Short answer
Vegemite packs a lot of sodium and if you have allergies to yeast, it can be bad for you. Other than that, just a bit of vegemite can have many positive effects on your health.
Recommended Alternative
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Vegemite - a former substitute for Marmite - has a distinct umami aroma that some would liken to soy sauce. It is actually made from discarded brewer's yeast and is a dark paste that Australians like to use to spread on toast. Vegemite is quite healthy as it is very high in B vitamins such as folate and thiamin (50% of the daily value for each) as well as niacin and riboflavin (25% of the daily value). Among these, folate is especially important during pregnancy for ensuring proper fetal development while thiamin upholds an important role in maintaining a healthy nervous system.
Containing such minerals as iron, potassium, selenium, and zinc, Vegemite is also beneficial to your skin, eyes, bones, and cells. Perhaps the only direct downside of Vegemite is that it has a very high sodium content - 10% of the daily value per teaspoon. Most people don't eat globs of the stuff, but doing so could lead to hypernatremia (excess sodium in the blood). Hypernatremia is a very serious condition that can cause-- among other things-- fatigue, dehydration, and even seizures.
Another concern about Vegemite - at least in parts of Australia where aboriginals have banned alcohol - is that it can be and is being used to brew alcohol. This has led to fears that Vegemite may contribute to alcoholism. This is, of course, more a social issue than it is an issue with Vegemite itself. Furthermore, some people may be allergic to brewer's yeast, which in this case an allergic reaction to Vegemite can cause swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat.
Possible short-term side effects
- allergic reaction
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gas
-
queasiness
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dehydration (if overconsumed)
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fatigue (if overconsumed)
Possible long-term side effects
- hypernatremia and related symptoms
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- good source of various nutrients
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Marmite Yeast Extract
- Rich in B vitamins
- Vegan-friendly
- Umami flavor booster
- Long shelf life
- Bundle pack convenience
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Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-21-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 02-21-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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