SUPER FOOD

super food By Alexis Weilbaecher, RD yeast Nutritional Y ou may have heard of nutritional yeast, or even tried it, but what exactly are the benefits of this food product? Nutritional yeast is derived from a strain of yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which comes from sugar cane or beet molasses. The yellow flaky appearance is produced through the heat treatment process. Although the name may seem unappealing, nutritional yeast is a quick, easy and delicious way to add extra nutritional value to your meal.

Think of nutritional yeast as being a healthier “cheese-like” substitute. This flaky product has a cheesy, nutty flavor that won’t disappoint your taste buds.

Anyone can benefit from adding nutritional yeast into their daily meal plan, but especially vegetarians or vegans (those who need more animal-based protein and B vitamins). Nutritional yeast is a complete protein, providing 18 amino acids, nine of which are essential amino acids that your body cannot produce. Just two tablespoons provide only 50 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugar, 8 grams of protein and 130 percent B12 (B12 is a vitamin typically found in animal-based foods, such as red meat and eggs). If you don’t consume much of these nutrients, nutritional yeast would be a great alternative. You can find it at any health food store as well as some grocery stores.

Easy ways to add nutritional yeast into your daily routine:

Make cheese toast: Grab a slice of 100 percent whole wheat or whole grain bread, spread 1 tablespoon vegan Earth Balance Spread (or spread of choice), and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for that extra kick.

Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons onto your salad, oatmeal or popcorn.

Nutritional yeast

If you’re not a fan and want to minimize the taste, you can add a couple of tablespoons into a homemade smoothie.

Trying to eat more veggies? Add some on top of a vegetable medley.

Green

Welcome to the green issue of Inspire Health! Green symbolizes nature, life and renewal. This issue is all about living a natural, eco-friendly lifestyle and taking a closer look at your lifestyle to see where you can make a greater environmental impact.

Show Mother Earth some love by incorporating simple eco-friendly practices into your daily life. Go green at home by conserving water and energy. Take shorter showers, turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth and turn the lights out when you leave a room. Walk or bike to work if you live close. Purchase locally grown products and bring reusable bags to the grocery.

Remember, you CAN make a difference in the world. As primatologist Jane Goodall once said, “One individual cannot possibly make a difference, alone. It is individual efforts, collectively, that makes a noticeable difference — all the difference in the world!”

Caitlin Watzke, Editor

Help us inspire others! We want to know what inspires you to live healthy. You could be published in the next issue of Inspire Health magazine. Email us at editor@inspirehealthmag.com.

Find us online! www.inspirehealthmag.com

Section Editors Cover PATRICIA DANFLOUS Health & Fitness TAMI CHARBONNET Fashion & Beauty WHITNEY ALEXANDRA Kids & Family MICHELE ROBERT POCHE Destinations SUZANNE POLK FOX Editor CAITLIN WATZKE INSPIRE Staff Executive Publishers HAL G. FOX & SUZANNE POLK FOX Creative Team Creative Director JENNIFER CABALLERO Art Director TRA PHAM Graphic Design GABBI MORAN Digital & Marketing NEAL BOYD Print Production DEBBIE WELDON Sales National Sales CHARLOTTE V. MORRIS National Sales VIVIAN DUGAS National Sales KELLY SMITH National Sales LAUREN CALVE'

The information contained in Inspire Health is intended for educational purposes only. A reader should never substitute information contained in Inspire Health for the advice of a health care professional. Jumpstart Publishing, LLC and publishers of Inspire Health, do not endorse or promote any of the products or services described in the pages of Inspire Health and the publishers do not verify the accuracy of any claims made in the editorial or advertisements contained in Inspire Health. Readers should not use the information in Inspire Health for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Readers should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or have or suspect they have a health problem. © 2015 Jumpstart Publishing, LLC, New Orleans, LA All rights reserved Printed in the USA by Fox Print Services (igofox.com)

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