Let’s talk about Nutritional Yeast – Reasons and Benefits On Your Health.
Nutritional yeast also called ”noochy” is a healthy, nutrient-dense protein with the necessary amino acid content.
Basically, it is a common food product mostly use in cooking vegan. These amazing food products have been shown to have essential health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol to protect your body from free radical damages.
Before we go into details on why you should add them to your diet, firstly, it is vital to know what the ingredients are all about.
What is Nutritional Yeast?
Noochy yeast is can also be called saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, noochy yeast is the same type of yeast used to bake bread and brew beer.
Basically, both baker’s and brewer’s and noochy yeasts produce from the same species of yeast.
What are the different products of yeast?
- Brewer’s yeast: Brewer’s yeast is a by-product of brewing beer. It is an ingredient used in the production of beer and bread. This yeast has a bitter taste and as well be consumed as a nutritional supplement.
- Baker’s Yeast: It is a common name for the strains of yeast used in baking bread and bakery products. Baker’s yeast is to species of saccharomyces cerevisiae and is the same species ( a different strain) as the type usually used in alcoholic fermentation called brewer’s yeast.
- Nutritional Yeast: is a deactivated yeast, usually a strain of saccharomyces cerevisiae sold as a food product. This yeast can be used in cooking and contains a cheesy flavor.
Procedures to Produce Nutritional Yeast (Noochy).
Noochy is produced due to saccharomyces cerevisiae cell, which is grown for days on a sugar-rich medium like molasses.
This yeast is deactivated heat, washed, dried, harvested, crumbled, and packaged for distribution.
Types of Nutritional Yeast
We have unfortified and fortified noochy yeast.
- Unfortified yeast: Based on a nutritionist, the yeast does not contain any added vitamins or minerals. However, it contains natural vitamins and minerals that are produced by yeast cells.
- Fortified yeast: Fortified nutritional yeast contains synthetic vitamins, which are added during the manufacturing process to help boost the nutrient content. This yeast is the most using type available to purchase.
Nutritional yeast is known for its fat-free, sugar–free, gluten-free, and is a common ingredient that works with any diet and contains low sodium and calorie content.
Is Nutritional Yeast Nutritious?
Yes!! Nutritional yeast is very nutritious and an excellent protein source, Vitamin B, and minerals.
It has been shown that fortified nutritional yeast contains more vitamin B than unfortified yeast; the reason is that some amounts are added during manufacturing.
Other Nutritional Yeast Benefits
Nutritional yeast benefits contain healthy vitamins and minerals, which can have a boost on your overall health.
- Protein: The nine necessary amino acids are found in nutritional yeast, which naturally you can get from eating healthy foods. Research showed that one serve tablespoon contains 2 grams of protein, making it very easy for vegans to incorporate protein into meals.
- It contains trace minerals: Observational studies show that one tablespoon contains 2-30% of the RDI for trace minerals. That mineral includes manganese, zinc, selenium, and molybdenum. Trace minerals are involved in gene regulation, metabolism, growth, and immunity.
- It Contains Vitamin B: Vitamin B is essential to health, such as eyesight, helps in good digestion, and many other benefits. More so, one tablespoon of nutritional yeast contains 30-180% of the RDI for vitamin B.
Notably, always read labels before buying nutritional yeast because the nutritional value varies from the brand.
Also, remember to buy fortify yeast with a higher amount of nutrients if you add vitamins and minerals to your diet.
Other Essential Nutritional Yeast Benefits
1. Serves as a Powerful Antioxidants
The body always suffers from cell damage often, which is a result of free radicals.
Based on research, the study discovered that nutritional yeast contains the powerful antioxidants selenomethionine and glutathione.
These powerful antioxidants help to protect the cells from all the damages which are as a result of free radical.
However, food rich in antioxidants has a great boost in antioxidants level and helps defend the body against chronic diseases ( including cancer, heart disease).
2.It helps prevent Vitamin B12 deficiency
According to observational studies, report ascertained that vitamin B12 is necessary for a healthy nervous system, energy metabolism, red blood cells, and DNA production.
Based on research, you can see this vitamin naturally in animal products; however, vegans should supplement their diet to avoid becoming deficient.
Eating nutritional yeast can be a useful way to prevent the vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other research work was conducted on 49 vegans; the report discovered that consuming 1 tablespoon of fortified nutritional yeast daily was able to restore vitamin B12 levels in those deficient.
In the same study, the nutritional yeast contained 5 mcg of vitamin B12 per tablespoon, which is more than double the daily recommended amount for adults.
Vegans should look for fortified varieties of nutritional yeast to ensure that adequate amounts of B12 are in the product.
3.It Boosts the Immune system
The two main carbohydrates discovered in nutritional yeast are — alpha-mannan and beta-glucan.
Observational studies have shown that adding alpha-mannan and beta-glucan to animal feed can lessen the rate of infections from pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella in pigs, as well as reduce tumor formation in mice.
However, beta-glucan and alpha-mannan can help protect against infection in different ways.
These include:
- Both two carbohydrates help stop pathogenic bacteria from attaching to the lining of the intestines.
- They help stimulate immune cells, which makes them more effective at fighting infection.
- They add to certain toxins that yeast can produce in food crops and reduce their harmful effects.
However, it is still under investigation since further studies are needed to confirm if alpha-mannan and beta-glucan have these effects in humans.
4. It may help Lower Cholesterol Levels
According to a research review, the beta-glucan seen in nutritional yeast may also lower cholesterol.
Another study noted that men with high cholesterol who consumed 15 grams of beta-glucan obtained from yeast daily for eight weeks lowered their total cholesterol levels by 6%.
You can also find beta-glucan is in other foods, such as oats and seaweed.
Comprehensive research reveals that the beta-glucan from oats can lower cholesterol levels.
How can I Use Nutritional Yeast?
It is essential to store nutritional yeast in a cool, dark place to preserve its vitamins.
It would be best if you also kept it tightly sealed to keep moisture out. It can last for two years if you store it properly.
Noochy yeast benefits are used in the following ways:
- You can Sprinkle over popcorn or pasta
- Add into soups for an umami flavor
- It can be used as a thickener for soups and sauces
- Added to pet food for extra nutrients
- Serving sizes are determined by each manufacturer but typically 1 or 2 tablespoons.
It is safe to use nutritional yeast in moderation, typically up to several tablespoons per day.
While nutritional yeast is safe to consume for most people, anyone allergic to yeast should not consume it (27, 28Trusted Source).
Those who have trouble metabolizing folic acid (synthetic vitamin B9) should read labels carefully and may want to choose unfortified nutritional yeast whenever possible.
