pc of that RDI) and you’ll be well on the way to sleeping well come nightfall.
Marmite is packed with B vitamins (not just B3) that are essential for good health – containing so much per serving that you can probably do away with taking expensive B supplements. It’s high content of Vitamin B1 could also be highly beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease, particularly among diabetics.
Marmite can also help you with a hangover. Alcohol consumption depletes your body’s store of B Vitamins, which can leave you feeling low and anxious, and so a teaspoon of Marmite on toast can help replenish your body’s supplies in no time. If you can’t stomach the thought of solids, try the Sri Lankan hangover cure: apparently they dissolve Marmite in hot water, before adding lime juice and a sliced fried onion.
A study published by the Journal of Clinical Investigation suggested that niacin (of which Marmite is plentiful) can help the body fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.
As for using it in cooking, there are lots of recipes online using Marmite including Chocolate Cake with Marmite Caramel Butter Cream. , Marmite Popcorn, and even Marmite Sausage Rolls.
There is also a gene test you can now take called The Marmite Gene Project, the study commissioned by the Unilever brand gives weight to its long-time marketing slogan, “Love it or hate it”. DNAFit, the genetic testing centre behind the research, has published a scientific white paper detailing how people are genetically more likely to be lovers or haters of Marmite.
