Yeast the Fat away and live another day
Two Staples that I believe, every one of us Health Conscience budding chefs and Food makers, need to keep stocked on our shelves when adding flavor and Nutrients to our food. I'm going to talk about the first one for now.
If you could find an additive that flavored your food, added vitamins and nutrients, provided heart health, helped to regulate blood glucose, digestion, strengthen your immunity, your complexion, skin, nails, hair and provided folate for a healthy pregnancy and for menopausal women, why wouldn't you use it.
Say it like a Mantra over and over. Nutrional Yeast Flakes
Check out my lunch. It's my healthy version of a beloved dish of the South, Shrimp N Grits. I never really touched a grit until I moved to Georgia. I lived in Florida for twenty years. And no offense, Floridians but you can't light a candle to what these Southerners do to some grinded corn. Since moving to the South, I have experienced a plethora of mealtime experiences of the golden kernel, to a spicy Louisiana flair with a heavy roux, to thick cream sauce with bacon, to a beef like brown sauce. Every one of the dishes had its own taste to savor, and none of them failed to surprise me with their unique interpretation that didn't disappoint.
I discovered though, that the flavor was in the sauce with a heavy cream, gravies, flour, cheese, and pork. Carbs, Sodium, Fat and with pork more fat. And although I do enjoy some good Soul Food. Good soul food often does not equate to a healthy heart. And in the world of Covid Madness, attributing to our health conscience Senses of what we put in our body, is key to protecting it.
Why Nutrional yeast flakes are an in-active yeast made of Sugar Cane and Beet Molasses.
Two tablespoons of nutritional yeast contain approximately:
45 calories 5 grams carbohydrates 8 grams protein 0.5 grams fat 4 grams dietary fiber 9.6 milligrams thiamine (640 percent DV) 9.7 milligrams riboflavin (570 percent DV) 9.6 milligrams vitamin B6 (480 percent DV) 7.8 micrograms vitamin B12 (130 percent DV) 240 micrograms folate (60 percent DV) 3 milligrams zinc (20 percent DV) 1 milligrams pantothenic acid (10 percent DV) 24 milligrams magnesium (6 percent DV) 0.1 milligrams copper (6 percent DV) 0.1 milligrams manganese (6 percent DV) 0.4 milligrams iron (4 percent DV)
These Minerals do a number of things for your body.
1. Boosts energy. You get a dose of minerals, Iron, Selenium, and Zinc.
2. Supports the immune system- Zinc is a nutrient that helps to fight off invading bacteria and viruses with the extra production of proteins. Proteins that keep free radicals, bacteria and viruses from penetrating the membrane of your cells. Think of Zinc as the gatekeeper of the castle, and the proteins are the warriors who keep the castle from being invaded. Nutritional yeast provides the compounds beta-1,3 glucan, trehalose, mannan and glutathione, all of which are associated with enhanced immune function. In fact, animal models have found that these compounds could help reduce the risk of infection in pigs by blocking harmful bacteria from attaching to the lining of the intestines. One animal model published in Anticancer Research even found that beta-glucan could be useful in the treatment of lymphoma in mice by decreasing tumor growth. Good gut health is the key to a strong Immune System.
3. Promoting skin, hair, and nail health Nutritional yeast contains many B vitamins, all of which tend to benefit healthy hair, skin and nails. Biotin, in particular, has been shown to support healthy hair, skin and nails. It also helps slow signs of skin aging, such as redness and skin spots. Niacin, also found in nutritional yeast, is also often used to treat chronic acne and improve overall skin health
4. Improving glucose sensitivity Nutritional yeast is also a low-glycemic food that contains chromium, a mineral that may help regulate your blood sugar. Maintaining good blood sugar and cholesterol levels lowers your risk for diabetes and heart disease. 1 As an active component of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), chromium plays an integral role in controlling blood sugar levels. The primary function of GTF is to increase the action of insulin, the hormone responsible for ushering glucose into the cells where it can be used as an energy source.
5. Supporting a healthy pregnancy Nutritional yeast is helpful during pregnancy. Around 400 mcg to 800 mcg of folate is required during pregnancy and a tablespoon of nutritional yeast contains around 1059 mcg of folate. The synthetic form of folate is called as folic acid. Adequate consumption of folate during pregnancy helps in reducing birth defects namely spina bifida.
All of this, and it adds intense flavor to your food. The yummy factor can't even be considered until you reached to your pantry and pulled out this golden beauty to sprinkle.
Today I made this Healthy Alternative to Shrimp N Grits. I skipped the extra fat of the Heavy Cheese, Milk, Gravy, Salt, Whipping Cream and added Nutrional Yeast flakes, Veggies and Microgreens. I couldn't believe how tasty it was. Like so Tasty I could literally serve this up in a Restaurant and no one would know i had skipped the excess. And just for that extra boost, I made up what I call an Elderberry Soda with our Radiance By Misty Dawn Elderberry Syrup, Topo Chico sparkling mineral water, and Emergency C pink lemonade pack. It's a delicious way to get 1000 mg of Vitamin C in you each day.
Loved My Shrimp N Grits. It was Soul Food good for my heart.
This makes 2 to 4 servings.
Follow your guidelines of making your grits for 4 servings
Skip out the butter and the salt.
Add one tsp of minced Garlic
And three Teaspoons of Nutrional Yeast Flakes.
Set to side.
Half an onion chopped
5) shishito peppers diced
4) mini yellow and red pepper 2 of each diced
Half of Summer sausage or Georgia Cooked Sausage sliced
half a pound of Shrimp
2 tsp of Coconut oil over med to high heat in a pan
1 tsp of Garlic
1) tsp of Nutrional Yeast Flakes
1 tsp of Braggs Amino Acids.
1/2 cup of State Fair lemon Garlicious. I find mine at Krogers or you
get it at Amazon. Believe me this is one of those sauces you are going to want to keep around
1) tsp of good Ole Bay or any cajun seasoning you prefer.
add your veggies, and sausage.
Let it simmer then add your shrimp until fully cooked,
Taste your grits, and add more teaspoon of Nutrionally yeast flakes over the top of your serving
then pour your shrimp veggie mixure over the top.
Garnish with a spicy Radish Microgreen.
Happy Cooking guys. Food Is Medicine.
