Often in my practice, when I see amino acid and B vitamin deficiencies I recommend that people eat more nutritional yeast. Let’s break down why it is good and what some myths are surrounding nutritional yeast.
When most people think of yeast, they are referring to the active form of yeast used to leaven bread. Nutritional yeast is different in that it’s heated and inactive.
There are two main types of nutritional yeast that often get interchanged:
Brewer’s yeast.This type of yeast is grown from hops (a by-product of brewing beer), and has been around since beer making began… and can be consumed by humans or used to fortify other products or even given to pets. The other is…
Pure nutritional yeast.This is usually grown from sugar cane, beat molasses or wood pulp. And it’s grown specifically for the purpose of human food consumption.
Nutritional yeast is very rich in many basic nutrients such as:
• B vitamins, great for energy and stress support
•Chromium, which can aid with weight loss
•Sixteen different amino acids, excellent for muscle-building and repair
•Over fourteen key minerals
•Seventeen vitamins (not including vitamins A, C and E).
•Rich source of phosphorous
Nutritional yeast is rich in Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate and often Vitamin B12. These are all B vitamins that work as a complex, essentially providing you with energy and helping you to maintain proper brain function. Among many other important functions, they are also essential for healthy hair.
B vitamins are important for energy production, brain function and rebuilding of hair. In addition, they also have an impact on our fat burning, sleep and much more. More over, B vitamins are often depleted during times of stress. This makes the need for daily consumption of B vitamin-rich foods all the more important. B vitamins can also be depleted from eating sugary, processed foods.
Remember, nutritional yeast is an entirely different strain of yeast from the kind that aggravates yeast infections in the body — also known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae— and bears no relationship or connection to candida. In addition to being a different strain, it’s heated and considered not an “active” yeast. Therefore, it has no effect on candida whatsoever. Your body treats it just as it would any other food.
So if you are looking to increase your B vitamins and amino acids start sprinkling nutritional yeast on your salads, yogurt or in your green drink. It is also great on soups, vegetables and anywhere you would use salt. It is an inexpensive and easy way to boost the nutritional value of your food!