27 November, 2012

No Cheese please!

I have been asked to explain why parmesan cheese is bad for you. Made from cow's hormone and processed with table salt and chemicals should answer all your questions, but I will go deeper. It has food coloring and depletes calcium from your bones. Do not believe the hype that cheese is good for you. It has calcium to magnesium ratio of 28:1. One must have a ratio of 2:1 for the body to absorb calcium. Milk is 10:1.
Please do not give your kids cow’s milk, cheese for protein. If a health professional advises you use cheese on a regular basis, explain the ratios, which they should know.
If not, FIRE THEM on the spot!

A better option would be Nutritional Yeast!!! Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organic Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, which is grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried with heat to kill or “deactivate” it. Because it’s inactive, it doesn’t froth or grow like baking yeast does. So it has no leavening ability. Don’t worry;no animals are harmed in this process because yeasts are members of the fungi family, like mushrooms, not animals.

Nutritional yeast has such an unappealing name. The brand that most vegans use is Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula because it is a good source of vitamin B12 and contains no whey(THANK GOODNESS!).

What It Isn’t
Nutritional yeast is not the same as brewer’s yeast, which is a product of the beer-making process and is very bitter. It’s also not Torula yeast, which is grown on paper-mill waste and is also not very tasty. And please do not try to substitute active dry yeast or baking yeast, which taste bad and will probably make a huge, frothy mess because their yeasts are alive.

Why use it?
As mentioned earlier No Cheese Please! Cheese is a KILLER! As you can guess from its name, nutritional yeast is packed with nutrition, particularly B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and protein. It’s low in fat, gluten-free (check specific brands for certification),and contains no added sugars or preservatives. Because vitamin B12 is absent from plant foods unless it’s added as a supplement, nutritional yeast that contains B12, such as Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula, is a great addition to the vegan diet.

The vitamins and minerals are all well and good, but truthfully, I use nutritional yeast for its flavor, which has been described as cheesy,nutty and savory” Just a tablespoon or two can add richness to soups, gravies, and other dishes, and larger amounts can make “cheese” sauces and eggless scrambles taste cheesy with egg  flavor.

The savory taste of nutritional yeast comes from glutamaic acid, an amino acid that is formed during the drying process. Glutamic acid is not the same as the commercial additive monosodium glutamate(MSG) and is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many fruits and vegetables. Adding a small amount of nutritional yeast to a dish enhances the flavors present and helps form a rich flavor base.

How Do I Use It:
Sprinkle it on your pastes
Stir it into organic mashed potatoes.
Add a little to the cooking water for “cheesy grits”
Sprinkle on your pizza
Make almond “parmesan” by blending nutritional yeast with raw almonds in a food processor.
Add a tablespoon or two to bean dishes to enhance flavors.

*Remember that good nutrition can be a part of your life!

Ps-A very important part of your health is to know what is going on inside your body. Blood analyzed under a microscope is key. How often have you gone to a doctor’s office and have heard, “Everything looks good” It does not tell the tale. Let’s keep you and those that mean the most to you healthy!