Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids

Liquid aminos are seasonings that look and taste similar to soy sauce. For over 100 years, Bragg Live Foods Inc. has been producing natural health products. One of these products is a liquid soy seasoning, known as Liquid Aminos. Made of only soybeans that have not been genetically modified and water, Bragg Liquid Aminos is a natural alternative to conventional soy sauces, without the additional table salt, monosodium glutamate, preservatives or gluten that can be found in most soy sauces.

Bragg Liquid Aminos is free of any genetically modified organisms and is also wheat- and gluten-free. Bragg Liquid Aminos is also certified kosher. Many commercial soy sauces contain wheat products and genetically modified soybeans. About 94 percent of the soy used in the United States comes from genetically modified plants. Gluten intolerance is associated with symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, rashes and depression. A 2013 study in the journal “Interdisciplinary Toxicology” suggested herbicides on wheat plants play a role in the higher prevalence of gluten intolerance.

Soy sauce is made by fermenting cooked soybeans and roasted wheat with salt, water, and yeast or mold until a rich, salty sauce is produced.

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and are necessary for healthy muscles, bones, and skin. Your  body can produce 11 of the 20 that exist, but it has to get the other 9, called “essential,” from food. It’s got to do that on a regular basis, too, since it can’t store amino acids.

Bragg Liquid Aminos contains both essential and non-essential amino acids, including alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, leucine, methionine, phenyllalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine.

Bragg Liquid Aminos tastes similar to soy sauce but much milder and with a tiny bit of sweetness. It tastes closer to tamari, a sauce made from fermented soybeans, than regular soy sauce, which is a bit stronger and saltier.

A similar product is make from coconuts. These aminos are made by mixing fermented coconut sap with water, which also results in a naturally gluten-free product. Coconut aminos are popular for people following a paleo diet, since it doesn’t contain legumes like soybeans.

MSG is a common food additive used as a savory flavor enhancer. It is naturally occurring in foods such as meat, fish, dairy and vegetables but is also added to foods, especially Asian-style dishes. While there are no supportive studies, MSG has been linked to adverse health effects such as chest tightness, nausea, sweating and burning sensations. Bragg Liquid Aminos is free of added MSG, which can be found in traditional soy sauces.

Bragg Liquid Aminos and Coconut Secret (coconut aminos) have a similar nutritional breakdown. The serving size for the Bragg’s product is half a teaspoon, containing 0 calories, 160 milligrams of sodium, and 310 milligrams of protein. The serving size for the Coconut Secret,  is a full teaspoon, containing 5 calories, 90 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of sugar, and 0 grams of protein.

Because of the naturally occurring sodium in Bragg’s, the product is not recommended for a low sodium diet. Compare this to coconut aminos, which adds salt but has only 66 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon, and regular soy sauce with 335 milligrams per teaspoon.

How to Buy

Any well-stocked grocery store will carry Bragg Liquid Aminos. Look for it either in the spices and seasonings section, with the soy sauces, or in the health-food aisle. It may also be shelved with the vinegars.

You can also purchase Bragg Liquid Aminos from online grocery retailers.

How to Store

Bragg Liquid Aminos has a three-year shelf life, and you do not need to refrigerate the product, even after opening. However, keeping it out of direct sunlight in a cool location can extend its lifespan.

How to Cook

The liquid soy seasoning can be used in the same way as traditional soy sauce. It can be used to make salad dressings or drizzled over cooked vegetables. Liquid Aminos can also be drizzled on tofu or added to stir-fry dishes. Use liquid aminos as a substitute for soy sauce when following recipes for Asian cuisines. Or, use liquid aminos as a substitute for salt when cooking grains such as couscous and quinoa. You can also use liquid aminos as a substitute for vinegar when making homemade salad dressings. Use Bragg’s as a soy sauce alternative next time you eat sushi.

You can substitute Bragg Liquid Aminos with a ratio of 1:1 in any recipe that calls for soy sauce. If you need a thicker consistency such as would be provided by adding tamari to a sauce, whisk in a little bit of flour, corn starch, or arrowroot, or even a pad of butter, depending on the cooking method.