Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast, different than fermentation yeast is an inactive yeast. It does not make bread rise, and can provide health benefits to the people who consume it. It has a cheese-like flavor and can be used to boost dishes and add protein to a vegan diet. Nutritional yeast is usually grown in beet sugar and sometimes molasses. From here it is then ferment and dried. This process of fermentation and drying can be viewed on Sub-page 8. The yeast is gluten-free and is very high in protein. 2 tablespoons contain 9 grams of protein. This is more than a one ounce serving of beef. Nutritional yeast is high and fiber. This is essential to stabilizing blood sugar, and keeps energy level optimal. Fiber also helps in proper digestion and health gut environments. Often used in vegan recipes as a cheese substitute, nutritional yeast has a nutty characteristic. It contains folic acid and is high in vitamin B12. Folic acid is important to the overall health of cells. Folic acid in pregnant women has been shown to prevent birth defects in children. B12 is needed to product myelin, which is an insulation that coats nerves. In nutritional yeast, one tablespoons provide a full amount that is needed for the human body. Vitamin B12 also aids in the production of red blood cells. Nutritional yeast is different from baker’s yeast and fermentation yeast because it is not used to produce another product. It is used its produced form for human consumption.