Bovril Nutrition: Benefits, Risks and Uses

Bovril is often used in stews and soups for its strong beefy flavor.

Image Credit: Darius Dzinnik / 500px/500px/GettyImages

Bovril is similar to beef bullion or powdered stock but in the form of a paste.

Bovril has been available in the British market since 1886 and was advertised as a health food made to boost stamina, strength, health and energy, per the University of Cambridge. While most of the health claims have fallen and been proven untrue, it's still a popular food staple in many European households.

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Even though Bovril won't make you strong and smart like a bull (part of the past advertising claims), it has several health benefits and risks to be aware of. Here's what you need to know about Borvil's nutrition.

Is Bovril Good For You?

In its early days, Bovril was advertised as a powerful health food. Now we know that while Bovril does have some nutritional benefits, like B vitamins and protein, it's also high in sodium, which may not be as healthful for most people, especially those with high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease.

Bovril Nutrition Facts

One teaspoon of Bovril has:

‌Calories‌: 25
‌Total fat‌: less than 0.5 g
- ‌Saturated fat‌: less than 0.1 g
‌Sodium‌: 1,400 mg
‌Total carbs‌: 1.6 g
- ‌Dietary fiber‌: less than 0.5 g
- ‌Sugar‌: less than 0.5 g
‌Protein‌: 4.4 g

Bovril Macros

‌Total fat‌: One teaspoon of Bovril has less than 0.5 grams of total fat, which includes less than 0.1 grams of saturated fat.
‌Carbohydrates‌: One teaspoon of Bovril has 1.6 grams of carbs, which includes less than 0.5 grams of fiber and less than 0.5 grams of sugars.
‌Protein‌: One teaspoon of Bovril has 4.4 grams of protein.

Health Benefits of Bovril

This meaty paste will make any soup or stew taste amazing and add a few key nutrients to your diet.

It's a Good Source of B Vitamins

The amount of B vitamins in Bovril isn't available on the manufacturer's website, but it includes 27 percent yeast extract. Yeast extract is an excellent source of B vitamins like thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and folate.

B vitamins are essential for energy-related enzymes to do their jobs, like breaking down carbohydrates and fat into energy and transporting these nutrients around the body, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

While just one teaspoon of yeast extract has over 100 percent of the DV for several B vitamins, it won't necessarily give you ‌more‌ energy if you're already eating a balanced and varied diet.

It's a Source of Protein

Each teaspoon of Bovril has 4.4 grams of protein, which will help meet your daily protein goals. While 4.4 grams isn't significant, and you'll need to eat other protein sources, too, it does add up.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) to avoid protein deficiency is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, per the USDA. This means that a 150-pound adult needs at least 55 grams of protein per day. Researchers have found that people may need more than this to maintain and grow lean body mass, especially if you're restricting energy by dieting or performing resistance training, per a May 2020 review in ‌Advances in Nutrition‌.

Eating more protein can be beneficial when trying to lose weight, but the amount of protein added by Bovril won't likely significantly affect overall weight loss goals.

How to Use Bovril

To enjoy Bovril outside of Europe, you may need to order it online ($26.99 per 2-pack on Amazon). While the original Bovril is beef, it's also available in chicken and vegetable flavors. You can use it like you would any other bullion, adding flavor to beef stew, vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup.

Bovril can also be added to boiling water to make a hot drink. Because Bovril is a meaty paste, some people enjoy it spread on toast. Use Bovril as a sandwich spread for a creamy texture and meaty flavor as another way to incorporate the food into your diet.

Bovril Health Risks

While Bovril is a good source of protein and B vitamins, that doesn't make it an all-around nutritious food. There are some potential health risks if you enjoy Bovril regularly.

It's High in Sodium

Just one teaspoon of Bovril has 1,400 milligrams of sodium. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Still, most Americans are eating closer to 3,400 milligrams per day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Just one teaspoon of Bovril has over half the amount of sodium recommended in one day!

A diet high in sodium can cause major problems for people with high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease. Even if you don't have these health problems now, a long-term diet high in sodium can directly affect the brain, heart, kidneys and blood vessels, per a November 2016 article in the ‌Journal of the American College of Cardiology‌.